Volunteer Staff

The Kent County Taxpayers Alliance is managed by a volunteer staff. No member receives any compensation.

Our core staff organizes and coordinates all activities, volunteers, and donations.

Eric Larson

Eric Larson, Spokesperson: Eric, along with Jeff Steinport, was co-founder of KCTA (Formerly Kent County Families for Fiscal Responsibility) in 2007 and has served as its spokesman. Eric is an anesthesiologist and has been in West Michigan since 2004 after completing his medical training in Iowa. He currently lives in Cascade Township with his wife and three children and is active with his church, in Cub Scouts, and ran for the Michigan state house of representatives in 2010. You can contact Eric at [email protected].

Bill Mills, Volunteer Coordinator: Bill Mills has lived in Kentwood and Grand Rapids for nine years. He holds a Bachelors of Chemical Engineering from the University of Dayton, with a concentration in Air Pollution and Biology. Mr. Mills relocated to West Michigan in 2002 to become the Environmental and Quality Manager at MetoKote Corporation, a protective coatings company for the automotive and furniture industries.

Mr. Mills has also served as an Air Pollution and Renewable Energy Consultant for landfill gas-to-energy projects with The Shaw Group and Cornerstone Environmental, Inc. In 2005, The Shaw Group was a contractor for the response, recovery, and rebuilding projects associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Mr. Mills was responsible for the installation and assessment of temporary housing for New  Orleans evacuees that were relocated Houston, TX and was recognized with the company’s Outstanding

Service award.

Outside of his professional career, Bill served on the Grand Rapids Young  Professionals Board of Directors from 2004-2009, where he was the Director of Membership. In 2003, he founded and served as President of The University of Dayton’s, Alumni Association of West Michigan up through 2008. Both organizations were very active with community service. Most notably, in 2007, Bill partnered these two organizations with Mel Trotter Ministries to provide a cookout and entertainment to over 500 homeless and impoverished people at Heartside Park in Grand Rapids. Bill was also an organizer of Mayor Heartwell’s Grand River annual cleanup. Bill joined KCTA in 2009 and currently serves as the Volunteer Coordinator. You can contact Bill at [email protected].

Jeff Steinport, ITP Watch Project Manager: Jeff Steinport, co-founder of KCTA, is a life-long resident of Grand Rapids and graduate of Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Jeff was elected to the Grand Rapids Board of Education in a city-wide election in 2001. Jeff subsequently served as the board’s treasurer and served on several committees, including the Executive Committee,  Finance Committee (as chair),  Education Committee, and Site-Based Management Ad-hoc Committee. Jeff also served as the Board of Education’s liaison to the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority Board and the North Monroe Tax Increment Finance Authority Board.

Jeff holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Administration from Ferris State University, awarded summa cum laude. Jeff has subsequently served on the board of the West Grand Neighborhood Organization and the credit committee of the North Kent Catholic Credit Union. Jeff currently works in Downtown Grand Rapids as a  Technology Director for a major international marketing firm. Jeff is also managers KCTA’s ITP Watch project, which keeps an eye on the operations of the local transit agency, The Rapid. You can reach him at [email protected].