Our Staff
Deborah Droppers
Founder & Executive Director
"My mom, Shirley Van Hoeven, inspires me every day and it is in her spirit that I founded the Center. She lived her life for college students when she was teaching at Western Michigan University. Her impact still resonates through her Scholarship Fund in the Communications Department.
This center is my dream. I love working with non-profits and enjoy the chaos of working with interns. I am inspired to think of new ideas to make events more interactive, customer-focused, and multi-layered. I teach at Western Michigan University and run the Event Management Minor. It's insanely fun. Every day I learn something new in preparation for the lectures that hopefully engage, inspire, transform. Within this pledge, we celebrate the passion of the product and the people we serve.
It's an amazing adventure".
Elly Weber
Marketing Manager
Elly Weber, a Baker College alumna, is a vital member of the KELC team. She utilizes an extensive background in event management and strategic marketing to cultivate meaningful customer engagement. In addition to her full-time role at KELC, Elly operates a photography business—an endeavor that highlights her entrepreneurial drive and creative versatility. Her unique blend of marketing expertise and visual artistry makes her exceptionally adaptable, focused, and adept at managing complex, multi-faceted projects with a positive, client-centered approach.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Elly enjoys line dancing and cherishes time spent with her partner, family, and friends.
Amanda Pescola
Event and Outreach Coordinator
Amanda is an aspiring young professional with a deep passion for event design and management. She is currently a student at Western Michigan University, studying Event Management with a minor in Psychology. Her love for event management comes from a want to create inspiring and engaging moments that leave attendees with fond memories that last a lifetime.
Our Event Staff
Meghan
Meghan (she/her) will be graduating from Western Michigan
University this spring with a B.A. in Arts Administration with
a minor in Event Management. She brings extensive experience
in the arts, marketing, and patron services to the KELC event team.
In her spare time, Meghan enjoys tactile "granny" crafts and spending time with her partner and their two cats.
