Board of Directors of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation
Pictured from left to right are: Julie Gosselink, Chad Ahrens, Susan Witt, Shannon Fitzgerald, and David Clay.
Julie Gosselink – Julie is the president, CEO, and chair of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation and assistant treasurer of the Ahrens Park Foundation. Julie is also a trustee of Grinnell College and a managing partner of the Strand Theatre, LLC. Julie has served on the boards of many other organizations and committees including the Build A Better Grinnell, Grinnell Chamber of Commerce, Grinnell Education Partnership, Grinnell Regional Medical Center Foundation, Iowa Council of Foundations, LINK, Mayflower Community Foundation, and S.H.E. Counts. In addition, Julie co-chaired the Drake Community Library capital campaign fundraising committee and served as a selection committee member for the Grinnell College Innovator for Social Justice Prize. She holds a M.A. in philanthropy and nonprofit development and B.A. in geography from the University of Northern Iowa.
Susan Witt – Susan serves as a board member for both the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation and Ahrens Park Foundation. Susan also has served as a board of director for the Mayflower Foundation, the Grinnell Regional Medical Center Foundation and served as chair of the Grinnell Regional Medical Center board of trustees. Susan is co-owner of Miraco Company.
Chad Ahrens – Chad serves as a board of director for the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation and served as a board of director for the Ahrens Park Foundation and Ahrens Foundation Corporation for many years.
Shannon Fitzgerald – Shannon is the CFO and controller for the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation. In addition, she serves as the treasurer/secretary of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation and the Ahrens Park Foundation. Shannon has also served as a board member of Grinnell Area Mental Health Consortium, LINK, Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation, and Tiger Packs. Shannon is a certified public accountant and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a B.A. in business administration with an emphasis in communications and human resources. Shannon has worked for the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation since 2005 with prior work experience in both the public and private accounting industries. In addition to her position with the foundation, Shannon owns and operates her own CPA practice.
David Clay – David serves as a director of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation and oversees the foundation’s management of investments. In addition, he served as a director of the Ahrens Park Foundation for many years. David joined Grinnell College in 1986 as treasurer, chief financial officer and/or chief investment officer from 1990 through 2013.
Staff of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation
Pictured from left to right are: Shannon Fitzgerald, Michelle Gruhn, Vanessa Doty, Melissa Hull, Jennifer Cogley and Julie Gosselink.
Melissa Hull – Melissa is the director of community relations for the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation. Melissa is a graduate of the Poweshiek Leadership program and has served as a board of director for the Grinnell Youth Baseball/Softball Association. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a B.A. in communications. Melissa has worked for the foundation since 2006 with prior work experience in the sales and customer service industries.
Vanessa Doty – Vanessa is the financial administrative assistant for the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation. Vanessa has worked for the foundation since 2011. Vanessa graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Transportation & Logistics and Marketing, previously working for Cargill. Vanessa has volunteered her time with various community organizations and projects in the Grinnell area and had been an active leader for the Grinnell school’s PTO organizations and Tiger Booster Club for many years. She is currently serving on the Tiger Football Club.
Michelle Gruhn – Michelle is the accounting manager for the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation. Michelle has an A.A. in accounting from Marshalltown Community College. She has prior work experience in bookkeeping, office management, and worked for the Grinnell-Newburg School District in various capacities and the Ahrens Park Foundation for twelve years. Michelle began working for the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation in 2010 and is a graduate of the Poweshiek Leadership program. Michelle is co-owner of Gruhn Brothers Farm in Kellogg.
Jennifer Cogley – Jennifer is the director of programs for the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation. She is a graduate of the Poweshiek Leadership Program and now serves on the board. Jennifer served as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the Ahrens Foundation for two years before beginning in June of 2021. Prior to her role at the Ahrens Foundation she worked and volunteered at the Grinnell United Methodist Church and volunteered with the Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary and the Iowa Hospital Association Auxiliary. Jennifer holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing and attended William Jewell College.