Meet Joan Zeerip! Joan serves on the WMRAA board as a representative of Park Township, where she also serves as Township Clerk. She moved to the area over 30 years ago to start her career as a Product Marketing Manager at Haworth Inc.
During her time at Haworth, Joan got to not only fly in and out of the airport, but also witness how big of an advantage the facility was to the business. Getting a client to Haworth’s corporate campus was often the key to winning a contract, and having the airport so close made that possible.
“The airport was a very powerful sales tool,” Joan says. “I saw firsthand how it had a positive impact on increasing our sales at Haworth.”
When she joined Park Township’s Board of Trustees as Clerk, she inherited responsibilities from her predecessor, which included the WMRAA board seat. It felt like a natural fit. Joan brings a deep well of professional experience to her board seat from her career at Haworth, where she held roles spanning product management, program management and the development of a business intelligence system.
“Being on the WMRAA board has been rewarding because I am able to meet so many people in the Holland community and beyond,” she says. “Being able to use my experience to make good decisions for the future of the airport and the community it serves is very rewarding.”
She is proud of the airport’s reach, from its role as an economic driver for small and large businesses to its ability to handle international flights without requiring a customs stop in Grand Rapid. She values the airport’s partnership with Wings of Mercy, which provides life-saving flights to those in need, and is a strong supporter of Flight Path, the aviation simulation and flight training school that operates out of the airport.
Looking ahead, Joan is confident in the airport’s future and excited about the growth and opportunities that lie ahead for the greater Holland area.
