MEET THE TEAM

  • Interim Executive Leader

    Heather Boswell is a strategic and results-driven leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing community impact in West Michigan through cross-sector partnerships, innovative program design, and data-informed, inclusive strategies. As Principal and Founder of SuccessStone Strategies, she partners with organizations to navigate an ever-changing landscape, define future opportunities, and maximize their reach, sustainability, and responsiveness to community needs. She brings expertise in program development, public funding strategy, policy analysis, and competitive grant development.

    In previous roles, Heather has contributed to numerous countywide initiatives in Kent County to assess community needs and gaps. This work includes multiple needs assessments analyzing service and funding gaps, evaluating progress and outcomes across program networks, and examining public and private investments in child care and early education. Her analysis spanned capital needs, workforce supports, and program sustainability strategies. Her research and strategic support helped inform messaging and decision-making that contributed to the successful passage and renewal of the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage in Kent County, ensuring sustained investment in services for young children and families.

    At the state and national levels, Heather served on the team leading a Kent County initiative aligned with Stanford University’s RAPID Survey Project, supporting the collection of local data on family experiences to inform early childhood policy and program decisions. She also served as a Community Fellow with the National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers, funded by the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation, with a focus on advancing equitable early childhood care and programming for children prenatal to age three.

    Heather holds a Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Administration from Grand Valley State University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Michigan State University. She is an active member of several advisory committees, professional associations, and community organizations, reflecting her longstanding commitment to service and collaboration in the West Michigan region.

  • Manager of Business Services

    Amanda Rios is the Ready for School Office Manager and is joining Reach Out and Read Michigan as a Program Specialist. Amanda has almost 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, with most of that time being in the early childhood field as a Family Services Advocate for Head Start.

    Amanda has always been passionate about helping others and positively impacting the community.

  • Senior Program Manager Reach Out & Read Michigan

    Tracy Amid joins Reach Out and Read Michigan as a Program Manager. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business from Calvin University and a Master of Management from Cornerstone University. Tracy has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector in varying roles promoting program growth, partnerships, marketing, and process improvements.

    Tracy’s passion for the mission of Reach Out and Read Michigan was only amplified during her experience as a foster parent and adoptive parent. She gained first hand experience on the importance of early childhood literacy and development.

  • Program Specialist
    Reach Out & Read Michigan

     Cheryl brings her passion for early literacy to the Reach Out & Read program, after having spent the better part of her career promoting the joy of reading in Southeastern Michigan schools. While working for many years at a major children’s book publisher, Cheryl enjoyed helping to put thousands of books into kids’ hands and build home and classroom libraries. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana University, which complements her work in program coordination and outreach.

    In her role as a Program Specialist, Cheryl is dedicated to helping communities and families thrive as they learn about the value of time spent discovering books together.