We all have the inalienable right to happiness. Designed Future seeks to lead the world away from mediocrity, pettiness, and hopelessness and into excellence, love, happiness, and human connectedness. We are creating a new context for life, in which all people might prosper, in which all poverty might disappear. Without a shred of doubt, we know what’s very possible in the world. A world where everyone thrives. We see human beings collaborating, not competing. There would be no brutality because we wouldn’t fight. There would be no hunger because we would take care of one another. Prejudice, oppression, poverty, and needless suffering would no longer subsist. These are the miracles we believe in. And it’s the platform for our existence as Designed Future. We offer dynamic programs that transform the quality of life for others. Our personal development programs are life success workshops that go far beyond life coaching.
We are Designed Future. | A Transformational Organization.
Meet the Team
Julie Dankovich
Executive Director
Julie Dankovich is the CEO and Executive Director of Designed Future. Her unique philosophy adopts new thought provoking approaches to personal and professional success founded in a variety of disciplines that include psychology, neuroscience, spirituality, and quantum mechanics. She is the author of A Course in Prosperity- The Bible for Masters of Prosperity. Julie has a Masters Degree in Education and is a former educator. She was a freelancer for The Chicago Tribune from 1996-2002 and Vice President/Senior Merchant Account Specialist at Fifth Third Processing Solutions/Vantiv from 2003-2014. Julie was a finalist in the West Michigan Woman magazine 2021 Brilliant Champion of Service. The WMW Brilliance Awards recognizes those who tackle the issues facing professional women and blaze trails for the rest of us.
Jackie Rangel
Clinical Counselor
Jackie Rangel is our newest team member. Jackie graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Minor in Psychology. Jackie is a licensed Social Worker with the State of Michigan. Jackie had previously worked in the school system supporting students and Network 180 intaking and supporting clients for the past 15 year. Jackie deeply believes in a strength based clinical approach and specialized in accessing clients and helping link current client needs to existing services. Jackie has lived in the greater grand rapids area for the past 15 years with her husband, 3 kids and cat Kiwi.
Jennifer Feuerstein
Chair, Board of Directors
After experiencing a riches to rags life, Jennifer rebuilt herself as a single mom and career woman. She pulled up her bootstraps and worked her way up the career ladder to become Associate State Director for AARP and an on-air personality with WOTV 4. She credits her success to God and to the hard work she put in to create the life she wanted. In her role at AARP, she advocates for the rights of older adults and provides education on aging well. She co-hosts the “Real Possibilities” TV show and provides daily expert advice on WOTV empowering people to choose how to live as they age. She’s raised her children as a solo parent when her daughter was 1, her middle son was 3 and her oldest son was 11 after the divorce from her alcoholic husband. She is an avid self-improvement reader, feel-good story writer and thrill-seeking adventurer. She chose to sit on the board for Designed Future because of the incredible stories of redemption that come out of Designed Future.
Joe Berlin
President
Joe Berlin recently retired from the Kent County 61st District Probation Department after a 34 year career as a Probation Officer. He was the Chief Probation officer for the last 21 years. As part of a team, he was instrumental in helping develop and coordinate the Drug Treatment Court in 1998 and the Sobriety Court program in 2004. He has been an adjunct Criminal Justice Instructor at Grand Rapids Community College since 1995. Joe holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology both from Western Michigan University. Joe has a passion for helping individuals overcome their challenges and fears.
Mindy Klein
First Vice President
Mindy Klein has owned a number of small businesses, including the one she is currently with, National Plastek, Inc. Mindy has trained extensively in addiction and recovery coaching. She has studied alongside Annie Grace, from This Naked Mind, and earned her certificate of completion from TNM Alcohol Intensive Program. Mindy is currently a mentor to the online courses, The Bigger Yes and We Are The Luckiest, by Laura McKowen. She has earned her certificate in Cognitive Behavior Therapy from the Beck Institute, specializing in anxiety and depression. She has an advanced certificate in Christian Coaching from Light University and has studied under Coach Lauren Zander with the Handel Group at Inner U. She is currently finishing her Enneagram certification and hopes to help those in recovery using the Enneagram. Her most important job is the one she serves at home as Mom. She resides in East Grand Rapids with her daughters, Isabella and Emma, and their dog, Prince.
Doug Gaddy
Vice President
Doug Gaddy recently retired from a 36-year long career within the judiciary system. Doug served as an experienced Supervisor in the Juvenile Probation division of the 17th Circuit Court – Family Division in Kent County, Michigan. He graduated from Cornerstone University with a major in Sociology. He also has a Master of Public Administration (MPA) focused in Public Administration from Western Michigan University.
Robert “Louie“ Dykema
Treasurer
Robert Dykema is a life-long resident of Michigan with most of his time spent in Grand Rapids. After graduating from Grand Rapids Union in 1993, he briefly attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Once he returned to Grand Rapids, he started working at one of downtown’s most respected restaurants, San Chez: A Tapas Bistro. During his 8 years at the restaurant, he rose from a busboy to a manager as the restaurant experienced significant growth and cemented itself as a premier downtown destination.
Robert then decided to return to school and complete his degree. He graduated magna cum laude from Grand Valley State University as an accounting major. He has worked the last ten years at Crowe LLP which has an office in downtown Grand Rapids, in addition to locations throughout the country. He is currently a senior manager in the Global Tax Services Group. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and spending time with his two children, Isabella and Shane.
Rebecca Steiner
Recovery Support Specialist
Rebecca Steiner holds a Bachelor’s degree and is currently earning a Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Rebecca was a microbiologist at Ferndale Laboratories in Ferndale, MI from 1998-2014. Rebecca is now a recovery coach who knows how to coach others to quickly distinguish what is important in order to make critical decisions.
Rebecca is the recovery support specialist at Designed Future. She is a bold leader, proficient at creating and managing successful teams that achieve powerful results. Her keen listening skills make her highly attuned to what is being said and not said. Rebecca is committed to making a transformational difference in the world of recovery.
Hernalee Walker
Marketing Strategist
No one conceives and implements strategic marketing plans better than Hernalee Walker. Hernalee helps us identify new marketing opportunities, initiate new product introductions and ensure our revenue growth. She’s the driving force behind the creative and strategic elements of our marketing initiatives including print and Web collateral development, lead generation, as well as customer segmentation/profiling and awareness strategies. She ensures our brand is impeccable.
This no-nonsense New Yorker quickly became an indispensable part of our volunteer team. Yes, this marketing aficionado is a volunteer. What would we do without her? We hope we never know. Her efforts are selfless and immeasurable. They’re life-giving to Designed Future.
Hernalee is the VP of Marketing at Keshot Co. in New York. She has an M.B.A. Business Administration and Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree in Marketing from Baruch College.
Victor Vasquez
Designed Future House Manager
Aunt Ruby
Our House Dog