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...]
Bryan Ulbrich, Left Foot Charley
Bryan has been in the wine industry since 1993. The realization that a part-time cellar rat position could develop into a legitimate career path spurred him to pursue a winemaking apprenticeship rather than a Ph.D. in political science (real tough choice, eh?). The apprenticeship transformed into a winemaking and general management position. Without pause, 11 years passed. He was fortunate to … [Read more...]
Cari Simon, Women’s Rights Lawyer
Cari Simon has dedicated her life to fighting for women's rights, and lives that out as a lawyer. Cari’s nationwide law practice focuses on the civil representation of victims of school related sexual violence and other misconduct. She is a leader in the national movement to address campus sexual assault, serving on the Board of Know Your IX and the Advisory Council of the National Crime Victims … [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...]
Steve Nance, Oryana Natural Foods
Steve has been in business most all his life, from partnerships in his late teens to his own small businesses in his twenties to working for the largest firms in his thirties through fifties and now filling the role as the General Manager of Oryana, our local food cooperative. “I am an unintentional, intentional grocer! Though grocery store management was never one of my career goals, I am … [Read more...]
Miriam Pico, Singer/Singwriter
Miriam Pico is a singer/songwriter, a wife and a proud mother of three. She is passionate about using her musical gifts to “entertain, educate and empower”. She wholeheartedly believes that musicians have an opportunity to be ambassadors of joy and love wherever they perform. A proud native of Puerto Rico, Miriam is fluent in Spanish and always welcomes the opportunity to sing in her first … [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...]
STEPHANIE LEE WITALA, Events Manager & Chef, Black Star Farms
Stephanie has helped build the events program over the past few years at Black Star Farms as the Events Manager and Chef. She is and energetic mother of three, and a highly motivated and passionate professional in the culinary arts and hospitality industry. She has always loved working with people and creating experiences that are special and memorable whether it be on a plate at the dining table … [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...]
Ty Schmidt, Carter’s Compost
A Canadian import, Ty grew up in small town Manitoba. After receiving his Masters degree in Physical Therapy from The University of North Dakota and an 7 year stint in Tucson, Ty moved to Traverse City in 2006. He is married to the lovely Johanna, a Leelanau County girl, and is currently a part time physical therapist (he job shares with Johanna) at Munson. Ty started Carter’s Compost, a … [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...]
Evan Smith, Cherry Capital Foods
Evan is the CEO of Cherry Capital Foods: a unique food distributor based in Traverse City, MI that is building a resilient and socially just food system. They work with farmers, growers and producers both locally and regionally but only from the state of Michigan. Evan has over 35 years experience in international and domestic food distribution. Prior to joining Cherry Capital Foods in early … [Read more...]
Allison Moore Beers, Events North
Allison Beers started Events North in 2008 after working for two of the largest event planning agencies in the world. Events North is a full service event management agency specializing in corporate, social and nonprofit events. They strive for zero-waste events and try to incorporate as much local food as possible. Beers is currently on the board of directors for the Traverse City Area Chamber of … [Read more...]
ERIC PATTERSON, The Cook’s House
Eric Patterson is the co-chef and co-owner of The Cooks’ House, Local sustainable cuisine skillfully prepared and served in Traverse City. He spent close to fifteen years at Andre’s, Las Vegas’ 5 star French restaurant, including a three-year apprenticeship under Andre. At the end of his Vegas tenure, Patterson was Andre’s head chef. He has also co-authored one cookbook about “The Art & Soul … [Read more...]