Founding Board of Directors
Willard K. Walker, Chairperson
Mr. Walker is a senior policy consultant at Public Policy Associates.
Mr. Walker has extensive experience working with workforce, state
policy, school-to-work, and race and diversity issues. Mr. Walker
retired from a long career with the State of Michigan where he held
several positions with the Michigan Department of Education, the
Michigan Department of Commerce and the Michigan Department of
Labor. He has served as Director of the City of Lansing’s Community
Services and Human Relations department. He has also served as a
consultant in anti-racism and capacity building work for the C.S.
Mott Foundation.
David C. Hollister, Vice Chairperson
David C. Hollister is President & CEO of Prima Civitas Foundation, a new nonprofit organization based in Lansing, that aims at taking a regional approach to boosting Michigan's economy. Mr. Hollister was appointed as Director of the Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services in January 2003 by Governor Jennifer M.Granholm. In 2003, several departments merged to become the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth. David Hollister has dedicated his entire life to public service. He began his career as a high school teacher in the 1960s and was elected in 1968 as an Ingham County Commissioner, serving through 1974. In 1974, Mr. Hollister launched a successful campaign for the Michigan House of Representatives, where he served until 1993. In 1993, Mr. Hollister ran a successful campaign for Mayor of the City of Lansing and was re-elected to his third term in a landslide victory in November 2001.
Cirilo Martinez, J.D. , Secretary/Treasurer
Cirilo Martinez is a private practice attorney specializing in immigration, business and family law matters. Prior to his private law practice, Mr. Martinez served the Van Buren Intermediate School District as a bilingual instructor, addressing all issues related to migrant and bilingual education. Mr. Martinez also was employed as a Corporate Coordinator for Michigan State University-Project Camino. In this role, he recruited corporations to connect and participate with the Project. Mr. Martinez received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1996, and graduated form Loyola University of Chicago School of Law in 2000.
C. Patrick Babcock
C. Patrick Babcock is the retired interim vice president for programs with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan. Prior to assuming the role of vice president, Babcock served as the Foundation’s director of public policy, advising on a range of Foundation program initiatives. Before joining the Foundation, Babcock had a long career of service with the State of Michigan that included five cabinet positions in both Democratic and Republican administrations. He served as the director of the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse division, director of the Office of Services to the Aging, and director of the departments of labor, mental health, and social services.
Paula D. Cunningham
Ms. Cunningham has spent more than 25 years supporting students in pursuit of their dreams by working in higher education as a professor, administrator and community college president. As President of Lansing Community College in Lansing, Michigan, she led the third largest community college in the State serving over 30,000 students annually with relevant, career-focused education. At LCC, she led a reorganization of the College’s Foundation and launched its first capital campaign. Past roles with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation,
the Greater Lansing Community Regional Foundation, and the Capitol Area United Way provide valuable experience to The Imagine Fund.
Ms. Cunningham currently is the President of Capitol National Bank in
Lansing, Michigan.
Orian Worden, Ph. D.
Dr. Orian Worden is a group organizational development specialist with over 30 years experience providing in-service training programs, program planning and development and organizational consultation. He has taught, lectured, and held administrative positions at the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, the University of Windsor, Oakland University and the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Worden has provided executive level management consulting of multiple national companies. He has conducted training and facilitated retreats on issues of diversity, management development, team building and managing change in the workplace. He received his Doctorate from Wayne State University. He is a licensed psychologist, and a charter member and former Board of Trustees member of the International Association of Applied Social Scientists, Inc.
Mark A. Murray
Honorary Advisor
Mark A. Murray is currently the president of Meijer, Inc, the retail chain that originated the "superstore." Prior to his work with Meijer, Mr. Murray served the State of Michigan as a university president, university vice president for finance and administration, State Treasurer, State Budget Director, Director of the Department of Management and Budget, and Acting Director of the Family Independence Agency. Mr.
Murray holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in labor and industrial relations, both from Michigan State University.
As the Board of Directors and Council of Honorary Advisors expand,
The imagine Fund will continue to invite individuals of diverse backgrounds from across the State of Michigan to join.
