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 the Great Lakes Children's Museum and the Discovery Center and Pier.

Laura Asiala, Vice-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. 

Marshall Collins, born in Northport, Michigan, is the Assistant Principal at Kingsley Elementary (Go Stags!). He earned his teaching degree from Concordia College in Ann Arbor (Go Cardinals!) and later returned to his alma mater, Northport Public School (Go Wildcats!), where he taught for 11 years. During his time there, he also served as the varsity soccer coach and athletic director. In addition to his role in education, Marshall is the Recreation Director at Traverse Bay Area Soccer and is actively involved in supporting social justice efforts throughout the Grand Traverse area.

l, Treasurer, is a CPA and Senior Manager with Rehmann's Advisory & Tax Services Department. Beth graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Accounting, and after several years in southern Michigan, she settled in the Traverse City area in 2005. Beth has volunteered with the Father Fred Blessings in a Backpack program and is active in the Traverse City Area Public Schools community.

Laura Asiala, Vice-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. 

Jürgen Griswold is our youth representative and is attending Tulane University, Class of 2028. He is a member of the Tulane University Marching Band, Soundwave Tulane’s Pep Band, and Tulane Rowing Club and is a Student Mentor for Tulane University Special Olympic Athletes. Jürgen is also the founder of the Little Reading Buddies literacy program and for the past 14 years has co-led an annual fundraiser to benefit the Great Lakes Burn Camp for Kids. 

Barbara Matthews 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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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  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.

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 Advisory & Tax Services Department. Beth graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Accounting, and after several years in southern Michigan, she settled in the Traverse City area in 2005. Beth has volunteered with the Father Fred Blessings in a Backpack program and is active in the Traverse City Area Public Schools community.

Tom Kaczynski retired in 2023 as an executive officer of Marathon Petroleum Corporation, a Fortune 25 oil and gas corporation and the largest oil refiner in North America. While at Marathon Petroleum, Tom served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer. He also served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer for MPLX GP LLC. Prior to joining Marathon Petroleum in 2015, he served as Vice President and Treasurer of The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, where he had responsibility for all treasury related activities. Tom earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Michigan State University in 1985, a Master of Science in Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1987, and a Master of Business Administration in International Business and Finance from the University of Chicago in 1992. He attended the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies in 2017. Tom is married to Debora, a practicing anesthesiologist. They live full time in Traverse City and have two grown children.

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, in addition to 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 the Great Lakes Children's Museum and the Discovery Center and Pier.

Mark L. Wilson 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.

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.

Kira Davis has over two decades of experience in conservation, emphasizing 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 a member of the Equity Action Advisory Committee of the Healing Our Waters Coalition. 

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.