Dave Niefer retired from the Ottawa Area ISD after serving as the Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services.  His long career as an educator also included teaching at the elementary level, serving as an elementary principal, and as a district assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.  Brain-based learning has been a strong interest of Dave's since becoming part of the original planning team for the Midwest Brain and Learning Institute.  The twelve years of planning and implementing this important program for educators has led him to a new appreciation for the ever-expanding knowledge about the role of the brain in learning.  Currently he is the Senior Consultant for My2SenseWorth, Inc. where his work focuses on leadership, planning and professional coaching.  He has shared his enthusiasm in professional development sessions around the country.

Cathy Feyt is an Instructional Services Consultant for the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District in Holland, Michigan providing curriculum, instruction and assessment support to local districts.  She is also a certified trainer for Understanding by Design, Curriculum Mapping and Successline Inc Data Coaching.She is one of the founding members of the Midwest Brain and Learning Institute planning team and looks forward every year to participating in this dynamic event which engages educators in the exciting developments in the field of brain and learning research.  She received her B.S. in Sociology and Anthropology from Grand Valley State University and her M.A. in Management from Aquinas College.

Linda Jordan is an Associate Professor at Hope College in Holland, Michigan where she teaches Educational Psychology, Elementary Curriculum and Methods, and Classroom Management. She is also an Associate for Susan Kovalik and Associates where she works as an educational consultant to schools around the nation in implementing the Effective Learning Model.  Linda is currently in the dissertation stage of her Ph.D program at Michigan State University. She has 30 years of experience in teaching at the elementary and college levels.

Dr. Kyle Mayer, Ph.D., is the new Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services at the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District.  Kyle began his career in education as an elementary teacher, teaching fifth grade in his hometown of Bronson, Michigan.  Later, he served as an elementary school principal in Bronson while also serving as the school district’s School Improvement Coordinator. Kyle’s most recent position before coming to the OAISD was as Superintendent of Ashley Community Schools in Ashley, Michigan. Kyle, his wife, and three year old daughter welcomed a new son to their family in September of 2008.