Zach is a Madison, Alabama resident and active member of the Huntsville/Madison community. He serves as Director of Client Strategy & Operations at InSight Strategic Solutions and as Principal Advisor at Flourish Consulting Services, bringing a background in sales, management, and business operations to both roles.

Zach and his wife Megan are proud parents of three Madison City Schools students — one of whom has already graduated — and are personally invested in the organizations and initiatives that shape this community. When he's not working or cheering from the sidelines, you'll find him with a good book or planning his next excuse to watch cars go very fast.

Born and raised in the heart of Texas, I bring 35 years of experience in education to my role.  My journey began in the classroom, where I spent 9 years as a teacher before transitioning to counseling.  For the past 26 years, I've had the privilege of serving as a counselor at various education levels - from elementary to junior high and high school - in Texas, New Mexico, and currently, in my 13th year with Madison City Schools, focusing on college and career counseling.  

My work centers around guiding students through the complexities of the college application process, securing scholarships, navigating FAFSA, understanding NCAA eligibility, and exploring career pathways.  My commitment to student success is rooted in my own personal educational background - I earned my undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University and pursued graduate studies at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Outside of work, I am an avid supporter of sports, passionately following the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and, of course, our own JCHS Jets!  Family is incredibly important to me; I'm happily married to my high school sweetheart who served in the Army and is now retired.  We have 2 wonderful adult children who continue to inspire us every day.  

In my leisure time, I find joy in traveling, camping, and snow skiing, but my greatest fulfillment comes from helping young people discover their paths and achieve their dreams.  It is a privilege to support and empower the next generation as they embark on their educational and career journeys.  

Bailey M. Erickson retired from the U.S. Government after serving 28 years in civilian federal law enforcement and previous to that, 4 years in the U.S. Air Force.  She currently owns and operates Wafel-Bitte, LLC, a Belgian “Liege” Waffle business.  She has two children, Christian, who is an electrical engineer and Alexis, serving in the US Air Force Reserves and attending college.

During the Covid lockdown, Bailey wanted to teach Alexis business skills before she left for the Air Force. Both wanted to sell something that would make people happy. They remembered how much they loved Belgian Liege waffles during their tour in Europe so they worked with different recipes until they “nailed it.” Bailey taught Alexis how to get a business license, form an LLC, etc. and started selling ready to eat waffles at farmers markets.  

Wafel-Bitte started as a cottage food business but soon developed into a food manufacturer of Belgian Liege Waffle Mix. Wafel-Bitte, both original and a gluten-free option, can be found in retail stores across the U.S. and online via Amazon and the Wafel-Bitte shop at https://shops.wafelbitte.com.  Wafel-Bitte mix is also sold in bulk to coffee shops which make the waffles fresh. Recently, Wafel-Bitte purchased a food trailer to serve fresh Belgian waffles to their customers.

In 2022, Wafel-Bitte was named Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year by the Catalyst Center. In 2023, Wafel-Bitte was named Culinary Business of the Year (Gold) and Start-Up Business of the Year (Bronze).  In 2024, Wafel-Bitte was selected as Alabama’s Small Business Success Story for Disaster Preparedness and Resilience. 

Bailey’s passion is giving back to her community and she has been very involved with several organizations including the Rotary Club of Madison, the Madison Visionary Partners, and the Women’s Economic Development Council (WEDC).

Mr. Michael J. Van Rassen graduated from the University of Toledo and was commissioned in the Ordnance Corps in 1985.  He earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from George Mason University in 1996. He is a combat veteran of Operation Just Cause and Desert Storm.  

 

Mr. Van Rassen has over 20 years of Acquisition experience in uniform and as an Army Civilian.  Mr. Van Rassen started the Counter – Rockets Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM) effort for the US Army in the summer of 2004 and led that effort until his retirement from Federal Service in 2016.  During his tenure, he led acquisition efforts valued over $7B related to combat operations.  These acquisition efforts included, Command & Control, Missiles, Guns, Radars, and Communications.  After his government service he served as the President for Military and Government markets for the Rajant Corporation.  He retired from Rajant in 2024 and founded is own consulting company, Van Rassen Enterprises.  He is the past recipient of the Army Product Manager of the year, The Superior Civilian Service Award, and 2017 inductee to the Space and Rocket Center Distinguished Civilians Wall of Honor. 

Megan Nivens-Tannett is the Founder and Principal of Flourish, a strategic growth and brand firm based in Huntsville, Alabama. Since founding Flourish in 2018, Megan has partnered with organizations across industries to help leaders clarify their vision, strengthen their brand, and move forward with confidence.

Known for her big-picture thinking and creative approach, Megan works closely with CEOs and leadership teams during moments of growth, change, and reinvention. Her work spans focused strategy engagements, long-term leadership partnerships, and high-impact projects designed to support pivotal initiatives such as brand transformations, expansions, and major campaigns.

Deeply rooted in the Huntsville community, Megan is committed to mentorship, education, and service. In addition to serving on the Madison CEO Board, she's a board member with Fantasy Playhouse Children's Theatre & Academy, a member of the Women's Economic Development Council, and serves as an Advisory Board Member for the College of Business with the University of Alabama Huntsville. 

 

Megan is also the host of the SheBoss podcast, where she highlights women who lead, build, and create with purpose.

Dr. Stephanie Bostick is a dedicated College and Career Counselor at Bob Jones High School with 22 years of experience in education. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Law, a Master’s degree in Counseling, a Master’s in Educational Administration, and an undergraduate degree in Special Education. Throughout her career, she has served in special education and secondary curriculum roles, but her true passion is working directly with students, guiding them as they explore college and career pathways. Outside of school, Stephanie is a proud mom to William and enjoys spending time outdoors, especially at the beach or the lake.

Casey Stout serves as the Lending Program Manager for the Loan Fund at Neighborhood Concepts, Inc., where she leads lending operations that support small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community development initiatives across the region. In her role, Casey oversees loan programs from origination through closing and servicing, ensuring mission-driven capital reaches underserved entrepreneurs and community partners.

With a strong background in community development finance, Casey brings both technical expertise and a relationship-centered approach to her work. She collaborates closely with borrowers, partner organizations, and internal stakeholders to provide access to capital, financial guidance, and operational support that help businesses grow sustainably.

 

As a board member of Madison Area CEO, Casey contributes her experience in lending and program management to support experiential learning opportunities for students, mentor engagement, and connections to real-world business and entrepreneurship.