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.
Ashley Kozfkay
Therapist
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.
Ashley has two children (Everett and Meadow) who are her reasons for everything she does.
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. Hernalee is the VP of Marketing at Keshot Co. in New York.
Sidney Gardner
Assistant Executive Director
Hi everybody! My name is Sidney Gardner and I am a new member here with the Designed Future family. What a blessing it is to be here- as someone who has dealt with substance abuse issues from a very young age. Walking alongside those who struggle with recovering from addiction is truly where my heart is at. I believe God has allowed me to be a part of the mission of Designed Future for a purpose much bigger than myself. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this non- profit.
A little bit about me: I am a Rockford Highschool graduate. In my free time, I love to be at the beach or with family and friends. I also enjoy hanging out in nature or at home with my cat, Rogelio.