Karen Brewer started working in Career Development in January 1999, as Department Assistant. Previously she worked for Creative Dining Services at Calvin as the Administrative Assistant. Her previous work experience has been in Human Resources. Karen assists employers and students with job postings and helps to maintain the credential files.

Meredith Care joined Career Development in 2008 after obtaining a master's degree in adult and higher education with a concentration in student affairs leadership. She graduated from Hope College with a degree in English and Communications and worked at Youth for Christ for four years. As our full-time career counselor, Meredith assists Calvin students with choosing a major, discovering their individual strengths and interests, writing resumes and cover letters, preparing for interviews, and other career-related guidance.

Beth Cok graduated from Calvin with an economics major. Previously Beth worked in insurance claim management, specializing in managing and training employees handling medical claim rehabilitation and liability litigation. She then owned and managed an insurance agency. She is now working in the Career Development Office as the Manager of Experiential Education. She handles administrative functions within the office and also works extensively with the internship program. She is the liaison for students and faculty related to the internship program, and she enjoys helping students experience a positive opportunity to develop their professional skills.

Kristy Dykhouse has been working at Calvin since 1993. She worked in Health Services, the Education Department and Student Life before joining the Career Development staff in July, 2004. Kristy serves as the primary recruiting coordinator for on-campus employer visits, and she creates employment booklets for Accounting, Education, and Engineering students.

While a Calvin student, Kristine Gortsema participated in the Chicago Semester, where she had an internship in human resources. This internship launched her HR career, including a position as HR Director for X-Rite Corporation. She is an expert on resume writing, interviewing, and job searching skills.

Laurie Lemmen graduated from Calvin College with an English major. Since graduating, Laurie taught in a Hungarian high school in Budapest and worked for a State Representative in Lansing before returning to her alma mater, where she began working in the Education Department in 2002. Laurie joined the Career Development staff in July, 2004 as the Experiential Education Coordinator. Her primary task is to recruit, develop, and maintain internship placements for students with employers. She also serves as the office's job fair coordinator, web manager, and system administrator for CalvinLink.

Ruth Remtema earned an undergraduate degree from Calvin along prior to obtaining a graduate degree in Interpersonal Communications. Ruth has extensive experience in career counseling, with over 10 years as a professional services consultant in career transitions for Right Management. She also worked with CAS Professor Quentin Schultze for several years as program manager and instructor for the Workshops in Communication at Calvin.

Bonnie Speyers graduated from Calvin with a sociology major and later, realizing an interest and love for teenagers, returned to complete the requirements for an education degree. Having taught in middle schools in New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia, she also taught in the software training division at Unisys. In addition, Bonnie operated her own business, Classy Cakes, before coming to Calvin as the computer lab manager. After three years in that position, drawing on her Master's in Counseling, Bonnie transferred to the Career Development office where she serves as a career counselor and the manager of the Career Resource Center located in the Hekman Library. View Bonnie's weblog, Career Catapult.

Following graduation from Calvin College with an English major, Glenn Triezenberg earned his Master's Degree in Social Work with a concentration in family therapy and community mental health. After working as a family therapist for Evangelical Child and Family Agency and Pine Rest, Glenn became Director of Medical Social Work Services for Blodgett Memorial Medical Center. During that time he completed his MBA, later working as account executive and executive recruiter for GA Burns Associates, an executive recruiting and corporate outplacement firm in Grand Rapids. He has served as Director of Career Development at Calvin since 1992.

Career Development's Mission: To assist Calvin students and graduates in their vocational planning. Although not a placement service, this office helps students to make the transition from the academy to the workplace by providing timely and accurate information, professional guidance, and confidential services.In partnership with students, graduates, and employers, we offer our hearts and lives to do God's work in God's world.

Administrative Office
Hekman Library 372
(616) 526-6485
career@calvin.edu

Resource Center
Hekman Library 2nd floor

Jobshop
For part-time, non- internship positions and on campus jobs
Human Resources Spoelhof Center 370
(616) 526-7000