Jeff the son of German Jewish immigrants, grew up in Detroit in a home rich with music in the Judaic and classical traditions. He has been a social worker, music teacher, radio show host, composer, and jazz piano performer. He is the founder of Building Bridges with Music Program using his original music as a springboard for interactive discussion about overcoming barriers and creating more … [Read more...]
Sue Kurta, Boss Mouse Cheese
Sue took up cheese making as a hobby while working in corporate finance in New York City. That hobby became a passion, and she furthered her education in cheese making by studying with artisanal cheese makers in Vermont, and an apprenticeship on an organic goat farm in rural Maine. Upon returning to her home state of Michigan in 2010, Sue bought an historic 1867 farm in Kingsley where she started … [Read more...]
Todd Oosterhouse, Bonobo Winery
Todd is a Traverse City native started his career in sales and marketing which took him to Detroit, Long Island and Texas. It was in the south that he discovered his interest in contracting and opened his own business. He moved back to Traverse City bringing both his business and family. In 2012 all of his talents collided with a great idea… Bonobo Winery was founded by brothers Carter and Todd … [Read more...]
Matt Myers, M22
After college, Matt and his brother Keegan would kiteboard as much as possible, they taught it, owned a kiteboarding school, edited for a kiteboarding magazine, competed, photographed, were sponsored, and traveled, all for kiteboarding. Together, they started Broneah Kiteboarding. In 2004, M22 was established when the Myers brothers sought to bring life to a passion for northern Michigan and it’s … [Read more...]
ELIZABETH LANDRY, Musician
Elizabeth Landry grew up in Cheboygan and Leelanau county MI. She has been writing songs since she was a child. Surrounded by music as a kid, it has been said that she has been singing since the day she was born. With sweet and smokey melodies, Elizabeth has an unmistakable folk flavor with a hint of an old blues and country influence. Here is her story from the October 2018 event. … [Read more...]
Angela Macke, Light of Day Organics
Michigan native and Traverse area local since 1998, Angela Mary Macke RN, BS, has over 20 years of experience as a holistic nurse and horticulturalist. In 2004, she established Light of Day Organics, a popular small batch certified organic tea farm in Leelanau County. Angela is committed to igniting inspiration and hope in our individual abilities to improve and maintain our whole-body … [Read more...]
Elizabeth Kirkwood, FLOW (For Love of Water)
Liz Kirkwood is a passionate protector of water and the environment. Inspired by the complex interaction between water, health, community, and conservation, she is an international water law expert and is executive director of FLOW (For Love of Water) – a Great Lakes water law and policy center based here in Traverse City. “Water runs through it all. Water defines us and everything we do on … [Read more...]
Jeremy Reisig, brotha James
brotha James, a Michigander, is a marketing and sales entrepreneur turned musician who left the business world to pursue his destiny of creating inspirational music. Armed with a passion for making music and connecting people through his live performances, Jeremy (brotha James) Reisig brings non-stop enthusiasm and endless energy that leaves his audiences asking for more. Combining clever, … [Read more...]
ANDREA LOGAN DEIBLER, Raduno
Andrea grew up in Kansas City. She wasn’t interested in cooking as a child, she fell in love with it after college and made it into her career. It took her first to Chicago and then up to northern Michigan. Currently she is butcher, charcutière, and co-owner at Raduno, a small delicatessen establishing itself in Traverse City. A stint as a vegetarian in her teens awakened her to the ethical … [Read more...]
Lindy Bishop, Artist
Lindy is an artist at heart with a head for writing and business. She ran her own art gallery, Seed Studio in Elk Rapids and was the town’s Economic Development Director at the same time. She went on to expand into non-profit management, community development, marketing consulting and graphic recording. Today, driven with a passion for the arts as well as entrepreneurs, Lindy is a professional … [Read more...]
FRED SITKINS, INLAND SEAS
Fred Sitkins grew up in Wyandotte, MI but moved to Traverse City at the age of 21 to attend college at NMC. It was at that time he began working on the schooner Malabar and was first introduced to Inland Seas. After being inspired by Inland Seas to enter a career in teaching Fred received his bachelors degree in education from Western Michigan University. After several years of teaching in Manton, … [Read more...]
Ben Davila, The Rock Stop
Ben Davila is a co-founder of the Rock Stop and serves as the lead teacher. Prior to moving to Traverse City in 2014, he spent nearly a decade teaching at the Bird School of Music in San Francisco. Ben is a prolific song-writer and multi-instrumentalist, having written and recorded a song every week for five years. His music has been used in plays, movies, ads, and video games. When he isn’t … [Read more...]
CHRISTAL FROST ANDERSON, WTCM
Christal grew up in Benzie County and began her career locally at Boys and Girls Clubs of Grand Traverse, after completing a year of service with Americorps National Service. She started in radio in 2007, and feels as though she has finally found her broadcasting home with WTCM NewsTalk 580. Christal is involved with many community groups, co-founding the CherryT Ball Drop in 2009. She is a … [Read more...]
PETE KIRKWOOD, THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO
Pete Kirkwood is The Workshop Brewing Co founder which stands for the motto: Nature, Community, Craft. Pete says he is not an investment banker, roofer, developer, disaster response specialist, farmer, dot-com guy, copywriter, barista, or lawyer (although he has been all of these things). He’s not even a brewer (although he has started two breweries). He’s a philosopher. His agenda is social … [Read more...]
Fernando Meza, OneUpWeb CEO
FERNANDO MEZA is a first generation Mexican-American born in East Los Angeles, an advertising whiz who cut his teeth in Manhattan, Meza purchased the innovative digital marketing agency OneUpWeb in 2014 and moved it to a revitalized warehouse in the Grand Traverse Commons. Meza says he feels more proud of his Latino heritage here than he would in LA or New York. I’m privileged to live in a … [Read more...]
Anne Hoyt, Leelanau Cheese founder
ANNE HOYT is the cheesemaker and co-owner of Leelanau Cheese. Anne was born in the north of France and moved to the Roquefort region to work in agriculture as a chicken and turkey farmer, vegetable grower and also worked with goats and goat cheese. After that Anne was a Shepard in Switzerland. After years of training and hands-on experience finally led her and her husband back to Michigan. I … [Read more...]
Diana Ladio, fiddler, violinist, teacher
DIANA LADIO is a studied Americana fiddler, 5-string violinist, and classical violist. After receiving degrees in music performance and music education from the University of Michigan, she co-founded the instrumental fusion trio and educational ensemble, The Moxie Strings, which she also manages and promotes. In 2015 she joined the ranks of Irish super-group, The Elders, and now tours … [Read more...]
Norm Wheeler, teacher, poet, trumpet player
NORM WHEELER is the co-creator and host of Beach Bards Bonfire (by heart storytelling around a bonfire), a retired Astronomy and English teacher at the Leelanau School after 32 years, and a trumpet/flugelhorn player for Jazz North, The Wild Sullys, Goodboy!, and Luunappi around the area for 20 years. While hitchhiking around Europe in the 1970s, he met Mimi (founder of Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate) … [Read more...]
Jackie Kaschel, Peace Ranch
JACKIE KASCHEL, Founder and ED of PEACE Ranch, serving horses and humans suffering the effects of abuse, neglect, conflict grief and pain. The ranch serves a broad population with EAGALA Model equine assisted activities and specializes with at risk youth, trauma based issues for children and Veterans and difficult to treat issues like addiction and autism. Jackie has led the way pioneering … [Read more...]
BEN WHITING, Magician & Entertainer
Ben Whiting is an award winning Professional Speaker and Corporate Entertainer. He co-founded MagicMouth Theatre, a company that combined Magic and theatre while educating communities in both art forms. As a speaker, actor and entertainer, Ben performs at sales conferences, award banquets, and private events across the country for clients such as American Express, GE, and Oprah’s HARPO Studios. He … [Read more...]
