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.
Ashley Kozfkay
Licensed Professional Counselor
Ashley grew up in a small farming town in Iowa. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After graduation, she moved to Madison, Wisconsin to work in the education field. A few years later Ashley ventured to Burlington, Vermont continuing in a helping position as a Mental Health Case Coordinator. After another couple years Ashley moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan to pursue a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. She has been a Licensed Practicing Counselor for over ten years and has experience working with children/adolescents, as well as adults struggling with anxiety and depression resulting from trauma, sexual abuse and substance abuse issues. Ashley has her own personal experience of working through struggles and believes this assists her in having a deeper understanding when working with clients in a therapeutic environment.
“When human beings experience trauma or life stressors it is common to feel as if things in their lives are unraveling. It is my privilege to walk alongside my clients to help them to discover purpose, healthy perceptions of themselves and to strengthen their relationships so they can know themselves as peaceful, complete, whole and safe. To accomplish this, it is essential to build a trusting relationship with each of my clients and together we establish goals. I do not believe in one single approach for all. Because of this, I have been trained in a range of modalities,” says Ashley, MA, LPC, NCC.
Ashley has two children (Everett and Meadow) who are her reasons for everything she does.
Mindy Klein
Board Chair
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.
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.
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/Director of Finances
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.
Brenda McWaters
Secretary
Brenda McWaters is a multi-talented and recent retiree. Brenda left a career in the judicial system, where she was a Community Service Caseworker, a Probation Officer, and a Pre-Trial Investigator. Brenda is crafty. She’s kind. She’s generous and compassionate. And we’re lucky to have her on board with us!
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.
Michael Vogt
Designed Future House Manager
Allen Reece
Designed Future House Manager
Aunt Ruby
Our House Dog