Staff
SHERRY HOPPEN
CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Sherry attended for the first time in 2015, and and this is her 5th year as the Executive Director of the MCWC! In 2015 I was about as green as possible! Fast forward to today, and she is the published author of Sober Cycle-Pedaling Through Recovery One Day at a Time.
When she is not wearing my E.D. hat, you will find her pouring into the ministry of She Surrenders. A faith-based ministry for women of faith stuck in the cycle of addiction, The MCWC gave her the tools and the courage to share her story in my book, on stage, and on her website. She have learned so much here and anticipate gaining knowledge and experience every year. There are ALWAYS new things to learn in the fast-changing world of all things Christian Publishing!
When I’m not working, you will find me biking, reading, and hanging out with my husband and best friend, Craig. Together we love spending time with our kids and our three amazing Grandsons. I have to be honest, though; empty nesting is a good thing too!
ERICA RINDE
CONFERENCE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & BOOKSTORE MANAGER
Erica began helping with the writer's conference in 2019 as the Pop-up Bookstore Manager and, in 2022, started sharing her efficient skills to join Sherry's in running this conference. She is very familiar with Maranatha as her family has owned a mobile home since May 2014, and she enjoyed many summer days with her family.
Erica lives in the Western Suburbs of Chicago with her husband, Tom, and high school-aged daughter. Her two older daughters have flown the coop but thankfully "fly" home often as they live nearby.
Erica has a vast experience in event planning thru her church, has run a printing company, and is a part-time Realtor. She was also a soda jerk in high school, played college basketball, loves to read, sew, and does pottery when she has time, but she is unsure how that will help her in this role.
Erica has 80% of a book written with the working title Thriving(for the most part) After Surviving Abuse. Her husband has a youth fiction series he is working on. Erica loves this conference and enjoys meeting those who teach and attend.
LAURA LOVEBERRY
CONFERENCE HOSPITALITY HOSTESS
Laura attended her first conference over 20 years and again ten years ago. This year will be her 5th conference as a hospitality hostess, and she enjoys meeting and greeting attendees.
She has self-published 2 BOOKS, traditionally published one book, and has more in the hopper. Also, she is a nationally-known speaker at women's conferences, using her inspirational non-fiction to encourage women to sprout through hard seasons and grow upward toward the True Light. She is a former art teacher and leads school presentations based on her books Paint Splat Hero and Splatter Paint Hero books. Her workout DVD, Walk the Talk, features the Maranatha beach as a backdrop. Laura writes a "Life is the Berries article" for three magazines. In the summer, Laura serves as an on-campus artist and hike leader, so she can help with your Maranatha questions and ask her to sketch your caricature, too!
She is a loving wife to Mark, mom of 2 adult children, and Glamma to 3 grandchildren.
CORRINE DEWITT
MARKETING AND CONFERENCE ASSISTANT
Hi, I’m Corrine, and I began helping Sherry with Writer’s Conference the past 2 years with website set-up and marketing. I began working at Maranatha when I was 9 years old as a volunteer with my friend, Brooke, whose mother is on staff. I am now employed full time as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director and Marketing Specialist. I attended Hope College and received my BA degree in Business. I worked in corporate accounting for a major health system in Grand Rapids but my heart was always at Maranatha! I’ve recently started coaching basketball along-side my high school teammate. I will be going on my second year as the Assistant Coach for the Mona Shores Freshman Girls Basketball team.
I have worked at Biggby Coffee as a barista and am a coffee connoisseur of all varieties! I did volunteer work at several places while in college including the Holland Tulip Time. My favorite volunteer work was always at Maranatha!
For fun, I love to golf, shop online, hang with friends and love on my dog, Oscar!
MARY MORGAN
CONFERENCE HOSTESS
Hi, I'm Mary, and this is my 14th year experiencing MCWC! I joined the staff in 2010. I have eight titles, and a ninth book is nearing completion in the National Park series with two award-winning Spanish versions. I also have two preschooler books, with another ready to be published.
My husband and I have two adult children, Shannon and Bryon, who inspired my books' adventures. I am a church secretary in Lansing when I am not writing and selling books. We have been in church ministry for 51 years, loving everything God called us to do. We especially enjoyed working with teenagers, taking them on mission trips around the country, and stopping at national parks en route. I have used dozens of our church's children and teens as characters in my books, creating a fun and lasting connection.
My publisher died late in 2019, and his company was closed. With encouragement and sound advice, I recently formed my own called Buttonwood Books and look forward to what lies ahead. If I can be of encouragement to anyone at the conference, I would be pleased to share my story. I genuinely believe that with God's help and a lot of determination, if it happened to me, it could happen to you.
ANDREW HAMLET
CONFERNCE TECHNICIAN
Andrew is a familiar face at the conference and has been helping with the conference for many years. Andrew is a gifted storyteller and teacher who uses his skills to further the gospel's truth through his stories.
Andrew Hamlet resides in Grand Rapids, MI, with his wife and five children. Andrew sang and told stories through 80 songs, countless stories, and spoken word. He wants to engage culture, influence change, and ensure the marketplace is filled with strong narratives that challenge people to seek out God, not just pleasure. Andrew completed a 4-year degree at Cornerstone University with a Communication Arts major. He completed film school at Compass Arts Film Academy and focused on creating compelling stories and characters there.
MORE TO COME
Please check back as additional staff will be added.