Seeking Stuffed Animal Donations for 28th Annual Adoption Day
We are excited to kick off our stuffed animal donation drive for the 17th Circuit Court’s 28th Annual Adoption Day! Help us bring smiles and comfort to children being adopted in Kent County by donating a new stuffed animal or plush toy.
Donations will be accepted through December 6 at various Kent County locations. These special gifts will be given to children on Adoption Day (December 5) and throughout the year as they join their forever families. Let’s show our support for foster and adoptive families!
For a full list of locations you can donate, please read our full press release here.
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Quality Service Recognition Award Winners
Congratulations to Melissa Denson, Victim/Witness Advocate with the Prosecutor’s Office, and Nicholas Young, Probate Court Clerk III, on receiving County Quality Service Recognition Awards!
Their hard work and dedication are exemplary, showcasing the impact our team members have on the lives of residents every day. Working for the Prosecutor's Office and Probate Court is about more than a job - it’s a commitment to justice, compassion, and community service. We’re proud to have employees like Melissa and Nicholas who go above and beyond to serve and support our residents. Thank you both for your outstanding contributions!
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Thank you to everyone who participated in Operation Green Light from November 4 through November 11, to show support for our local veterans!
This year's response was incredible! Our Veterans Services Department distributed over 250 green light bulbs, along with yard signs, to raise awareness, while dozens of organizations and community members joined in by lighting their homes and buildings green. We are thankful that a variety of West Michigan landmarks showed their support, including the Blue Bridge, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, local Sheriff and police buildings, fire stations, local government units (Wyoming, Kentwood, Rockford, etc.), Veterans Park, and more! By shining a green light, businesses, governmental entities, and our residents let veterans know that they are appreciated and supported.
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
Last week was National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week (November 3-9), so we’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our incredible staff and volunteers at our Animal Shelter who care for every homeless, injured, and lost animal that comes through its doors.
Our team works tirelessly with patience and compassion to provide the best possible care and find each animal a loving home. From happy reunions and successful adoptions to the joy of rescuing a litter of kittens, these moments make all the hard work worth it. But it’s not always easy - today, the shelter is caring for 95 dogs, exceeding critical capacity. Alongside adoptable pets, many animals are undergoing vet care, awaiting surgery, or are in foster care due to their young age. If you’d like to help, the shelter currently has 44 incredible dogs ready for adoption - they’re spayed/neutered, heartworm-tested, vaccinated, microchipped, and waiting for a loving home. You can view all adoptable animals here.
None of this would be possible without the dedication and support of our incredible team and community. We are deeply grateful for everything they do!
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Kent County Mobility Study
Do you live, work, or travel around Kent County? We want to hear from you!
We're conducting a transportation mobility study to find ways to make travel throughout Kent County safer, more convenient, and reliable—while maintaining our quality of life.
Your input is vital in helping us improving mobility options throughout the county. We especially need residents from Lowell, Walker, and North County to participate in the study, as response rates from these areas have been low. Let’s ensure every voice is heard!
Share your thoughts in our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GoKentCo.
Learn more about our work or provide additional feedback here: http://www.gokentco.org
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Employee Spotlight: David Uhrbrock
We are so grateful for Dave's 30 years of service as a Master Electrician, supporting the Sheriff’s Office and tackling a wide range of county projects. His work ensures county facilities remain secure, with all backup systems functioning reliably.
"The most rewarding part of my job is tackling the unique challenges that come up, especially during outages, and getting everything back up and running smoothly."
Dave’s recalled his standout achievement came in 2000 when he and two co-workers built a mobile backup generator for the courts entirely from scratch—including the trailer, transformers, and switches. We’re lucky to have such talented and dedicated staff! To read our full interview with David and learn more about his role, visit here.
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Employee Group Halloween Costume Contest
Kent County's various departments and offices celebrated Halloween with a group costume competition and the winning team/department was selected by Judges Christina Elmore (17th Circuit Court), Kirsten Holz (63rd District Court), and Clay West (17th Circuit Court)! From Trolls to Worker Bees to Egyptian Queens, our teams were having fun and looking great!
After careful deliberation, the winner was the 17th Circuit Court Clerks Office with their Egyptian Queens theme! The royal leopard really put them over the edge. A royal congratulations to our "queens" for reigning supreme in the costume contest! The runner-up award went to the North County Campus Health Department for their "Worker Bees" theme.
New Community Development Coordinator
We are pleased to welcome Haley Stichman as the new Community Development Coordinator. In this role, Haley will oversee the Agricultural Preservation and Brownfield Redevelopment programs, engaging with community stakeholders, elected boards, and agencies at various levels to drive local development initiatives.
With extensive experience, including her recent role as DDA Director in Ada Township, Haley brings strong skills in community engagement and program management. "I am excited to join Kent County," Haley shared. "My passion is in building inclusive and vibrant communities, and I look forward to implementing innovative solutions that benefit Kent County."
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Juvenile Detention Center Assistant Superintendent Wins NAACP Floyd Skinner Award
We are delighted to congratulate Huemartin Robinson II, our Juvenile Detention Center Assistant Superintendent, on being this year’s recipient of the NAACP's Floyd Skinner Criminal and Social Justice Award!
This prestigious award honors individuals who demonstrate unwavering commitment to justice and human rights in our community, embodying the courage and conviction of Floyd Skinner - a revered attorney and former president of the Greater Grand Rapids NAACP. And we couldn’t agree more with this choice! Please join us in celebrating this outstanding achievement for Hue!
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Administrator Named to Grand Rapids 200 Most Influential Leaders
I (Al Vanderberg) am honored to be named one of Grand Rapids' 200 Most Influential Leaders by Crain's Grand Rapids Business. Thank you for this recognition!
Although I once aspired to be a jazz musician, band director, horticultural landscape firm owner, or attorney, my passion for public service took hold during an internship in Spring Lake at age 22. Since then, I’ve had the privilege to serve three cities, four counties, and a village. While opportunities in other sectors arose over the years, I’m grateful to have dedicated my career to public management - and I wouldn’t have done it any other way.
You can read the full profile in Crain's by visiting here.
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Explore Rewarding Careers At Kent County Today
Working for the County, you will have the opportunity to serve the public and your community. We have employment opportunities in general government, health, public safety, judicial, recreational, and much more. To view our open positions and apply, visit accesskent.com/jobs. To learn more about our employee value proposition, visit here.
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