Dan is a teacher and co-owner at Pathways Preschool with his wife Brittni. A northern Michigan native, Dan has been working with young children in the community for over 17 years. He brings his expertise as a meditator, martial artist and musician to the classroom, but more than anything he is a master of play. Through play Dan expands the possibilities in which people experience life and engage … [Read more...]
Courtney Lorenz, Cultured Kombucha
As a left-minded creative soul in a right-minded body, the eccentricities of kombucha brought joy into Courtney’s life. Founder of Northern Michigan’s first kombucha tea brewery, Courtney desires to share the health benefits reaped from living foods. She believes that each body is unique, deserving to be happy, healthy, and filled with joy. Courtney’s background in nutrition and culinary arts … [Read more...]
Troy Daily, Create TC
Troy Daily grew up in Traverse City, whos parents have owned Kilwins Chocolate Shop since 1994. A hospitality business major graduating from MSU in 2008, always the dream since age 9 to open his own Kilwins. After meeting his wife, Whitney his senior year at MSU, they moved to Williamsburg, VA to own and operate a Kilwins franchise until early 2012 where the economy downturn forced the return to … [Read more...]
GRANT WINNER #13! Amalia Fernand
Amalia Fernand - THE BIG IDEA: Michigan Wildlife: A Coloring Field Guide includes 31 animals, 20 activities, Michigan species checklists, and a 150 word ecological term glossary. Animals in the book have two coloring pages that include track and scat measurements, range maps, diet, habitat, and life-cycle information. This book is designed to spread awareness about native wildlife to children … [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...]
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...]
Fulfillament #8 Grant Winner: Kristin Cassle
FULFILLAMENT # 8 GRANT WINNER: Kristin Cassle THE BIG IDEA: My big idea is to have a natural dye studio utilizing local botanical dye plants and common things most people might discard, rusted and old metals for instance can create surprising patterns, hues, and designs. Onion skins, considered to be obsolete impart golden hues. Grape must from wine making can create beautiful magentas and deep … [Read more...]
Mike Moran, Singer/Songwriter/Podcaster
Mike is a performing singer songwriter who writes songs from his experiences in relationships and working a variety of different jobs in and out of the music industry. He is also the Sales and Marketing Manager for MI Local Hops in Acme, and founded Quarter After Productions, a podcast production business in the fall of 2013. He consistently performs music throughout Northern Michigan weekly, and … [Read more...]
Kathi Mulder, Dance of Life Midwifery
Kathi has been a practicing midwife since 1992 and a Certified Professional Midwife since 1997. She is the founder of Dance of Life Midwifery and has served on the board of the Michigan Midwives Association for many years (six years as president) and is a member of the international organization Midwives Alliance. Kathi has 3 grown daughters all of whom were born into the hands of … [Read more...]
Chuck Korson, Blk Mrkt Coffee
Chuck is the creator, owner and chief operator of Blk/Mrkt Coffee. His extensive years in the coffee and hospitality business grew many ideas and passions of the culture he would create if ever owning his own shop. This led to the creation and opening of BMC in January, 2014 “My two favorite things in the world are making people happy and making the most quality cup of coffee. I get to pour … [Read more...]
ELON CAMERON, Acupuncturist and Creator of Imagine Health
Elon is the founder of Imagine Health in Traverse City where she practices acupuncture and herbal medicine. She studied at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in Chicago “Energy moves through our body like electricity through a house, Acupuncture is like turning the light on in one room. My favorite thing about my job is my job. I like it when people feel better. After all, acupuncture has … [Read more...]
Jonathan Pool, Leadership Strategist
Jonathan Pool is a leadership strategist, creative thinker, and guide that brings clarity to organizations and individuals that leads to breakthrough thinking and true alignment. For years Jonathan was the engineer of last resort for clients with seemingly unsolvable problems, however he also experienced the physical pain that occurs when one is misaligned with their true self. Today he is … [Read more...]
May Erlewine, Singer Songwriter
May Erlewine is a Michigan based singer songwriter and a member of the Earthwork Music Collective. She plays guitar, fiddle, viola, piano and a few other instruments, but mostly she sings. Her songs are treasured by people of all faiths and politics. May’s songs are sung (and recorded) by other artists, both great and small. May comes from a family of artists and musicians. Early on she was … [Read more...]
Holly Wren Spaulding, STORYhouse Partners
Holly Wren Spaulding is a passionate writer, collaborator, teacher, editor and creative consultant who lives in Williamsburg, Massachusetts where she founded Poetry Forge, an incubator for writers and their work, mentors clients through LIFE/form, and co-directs STORYhouse Partners, a communications consultancy. Because Leelanau County remains her home, she returns often to teach at Interlochen … [Read more...]
Margaret Alexander, Grand Traverse Pie Company
Margaret was born and raised in the Detroit area and is married and has three beautiful (adult) children. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Food Systems Economic and Management at Michigan State University and enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, playing Frisbee and practicing yoga. Margaret is a proud member of the Grand Traverse Pie family and is honored to be challenged by out … [Read more...]
Jody Hayden, Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate
Jody is the co-owner of Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate along with her husband, DC Hayden. GDC: Handcrafted chocolates with many organic, naturally grown and local michigan ingredients. Jody is also the co-founder of Higher Grounds Trading Company, and has extensive experience working with indigenous and fair trade farmers all around the world. “My greatest loves are my son, Charlie, and my … [Read more...]
Timothy Fitzgerald Young, Food For Thought
Timothy Fitzgerald Young is founder, President and Chef of Food For Thought, Inc., creators of organic and wild-harvested gourmet specialty foods. An extensive background in travel and human relief work in the developing world inspired Timothy’s creation of Food For Thought in 1995 with the mission of creating and raising awareness around just and sustainable food systems and to serve as a model … [Read more...]
Nik Carmen, 9 year old bluegrass genius
Nik Carman is a nine-year-old bluegrass musical genius from Suttons Bay, Michigan. He started his music career at age 7 by learning the basics of piano, violin, recorder and guitar and then took up the banjo and mandolin. Nik’s musical influences include the likes of The Accidentals, Billy Strings and Don Julin, Chris Thile and the Avett Brothers. It’s evident in the folksy tenor of his voice as … [Read more...]