About Me
I’m running for a position on the Fruitland Township Board of Trustees, and I’d appreciate your support to make our community better. I believe government works best when it’s close to the people it serves. My goal is to protect our neighbors’ rights to live freely and make their own choices, while also ensuring everyone’s safety and well-being.
I am a Christian, a husband to my wife Joella, father to my five sons and one daughter-in-law, volunteer, leader, constitutionalist, educator, and business advocate.
Our family loves Fruitland Township. It’s not just our home—it’s a wonderful place to live. We enjoy raising our family here in this beautiful, rural area. With the gorgeous shores of Lake Michigan and the wonderful waters of Duck Lake and White Lake, we feel truly blessed to be part of this community. It’s a place many people would dream of living, thanks to its natural beauty, strong agricultural roots, friendly neighbors, and all the amenities you need just a short drive away.
I serve as business faculty at Muskegon Community College focusing on business and information systems including courses in introduction to business, computer programming, advertising, eCommerce, eMarketing, personal finance, and user experience (UX). In addition to my full-time teaching role at the college, I have served in many leadership, governance, policy, and operational committees at the college.
I also teach high school students at Muskegon High School and other high school students from across the United States in the disciplines of economics, business, computer coding, and graphic design.
I have also served as a mentor/coach to Whitehall Public Schools’ award-winning student robotics teams.
I am the Chairman of the Board at Alive on the Lakeshore, a locally-based 501(c)3 organization. Alive on the Lakeshore supports other local non-profit ministries with financial, administrative, and organizational assistance. I have been involved with the organization for 24 years since we started the Unity Christian Music Festival in 2001. My operational oversight roles with the event focus on media relations, marketing, financial transaction planning, box office operations, communications planning, crisis communications and on-stage operations. It is my pleasure to work with the hundreds of great volunteers and a small core leadership team to bring this event to help drive the economic and spiritual atmosphere of our community.
In government service I have served as an appointed member of Central Business District Development Authorities and Tax Increment Finance Authorities in both Ottawa County and Muskegon County.
If you have any questions or would like more information you may call or text me at 231-206-0551 or email c@vanoosterhout.com