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 […]

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 justice and compassion by a fire in my belly that won’t be quenched no matter how many times I may fail.”

Here it Betsy's story from the September 2016 event....

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 […]

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 Dennis, starting with 1992’s It’s Raining Frogs and Fishes, and most recently A Walk in the Animal Kingdom.  Glenn’s mixed media fine art is represented by Tamarack Gallery in Omena, Michigan, and at his studio in the Traverse City. His work has been shown throughout the US and Canada both publically and privately.  He also on the art faculty of Northwestern Michigan College.  You can catch him playing bass with several local collaborating artists.

“My job is to make marks on paper or canvas and pluck strings on resonate wood. The marks become images and the plucks become melody and rhythm in collaborations with the greatest writers, musicians, environmentalists and humans that I have ever met. Sometimes these marks and sounds tell my own stories of interior and exterior landscapes, our estrangement from them, and our journey back.”

Check out the slideshow in this pdf  as you listen to the podcast as they go hand in hand. This slideshow was presented at his storytelling talk from the September 2016 event...

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, […]

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 makes your eyes sparkle.  Those sparkles are lighting up the way to one of your callings”. 

Here is Kate’s story from the September 2016 event…

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 […]

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 to enjoy life and celebrate.  Nothing gives me more joy than to see smiling faces and excitement for what we are doing.

Here is Gary’s story from the September 2016 event…

BILL PALLADINO is the project director for Taste the Local Difference, creator of an upcoming independent bookstore “Leeward Books”, and a lover of local food and biking everywhere he can. He has sustained roles as Executive Director, Business Consultant, Executive Coach, Instructional Designer, CEO for Hire, Economic Development Director, and Keynote Speaker with over 25 years […]

BILL PALLADINO is the project director for Taste the Local Difference, creator of an upcoming independent bookstore "Leeward Books", and a lover of local food and biking everywhere he can. He has sustained roles as Executive Director, Business Consultant, Executive Coach, Instructional Designer, CEO for Hire, Economic Development Director, and Keynote Speaker with over 25 years of management and business ownership experience. Bill left his corporate training and consulting practice in 2012 to join the Michigan Land Use Institute (MLUI) staff after spending several years on its board of directors. MLUI brought Bill into the organization specifically to help transform Taste the Local Difference (TLD) and to accelerate its growth potential to serve more communities.  Bill currently serves on the board of Michigan Good Food Charter steering committee, the Grand Traverse Foodshed Alliance (managers of the GT Food Innovation Hub), Blackbird Arts and is Chair of the Northwest Michigan Food and Farming Network. He is well known in Michigan for his work assisting small businesses, nonprofits, communities and economic development agencies.

“Service is not something you imagine doing at the end of your life hoping you’ve left enough time to make a difference. It’s a purposeful act done every day, as the center of your world, while letting the rest of your life fall into place around it.”

This story was from the September 2016 Fulfillament in Traverse City, MI.