Our Team
Dexter Rauch
Co-Founder / Director
Dexter is one of the co-founders and a dedicated director of Build a Team of Hope. He lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan with his amazing wife Jessica and their three wonderful children—Payton, Quinn, and Tatum.
A proud U.S. Army veteran, Dexter served as a 13F (Fire Support Specialist) from 2008 to 2012. His military experience taught him the true meaning of dedication, resilience, and teamwork—values he brings to everything he does. Today, he continues to lead with purpose as a Project Manager at Advia Credit Union, where he helps drive growth and success through strategic leadership.
Outside of work, Dexter enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends, firing up something delicious in the kitchen, and hitting the golf course when time allows.
Dan Betke
Co-Founder / Director
Dan is a co-founder and director of Build a Team of Hope, bringing both entrepreneurial spirit and deep community ties to the organization. He is the co-owner of Heritage Roofing and Exteriors, and also runs his own business designing websites and consulting with local companies on how to streamline their operations through technology.
Passionate about giving back, Dan stays actively involved in the Kalamazoo community through organizations like Guys Who Give and the Bronson Health Foundation. He’s an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys golfing, spending time at the lake, and just about anything that gets him into the fresh air.
A proud Kalamazoo native, Dan is a third-generation Bronson Hospital baby—and his kids are now the fourth! He continues to call Kalamazoo home, where he lives with his wife Amanda and their two children, Lincoln and Mariam.
Jessica Rauch
Director of Operations
As Director of Operations for Build a Team of Hope, Jessica brings a deep commitment to service, community, and empowerment. A proud East Lansing native, she earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Albion College in 2007, where she also stood out as a collegiate basketball player. She went on to earn her Master’s in Education from Western Michigan University in 2009.
Jessica currently serves full-time as Vice President of Operations at Pro Athlete Community, where she helps lead initiatives that support professional athletes through education, mentorship, and outreach. She also contributes her skills as Office Manager at Three Pines Wealth Advisors.
Balancing a busy professional life with a heart for giving back, Jessica actively volunteers with her children’s schools, Special Olympics, and APEX Academy. She lives in Kalamazoo with her husband, Dexter, and their three children—Payton, Quinn, and Tatum.
Her passion for youth development, teamwork, and community impact makes her a vital part of the Build a Team of Hope mission.
Amanda Betke
Director of Development
Amanda serves as the Director of Development for Build a Team of Hope, an organization founded in 2020 in honor of her mother, Mary Rapelje, who tragically lost her life to cancer. Born in East Lansing, Amanda moved to Albion in 2007 to attend Albion College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. She later earned a Master’s Degree in Adapted Physical Education from Western Michigan University in 2010.
Amanda’s lifelong passion is to make a positive impact on others. She spent over 10 years teaching Special Education, a career that reinforced her commitment to supporting individuals in need. Currently, Amanda serves as a Curriculum Coordinator at WMED, continuing to drive growth and innovation in education.
Beyond her professional work, Amanda is a dedicated volunteer, having served for over 12 years with Special Olympics Area 16 and APEX Academy. She deeply values giving back to her community and spends her free time with family and friends.
Amanda resides in Kalamazoo with her husband, Dan, and their two children, Lincoln and Mariam.
About Build a Team of Hope
Our organization was born out of a desire to take action. What started as an idea for an annual event has quickly grown into a concept to create hope for people in situations that often feel hopeless. Our dream is to positively impact the lives of those affected by cancer by easing 
the burdens they feel through what so often feels like a hopeless time in their lives. This organization memorializes Mary Rapelje. Mary was a wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and godmother to many. Her life was spent working tirelessly to improve the lives of those around her. Whether it was the countless days hosting friends and family at her home, teaching her girls the importance of giving back to your community and friends, or just providing a listening ear and a bit of sound advice, you could always count on Mary to leave the things in her life and the relationships she was a part of better than she found them. It is our sincere hope that we can use this organization to honor Mary’s life and positively impact lives the way she did so many times over the course of her life.
“WHEN SOMEONE HAS CANCER, THE WHOLE FAMILY AND EVERYONE WHO LOVES THEM DOES, TOO.”
-TERRI CLARK
“We all have been touched by cancer in some way. This disease impacts all of our lives. We all know someone who has had cancer, whether a close family member or a friend. Those battling cancer and those that have survived cancer are some of the strongest people on this planet. They are our heroes. I can’t think of anyone who better illustrated the strength and perseverance of these courageous heroes more than my mother-in-law, Mary Rapelje.
Mary is my Hero.”
-DEXTER RAUCH