Staff
Zosia Eppensteiner, CEO
Zosia was raised in Gdansk, Poland, and holds a Math Education Master’s degree and a Sociology Master’s degree from University of Gdansk, Poland. Zosia relocated to Marquette in June, 2005. Zosia has over eight years of experience in the banking industry. Prior to joining Community Foundation of Marquette County, Eppensteiner was serving as customer service manager at Wells Fargo Bank and First Merit Bank. In addition to her duties at the Foundation, Zosia teaches evening math classes at Northern Michigan University.
Zosia and her husband Eric live in Marquette. They enjoy spending time outdoors with their son, Max and their dog, Nala.
Kirsten Van De Ven, Administrative & Finance Assistant
Kirsten joined our staff in December 2022. Kirsten was born in Yuma, Arizona and raised in Holland, Michigan. She later relocated to Marquette in the summer of 2012, after a camping trip throughout the Upper Peninsula. She fell in love with the area and the people, which later drew her to the Community Foundation.
Kirsten has always loved the strength the community has in the Upper Peninsula and always tells people, “You can’t get through a winter in the U.P without being friendly to the people around you — when you are down and out of luck, they will always come and dig you out.”
Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Kirsten worked for 15 years in the service industry. As a server and bartender, Kirsten enjoyed making connections with locals as well as tourists who shared their mutual love of the Upper Peninsula. She is excited about the involvement opportunities that come with working for the Community Foundation.
A resident of Negaunee Township, Kirsten enjoys hiking, fishing and spending time at camp with her partner, Cole, and their two dogs, Buck and Gizmo. When she is not outside, Kirsten enjoys tending to her many house plants.
Emma Schultz, Program Associate
Emma Schultz has been with the Foundation since the beginning of 2018. Emma is a 2017 graduate of Northern Michigan University with a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management. As the Program Associate, she handles all aspects of our competitive grant & scholarship cycles, along with serving as an Advisor to our Marquette Youth Advisory Committee.
“I appreciate being a part of the community in Marquette County; from growing up in Ishpeming, working in Marquette and now living in Michigamme, it’s exciting to see aspects of the Foundation all throughout our area. ”
Emma enjoys taking hikes, fishing and spending time with her family, friends, husband, daughters, and three dogs at their house on Lake Michigamme.
Katie Buhrmann, NMU Intern
Kathryn, who goes by Katie, joined the foundation in 2019. Katie is a graduate of Northern Michigan University where she studied English/Writing, International Studies, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Prior to her time at NMU, she was a volunteer member of the Marquette Youth Advisory Committee, serving a term as YAC president in 2009 and Board of Trustees youth member in 2012.
“I’ve spent all 27 years of my life living on a main street in Marquette. I briefly traveled out of the country a few years ago, and really enjoyed myself; however, Marquette will always be home. From the lake to the landscape to the people, the U.P. is the most lovely place I know.”
Katie intends on move abroad to teach English as a Second Language. In her free time, Katie enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with loved ones.