Meet the Team

  • With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, William Buster is considered a leader in the field of philanthropy, known for his transformative influence on community development public health, and health equity across the United States. Through his work he has sought to help the field of philanthropy deepen its impact and improve its partnerships with the communities and organizations in which they invest and partner.

    Buster has held several roles during his career. Buster was the founding CEO & president of the New Hanover Community Endowment. At its founding it was the largest place-based health conversation foundation per capita in the United States. Prior to NHCE he held two successful appointments as the senior vice president at the Dogwood Health Trust in Asheville, NC and the Executive Vice President at the St. David’s Foundation in Austin TX. For both appointments he led the impact teams and had oversight of all grantmaking and program-related investment strategies. Over his career, Buster has directed over $600 million in grants, program-related investments, and mission-related investments towards improving lives and communities across this country but especially across the American South. He has dedicated his life’s work to improving the social determinants of health and quality of life particularly for children, youth, families and seniors.

  • Lindsey Hemmerlein is from Kalamazoo, MI. She serves as the Operations Director at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. She earned both of her graduate degrees in Organizational Change Leadership and Education from Western Michigan University. Lindsey has been working in the nonprofit sector for over 10 years. She has experience in grant writing, organizational design, and youth development. Lindsey believes in the power of collaboration that is centered on the people impacted. She believes in telling the whole truth. Lindsey reminds us of Ayanna Pressley’s words “those closest to the pain, should be closest to the power.”

  • Leatrice Fullerton was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI. She serves as a Resource & Relationship Partner at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work from Western Michigan University.

    Leatrice has spent over a decade serving the Kalamazoo community in the nonprofit sector as a volunteer and employee. She believes that everyone should be given the opportunity to thrive in accessible and inclusive communities where diversity is embraced, valued, and respected. Leatrice says, “I proudly reside at the intersection of several different marginalized groups; my race, my disability, and my gender.” She has made it her goal to positively represent and advocate for these communities in all that she does.

  • Laura Winther serves as the Information Systems and Grants Manager at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. She earned an undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University and a Masters from Sarah Lawrence College, both in Writing, and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Program Evaluation at Michigan State University. Laura spent the past 15 years teaching in higher education and working in the nonprofit sector, the last five as the director of a community scholarship program. She is passionate about working behind the scenes to remove barriers in processes and systems that have historically served to  exclude communities from philanthropy. Laura believes "systems tied to wealth often come with an invisible set of rules and requirements that maintain the status quo. Explicitly stating or eliminating these can connect powerful work to necessary funding.

  • Mary DeMoss is a purpose-driven Executive Assistant based in Kalamazoo, MI, with a background in program management, public health education, and executive-level support. She holds a Bachelor’s in Public Health from Western Michigan University and is certified as a Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Community Health Worker (CCHW).

    Mary is deeply committed to equity and systems change, bringing a collaborative and detail-oriented approach to every role she takes on. Her work reflects a passion for supporting community-driven initiatives and advancing meaningful, long-term impact.

  • Hollywood Watkins serves as the Program Associate at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. A first-generation college student, Hollywood earned both her B.A. in Sociology and M.A. in Communication from Western Michigan University. 

    Her career began in public service, spending five years with the Van Buren County Specialty Courts supporting individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges. She later transitioned into scholarship administration, serving two years as the Scholarship Manager at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation and a year and a half as the Scholarship and Outreach Specialist for the College of Education and Human Development at WMU. 

    As the proud daughter of an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, Hollywood sees the concept of borders as deeply artificial tools of exclusion that uphold power and privilege. To her, borders are not just physical lines on a map; they also manifest as emotional, social, and institutional barriers that create division and perpetuate harm. This lived understanding fuels Hollywood’s work in dismantling systemic barriers and expanding access to resources. 

  • eMily Alemán-McAlpine serves as the Network Partner-Healthcare at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. eMily is a strategic leader with over 15 years of philanthropy and nonprofit experience. She is dedicated to advancing equitable and just systems, resources, and policies that foster thriving, healthy families and communities. Known for her collaborative mindset, she leverages it to drive sustainable, long-term impact through strategic program development, systems change, and cross-sector partnerships, ensuring every initiative is designed to center people and the planet.

    Emily brings an integrated understanding of how the environment, education, arts, and health intersect to shape individual and community wellbeing. She has designed and implemented equitable funding systems that increased resource accessibility and were informed by community voice and lived experience.

    Throughout her career, she has co-developed and managed statewide strategic partnerships and overseen the allocation of corporate philanthropic funding to improve health outcomes for Michigan residents, with a focus on historically under-resourced and divested communities.

    Her deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging—and to ensuring those most impacted shape the solutions—drives her service and fueled her contributions on the Environmental Grantmakers Association Board, Council of Michigan Foundations Public Policy Committee, and River Restoration Equity Stakeholder Advisory Board.

    eMily holds an MBA from Michigan State University and two degrees from Western Michigan University: a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Spanish.

  • Ebony English serves as the Education Network Partner at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. Ebony earned her B.A. in Professional Writing and Communications from Purdue University and her Master’s of Arts in Teaching from Mercer University.

    Ebony started her career in early childhood education as a Head Start teacher. From there she taught middle school English Language Arts and also has experience teaching GED courses and conversational English.

    Since the classroom, Ebony has worked in various capacities coaching educators, designing professional development sessions and systems with school districts, and supporting school leaders with systems change.

    Ebony was a Senior Program Officer at the William Penn Foundation, where she oversaw a portfolio that supported efforts to increase literacy, improve high school completion rates, and enhance teacher preparation in Philadelphia. Most recently,

    Ebony was the Vice President of Programs at the NEA Foundation, where she led program development and grantmaking.

    Ebony is passionate about educational equity and innovation and is deeply committed to working alongside partners to support students, educators, and families.

  • Paul Smith serves as the Affordable Housing Network Partner at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. He is an AICP-certified planner and holds a Master of Public Administration from Central Michigan University.

    Early in his career, Paul worked as a financial analyst and research director in financial services. That background continues to shape his approach to housing and development, giving him a practical understanding of how investors evaluate projects and how development costs influence outcomes.

    Before joining the Foundation, Paul spent ten years working for a mid-sized Michigan city, where he supervised the planning, building inspections, code compliance, and community development teams. During that time, he helped advance projects at every scale, from $100 million industrial facilities to permanent supportive housing to infill residential development.  He worked closely with local, state, and federal partners to move complex projects from concept to construction.

    Paul’s experience in local government equips him to work closely with grantees to address systemic housing challenges and advance practical solutions that expand housing opportunity in communities.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ronda Stryker, President
Bill Johnston, Treasurer and Secretary
Annie Henn
Megan Johnston
Michael Johnston