Heather Rupp currently serves as the Operations Director for First Tee – Greater Detroit and has been with the organization since 2015 where she began as a coach. As a coach, she completed two levels of the First Tee Coach Training and led several programming sites. During a transition period with the Chapter, she served in various operating roles while continuing to coach and maintain relationships with First Tee families.

Heather graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in Emotional Impairment. She has taught elementary and secondary special education before working in the non-profit sector. She currently resides in the Metro Detroit area with her husband, two children, and Goldendoodle.  

John graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Kinesiology. After college, he discovered the game of golf, and what quickly was considered a hobby turned into a lifelong passion. He started volunteering for First Tee – Greater Detroit in 2015 as an Assistant Coach. He is now a Level 4 coach, a certified chapter trainer within the First Tee Network, and plans to become a National First Tee Trainer. In 2020, he became the Program Director of First Tee – Greater Detroit. The following year, he started the PGA’s Professional Golf Management program and is currently a PGA Associate, working to complete his coursework to become a Class A PGA member. John is also TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) Certified. Outside of First Tee – Greater Detroit, John enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, and watching the Red Wings!

Grace Zimmerman is the Detroit Area Program Coordinator for First Tee – Greater Detroit. She has been with the team since November 2022. Grace grew up in Almont, Michigan and graduated from Almont High School. After high school, Grace went on to play Division 1 college golf at Cleveland State University and then transferred to Wayne State University in 2020. She graduated cum laude from Wayne State University in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and a minor in Sports Management. During her time at Wayne State, she was made a captain her junior and senior years of the women’s golf team. Her love for the game of golf inspired her to contribute to teaching the youth in all aspects of the sport! Grace has been playing golf since she was 9 years old, after her dad introduced her to the game.  She had the opportunity to intern at First Tee – Greater Charleston in the summer of 2022. There, Grace led the outreach program where she traveled to community centers throughout the city of Charleston to teach the First Tee curriculum to underprivileged children. Grace is currently an LPGA apprentice and working to become a LPGA Class A member.