Board of Directors

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 Inland Seas Education Association and the Discovery Center and Pier.

Laura Asiala, Vice-Chair, is the Chief Sustainability Officer of WholeWorks, LLC, a consulting company with an internationally recognized Sustainable Business professional certification program. She has 35 years of international business experience, and formerly served Dow Corning Corporation as the Director of Communications and Citizenship. She is a Board Director for the National Writers Series in Traverse City and an elder for the First Presbyterian Church of Elk Rapids.

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.

Beth Dunckel, Treasurer, is a CPA and Senior Manager with Rehmann's Accounting, Consulting and Tax Department. Beth moved to the Traverse City area in 2005 and hopes to live in the area forever. Beth has volunteered with the Father Fred Blessings in a Backpack program and is active at Traverse City Area Public Schools.

Laura Asiala, Vice-Chair, is the Chief Sustainability Officer of WholeWorks, LLC, a consulting company with an internationally recognized Sustainable Business professional certification program. She has 35 years of international business experience, and formerly served Dow Corning Corporation as the Director of Communications and Citizenship. She is a Board Director for the National Writers Series in Traverse City and an elder for the First Presbyterian Church of Elk Rapids.

Jürgen Griswold is our youth representative and is a student at Ellsworth High School. He is president of his school’s Student Council and represents several school and community organizations, serving as a three-sport varsity athlete, leadership team member of the Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council, and as a member of S.A.F.E. in Northern Michigan/Community Anti-Drug Coalition, FIRST Robotics, National Honor Society, Quiz Bowl, and his church youth group. Jürgen is also the founder of the Little Reading Buddies literacy program, and for the past 11 years has co-led an annual fundraiser to benefit the Great Lakes Burn Camp for Kids.

Mark Irwin was born and raised in Bellaire. He attended Michigan Tech University and ended up graduating from Central Michigan University with a double major in industrial education and physical science education. He elected to return to his hometown and pursue a career in insurance; 20 years later he is now Principal at Fischer Insurance Agency with offices in Bellaire and Elk Rapids. Mark has served on the Elk Rapids Chamber of Commerce and the Paddle Antrim board. He currently sits on the board of the Bellaire Downtown Development Authority.

Barbara Matthews is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of international leadership and business experience spanning a variety of business cycles and major corporate transformations. Barbara was most recently Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Hagerty and a member of Hagerty’s executive team. She was a co-leader of the team that took Hagerty public through the recently completed SPAC merger and was instrumental in creating and developing Hagerty’s public and private Board, which is well recognized for its effective governance practices. Barbara has served on several for-profit, nonprofit, and government boards and resides in Elk Rapids.

Dan Phillips was born in rural central Indiana, where he lived for 15 years before moving to southeast Michigan in 2003 with his family. He graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s degree in religious studies and later attended GarretEvangelical Theological Seminary, graduating with a Master’s degree in divinity. He currently serves as a Pastor at the United Methodist Church in Bellaire.

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.

Megan Royle Carrella has been with Herman Miller for 15 years and part of the larger design industry for almost 20 years. She currently serves as the Sales Operations Manager at Herman Miller and has a successful track record of leadership support and project management in progressively responsible roles. She is also a mother of two and owns Vita Bella Italian Kitchen and Market with her husband.

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.

Phyllis Kladder was born and raised in Midland, and attended 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.

Elise Loud is a professionally certified community planner and developer who founded Placecraft in 2018 to help communities organize and implement their ideas. Prior to founding Placecraft, Elise worked as a community planner with Networks Northwest and as a planner with Mansfield Land Use Consultants. Elise has a Master’s degree in geography from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor’s degree in geography, sociology, and writing from Aquinas College. She splits her time between Traverse City and Frankfort and has served on the board of Commonplace and the Institute for Sustainable Foraging.

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. As President of Crystal Enterprise, Chris is active in day-to-day operations as well as the company’s on-campus real estate development. Chris is also involved in regional, state, and industry organizations including currently serving on the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Executive Committee, and as past chair of the Michigan State Chamber, Michigan Travel Commission, and the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce.

Carol Marsh currently retired, spent her working career in education serving Birmingham Public Schools as a teacher, community school organizer, assistant community education specialist, senior citizen coordinator, and community information specialist for 25 years. Carol is involved in the Frankfort Rotary Club and Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Auxiliary board.

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.

Suzanne Miller Allen serves as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Senior Director of Community Responsibility and Social Mission. Prior to joining Blue Cross, Allen worked in Chief of Staff positions in both the MI House of Representatives and MI Senate. Allen serves as a board member of Northwest Michigan College Foundation and Traverse Connect. Allen also co-chairs the MI Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee. Suzanne, her husband, Jason, and their three children reside in Traverse City.

John Bercini 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 Treasurer for 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.

Annie DeVries is a writer and published author. She has a master’s degree in education and experience as a teacher. Annie has volunteered with numerous organizations in Grand Traverse and Benzie Counties, including the City Opera House Heritage Association, Traverse City Music Boosters, and Central Grade School. She’s dedicated to helping others in Northern Michigan.

Beth Dunckel, Treasurer, is a CPA and Senior Manager with Rehmann's Accounting, Consulting and Tax Department. Beth moved to the Traverse City area in 2005 and hopes to live in the area forever. Beth has volunteered with the Father Fred Blessings in a Backpack program and is active at Traverse City Area Public Schools.

Damian Lockhart lives in Traverse City and works as a Financial Advisor and Traverse City Branch Manager at Morgan Stanley. He previously served on two boards in Grand Rapids–the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and CASA of Kent County. He currently serves on the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors.

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 Inland Seas Education Association and the Discovery Center and Pier.

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 almost 10 years, where she is an artist, photographer, writer, and community advocate/liaison with Center for Change Northern Michigan. 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, and NMCAA Policy Council, among 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.

Cari Jo Roberts has been a resident of Kalkaska for most of her life. She received her Cosmetology License at the Career Technical Center and has worked in the oil and gas industry as an office manager and supply specialist. In 2008, Cari Jo became a paraprofessional at Birch Street Elementary, and in 2014 was appointed the Secretary to the Superintendent, her current position. She is also a Trustee of the Kalkaska Area Transit Board. Cari Jo is married and has three 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.

Marshall Collins is the Regional School Health Coordinator and Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Consultant for Northwest Education Services, which includes program oversight of NorthEd’s SNAP ED Program, LifeSPAN, Farm-to-School, and DEIB support. Marshall received a degree in teaching from Concordia College and went on to teach at Northport Public School for 10 years. Marshall has served as Northport’s Varsity Soccer Coach and Athletic Director and his work also involves supporting the Grand Traverse Area in continual efforts in the realms of social justice.

Kira Davis joined the National Parks Conservation Association in 2022, a national bipartisan nonprofit. Kira has over two decades of experience in conservation, with an emphasis on water quality, wetlands, wildlife protection, and Tribal and federal policy work within the Great Lakes Region. Kira is a Tribal citizen of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and serves on the Grand Traverse Band’s Natural Resource and Environmental Committee. She is also one of the fiscal co-chairs for the Healing Our Water Coalition.

Edward Lanphier grew up in Springfield, IL and graduated from Knox College in 1978. Since 1982, he has been actively involved in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, founding Sangamo Therapeutics in 1995. Until recently, Edward and Cam spent the off season in Ross, California, but have now made Leelanau their full-time home. Edward is involved with several organizations, including Sangamo Therapeutics, 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.