Our Team
Designed Future: Supporting Recovery and Personal Growth
Designed Future is a nonprofit organization committed to helping individuals rebuild stability, accountability, and long-term recovery. Through structured sober living housing and personal development programs, we support individuals working to overcome addiction, trauma, homelessness, and other life challenges.
Our work focuses on creating supportive environments where people can rebuild healthy routines, strengthen life skills, and move forward with confidence. By combining structure, community support, and personal development tools, Designed Future helps individuals build a stronger foundation for lasting change.
Every program we offer is built around one core belief: when people are given the right support, structure, and opportunity, transformation becomes possible.
Julie Dankovich
Executive Director
Julie Dankovich is the President 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 master’s 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.
Mindy Klein
Board Chair
Mindy Klein has owned a number of small businesses, including the one she 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’s earned her 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.
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. He 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.
Joe Berlin
First Vice President
Joe Berlin recently retired from the 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 master’s degree in clinical psychology both from Western Michigan University.
Brenda McWaters
Secretary
Brenda McWaters is a jack of all trades. She’s retired now, but you wouldn’t know it. No grass grows under Brenda’s feet. Brenda is a grant writer for Designed Future. She is a former case worker for the Grand Rapids court system, she is also a former probation officer for the State of Michigan. Brenda is multi-talented and can make just about anything. She has a daughter and a husband that make her world brighter.
Travis Lambright
Executive Director
As Executive Director of Designed Future, Travis is passionate about serving individuals and families impacted by homelessness, addiction, and incarceration. His leadership is grounded in a simple conviction: people are empowered when they are given the opportunity to develop solutions, make meaningful decisions, and discover their own capacity for growth.
He believes the strongest organizations are built by teams that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and shared ownership. At Designed Future, he works alongside a team committed to creating an environment where people are not controlled by their circumstances, but empowered to move toward lasting change and a healthier future.
Having personally experienced many of the challenges faced by the community Designed Future serves, Travis brings both personal understanding and genuine compassion to his work. For him, service is more than a professional responsibility—it is a calling and an opportunity to help bridge the gap between the community and the people it serves.
Alongside his leadership at Designed Future, Travis is pursuing pastoral studies, continuing to develop his understanding of faith, leadership, and discipleship. Outside of ministry and nonprofit work, he enjoys working with cars, music, good food, and spending time on or near the water.
His life and work are guided by Isaiah 61:1, a passage that reflects his desire to bring hope, freedom, restoration, and good news to those who are hurting and searching for a new beginning.
Nordica Jones
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Nordica Jones is from muskegon county and her recovery journey started in 20204. After relocated to the Grand Rapis area, She became a resident at Designed Future and a advocate in the recovery community. Nordica is studying social and behavioral studies at GRCC. Nordica is sevice oriented, skilled in learning and facilitating life skills, problem solving, and cultivating healthy relationshops.
Nordica values the importance of connection. Not only to others, but to ones self. She Is honored and grateful for the opportunity to share this with our residents. “We are all in this together!”