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...]
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...]
Jetty Rae, singer/songwriter
Jetty Rae is a singer and songwriter originally from Northern Michigan. She has been singing, touring, and recording since 2004. Jetty garnered the attention of JetBlue when she played at the opening of their new Terminal at JFK International Airport. MTV.com featured Jetty on their up-and-coming artist blog, and she has shared the stage with Sarah McLachlan and Miranda Lambert at Lilith Fair in … [Read more...]
JULIE GREEN, Hospice RN
Julie Green was born in Metro Detroit. After nursing school, she worked on a cardiac unit in an urban hospital as a RN. From there, she volunteered in Kenya for six months at a refugee camp working to empower women affected by HIV. Upon coming home, she moved to Traverse city with her friends and found love. Julie worked on organic farms and with herbal medicine and then began working with Munson … [Read more...]
CHRIS HINDBAUGH, Addiction Treatment Services
Chris Hindbaugh has worked in the behavioral health field for over 20 years. He has worked in a variety of hospital based programs, and has also ran a youth crisis center and shelter. In 2009, Hindbaugh moved to Traverse City where he is the current CEO of Addiction Treatment Services, an organization that has completely recreated itself while doubling its size, adding innovative programs … [Read more...]
RICH BRAUER, Filmmaker
Rich Brauer is president of Brauer Productions, Inc., an independent film and video production company he founded in 1977. After many years of making films for a wide variety of clients, Brauer received the Michigan Filmmaker of the Year award at the 2009 Traverse City Film Festival, presented by filmmaker Michael Moore. Brauer has directed 10 feature films and hundreds of corporate, non-profit, … [Read more...]
Troy DeShano, Illustrator and Designer
Troy is an artist and designer based out of Traverse City, Michigan. After spending much of his twenties battling cancer, Troy found himself sharing stories of his personal trials through art and design via his blog Strong Odors. As a result Troy launched his freelance design and illustration business Ten Point Studio in 2009, has exhibited fine art in galleries around Michigan as well as Chicago … [Read more...]
LEAH BAGDON MCCALLUM, U.S. SENATOR REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Leah is a waitress, turned grant writer, turned proud government employee. She charted her career path based on her mission to improve the quality of life for all around her. –A goal that may sound a little vanilla, but that is absolutely her truth. Leah has channeled her entrepreneurial spirit into whatever makes people and places around her thrive. Whether building Chicago’s Prentice Women’s … [Read more...]
Erin Anderson Whiting, Parallel 45 Theatre
Erin grew up surrounded by cherry farms near Elk Rapids, but left to pursue an adventure at Interlochen Arts Academy, where she majored in Creative Writing and was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Her journey continued in New York City, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree focused in Middle Eastern History from Sarah Lawrence College and later stayed to work in the publishing … [Read more...]
Brad Kik, Crosshatch
Brad Kik is the co-founder and co-director of Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology. Brad’s varied background—film study, environmental activism, graphic design, community organizing, traditional music, ecology and permaculture—plays a key role in directing the intention behind Crosshatch’s work in the community. Brad also serves on a number of boards reflecting Crosshatch’s diverse approach to … [Read more...]
Betsy Coffia, Change Maker
Betsy is the Director of Alumni Relations at NMC and has also recently run for State Representative in Michigan. She grew up in rural Kalkaska County and over the years has served as a journalist, social worker and change maker to Northern Michigan communities. “I can’t explain exactly why I do what I do, only that I see the things that are easier to ignore. And I cannot unsee. I am driven toward … [Read more...]
Glenn Wolff, Bassist and Illustrator
Glenn grew up in Traverse City. He studied Printmaking at Northwestern Michigan College, and received his BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His career began in New York as an illustrator where he also played music in several clubs. In 1987 he returned to Northern Michigan concentrating on fine art and book illustration. He is best known for his illustrations in the books of Jerry … [Read more...]
KATE PEARSON, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
KATE PEARSON is the fundraiser for Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. A lifelong resident of Traverse City, Kate brings to her position a deep love of the region and appreciation for the wonderful people who make up our community. Before joining GTRLC, she was the Visitor Center Manager for the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau, as Kate LOVES where she is from. “Notice what … [Read more...]
Gary Jonas, The Little Fleet
Gary Jonas and his wife Allison have been in the restaurant and bar business for over 10 years. They opened our first restaurant called The Farm on Adderley in Brooklyn, NY in 2006, followed by a bar called Sycamore Bar and Flowershop in 2008, and The Little Fleet in 2013. They live in Traverse City with our 2 daughters Madeleine and Viola. I love creating environments that makes people want … [Read more...]