SWMPC Staff

K. John Egelhaaf, Executive Director

John has been the Executive Director at the SWMPC since June 2003. He is a certified planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). He is in his second decade in the profession.  During that time he has planned within a rich diversity of scale and subject matter. He holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Purdue University.

Contact information:

• email: egelhaafj@swmpc.org
• phone: (269) 925-1137 extension 1512

Marcy Hamilton, Deputy Executive Director/Senior Planner

Marcy is an experienced Senior Planner who has developed a track record of implementing successful projects for a variety of clients around the Southwest Michigan region. She has a wealth of experience writing master and recreation plans, facilitating planning processes, and developing grants and implementing projects in watershed planning, economic development, and recreation. In 2017 she was promoted to also serve as deputy executive director.

Marcy was the project director for the Dowagiac River Watershed Project with the Cass County Conservation District from 1999-2002.  She holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from Ohio Northern University and a Master of Environmental Science Degree from Miami University, Ohio.

 
Major program areas:

• Environmental Planning
• Community Planning
• Hazard Mitigation
• Non-Motorized (trail) Planning
• Watershed Planning and Implementation
• Public Transportation

Contact information:

• email: hamiltonm@swmpc.org 
• phone: (269) 925-1137 extension 1525

Kimberly Gallagher, Senior Planner

Insight, passion and experience make Kim Gallagher a dynamic leader and presenter.  Ms. Gallagher has the ability to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to build understanding and consensus in complex subject areas.  She has significant experience in developing marketing materials, including brochures, website development and interpretive products. Read more

Major program areas:

• Go Rideshare
• US 12 Heritage Trail
• Public Transportation 

Contact information:

• email: gallagherk@swmpc.org
• phone: (269) 925-1137 extension 1518

Jill Plescher, Geographic Information System Specialist

Jill joined the SWMPC staff in March of 2009.  She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Resources Management from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan with a focus in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and water resources.  She went on to acquire a graduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Environmental Monitoring, studying in the fields of remote sensing and GIS technologies.  Previously, Jill worked in Louisiana as a GIS Analyst for the Federal Government in the area of oil/gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico.  She provides the commission with an extensive set of cartographic expertise and GIS skill set.

Contact information:

• email: plescherj@swmpc.org
• phone: (269) 925-1137 extension 1522

Brandon Kovnat, Associate Planner
 
Brandon joined the SWMPC staff in May 2016, as an associate transportation planner.  He received his B.S. in biosystems engineering from Michigan State University and in 2009 and went on to earn a masters in urban planning from the University of Michigan. Brandon previously worked with MDOT in Asset Management.  He has also been an intern for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority working on community development grants and placemaking. In addition, Brandon attended a year of graduate school for planning at the University of Maryland where he also worked as an intern for the Montgomery County, MD Planning Department.

Contact Information:

• email: kovnatb@swmpc.org
• phone: (269) 925-1137 extension 1524

Maria Vettraino, Office Manager

Maria joined the SWMPC staff in the fall of 2021. 

Contact Information:

• email: vettrainom@swmpc.org 
• phone: (269) 925-1137 extension 1520

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