A message from Board Chair Cheryl Hutchinson.

I’m writing today with an important announcement about Groundwork’s organizational leadership and our next chapter. 
 
Elizabeth Palchak has asked to step back from her position as Executive Director for family reasons. In response, the Groundwork board has appointed Jim Bruckbauer to lead the organization with the title of Chief Executive Officer and has assigned Elizabeth to the newly created position of Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer. The board is so pleased to be able to tap Jim’s extensive experience with Groundwork, while also shaping a position that leverages Elizabeth’s skills so well for Groundwork’s future.
 
Jim has been part of Groundwork for over 15 years and has worked across nearly every part of the organization—from policy specialist to program leadership to finance and operations. Along the way, he has helped shape some of Groundwork’s most important initiatives and built strong relationships with partners across Michigan.
 
The path that brought Jim here started before he joined the staff.
 
“This role is deeply personal for me. I found Groundwork in 2006 when a college professor handed me Going to Town, a report that captured the spirit of the organization’s early work and its belief that people can shape the future of the towns they live in—building places that are walkable and connected. I drove up to Traverse City from Grand Rapids to learn more about this amazing advocacy group. Soon thereafter, I applied for a job and was honored to join the staff in TC.”
 
Over the years, Jim has become a trusted leader within the organization and across Michigan’s nonprofit community. The board is confident that his experience, vision, and deep commitment to Groundwork’s mission make him the right person to lead the organization into its next chapter.
 
Elizabeth has provided steady leadership as Executive Director for our organization during a year of significant change in the policy landscape and is excited to focus her efforts on growing Groundwork’s impact in this new role. She will focus on expanding partnerships with nonprofits, foundations, businesses, and national networks that can amplify our work happening here in Michigan.
 
These partnerships will help connect innovative solutions emerging in our communities with broader audiences and collaborators.
 
Across Michigan, communities are stepping up to tackle big challenges—from food security to the clean energy transition to building stronger, more resilient local economies. At moments like this, organizations like Groundwork have an important role to play: helping communities turn good ideas into real action.
 
For more than 30 years, Groundwork has been working on the ground in Michigan to strengthen local food, energy and transportation systems—practical changes that help kids eat better, families save money and communities grow stronger, while protecting the places we love.
 
Following an analysis of the growing needs facing communities and the opportunities to increase our impact, the board believes these changes enable Groundwork to maintain uninterrupted momentum while deepening the network of partnerships that will be key to taking Groundwork’s proven ideas further.
 
Thanks to the support of our partners, donors, and community members, Groundwork has a strong foundation to build on. As we look ahead, we are excited to deepen our work in communities, expand partnerships, and scale our proven models into a blueprint for communities across Michigan and beyond.
 
The moment calls for action—and Groundwork is ready.

Cheryl Hutchinson is Groundwork’s Board Chair.
cheryl.hutchinson@groundworkcenter.org

 
Cheryl Hutchinson
Board Chair
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities