Stefanie Herder has been hired as the new director of the Spring Lake Village Downtown Development Authority (DDA).
Herder carries 18 years of experience in marketing and hospitality – working within the Tri-Cities area in various positions. A Grand Valley State University graduate in hospitality and tourism management, Herder graduated from Spring Lake High School in 2002.
Previously, she served as the membership and marketing director at Spring Lake Country Club – overseeing and managing all marketing and communications efforts for the club.
“I’ve worked in nonprofit, for profit along with club and member owned, but this is my first time working on the government side of things,” Herder said. “I’m really excited to dig in and work with other folks in the village.”
Herder has ties within various professional clubs and committees such as the Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg Chamber of Commerce, Professional Club Marketing Association, Lakeshore Athena Steering Committee, Spring Lake Rotary Club, and Grand Haven Area Young Professionals.
“The development and energy going on in the village is electric and it was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up to get more involved,” she said of her desire to leave SLCC to join the Spring Lake Village DDA.
Herder will join a part of the immense growth in Spring Lake while being a resource to the village businesses throughout the downtown district.
“It’s been a long time coming for Spring Lake,” Herder said. “There’s just so much potential with the village and I’m very much looking forward to being involved with it.”
“I’m hoping to promote businesses in the district and show residents and visitors what we have to offer,” she continued. “We’ve brought a lot of new people into the area and I’m really excited to ride that wave.”
Herder plans to take on the duties of the DDA director on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022.