As Kresge kicks off 2025, several staff additions and promotions have taken place within the foundation.

Sarah Traxler has been promoted to Associate Director of the Executive Office. Traxler joined the foundation in 2023. Previously, she served as economic development coordinator at the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and as a community planning consultant at McKenna.

Within the Investment Office, Kim Bakaturski has been promoted to Investment Records Analyst, Jack Barrios has been promoted to Investment Associate, Mo Brunner has been promoted to Investment Associate, and Max Zachary has been promoted to Performance Associate. Elizabeth Goldsberry’s title has been updated to Chief Risk and Operations Officer.

Julie Burlingame has been promoted to Social Investment Associate Non-Rotational. In addition, Joe Evans’ title has changed to Senior Social Investment Officer as he has taken on a senior executive fellowship with Opportunity Finance Network.

Julie Bagley (Social Investment Practice), Irene Burdalas (American Cities), Kathy Hoffman (Programs), Jill Johnson (Environment), Wendy Kuhn (Education), Jessica McKay (Detroit) and Alisia Taylor (Human Services) have been promoted to Senior Program Team Assistant within their respective teams.

Several new staff also joined the foundation in January including:

• Kara Elliot-Ortega as Senior Program Officer for the Arts and Culture Program
• Victoria Shubelyak as Risk and Operations Analyst for the Investments Office

“As we move forward from the jubilant celebration, meaningful reflection and recommitment to our mission that took place during our centennial in 2024, these organizational updates put us in a fantastic position to take on the challenges and opportunities of this new year,” said President and CEO Rip Rapson.