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In hopes of preserving Corwood for future generations to come, The Corwood Experience has been established as a nonprofit. Below are the dedicated individuals who understand the impactful nature that Corwood offers.
The Corwood Experience | Executive Board
Mike Gibson, President
Mike (aka Gib) was a camp counselor at Camp Corwood in the ‘60s. He spent several summers at Corwood while finishing up at Eastern Michigan University in Recreation Administration. Corey’s impact was so profound, Gib named his own son Corey.
Gib was the original Head Volleyball Coach at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, a position which he held for over thirty years. While at UM-D, he created Operation Adventure, using experiential education to facilitate leadership and team building programs for teams of all kinds. He attended several adventure leadership trainings with Project Adventure, Ropes Courses, Inc., and Outward Bound.
In the early ‘80s, Gib contacted Corey about Corwood, offering to remove a decade of dust and weeds (with his not so enthusiastic VB team) as a pre-season, team-bonding service project. Gib's teams' commitment and work ethic were largely responsible for the re-birth of Corwood.
Hobbies include golfing, hockey, cheering for the Red Wings and fixing stuff.
Carol Wright, Secretary
Longtime CPA and advisor to mid-market businesses, focused on helping clients with practical tax and financial guidance.
Outside the profession, enjoys spending time learning from nature, listening for bird calls with the Merlin Bird ID app and identifying trees and wildflowers using the Seek app. Currently researching foraging for edible plants and flowers and experimenting with these for nature-inspired specialty beverages.
Loves photography and documenting outdoor experiences, then telling those stories through detailed scrapbooks.
Kathy Gibson, Treasurer
Kathy (aka KG) first met Corey and Mary in the late 1960s when her then-boyfriend, Gib, was working as a counselor at Camp Corwood. From the moment she met them, she remembers thinking, 'What an amazing couple!'. She later married Gib, and together they raised three incredible kids, and are proud grandparents to four wonderful grandchildren.
As a natural servant leader, KG fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. For more than a decade she worked as a pediatric and OB nurse, and even served as a camp nurse along the way. In 1983, she joined Wayne RESA as a school health consultant, where she spent more than three decades teaching and supporting health educators across Wayne County before retiring in 2015.
While raising three spirited kids, KG also completed her degree at Siena Heights. Her passion for community building and service has touched many organizations over the years, including Skate Company Skating Club, the University of Michigan–Dearborn, the Victors Volleyball Club, and currently Greenmead Historical Park in Livonia.
KG enjoys sewing, gardening, volunteering for just about anything, and spending time with family and friends.
Corey VanFleet | Executive Director
Corey is a recognized and honored educator known for his accomplishments in teaching, coaching, and leadership (in education and human services). He earned both his BA and MA in Education from Wayne State University and completed post-graduate work in Exercise Physiology at Florida State University.
VanFleet’s lifelong passion for education, both in classrooms and informal settings, has been driven by a belief that learning should inspire curiosity, encourage big dreams, and celebrate achievement. His experiences working in recreation programs, summer camps, and with the YMCA shaped his conviction that the most powerful learning happens through meaningful relationships between teacher and student. Corey believes education can occur in any safe environment and should cultivate accountability, trust, teamwork, and commitment, ultimately developing lifelong learners with strong minds and healthy bodies.
Throughout his career, Corey has taught and coached at the elementary, secondary, and university levels and contributed to national education programs. Recognizing that many students face barriers such as poverty and trauma, he has long believed that effective education must also address human needs. As Executive Director of the Detroit Science Center, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and United Way of Manistee County, Corey successfully mobilized people and resources to support educational opportunity and community growth.
Board of Directors
Doug Baker, Director at Large
Doug has enjoyed and experienced Camp Corwood for over 60 years. From the early days at camp with family constructing buildings and camp venues to eventually becoming a camper (Dolphin Cabin), Doug has a unique long-term perspective of stewardship for this magical place in northern Michigan.
As a graduate of Oakland University, Doug’s Engineering career spanned over 43 years in aerospace, color science, and first responder vehicle safety research and technology. Doug’s Innovation leadership includes complex problem solving, strategic Intellectual Property management, contracts, and multi-disciplined teamwork
Hobbies include camping, golfing, biking, hiking, and home maintenance.
Tom McPartlin, Facilities Director
In 2006, Tom visited Corwood, once a thriving swimming camp. He was struck by the beauty of the property, the view from the main house, and the stories Mary told about what used to be. Mary's stories were so vivid that Tom wished he had experienced them himself, and he imagined the impact the camp could still make.
A few years later, he returned with the UM-D VB team for a week of team building. As the days passed, he witnessed the players step into their potential. By the end of the week, the team had transformed. Newly found trust, unity, and momentum followed them into their season.
Over time, Tom watched other teams go through the same transformation, leaving Corwood more connected, more confident, and deeply aligned around a shared goal.
Tom brings a wealth of experience as a swimming and volleyball coach, along with leadership roles in Operation Adventure Programs, the Lincoln Park Community Center, and the University of Michigan-Dearborn Ice Arena.
Hobbies include golf, traveling and working on home projects.
Jodee Gibson, Chief Outreach
Jodee views Corwood as a sacred space where people reconnect with themselves, each other, and the outdoors. With a deep passion for experiential education, she believes some of life's most meaningful growth happens not in classrooms or boardrooms, but through shared experiences, thoughtful reflection, and genuine human connection. These are the same values that have defined Corwood for generations.
As a Behavioral Health Researcher, and founder of Human Behavior Architects™, Jodee has spent more than 30 years helping individuals, leaders, and organizations create environments where people can grow and thrive. She is honored to help preserve Corwood's legacy as a place where future generations can experience the same sense of belonging, challenge, and transformation that has shaped so many before them.
Hobbies include deep conversations that turn into big ideas, random acts of kindness, yoga, traveling, and writing and of course, hanging out with her two amazing daughters!
Steve Rotta, Director at Large
Steve Rotta’s introduction to Corwood began with a simple question from Mike 'Gib' Gibson: "What are you doing this weekend?" What started as a weekend of service quickly became the beginning of a lasting connection to the property and its mission.
During his first visit, Steve spent an early morning on the deck with Mary VanFleet, listening as she shared stories of Corwood’s history and the values she and Corey had instilled over decades. That conversation revealed the heart and spirit of Corwood, inspiring Steve’s commitment
Professionally, Steve has dedicated his career to developing leaders, teams, and organizations through education, athletics, experiential learning, and corporate training. He previously served as Associate Director of Operation Adventure at the U of M-Dearborn and now serves as Senior Manager of Training at Maximus, where he leads learning and leadership development initiatives.
Whether working with students, athletes, business leaders, Steve believes meaningful growth happens through shared experiences and stepping beyond one’s comfort zone. He is honored to help carry Corwood’s mission forward. When he’s not volunteering, Steve enjoys spending time with family, refurbishing vintage audio equipment, and fly fishing on Wile Lake.
Karen Baker, Director at Large
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Karen McPartlin, Director at Large
History shapes our future. Ten years ago, Karen visited Corwood and found more than just a beautiful landscape; she found a legacy worth saving. Tucked away in a 1960's swim camp brochure, she saw the profound impact Corey and Mary VanFleet had on young campers. She's now eager to be a part of revitalizing a space that once defined the lives of many young athletes.
Karen brings a unique blend of skills to the Board. A graduate of Ferris State, her professional background in dental hygiene and sales has equipped her with the interpersonal and marketing skills necessary to effectively communicate the heart of Corwood’s mission. As a wife and mother of three and a member of a dedicated coaching family, she has seen firsthand how leadership and community can mold an individual’s character. Karen is committed to ensuring Corwood remains a place where the next generation of leaders thrive.
Hobbies include hanging out with her grandbaby, traveling, reading and going to the movies.
Jack Wright, Director at Large
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