Trustees provide fiduciary oversight, develop and lead fundraising efforts, and lead through their own philanthropy.
Royal Oak Civic Foundation Trustee Job Description
Sharlan Douglas
Royal Oak Civic Foundation Chair
A founding Royal Oak Civic Foundation trustee, Sharlan has served on the Royal Oak City Commission since 2013 and on the planning commission since 2005. She is the former CEO of the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce and was the founding executive director of the Eight Mile Boulevard Association. As an officer and volunteer with multiple nonprofits, she has written bylaws, led strategic planning, raised funds, created and overseen budgets, and recruited and managed volunteers. She’s a longtime member of Stagecrafters, serves on the board of Cabaret 313, and is a past president of the Michigan Association of Planning.
Darian Neubecker
Royal Oak Civic Foundation Treasurer
Darian is the senior vice president of Robertson Homes Company and has years of accounting and project management experience. He has expertise in financial and executive-level leadership as well as significant drive and determination to succeed. He manages many employees and is well-versed in the engagement and growth of others toward a common goal of success. As a Royal Oak resident and father of three children who will grow up in the city, he wants to provide assistance and expertise to ensure this Royal Oak remains a great place to live.
Howard H. Collens
Royal Oak Civic Foundation Secretary
Howard is a member of Collens Estate Law. He focuses his law practice on contested and uncontested probate and trust administration, estate planning, and elder law. Mr. Collens is a board member for Ageways (Area Agency on Aging 1B) and the vice president of the Senior and Caregiver Resource Network. Howard serves as a council member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Elder Law and Disability Rights Section. He also served as the 2nd vice president of Congregation Shir Tikvah and as president of the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Howard is married with three children and lives in Huntington Woods.
Jenn Banovetz-Bastian
Royal Oak Civic Foundation Trustee
Jennifer is a strategic communications leader with a diverse background spanning industries including automotive, B2B, consumer products and non-profit organizations. With a passion for public service, she crafts messaging and marketing campaigns to drive awareness, reach key stakeholders and form meaningful connections. Prior to starting her own consultancy, Jennifer held leadership positions in communications and brand marketing at global companies including Ford Motor Company, Ogilvy and Edelman. Her non-profit experience includes working with The Recording Academy, Adopt the Arts, Animal Wellness Foundation, and Infinite Hero Foundation. She lives in Royal Oak with her husband Paul, who is a lifelong Royal Oak resident, and their three rescue cats.
Julie Lyons Bricker
Royal Oak Civic Foundation Trustee
Julie is Oakland County’s Sustainability Project Manager and holds designations as a LEED AP O+M and Project Management Professional (PMP). Prior to joining Oakland County, she worked at the City of Royal Oak as the grants coordinator, energy and sustainability manager, and the founding executive director for the Royal Oak Civic Foundation. Julie has experience on several regional, non-profit executive boards. She is also a Royal Oak resident of 22 years and holds a deep commitment to community volunteering.
Alexander Fike
Royal Oak Civic Foundation Trustee
Alex Fike is tackling complex issues to fix the world’s trickiest problems. At Elevance Health, he leads learning programs for future-focused topics like digital, AI, automation, and process improvement and excellence, and supports team members through Elevance Health’s Automation and Process Academy. Prior to Elevance Health, Fike led Talent Management, Learning & Leadership Development at United Way, the world’s largest nonprofit. Before that, he served as a Legislative Director, a case worker, a communications specialist, and a policy architect. He serves on various community-focused nonprofit boards.
David Guest
Royal Oak Civic Foundation Trustee
David Guest, Certified Public Accountant, joined Grant, Millman & Johnson, P.C. in 2007, continuing a now four-decade career in client service. David sits on the Financial Advisory Board of Notre Dame Preparatory School and is active in the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce. David graduated from the University of Michigan, married a life-long Royal Oak resident and raised his two children in this city. His personal interests include visiting Detroit’s graffiti murals and architectural highlights, often via in-line skating and biking, interests also shared by his family members.
Eric Lofquist
Royal Oak Civic Foundation Trustee
Eric is the Director of Development for Oakland Community College. He has a diverse skillset in fundraising: major gift cultivation, corporate and foundation relations, grant management, and planned giving. Eric attended Oakland Community College, graduated from Michigan State University, and has a Master of Community Development from the University of Detroit Mercy. Eric also serves as the co-chair of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network – Detroit.
John Peetz
Royal Oak Civic Foundation Trustee
John Peetz, Vice President of Treasury, Investments and Debt. John joined Beaumont in 1990 and has held various financial management positions of increasing responsibility since that time. Prior to joining Beaumont, John was a Financial Officer at NBD Bancorp (since acquired by JP Morgan Chase). Mr. Peetz earned his Bachelor degree in Finance from Western Michigan University and an MBA from Wayne State University. Mr. Peetz has served on the Board of Community Living Services (CLS) and is a past Treasurer of that organization.
Jill Martin
Executive Director
Jill Martin began her career in public service at the City of Romulus in 1992 as an Administrative Assistant and retired in 2023, having earned the position of Grant Administrator and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. She attended Wayne State University and has a bachelor’s degree in communication. Jill serves the City of Royal Oak as the Grants Coordinator Management Analyst. As the executive director for Royal Oak Civic Foundation, Jill has a desire to impact the lives of Royal Oak positively. Her prior non-profit experience includes Vice President of Romulus Goodfellows, Chair of Romulus Pension Committee, and President of the LMR Fire Board.
More About Royal Oak Civic Foundation
The Royal Oak Civic Foundation is a formal 501(c)(3) non-profit that works to improve the city of Royal Oak’s health, safety, and cultural opportunities by inspiring the philanthropy of residents and business leaders to support a thriving, resilient community. We can respond quickly to matters concerning Royal Oak and can apply for grants with deadlines and requirements that the city government may be unable to meet. In addition to grants from other foundations, we accept individual and corporate donations and bequests. Your donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the IRS, and giving opportunities include Community Benefit Fund, Royal Oak Animal Shelter, Arts Commission, Historical Commission, Nature Society, Public Safety, Public Library, Parks & Recreation, and the City’s Senior Center.
Every year, many people make donations to the city programs they love, like the Public Library, Animal Shelter, and Parks & Recreation. The Royal Oak Civic Foundation provides a central place for you to donate and, as a 501(c)(3), enables a deduction on your tax return to the extent allowed by the IRS. We exist as a channel for residents, businesses, and corporations to make impactful philanthropic contributions. Your donation supports civic entities that receive little or no tax-base funding and groundbreaking community projects that improve the quality of life in the city of Royal Oak.
