HOLLAND FILM GROUP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Research Professor at the a.C. Van Raalte Institute
Dawn Ward - Chief Legal Officer
Dawn Garcia Ward is passionate about the law, travel, her family and community. Senior counsel at Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, Dawn helps companies manage the data that drive their businesses. She believes in giving back, serving on the board of Holland Hospital and having served on the board of Holland Historical Trust and the Hispanic Center of West Michigan. Since moving from New Mexico to Holland in 1999, she sees both communities connected by a focus on God, family and a strong work ethic.
Gregory is a West Michigan native who has devoted his life to secondary education. He joined the Black River School in Holland at its inauguration. His unique qualifications as an educator and historian make him a great asset to the Holland Film Group. Supported both as a Board of Regents Fellow and Fulbright Scholar, he earned his doctorate in theatre at Louisiana State University.
Howard is a local businessman and lifelong resident of Holland. He holds a B.A. degree from Hope College. He is the moving force that has brought the Holland Film Group together to preserve our local community's heritage. Currently, he works with various nonprofit and for profit projects locally, nationally, and internationally.
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lou moved to Holland in 1956 when he purchased the Goodyear Tire Franchise known as Hallacy Tire & Supply Company. In 1964, he became the leasing manager for R.E. Barber Ford. Lou became active in the Holland community and served as city councilman for five years and three terms as mayor (1973-1979). Lou retired in 2000.
Randall P. Vande Water spent 40 years as an editor of The Holland Sentinel and wrote and published 15 books on Holland history. He was a frequent and popular speaker on local history up until his death in 2018. A Hope College alumnus and recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award, Vande Water did his graduate work at Michigan and UCLA. He served on Holland boards and committees, was past president of the University Press Club of Michigan, and received the Holland Historical Trust Friend of History Award.
Rob is an Emmy Award-winning producer/director. He has received over 40 national and state awards for production excellence including seven Telly Awards. During his days in television broadcast, Rob received awards for over 14 different productions. Rob is a graduate of Ferris State University with a B.A. in television production. For the past 10 years, he has operated his own company, Moondog Productions.
Robert is Albertus C. Van Raalte Research Professor at the A.C. Van Raalte Institute, Hope College. He is also a professor of history emeritus at Kent State University. He specializes in Dutch religious and ethnic history. Robert is the author of ten books, including the widely acclaimed "Dutch Chicago: A History of Hollanders in the Windy City" and "Holland, Michigan: From Dutch Colony to Dynamic City," in three volumes.
Bob is a Holland native where he lived most of his life. He has degrees in history and library studies. He has been a teacher, school librarian and freelance writer. He served 24 years as a member of the Holland City Council, and also served as director of the Howard Miller Library in Zeeland. Bob has an active interest in our local and state history with a special passion and fondness for railroads and Great Lakes shipping.
A Holland native, Tom spent four years in the Air Force stationed in the Middle East and returned to Michigan State University where he obtained a B.A. in journalism. Tom went on to work as a print journalist in Martha's Vineyard, Miami and Louisville. Tom's broadcast TV career journeyed through Buffalo, New York; Louisville, Kentucky; and home to West Michigan, where for many years he anchored the WOOD TV8 local news.