Michele Smith

As an administrative specialist for the Information Technology and Systems (IST) team, Michele (she/her/hers) is responsible for the advanced technical and business support of IST.  This includes budgeting, accounts payable, consultant and facilities contracts, asset management, event logistics, and special projects.

Michele holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in communications from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. She is also a Certified Non-profit Accounting Professional (CNAP). Prior to joining Blandin Foundation in 2008, she worked for the area’s school district, ISD #318, in several support and technical roles, while also serving as the Clerk of Harris Township. Michele currently sits on the Board of Directors for Itasca Community Television (ICTV) and volunteers in a variety of roles at her church.

Michele was happy to return to Grand Rapids in 1999 with her husband and two young children, to help care for her aging parents and again live in rural Minnesota.  Rural meant a slower pace of life, little traffic, a sense of community, and being closer to family. She loves living in the old house that she grew up in just 5 miles south of town, with a long and winding driveway that leads to their 80-acre family homestead of peaceful fields and mature woods.  She likes to say, “Sometimes you can go home again.”