Erica Curry Van Ee, MPA

Erica Curry Van Ee, MPA is the Founder and CEO of Urban Curry Consulting LLC, where she inspires, empowers and equips leaders to change their world. Erica has spent the past two decades improving the effectiveness of leaders, organizations and communities through services that include leadership coaching and facilitation on strategy, planning, design, stakeholder engagement, organization and program development, talent alignment and impact evaluation. Erica facilitates workshops on a variety of management topics including purpose-filled leadership, creating and sustaining high performing teams, strategic doing, adaptive leadership, multigenerational differences in the workplace, and increasing individual, team and organizational effectiveness. Erica has custom designed and facilitated multiple learning experiences, including a 6-week talent development series for millennial women entitled Leading Edge, which was commissioned by the Center for Community Leadership, an initiative of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. She serves as practitioner faculty in the School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration for the College of Community and Public Service at Grand Valley State University where she teaches a 5 week accelerated course in Leadership Dynamics for returning adult students. She has also taught Strategic Management and Organizational Theory for the graduate school.

Erica’s clients have included consulting engagements with the Achievement Gap Initiative (AGI) at Harvard University, John G Gardner Center for Youth Development at Stanford University, Wallace Foundation, Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Metro Health Hospital Foundation, Frey Foundation, Heart of West Michigan United Way, Kent County, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC), Grand Rapids Initiative for Leaders (GRIL), First Steps Kent, West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology (WMCAT), Our Communities Children, K-Connect, Partners Worldwide, Michigan Medical Group Management Association, Michigan Association of Health Underwriters, National Association of Health Underwriters, Jubilee Centers International and Leadership Barry County.

Erica’s professional experiences prior to founding Urban Curry Consulting included positions with the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy (the Community Research Institute, the Grantmaking School, and Philanthropic and Nonprofit Services); David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality; Forum for Youth Investment; KIDS HOPE USA; Grand Rapids Public Schools; Heart of West Michigan United Way; and the Girl Scouts (Michigan Trails, San Francisco Bay, Detroit Metro, and North Atlantic).

Erica holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and theatre from Eastern Michigan University, and graduated magna cum laude with a master's degree in public and nonprofit administration from Grand Valley State University, and holds certifications in Extended DISC, Conflict Management, Intercultural Development Inventory, Creating and Sustaining High Performing Teams and Restorative Practices.

Erica is a passionate West Side resident who lives in and operates a bed and breakfast (The Loft at Union Square) at a former high school in downtown Grand Rapids. She and her husband Brian started the Westside Community Clean Up and they continue to support their neighborhood by giving 25% of their Airbnb proceeds back to non-profits serving children, youth and families in their community. She and Brian share four grown children, two grandsons, a bunch of nieces and nephews and a cat. Erica received the 2016 George K. Heartwell Champion for Children Award from the Expanded Learning Opportunities Network, and the 2015 Extraordinary Leader Award from the Center for Community Leadership.