Jean

Co-founder

Growing up in northern Michigan, Jean taught sailing in the summer and skiing in the winters through high school and college. She graduated with a degree in education, but after marrying Steve (and not being able to teach him anything) she decided to pursue a career in the health field to pay the bills while Steve worked at getting their fledgling business in operation and profitable. After the birth of she and Steve’s two children, she made a decision to become more active in the business management of Van Dam Custom Boats. Balancing family life and managing a business has been a challenging and rewarding experience, as every working mother can attest.

Jean still keeps all the finances on track and organized but now spends more time pursuing her volunteer interests and helping to care for her granddaughter and new grandson.

Jean has volunteered her time for the local Women’s Resource Center, which offers assistance to women and children who need support. She has served on the board of the local Community Foundation and she currently serves on the board of Raven Hill Discovery Center, whose focus is exposing children and adults to the connections between science, history, and art.

After all that, she can still be seen with Steve riding her bike in the summer and cross country ski racing in the winter. She’s even won her age group in the prestigious American Birkebeiner cross country ski race! The only things she does better than skiing are making killer muffins and spoiling her children and grandchildren.