Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I met my husband in Traverse City in 1990 just as I was moving to Washington DC. After a year of commuting, we realized Traverse City was where we belonged. Wally and I married in 1993 and had our daughter, Aleksa, in 1995 followed by our son, Cole, in 1996. Wally is a wholesale auto broker and works with dealerships, manufacturers, and dealer-only auctions around the country. Aleksa graduated from DePauw University and lives in Indianapolis. Cole is attending Northern Michigan University in Marquette where he can enjoy his passion of snowboarding.

Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
As the Executive Director of TCNewTech I have the privilege to bring together innovators and startup founders with investors, mentors, and tech enthusiasts in order to launch their ideas. I have had a varied work background but have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. In addition to heading up TCNewTech I also have my own online store called www.mindfulvibelife.com and a second one in the works.

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
We have been regulars to Amical since they opened years ago but we also love Town Plaza,Red Ginger, Poppycocks, Taproot, Filing Station, Funastrada– we are so fortunate to have so many great restaurants!

Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community? What brought you to Grand Traverse County?
After graduating from Gaylord High School then Northwood University, I lived in Vail, Colorado for 3 years. I loved the mountains but wanted to be closer to family so I moved back to Traverse City. Wally had moved to the area in the late 1970s after graduating high school in Saginaw and although he spent a lot of time traveling, Traverse City was always his home base. Traverse City has always felt like home for both of us because of the natural beauty and the people.

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
That is a tough question since there are so many interesting people in Traverse City. I used to deliver Meals-on-Wheels and I met many interesting people that had rich stories about the history of Traverse City. We have internationally recognized authors and musicians like Doug Stanton and Bob James for instance. I’ve met mentors that have sold their companies for millions of dollars or retired from fascinating careers and settled in Traverse City. We are a melting pot but everyone is so very accessible and bring interesting stories to the table.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Prior to the Global Pandemic, Wally and I had to cancel a trip we had booked to Eastern Europe to trace his family’s history in Poland, Austria, and Hungary. I’m really looking forward to being able to reschedule that trip.

Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Our family’s favorite movie has always been “It’s A Wonderful Life”. I love silly sit-coms like Modern Family, Seinfeld, New Girl, and Big Bang Theory.

Q: What advice would you give to people who want to visit our community?
Plan enough time to see as much as you can. It will takes years to see it all but pack in as much as possible.

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Spend a winter living on a catamaran and sailing around the Caribbean.

Q: What current or former local business makes you feel the most nostalgic about our community?
The Park Place Beacon Lounge on the top floor of the Park Place Hotel where you can get a 360 degree view of Traverse City.

Q: If you could choose anyone today with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you all meet for this lunch?*
The author and polymath Jordan Peterson. I’m reading one of his books “The 12 Rules of Life” and I have so many questions for him. My first choice for lunch is always any place where I can sit outside in the sunshine.

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The Boardman River winds through Traverse City and gives you a very different perspective of the town when you kayak or paddleboard from Boardman Lake out into West Grand Traverse Bay.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
In five years I hope to have a business that is self-sustaining so that Wally and I can spend even more time travelling to visit friends and family.

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I played hockey on the Vail Northern Lights team and we played all the major universities in Colorado and Alaska.

Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
I like high elevations and I have seen some incredible mountaintop views around the world. The sunsets from the deck on my house overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay is hard to beat, too.

Q: Favorite month? Favorite holiday? and the best single day on the calendar?
I love December and Christmas because of all the time spent with family and friends.

Q: Who inspires you to be better?
I am inspired by people that stay physically and mentally active in all stages of their lives but especially octogenarians and beyond.

Q: What is your favorite season in Northern Michigan? And what is your favorite activity to do in those seasons?
Summer! I love to do anything outside: golf, bike, tennis, run, hike, boat, etc.

Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
comfort, warmth, family