Mill Street Opportunity Alliance
Leadership, Board & Advisors
Leadership Team
The Mill Street Opportunity Alliance is led by a dedicated team overseeing programs and operations across the Mill Street Market campus. Each leader ensures that initiatives, from the Incubator Kitchen to childcare and educational programs, align with the nonprofit mission to strengthen the regional food economy, support entrepreneurs, and serve the community.
| Name | Title | Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Allison Hinton | President and CEO | The Chief Executive Officer leads the Mill Street Opportunity Alliance and oversees the entire Mill Street Market campus, including the Farm Stop & Cafe, Incubator Kitchen, and Little Sprouts childcare. Provides strategic direction, financial oversight, staff leadership, fundraising, and partnership development. Works closely with the Board of Directors to advance the mission, strengthen long-term sustainability, and ensure programs and operations deliver meaningful community impact. |
| Stephen Grider, Executive Chef | Director of Food Systems and Culinary Programs | The Director of Food Systems & Culinary Programs leads Mill Street’s food systems, Incubator Kitchen, entrepreneurial education, Featured Chef Program, and community culinary classes. Oversees the Farm Stop & Cafe Manager and Producer/Vendor Engagement Coordinator, aligning food sourcing, product selection, producer relationships, and market and cafe operations with Mill Street’s mission. Connects farmers, producers, and food entrepreneurs with practical market experience, product testing, business development, and operational mentorship, while supporting affordability and a strong local food system. |
| Starr Older | Little Sprouts Childcare Director | Oversees the Alliance's childcare programs, including employer-partnership tuition initiatives and community early childhood education. Ensures quality, compliance, and accessibility across all childcare services. |
Board of Directors – Mill Street Opportunity Alliance
The Board of Directors provides governance, financial oversight, and strategic guidance to ensure the Alliance fulfills its nonprofit mission and serves the community effectively.
| Name | Board Role | Job / Position |
|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Hienzmann | Chair | Barry Chamber and Economic Development, President and CEO |
| Kara Hayes | Vice Chair | Union Bank, Assistant Vice President, Director of Small Business Banking |
| Courtney Ziny | Secretary | Barry County COA, Executive Director |
| Mike Brown | Treasurer | Lacks Enterprises |
| Susie Baum | Board Member | |
| Milea Burgstahler | Board Member | Barry Eaton District Health Department, Planning and Promotion Director |
| Catherine Getty | Board Member | B.Healthy Barry County, Executive Director |
| Katherine (Kate) Haywood | Board Member | Hastings High School Science Teacher |
| Fred Jacobs | Board Member | J-Ad Printing, Owner |
| Tyler Kalmink | Board Member | Kalmink Orchards, Owner |
| Chari Kemp | Board Member | Corewell Health Pennock, Director-Clinical Nursing |
| Ryan Mitchell | Board Member | Hastings High School, Vice Principal, CTE Director |
| Sydney Miller | Board Member | Barry County COA |
| Leah Smith | Board Member | Nodding Thistle Farms-Barry County Gardener and Freelance Agricultural Writer |
| Patty Woods | Board Member | Hastings Downtown Development, Chair |
Advisors & Consultants
The Mill Street Opportunity Alliance is guided by a team of advisors and consultants who provide strategic expertise across program development, community research, food systems, and operational planning. They help survey the community, map local producers, document the Farm Stop history, design kitchen and campus layouts, and provide guidance on education, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit strategy. Their combined support ensures that our programs are well-planned, data-informed, and responsive to the needs of both food entrepreneurs and the wider community.
https://www.juddsbarandgrille.com/
| Name | Business / Organization | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Bonnie Gettys, Advisor | Barry Community Foundation, President/CEO | Website |
| Chris Stafford, Advisor | BCF Board Liasian, Creative & Practical Solutions | |
| Justin Straub, Advisor | Hastings High School Culinary Arts Instructor, Restaurant Owner-Seasonal Grille, Judds | Seasonal Grille Judd's Bar and Grille |
| Garrett Zeigler, Advisor | MSU Extension, Community Food Systems Educator | Website |
| Bill Brinkerhoff, Consultant | Argus Farm Stop, Owner | Website |
| Casey Miller, Consultant | Argus Farm Stop | Website |
| Andrea Carbine, Consultant | New Venture Advisors, Senior Director | Website |
Mill Street Market Campus
Milll Street Market Campus integrates education, entrepreneurship, early childhood development, and mission-driven commerce to build a resilient local food ecosystem that expands opportunity and strengthens community well-being.