Meet The Team
Meredith Smillie
Branch Director - Muskegon
Meredith has over 25 years’ experience working in child welfare, including roles in foster care, foster care adoption, and licensing. After completing a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and an MSW from GVSU, she worked with Muskegon County and Ottawa County DHHS. She began her career with Bethany at the Holland branch, where she served as the program manager and branch director. Meredith, her husband, and son enjoy spending time at the beach, playing and coaching volleyball, rooting for the University of Michigan, and getting outdoors as much as possible.
Mariah Matthews
Foster Care Supervisor - Muskegon
Mariah began with Bethany in 2018 as an intern. After completing her internship, she stepped into a case aid role with Bethany and then later transitioned to a foster care worker before becoming a supervisor. Mariah especially enjoys spending time with her niece and nephew, spouse, and pets, and using her talents at finding the best deals. She hopes to one day become a foster parent.
Bethany Hanson
Office Manager - Muskegon
Having worked at Bethany-Muskegon for 10 years, Bethany knows the mission and vision well and is committed to living it out. She daily demonstrates the love and compassion of Jesus as she assists the staff by ensuring the office is operating smoothy, solving IT problems, locating missing items, and helping transport children in foster care to appointments. Her servant’s heart is filled with joy and compassion to serve.
Christopher Hulett
Director of Short-Term Immigrant Foster Care - Muskegon
Chris began his career with Bethany over 25 years ago in the agency’s residential treatment program. Twelve years later, he transitioned to foster home licensing then later served as foster home licensing supervisor in Holland, MI. He enjoys serving children in his community and walking alongside them as they move toward permanency. Chris has a psychology degree from Grand Valley State University. He loves to travel, play trivia, and spend time with his friends, wife, and two daughters.
Devon Strong
Foster Care Supervisor - Muskegon
Devon first worked in child welfare with Child Protective Services in Missouri. Later, as a foster care case manager with Bethany, Devon tirelessly advocated for her clients and worked to get the right services for families. In her role as foster care supervisor, Devon enjoys supporting and working alongside her staff as they support families. When away from work, Devon enjoys hunting and spending time with her husband and two children on their boat.
Jamie Maatman Miller
Foster Care Adoption Supervisor - Muskegon
In her 16 years at Bethany, Jamie has served at both the Holland and Muskegon, MI branches in multiple roles in foster care adoption. Her experience in child welfare and belief in the mission of Bethany drives her work leading the foster care adoption team. Prior to Bethany, Jamie worked at a domestic violence agency and an emergency shelter. Her compassion and experience enable her to build up Bethany staff to be the hands and feet of Christ in local communities. Jamie obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Grand Valley State University. She and her husband enjoy traveling, hiking, biking, playing bingo, and spending time with family and friends.
Kim S. Blakeley
Foster Care Licensing Supervisor - Muskegon
Kim’s rich experience in children’s services, foster care adoption, and foster care licensing brought her to the Bethany licensing team in 2021. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs, hiking, camping, and doing snow activities. Kim's family goal is to have a hobby farm.
Mahrah Jensen
Post Adoption Resource Center Supervisor - Muskegon
Mahrah has over 20 years’ experience in the child welfare field, over 10 of which have been with Bethany. She loves connecting and networking with other agencies to best serve children and families. Mahrah and her husband have three children and have owned and flipped 15 homes—seven of which they lived in during renovations. She looks forward to the day when her children are grown, successful, and happy and she can finally say, “I did it.”
