Advisory Board

Jim Cnossen has served Hope College and CFL for the past decade. He was an adjunct professor and one of three recipients awarded the Servant Leader-in-Residence at CFL. He has been actively involved within CFL as an advisor, project coach in the CFL Student Consulting Program, and a mentor in the Student Mentoring Program.

Jim has extensive experience within the automotive, management consulting services and new business startup arenas. He has a proven track record of leadership within the information technology field, and unique experiences as an entrepreneur implementing ideas and solutions within for-profit environments. He also has expert knowledge and executive-level management experience in strategic planning, business process re-engineering and manufacturing operations all within an international context. He is recognized as a visionary and a results-oriented leader with strong communications and people-related skills.

Academically, Jim’s credentials include two undergraduate degrees (math/science and engineering), a master’s degree in operations and systems engineering, MBA graduate work, and has held adjunct professor positions at the University of Michigan, Henry Ford Community College, and Walsh College.

In 1973, Dan Gordon began working in sales full time at Gordon Food Service. He held a number of sales and marketing positions before becoming president in 1989. He was appointed chairman of the board in 2010. A graduate of Creston High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Dan earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. Dan serves on the foundation board for Grand Valley State University, and on the Hope College Board of Trustees. He served on the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation board, for which he and his wife, Magee, chaired the 2009–2010 Children’s Miracle Network campaign. Dan also served as a board member of the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) and was the association’s chairman from 2002 to 2004. Dan and Magee have three children and five grandchildren and reside in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dan enjoys golfing and traveling.

Debbi Jarvis is the senior vice president of corporate relations at Howard University. In her role, she has oversight of corporate relations and is charged with developing and implementing a global strategy for corporate development and the funding of those programs. She also oversees the management of Howard’s broadcast properties, WHUT–TV and WHUR–Radio, ensuring their business operations are in alignment with the university’s mission. Debbi has a demonstrated history of leading teams to develop strategies and programs around corporate goodwill, philanthropic initiatives, corporate reputation and image building through effective nonprofit and community engagement, and marketing and communications. She is a community advocate and has a passion for being a servant leader as evidenced by the creation of significant community projects throughout her career. Jarvis has served on the boards of dozens of nonprofits. She earned a bachelor’s degree in International Business from Hope College. She was in the 2011 class of CSR Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School.

Gaye began her career at Kraft, where she served in six different roles in 11 years, developing a strong cross-functional skill set. Today after serving in leadership roles in start-up to Fortune 500 organizations, including as president/CEO of two small to mid-sized businesses, she shifted her focus to helping other leaders lead and grow. As a consultant with Partners In Leadership she works with leaders to get purposeful about creating aligned, accountable, results-focused cultures that are a powerful competitive advantage. Gaye is a Hope College alum and earned her MA in communication from Ohio University.

Brian graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) focused in Accounting. He began his career as a CPA with Arthur Anderson. That work led him to Herman Miller where he stayed for 29 years, including 14 years as the firm’s CEO.
Brian has been very active as a board member serving corporations such as Briggs and Stratton, Cooper Tire & Rubber, Universal Forest Products, and Gentex as well as institutions including Michigan State University, the University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research, Davenport University, The Right Place, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Detroit.