Nikki Welsch, President

My name is Nikki Welsch. I am Branch Manager and Mortgage Originator for Hallmark Home Mortgage.  I began in the mortgage industry in 1999, and throughout the years have had the pleasure of assisting hundreds of local families with the financing of their homes.

My husband and I currently live in Edwardsburg with our 3 children. Being involved in the communities I live and work in has been very important to me throughout my career.  Volunteering in my children’s schools and also various southwest Michigan schools through Junior Achievement has been a great way to share my knowledge of the finance industry with our local youth.

In addition to being an Edwardsburg Chamber board member, I have also been a board member of the Edwardsburg Little League since 2017, am a Vice President of the Athletic Boosters, have served as a board member of the Edwardsburg Public Schools Foundation, and have participated on school advisory committees throughout my children’s school careers.  I enjoy watching and being a part of our community’s growth.  

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Nikki Welsch
Facebook: Nikki Welsch

Dawn Bolock, Vice President 

I have been a Realtor with Coldwell Banker for 22 years. Licensed in Michigan and Indiana, my husband joined me in Real Estate about 20 years ago. It is a demanding 24/7 business that requires lots of flexibility and answering your phone every time it rings !!

I am very community-minded. My parents moved me to Edwardsburg in 1959, my father was hired as the Editor of the Edwardsburg Argus when Charles Andrus retired. So I started school here in first grade and was an Edwardsburg Graduate in 1971. Jerry Bolock was in my same class so we have known each other for life and just celebrated our 50th Anniversary.

I serve as an Ontwa Township Trustee elected in 2016 so now in my second term. I have been on the Ontwa Township Planning Commission since 2011. I was appointed as the Zoning Administrator for the Village of Edwardsburg in November of 2019. I am a past President of the Edwardsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, serving 6 years. This year I am the Secretary. I am President of the Uptown Improvement Association. Past board member of Cass County Economic Development. Team Work makes the dream work !!

Email: Dawn Bolock
Phone: 574-220-1249

Meryl A. Christensen, Secretary

I was born and raised in Niles, Michigan, and relocated to Edwardsburg in 1994. I have worked at financial institutions for 20 years and was appointed to the Ontwa Township as treasurer in 2003 and held that position until I retired in November 2020. I ran for the position of trustee on the Ontwa Township Board which I am presently on and also represent the Township on the Ontwa Township-Edwardsburg Police Board. I am also the Village of Edwardsburg treasurer which is an appointed position. I am a member and treasurer of the Uptown Improvement Association and a member of the Edwardsburg Lions Club. Previously I was the treasurer for the Chamber.

Email: Meryl Christensen
Phone: 574.215.6520

Emily Gottschalk, Treasurer

My name is Emily Gottschalk and I have been the Edwardsburg Chamber Treasurer since the Fall of 2020. At that same time, I started my mortgage career and am currently the Mortgage Assistant to our Branch Manager at Hallmark Home Mortgage. Being in the everchanging real estate industry, I find it important to be involved in the communities I serve; to understand their needs and how I can help.

In addition to being a member of various local chambers, I am on the board at the Salvation Army in Niles, and I have volunteered as the leader of a Children’s ministry project and taught with Junior Achievement. By joining Young Professionals Network and Women in Business, along with being part of the Edwardsburg Chamber, I look forward to working with and supporting local businesses and communities.

Email: Emily Trethewey
Phone: 269-218-0628
Website: 

Roseann Marchetti, Board Member & Goodwill Ambassador

Currently, I serve as District 4 Cass County Commissioner. The district includes Ontwa Township, the Village of Edwardsburg, and the western portion of Mason Township, with about 7, 500 residents in total. This is my sixth term as Commissioner. I like my position, and my main goal is to help the residents of Cass County, especially District 4. The Board of Commissioners meets twice per month and I have served as chair and vice-chair. In addition to my duties as Commissioner, I serve on a number of boards including The Van Buren Cass Health Department, Kinexus, Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, Human Services Coordinating Council, Niles Area Transportation Study, and I am a member of the Uptown Improvement Association. I attend the Chamber regularly and serve as its Good Will Ambassador and will continue as long as they will have me.

I believe the Chamber plays an important role in the community. Participation in community events such as the Business Expo, Memorial Day Festival, and Christmas Cookie Walk is vital to assist our businesses in their economic development and to provide knowledge of and interest in the community.  It is important also for Chamber members to support the Chamber in our efforts to provide interest and events that bring the community together.  I will do whatever is asked of me to further the Chamber’s goals.

On a personal note, I am married to Jerry Marchetti and we have three children and ten grandchildren. The oldest is 29 and the youngest is 4. I wish they all lived closer so we could see them more often, but we do get together in the summer.  We have lived in Edwardsburg for more than 20 years and I cannot imagine living anywhere else.  We are members of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church where I serve as Lector and on the funeral committee.

Email: Roseann Marchetti (Personal)
Email: Roseann Marchetti (Cass County)
Phone: 269.414.9592 (Cell)

Lorie Bowers, Board Member

Lorie Bowers is a graduate of IUSB with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies from IUSB.  She also holds an associate’s degree in Psychology with a Minor in Sociology. She grew up in Elkhart, Indiana where she met her husband Troy Bowers.  Together they moved to Edwardsburg, Michigan to be closer to family. While in Edwardsburg they had two daughters, Abigail and Hannah Bowers.

After working in other Fortune 500 companies Lorie had the opportunity to open her own State Farm office in Edwardsburg, MI. She and her team work hard to help clients manage the risk of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams.

Email: Lorie Bowers

Melissa Curtis, Board Member

My name is Melissa Curtis. I am a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and sister. I am very close to my family and greatly enjoy ay time I spend with them. I am a dedicated friend and respected manager. I have spent the last 24 years working for what is now Huntington National Bank, located in our amazing little town of Edwardsburg! My various positions in the bank over the years have truly allowed me the opportunity to get to know many people and businesses in the area, and I love that I continue to meet new people in our community on a daily basis. I enjoy serving on the board because I believe Edwardsburg is a wonderful community that has so much to offer including many great businesses. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to a community that is so important to me and has been for many years; to continue helping it in any possible way and watching it grow. I truly believe it is better to give or serve than to receive, and by taking a place on the board I can do so. I feel that everyone on the board can offer a different perspective which can only help us to be our best. I look forward to what the future has in store for our little town and am excited to see how we can continue to grow and be the best!

Email: Melissa Curtis
Phone: 269.663.3343
Website: Huntington Bank

Brigid Forlenza, Board Member

 Spending several years in public service, Brigid is the current Waste Water System Administrator for Ontwa Township, Deputy Supervisor, and also serves on the police board. 

Email: Brigid Forlenza

James Grove, Board Member

 A licensed insurance agent, James also spends his time volunteering for ESC & Edwardsburg Little League, in addition to his position on the board at the Chamber.

Email: James Grove