Meet our staff

 

 

Candyce Wolsfeld

 

Candyce Wolsfeld is the founder and Executive Director of We Are Mentors Services Inc. She hails from Durand, MI and attended Mott College and University of Michigan-Flint.

 

Candyce has an extensive background in working with families in crisis. She served as the executive director of Project Success of Eastern Bureau County, Inc for 15 years. During her tenure the agency won two State of Illinois HomeTown awards for programs such as a food panty, free dental and eye glass programs, and summer recreation programs. She directed National Night Out in Spring Valley, IL, for 18 years and was the grant administrator for Hall Township.  She was the founder of the Spring Valley McGruff Safe House Program, served on the Spring Valley Elementary Schools Foundation, and on the Bureau County Senior Citizen Board. She was the administrator for Echo Bluff Park in Spring Valley.

 

Candyce was awarded the Kahla Lansing Child Protection Award by Kahla Foundation, and the It Takes A Village Award by the Bureau County State's Attorney for her work with children and children in crisis.

 

Candyce and her husband, Elmer, reside in Zeeland.  They have three children and 6 grandchildren.

 

Dan Bierma M.ed, M.div, LLMSW

 

Dan Bierma is the co-director of we are mentors and oversees the services offered through New Course.

 

Dan has been working with children and families for over 20 years. He is passionate about restoration and reconciliation and desires to help you move forward through the challenges you may be facing. Dan is currently practicing as a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Michigan with a focus on family mediation by providing individual and family therapy. He is dedicated to issues of social justice, education, and helping families to find their identities.

Dan earned his Masters in Social Work from Grand Valley State University and a Masters in Divinity from Western Theological Seminary in 2014. He also earned a Masters in Education Administration degree from Governor's State University in 2006. Dan began working with We Are Mentors in 2013 while finishing his internship with the Department of Human Services in their Child Welfare division.

Dan and his wife, Becky, live in Holland. They have 2 school-aged children.

 

Tabitha Wolters

 

Tabitha Wolters started working as a Parent Mentor with We Are Mentors in March of 2014. It is her "dream job" as she loves working with parents and their children.  Tabitha also sits on the Advisory Board at Ottawa County Community Action Agency.  Before working with We Are Mentors, Tabitha was a stay-at-home mom for 11 years. She and her husband, Jon, have three school-aged children.  Prior to being a stay-at-home mom, Tabitha worked as the Director of Social Services for The Salvation Army in Holland and as a Family Advocate for the Head Start Program.  Tabitha graduated in 1998 from Calvin College with a Bachelors degree in Social Work.  In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, geocaching, the beach, watching sports, and reading.