Camp Fire River Bend will hold our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, November 19th at 6pm EST. The Annual Meeting is a public meeting, and we invite you to join us (virtually). During the meeting, we will provide a Year-in-Review for Camp Fire and our programs, and elect new board members, officers and committee members. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 19th at 6pm EST. Please pre-register below to attend this meeting.
When: November 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
You must register in advance to attend this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
To serve a 3-year term:
Maria Carlson (2nd term). Maria Carlson is an elementary teacher at Cornerstone Christian Montessori School in Elkhart, Indiana. Maria is an Elkhart native, and holds a degree in English from Kalamazoo College. Her daughter Ava, has attended Camp T for five summers. Maria was a member of the Camp staff in 2020, as a co-kitchen manager. She is active in the community, having served as a member of the Board of Directors for Swanson Community Pool and Irish Aquatics Swim Club. She enjoys reading, music, theater, and spending time with friends and family.
Melissa Healy, (2nd term). Melissa (she/hers) joined the Camp Fire River Bend Board in December 2022. She serves as the Employee Belonging and Participation Lead at Leo Burnett Group. She gets her energy from supporting others and co-creating platforms on which they can flourish. She’s a big believer in people and it guides everything she does. She is a white woman unlearning, a mother constantly learning, and flagrantly committed to both. She lives in River Forest, IL with a passionate Camp T camper.
To serve a 2-year term:
Melissa Healy, President (1st term). Melissa (she/hers) joined the Camp Fire River Bend Board in December 2022. She serves as the Employee Belonging and Participation Lead at Leo Burnett Group. She gets her energy from supporting others and co-creating platforms on which they can flourish. She’s a big believer in people and it guides everything she does. She is a white woman unlearning, a mother constantly learning, and flagrantly committed to both. She lives in River Forest, IL with a passionate Camp T camper.
Ethan White, Vice President (1st term). Ethan White was a Camp Tannadoonah camper and staff member, and for the past year as served as Treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, and currently works as an investment manager for 119th St. Capital. He is excited to join the board in order to preserve and improve the Camp Fire experience for future campers, school program participants, and staff.
Jamie Green, Treasurer (1st term). Jamie Green was elected to the Board of Directors in December 2021, and previously served as treasurer from 2021-2024. Jamie is the Director of Corporate Development for Caterpillar Inc. He holds an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Mathematical Economics from Wake Forest University. He has been a resident of Birch Lake since 2017.
Bob Bender, Executive Committee At Large Member (2nd term). Bob joined the Board of Directors in December 2020 and serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. His wife Layna and their three children have had a summer home on Birch Lake since 2008. Each of their kids spent many summers at Camp T when they were younger, with great memories for the whole family. Bob had previously been President and COO of The Commodore Corporation before leaving in 2022. He has an engineering degree from the University of Illinois, an MBA from the University of Rochester, and has served on boards related to the housing market.
To serve a 2-year term:
Tara Grove, Chair (1st term). Tara Grove is the Assistant Head of School and Director of Middle School at The Stanley Clark School in South Bend, Indiana. She holds a Masters in Education from The Ohio State University, and earned her Bachelors in Education from Indiana University. Tara and her husband Lee, and their two daughters have a cottage at Birch Lake, and love spending their summers at the lake. Her daughters have attended Camp T for the past three summers, and Tara looks forward to serving on the board of directors to ensure that many more youth have the same wonderful experiences at Camp Fire and Camp T.
Maria Carlson (2nd term). Maria Carlson is an elementary teacher at Cornerstone Christian Montessori School in Elkhart, Indiana. Maria is an Elkhart native, and holds a degree in English from Kalamazoo College. Her daughter Ava, has attended Camp T for five summers. Maria was a member of the Camp staff in 2020, as a co-kitchen manager. She is active in the community, having served as a member of the Board of Directors for Swanson Community Pool and Irish Aquatics Swim Club. She enjoys reading, music, theater, and spending time with friends and family.
