Larissa has been working with the Mental Health Foundation since 1999. She is a graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design with a BA in Visual Communications. Larissa was responsible for the creation of the original be nice. design on merchandise and printed material for the Foundation. In addition to creating cool stuff, she is the staff liaison with the Board, arranges meetings, takes minutes, and manages corporate files. She triages calls from the community and assists with our events. Larissa and her husband Joe protect their mental health by camping and spending time with family!

Catherine (Cat) started at the Foundation as an AmeriCorps member in 2011. With her passion for the be nice.action plan, and belief that four simple steps can change someone's hour, their day, and/or their life, she has stepped into the role of Program Director. Seeing its potential and setting goals for be nice.programming to be accessible to any individual is her priority, but instructing all of the MHF's offered programs (including the be nice. action plan to kindergartners through senior citizens, be nice.extension, Mental Health First Aid, and QPR) is still where she finds much joy.

Cat is a native Grand Rapidian who graduated from Michigan State University with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies - Health Studies and is so excited to be educating young people and the community about a topic that she needed information about in her own youth. She currently resides on the lakeshore, and in her free time, Cat skis, feeds chickens, races sailboats, and hikes the North Country Trail with her family and 3 canines to protect her mental health.

Tom is new to the Mental Health Foundation in April 2024 after working in the education field for thirty three years and then doing a short stint in the insurance industry for the past two and half years. He received his MA in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University in 1995 and his BA from Hope College in 1988. While at Hope College, Tom was instrumental in beginning and coaching the women’s soccer program from 1985-1987. His professional career began as a teacher and coach for Ionia Public Schools where he launched their youth soccer program and developed it up to the Varsity level. After ten years of teaching, his career moved him to Zeeland Public Schools where he was named Assistant Principal at Cityside Middle School for six years before being named Principal of Lincoln Elementary School where he finished out his education career for seventeen years. This is when Tom was first introduced to the be nice. program and launched Lincoln Elementary as a be nice. school. He, along with former high school counselor, Todd Kamstra, then helped expand the program as Zeeland became a be nice. district. During his tenure at Zeeland, Tom also became very involved with the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principal Association (MEMSPA) where he served in many leadership roles, including annual conference planning chair, President, Treasurer, and still currently serves as Retiree Chair on the MEMSPA Executive Board.

Tom lives in Holland with his wife, Bethany, and between the two of them, have five adult children. In addition to working for the Mental Health Foundation / be nice. Tom also helps his wife Bethany, a school liaison for Quincy Elementary School, to strengthen their be nice. programming delivery. To maintain his physical and mental health, Tom enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and boating on Lake Michigan with Bethany and their dog Remi. When life needs to slow down, he also values quiet reading time and vacationing on the shores of Lake Michigan in Glen Arbor every year.

Rachael grew up with the be nice. program and was a part of the be nice. Leadership Group at Grandville High School for four years. She then attended Hope College where she studied business with a background in psychology and neuroscience, and also played Women’s Soccer. As a student-athlete, Rachael had her own struggles with mental health and became a survivor of suicide in 2018. Her personal understanding and passion for mental health awareness and suicide prevention in young athletes is what brought her to a position with the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan as a Program Coordinator, working with the be nice. School and Team programs. Rachael protects her mental health by playing rec soccer and volleyball, enjoying a good meal with a friend, and playing with her dog Marty.

Alyssa's journey into mental health advocacy began in a mental health crisis facility, where she developed a deep passion for increasing mental health awareness in rural communities. Alyssa then transitioned to the funeral industry, where she supported families navigating loss, further solidifying her dedication to mental health.

Her mission with be nice. is to ensure that all businesses, regardless of their size or industry, implement effective mental health practices to enhance both employee well-being and employer relationships. She’s particularly motivated to expand be nice.'s impact from its strong base in West Michigan to her own roots in Northern Michigan.

Outside of work, Alyssa enjoys exploring Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, savoring the natural beauty and engaging in activities with her family and friends. This personal time is essential for maintaining her mental health and well-being.

Rileigh first became introduced to the be nice. program when she was in middle school in Grandville, Michigan, and continued to grow up with it as she went through high school in the Grandville Public School System. From experiencing the programs from an early age and seeing all of the incredible work that they do for the community, she developed a passion for mental health.

From Rileigh’s past experience of working with younger students in the education world at the Outdoor Discovery Center - Little Hawks Discovery Preschool, and serving as a middle school volleyball coach at Impact Dynamic Training, she really saw the value of educating all age groups on the importance of mental health. Now in her role as a School Program Coordinator for the be nice. program, Rileigh continues to work with students, athletes, staff, and other members of the community to continue to implement the amazing programs that she was able to experience as a student growing up.

Rileigh protects her mental health by going on hikes with friends, playing volleyball, and reading books. She absolutely loves to do anything outdoors and spend time with her loved ones!

Hannah joined the Mental Health Foundation in September 2024 and is excited to come on board to help raise awareness of the Mental Health Foundation - be nice. Hannah is passionate about connecting with others and empowering them to share their story, amplifying the work of the Mental Health Foundation and broadening its reach and impact. Hannah, a West Michigan native from Rockford, graduated with a BA from Wheaton College and has worked in the nonprofit realm since 2012 with a focus on communications. She protects her mental health by spending time outside in her garden, snuggling her dogs, Mia and Mazey, and enjoying quality time with her friends and family.

Eric Hipple is a former National Football League (NFL) quarterback whose ten-year career was spent with the Detroit Lions. Born in Lubbock, Texas, and raised in Downey California, Eric graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Business administration and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1980. Hipple’s accomplishments include two playoff bids, a divisional championship, and the Detroit Lion’s most valuable player award for the ‘81 season. From 1995-2000 Hipple was the color analyst for the FOX NFL pre-game show in Detroit.

Since his 15-year-old son Jeff’s suicide, Hipple has devoted his life to building awareness and breaking down the stigma surrounding depressive illnesses. Hipple received an Honorary Doctorate for his work in Mental Health from his Alma Mater while giving the commencement speech to the 2019 class at Utah State University. He also received the University of Michigan 2015 Neubacher Award for work with stigma associated with disabilities, the Detroit Lions 2010 Courage House award, and the prestigious 2008 Life Saver Achievement award given by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He co-authored a study examining depression among retired football players, the study appeared in the April 2007 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. He was awarded a presidential citation at the American Psychological Association’s 2006 Annual Convention for his six years of national community-based work combating adolescent depression and suicide prevention.

His message of resilience has provided mental fitness awareness to professional groups, the military, law enforcement, schools, communities, and thousands of high school and youth coaches. In conjunction with Navy U.S. Fleet Forces, he has provided workshops on destructive behavior and suicide prevention over an eleven-year span by focusing on Mental Fitness. His book “Real Men Do Cry” received a publisher Presidential Award. After retiring from the University of Michigan's Comprehensive Depression Center, where he spent ten years as outreach coordinator, he helped found the After The Impact Fund supporting mental health treatment for NFL Legends and military veterans. Most recently, Hipple was the recipient of the One Heart Award from the Detroit Has Heart Foundation and is currently working to provide Mental health awareness serving the public with an emphasis on military veterans, youth, and employees in the workplace. Eric's commitment to helping others find a quality in life is demonstrated through work with nonprofit foundations and their missions.

Eric protects his mental health by having a resilience plan and daily reflection.