Laura Asiala, Chair, is the Chief Sustainability Officer of WholeWorks, LLC, specializing in sustainable business and health systems. She has 40 years of international business experience, formerly serving Dow Corning Corporation (Dow, Inc.) as the Director of Communications and Citizenship; Pyxera Global as the VP of Public Affairs; and Council of the Great Lakes Region as Senior Director and editor of the Great Lakes Economic Forum. In addition to her work with the foundation, she is also an elder for the First Presbyterian Church of Elk Rapids. 

Barbara Matthews, Vice-Chair, serves as Executive Director of Capital Markets for Commonwealth Capital, LLC, a hybrid venture firm delivering technology-driven access to U.S private and public capital markets. Before Joining Commonwealth Capital, Barbara served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Hagerty Inc. In this position, she was a team co-leader who took Hagerty public through a SPAC merger. She was instrumental in developing Hagerty’s corporate Board, which is well-recognized for its effective governance practices. She earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from DePaul University College of Law and a B.S. in International Business from Ferris State University. She holds a NACD Directorship Certification and a certificate in Private Company Governance from the Private Directors Association. Barbara has served on several for-profit, nonprofit and government boards and resides in Elk Rapids. 

John Bercini, Treasurer, was born in Dowagiac, MI and attended Western Michigan University, graduating with a B.S. and M.A. in Political Science. Based in Chicago, he spent over 30 years on Wall Street, including as Senior Vice President for the Roosevelt Investment Group. In 2013, John and his spouse, Rebecca relocated to Traverse City full-time. Now fully retired, John is  President of the Board of Trustees for Peninsula Community Library and Board Secretary for the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. He resides with Rebecca on Old Mission Peninsula.

Mark L. Wilson, Secretary, is the founder of New Leonard Media and an enrolled member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. He serves on the Traverse City Commission and previously spent nearly a decade on the GTB Tribal Council, including as Vice Chair. With expertise in media, governance, and community advocacy, Mark holds a Master of Public Administration from CMU and a BA in Liberal Studies from GVSU. His work fosters collaboration between Tribal and non-Tribal communities, strengthening local partnerships for lasting impact. 

Laura Asiala, Chair, is the Chief Sustainability Officer of WholeWorks, LLC, specializing in sustainable business and health systems. She has 40 years of international business experience, formerly serving Dow Corning Corporation (Dow, Inc.) as the Director of Communications and Citizenship; Pyxera Global as the VP of Public Affairs; and Council of the Great Lakes Region as Senior Director and editor of the Great Lakes Economic Forum. In addition to her work with the foundation, she is also an elder for the First Presbyterian Church of Elk Rapids. 

Brad Kik's varied background—film study, environmental activism, printmaking and graphic design, community organizing, traditional music, writing, ecology, and permaculture—plays a key role in shaping the cross-disciplinary work of Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology (formerly ISLAND), a nonprofit that Brad co-founded and co-directs. Brad regularly writes, consults, and presents on the intersections of art and ecology, particularly in regards to artist residencies and the role of the arts in rural development. Brad has been recognized as a presenter, panelist, and consultant for the National Endowment for the Arts, Grantmakers in the Arts, Artist Communities Alliance, and the Land Institute. Brad holds a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University.

Barbara Matthews, Vice-Chair, serves as Executive Director of Capital Markets for Commonwealth Capital, LLC, a hybrid venture firm delivering technology-driven access to U.S private and public capital markets. Before Joining Commonwealth Capital, Barbara served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Hagerty Inc. In this position, she was a team co-leader who took Hagerty public through a SPAC merger. She was instrumental in developing Hagerty’s corporate Board, which is well-recognized for its effective governance practices. She earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from DePaul University College of Law and a B.S. in International Business from Ferris State University. She holds a NACD Directorship Certification and a certificate in Private Company Governance from the Private Directors Association. Barbara has served on several for-profit, nonprofit and government boards and resides in Elk Rapids. 

Sara McGuire and her husband, Patrick, own Royal Farms, Inc., located in Ellsworth. Sara manages the farm market and winery, which includes a gift shop, bakery, and greenhouse. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Merchandising Management from Michigan State University, and her upbringing in the cherry industry has allowed her to blend her passions for agriculture, agritourism, and retail into a fulfilling career. She finds great joy in connecting the public with agriculture. Sara serves on the Miss Elk Rapids Scholarship Committee and the Elk Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. A former National Cherry Queen, she served 25 years on the Cherry Queen Committee and now acts as co-director of the Cherry Festival Fashion Show. She has led and taught youth through a variety of organizations, including 4-H, after-school programs, Miss Elk Rapids, the Cherry Queen program, and through her role managing young people who work on the farm. She believes that inspiring and motivating young people is one of her most important responsibilities. Sara is also active in Michigan Farm Bureau, a large, non-partisan organization of farmers, ranchers, and rural families that serves as “the voice of agriculture,” advocating for their interests at the local, state, and national levels through grassroots policy making.

Royce Ragland is a resident of Elk Rapids where she enjoys numerous community involvements. She currently chairs the village planning commission and Green Elk Rapids, a volunteer environmental group. Her professional career included education, economics, and management training at several government agencies and universities around the country. A favorite life experience has been service on several regional boards, providing opportunities for being an active and engaged citizen.

Laris Galejs, MD, was born and raised in Ames, Iowa where his immigrant parents were faculty at Iowa State University. He attended the University of Iowa, studying biochemistry, and attended medical school there as well. After a urology residency at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, he served eight years on active duty in the Air Force. Once honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Colonel, Laris and his wife moved back to Michigan in 2008 to be closer to family and to Benzie County, with a permanent move to the county in 2021. Laris was in private practice in urology and now works at Munson Healthcare with an office in Cadillac and Frankfort.

Lilyana Gunther-Thompson is a current student at Frankfort High School. She plans to attend college to study forensic science and criminology with a minor in dance. She currently holds a job at Vita Bella and volunteers around her community whenever she can. Lilyana is a Youth Advisory Council (YAC) member and is part of the YAC Leadership Team, among other extracurricular activities, including Drama Club and volleyball.

Phyllis Kladder was born and raised in Midland, and graduated from both Ferris State University and Aquinas College. She is a small business accountant that retired in 2020. Phyllis is involved in many area organizations, including the Benzie Sunrise Rotary, Benzie Area Historical Museum, Thompsonville Area Revitalization Project, Crystal Scholarship Foundation, and Weldon Township Planning Commission. She has lived in northern MI full-time since 2017, with her spouse Scott and their dog and cat.

Chris MacInnes moved from Southern California in 1985 to join their family-owned business, Crystal Mountain. She is a graduate of St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. Chris remains active in resort operations and leads its real estate development company, Crystal Properties. Chris is also involved in numerous regional, state, and industry organizations including currently serving on the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Outdoor Recreation Advisory Council, the Michigan Trail Fund and is a member of the Benzie Sunrise Rotary. She was past chair of the Michigan State Chamber, the Michigan Travel Commission, the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce (now Traverse Connect) and was vice chair of Munson Healthcare. Chris and her husband Jim reside in Benzie County.

Ann Strehle is a retired physical therapist from Nebraska who moved to Benzie County from Chicago in 1992. She graduated from the University of Nebraska and the Northwestern University Graduate School. She and her spouse, Barb Skurdall, opened Mobility Now Physical Therapy and provided home care services to all socioeconomic groups in seven counties in Northern Michigan. Ann was active on the state and district boards of the American Physical Therapy Association in both Nebraska and Chicago and was Board President of the Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra. Ann currently serves as Board President for the Darcy Library of Beulah.

Deb Allen currently serves as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Traverse City. Previously, she served as a County Administrator for Leelanau County, as well as the Director of Development and Community Engagement for the Grand Traverse Pavilions. Deb also served in the US Naval Reserve, and has maintained memberships in Rotary, the Zonta Club, and the Military Officers Association of Traverse City. Deb earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Millersville University of Pennsylvania.

John Bercini, Treasurer, was born in Dowagiac, MI and attended Western Michigan University, graduating with a B.S. and M.A. in Political Science. Based in Chicago, he spent over 30 years on Wall Street, including as Senior Vice President for the Roosevelt Investment Group. In 2013, John and his spouse, Rebecca relocated to Traverse City full-time. Now fully retired, John is  President of the Board of Trustees for Peninsula Community Library and Board Secretary for the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. He resides with Rebecca on Old Mission Peninsula.

Elise Loud is the founder of Placecraft, a Michigan-based community planning consultancy. Placecraft’s work is inspired by the experiences, hopes, and struggles of the people and places we serve. We are clear-eyed about the role of place in determining personal outcomes and work diligently to listen for, plan for, and collaborate on equitable and grassroots place-based solutions that improve people’s lived experiences—and correct policies and programming that do not. Along with the Community Foundation, Elise serves on the Friends of the Garden Theatre board in beautiful downtown Frankfort, MI. 

Susan Odgers' passions straddle activism and social justice, writing and health care, and her involvement in each is deep. Susan was the Traverse City Sara Hardy 2011 Humanitarian of the Year, a longtime member of the TC Human Rights Commission and served on the board of Disability Rights Michigan for 17 years. Susan is the current President of Michigan Writers, has been a Traverse City Record Eagle columnist since 2008, received the 2024 National Writers Series Bill Montgomery Literary Service Award and is the 2025 National Society of Newspaper Columnists Will Rogers Humanitarian Award recipient. She serves as the Treasurer of the board for both the Traverse Area District Library and SeedKeepers. Susan also serves on the Patient & Family Advisory Councils for several healthcare institutions. She has been an instructor of psychology for Northwestern Michigan College, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, University of Michigan and University Of Nice, France, and is a practicing therapist. Susan earned a Bachelor of Arts from Oakland University, and Master of Arts and doctorate (all but dissertation) from Wayne State University. Susan and her husband, Tom Mair, moved to Traverse City in 1987.

Jerry Ring, Chair, is the former Director of Global Contributions and Community Programs for The Dow Chemical Company where he developed a passion for cross-sector collaboration and solutions in addressing community quality of life issues. Jerry is also the founder of the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network in Bay City. He is a Traverse City Noon Rotary member as well as a board member of the Great Lakes Children's Museum and the Discovery Center and Pier.

Mark L. Wilson, Secretary, is the founder of New Leonard Media and an enrolled member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. He serves on the Traverse City Commission and previously spent nearly a decade on the GTB Tribal Council, including as Vice Chair. With expertise in media, governance, and community advocacy, Mark holds a Master of Public Administration from CMU and a BA in Liberal Studies from GVSU. His work fosters collaboration between Tribal and non-Tribal communities, strengthening local partnerships for lasting impact. 

Rachael Birgy has spent her career working with children and families in educational environments. As a Board of Education Trustee for Northwest Education Services and President of the Kalkaska School Board, she is immersed in the local education system. Rachael has also worked on early childhood development programs, including the Rotary Born to Read program and Read Aloud. She is currently working on a project that trains students to provide reading services to families.

Lauren Clark has lived in Kalkaska for over 10 years with her husband and 3 children. She works with Networks Northwest as a Resource Specialist with OS Reentry, helping people leaving prison return successfully to our communities. Her collegiate background includes renewable energy, economics, accounting, and political science. She is currently serving or has served on several local boards including Friends of the Kalkaska County Library, League of Women Voters Grand Traverse Area, 100+ Women Who Care Kalkaska, Kalkaska for Peace, Kalkaska DDA, Academea Club, NMCAA Policy Council, and others. 

Cash Cook, Secretary, is in his fourth career, which includes working as the Executive Director of the Kalkaska Village Downtown Development Authority, serving on the Kalkaska County Economic Development Board, and serving as a Kalkaska County Library Trustee. Cash has his finger on the pulse of the Kalkaska community and has championed a number of projects, often acting in a convener role.

Andi Halpin, a longtime resident of Kalkaska, works as an Administrative Assistant at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in Traverse City. Previously, she worked as the Events and Programs Coordinator for the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce for more than eight years. She has also served on the American Red Cross Northern Michigan Chapter Board of Directors for several years.

Rick Heitmeyer began working in education in the 1990s. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Education, Master of Arts in Principalship, and an Education Specialist degree in General Administration, all from Central Michigan University. Rick joined Kalkaska Public Schools as Superintendent in 2021 after working in various school districts across Michigan, including in Baldwin, Buckley, Vanderbilt, Central Montcalm, and Vestaburg. A graduate of nearby Elk Rapids, Rick is excited to be back home working with and serving a great community.

Coltrane Paryani is a senior at Kalkaska High School (KHS). He currently serves on the Michigan Community Foundations' Youth Project (MCFYP) Committee and as a Leadership Team member for Kalkaska’s Youth Advisory Council. Coltrane is passionate about being involved in the communities he is a part of. He is on course to be the Valedictorian for KHS’s Class of 2026, holding positions as Senior Class President and Vice President of the National Honor Society chapter at KHS, while participating in cross country, wrestling, and track & field. Coltrane hopes to continue his journey as a philanthropist and youth advocate in college, where he plans to major in physics.

Cari Jo Roberts has been a resident of Kalkaska County for the majority of her life. She is a graduate of Kalkaska Public Schools Class of 1994, where she currently holds her professional career as Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent. Cari Jo is also the Secretary on the Kalkaska Area Transit Board and a Trustee on the Kalkaska Township Board. In her spare time she takes great pleasure in reading, gardening and spending quality time with her husband and three adult children. 

Terry Beamsley has been a consultant and senior leader, working with a variety of organizations including the Community Foundation of Monroe County, the City of Monroe, River Raisin National Battlefield Foundation, Toledo Museum of Art, and The Henry Ford Museum, among others. She is an active member of the Traverse City Rotary Club, a volunteer with the Traverse City Film Festival, and serves on the Michigan state board of Eversight, a national eye bank.

Oran Hesterman is the Founder of Fair Food Network—a national leader in sustainable agriculture and food systems. Before launching Fair Food Network, Oran led the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Integrated Farming Systems and Food & Society programs. Prior to his work in the nonprofit sector, Oran researched and taught forage and cropping systems management and sustainable agriculture at Michigan State University. He serves on the board or in an advisory role for a number of organizations, including Fair Food Fund, Five Acre Farms, Groundwork Center, NextCycle Michigan, and Pardes Hannah Jewish Renewal Community. Oran earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from the University of California, Davis. He completed his PhD in agronomy, plant genetics, and business administration at the University of Minnesota. He lives with his wife, Lucinda Kurtz, and he still gets his hands dirty in his garden and at the potter's wheel.

Edward Lanphier grew up in Springfield, IL and graduated from Knox College in 1978. From 1980 until 2016 he was actively involved in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, founding Sangamo Therapeutics in 1995. Until retirement, Edward and his wife Cam spent the off season in Ross, California, but have now made Leelanau their full-time home. Edward has been involved with several organizations, including University of Michigan School of Public Health, University of Michigan Provost’s Advisory Committee, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, and the Glen Lake Association, among others. 

Ranve Martinson is currently in her second career running the Martinson Funeral Home. Ranve and her brother are the fourth generation to run the business, which has been serving the area for more than 100 years. Ranve is active in the Suttons Bay community and is on the Board of Directors for the Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, is the Scholarship Chair for the Traverse City Elks Lodge #323, and plays the saxophone with the Northport Community Band and Cherry Pitters.

Larry Nelson served as the Probate and Family Court Judge for Leelanau County from 2010-2018. He then served as a visiting judge for a number of counties in northwest Michigan. He received his BA from the University of Michigan and his JD from the University of Toledo. Larry has practiced law in both the private and public sectors. In addition, he maintained a private practice in Leland for more than 30 years.

J. Donald (Don) Sheets currently serves as Principal of his consulting firm, focusing on strategic advising and board service in the fields of materials science, finance and accounting, health care and higher education. Don completed a 34-year career with Dow Corning Corporation in 2017, retiring as Vice Chairman. Don serves on the board of directors of Covia Holdings LLC, Tri-Star Trust Bank, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation, TempleArts Foundation, Central Michigan University Medical Education Partners and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. He has led and or participated in numerous capital campaigns for a variety of organizations. Don has raised over $50 million through his personal fundraising efforts in capital campaigns. Don earned a Bachelor of Arts from Albion College, majoring in Economics, Management and Accounting. He has an MBA from the University of Michigan-Flint, with a concentration in Operations and Quantitative Systems.