EXPAND storytelling

ELLA SKROCKI was raised in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and more specifically, at Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak with her family. A place that instilled her love for surfing, adventure and community. Even while escaping to surf between classes, Ella earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies & Sustainability at Northern Michigan University which has helped...

RYAN HANNON is a passionate advocate for ending homelessness through the importance of treating every person with dignity and respect. His inspiring journey in the realm of social justice and housing advocacy is marked by authenticity, compassion, and a deep-rooted commitment to making a lasting impact in the lives of people experiencing homelessness that results from a permanent place to live. Ry...

DANA FALCONBERRY is an artist and musician living in Northern Michigan and West Texas. She grew up dancing classical ballet and modern dance in Dearborn, MI before attending Hendrix College in Arkansas. In college she studied songwriting, which prompted her move to Austin in 2005. After touring, recording, and leading a band for over a decade, she now finds herself focused on visual art. She worke...

Megan Stilwill is a pediatrician at Table Health with a profound love for holistic healing and manual medicine, mother,  nature seeker, art lover, yogi, highly sensitive, neurodivergent, sober- life loving, life long learner of a human who is endlessly curious about the mystery of life.  " I chose this profession because I have a profound love for the human body, mind and spirit. I am truly a...

Katie Asher, the owner of slip. Vintage , has always been passionate about fashion, travel and second hand shopping. “Clothes can be a pathway to true self-expression, A way to show who we are on the inside, outwardly.” She lives with her husband and two cats in traverse city, and when she’s not digging through other peoples closets, she is enjoying the beauty that is our town, biking and hiking w...

A Tennessee native and lifelong designer, Dana Lacuesta moved to Traverse City in 2018 and founded Dana Grace Interiors , where she creates spaces that are both beautiful and deeply personal. She’s passionate about storytelling through design and finding big meaning in the little details. Dana is also the co-founder of Traverse City Design Week , a community event that connects and uplifts the reg...

Nick Olson is a serial entrepreneur who is passionate about building community spaces.  A Traverse City native, he spent some time in New Jersey and Pennsylvania before boomeranging back in 2019, and is now a part of creating ELEV8 Climbing and Fitness , Grand Traverse Social Sports , and Hearth Sauna .  He is easily excited by new ideas, and convinced that we all need to spend more time together....

Karine Pierson is a musician, educator, and storyteller based in Traverse City. As the owner of MiMusic Studio and the Traverse City Violin Company, she fosters a vibrant community of music learners of all ages. A classically trained violinist, vocalist and versatile performer, she leads an 8-piece wedding band , directs youth rock bands, and creates innovative music programs, including special ne...

Mark Goethel  is a resident of Traverse City, MI, and is known for his strong ties to the local community and his passion for recreation in northern Michigan. With a background in video production, Mark is dedicated to empowering people and brands through thoughtful and creative visuals with his company Rec Creation Media . Outside of work he is a husband, a father, an adventurer, and he has been...

Kelli Kaberle Mengebier, a Traverse City native, is co-founder of HKM & Associates and a connector of people, ideas, and impact. She leads fundraising and advocacy with heart and hustle—whether in her hometown or on Capitol Hill. A former MTV casting director turned philanthropy pro, Kelli brings big energy, sharp strategy, and a deep love for community to everything she does. She’s a fierce h...

JOSH HARTMAN is an educator, creator, and adventurer who thrives on sharing knowledge and inspiring others to reach their potential. With a foundation in elementary education and over a decade of experience as a professional photographer, Josh has blended his passions for teaching, creativity, and connection into a unique journey. From living life on the road for four years in a van to exploring t...

VLAD BORZA grew up in Romania, playing outside any chance he had. Immigrating to southern Canada's industrial corridor in the mid 90's, he always sought refuge and adventure in the outdoors. After studying biology in college, he became a middle & high school teacher in Grand Rapids, but found himself traveling up the coast nearly every weekend to take in the Lake. He dreamt of finding...

SUSIE GRACE is a free spirit with a creative soul, an eternal adventurer who loves traveling, doing anything active, and trying to catch even the smallest wave. Known for diving headfirst into situations that (often) scare her later, she thrives on doing things her own way. A lifelong learner and maker, Susie pours her passion into everything from skateboarding, repurposing scrap fabric into funct...

PETE FARMER is the brains behind all Farmer Foot Drum instruments and single-handedly turned his ideas into a full-time business, despite being a self-taught musician, craftsman, and businessman. Pete has been drawn to music his entire life and stumbled in to the world of foot percussion in his twenties. He then started making and playing his own creations for friends and busking on the streets of...

Sam LaSusa is professionally trained in architecture which has led him to focus on community development and municipal planning. His passion is facilitating affordable housing, improving multimodal transportation routes, increasing pedestrian safety, protecting the natural beauty of the area and supporting the local agricultural industry. He finds joy in getting his hands in the dirt, building edi...

“I’m Clay Maas, making pottery and teaching ceramics is my jam! The Ceramics spark was lit during my final year of college and that passion is burning even brighter today. Being the co-owner of Clay Space TC allows me to share my love of art and pottery with others. I grew up in a small Ohio town and moved to Traverse City in 2015. My wife, Emily, our daughter Wren and our buoyant doodle Lincoln,...

Heather Spooner is a multi-passionate lettering artist and pen pal enthusiast who shares her journey, projects, and inspirations through her Instagram. Her feed is a mix of vibrant hand-lettered pieces, personal reflections, and updates on her creative endeavors, such as her “Letter League” community (and documentary!) In her writing, Heather often explores topics like embracing change, overcoming...

Chad Lindsey is the Executive Director of City Opera House . Before coming to Traverse City, he helmed The Mark O’Donnell Theater - a black box experimental theater and mixed-use arts and residential building in Brooklyn, NY in association with the Entertainment Community Fund. Chad is an actor, director, and artist. He holds a degree in music from Valparaiso University. He founded Hook & Eye...

SkyeLea is a dynamic force in the local music scene and  brings a unique blend of heartfelt melodies and powerful stage presence to every performance. With a rich and soulful approach to musical storytelling, she captures audiences with her blend of guitar and vocal prowess. As a solo artist and a member if Trillium Groove . And you can most likely find her wondering around or working at The Alluv...

Daniel Sarya is passionate about helping others find their smile. He is the owner of Sarya Orthodontics , a business that has been around for over 50 years.  Growing up in Traverse City, Dan was raised to have pride in his Finnish heritage. All of his ancestors emigrated from Finland, and one of his trips back to visit his relatives with his family he realized that he wanted to bring the tradition...

Erica Bourdon is a Licensed massage therapist, and intuitive body worker at Bodywise. She believes that the body has an intrinsic ability to self-heal, and brings her clients into a space of deeply listening to these messages through her healing touch. Erica lights up by moving her body in nature and unplugging from the outside world, through rock climbing, backpacking, paddling, swimming or just...

Adam Weinrich is a family man and farmer that loves a good wilderness adventure. He returned to Michigan with his family five years ago from hong kong to trade in his business suit for Carhartts. They have built Anavery Fine Foods into a trusted local producer and supplier of pastured-raised, ethically-treated animal proteins.  The farm is a vehicle to connect his family to other people, to the la...

Amber Hasan has been writing for as long as she can remember. She sees writing as sacred, a vehicle for feeling spiritually whole and fulfilling her life purpose. In addition to being a writer, she is a wife, mother, actor, hip-hop artist, herbalist, and community organizer. Amber’s work focuses on bringing light to dark places and situations while also helping others to find and use their voices...

Kyler Bradley is a passionate movement specialist and the proud owner of MI Moves Fitness . Kyler is dedicated to helping individuals enhance their lives through the power of quality movement, fostering strength and vitality. Beyond the studio, Kyler is an avid adventurer, finding joy in mountain biking, paddleboarding, and any outdoor activity that keeps the body in motion. Mornings hold a specia...

Ramon Gaitan grew up in Nicaragua, and has lived in this country since the age of 10.  Dance has always been a driving force in his life, and even after retiring from being a professional ballet dancer, he still found a way to keep dancing, whether it’s from dancing in the Nutcracker to teaching social dance through ballroom or teaching private lessons, or just getting down on the dance floor on N...