DR. SOJI ADELAJA is an academic innovator, eclectic scholar, and team builder who established the Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University five years ago to advance place-based strategies for building Michigan’s prosperity. In 2011 he shifted his role at MSU to support its global initiatives.
Kim Albright
KIM ALBRIGHT is the director of international development at Smith College. She lives in New York and summers on the shores of Crystal Lake, in Frankfort. During Kim’s years on the Institute board she helped develop our Benzie County program.
Derek Bailey
DEREK BAILEY is the chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. One of northern Michigan’s most prominent young leaders, Derek actively engages with all sectors of the regional community and serves as an effective voice at the state and national level.
Julie Metty Bennett
JULIE METTY BENNETT is a vice president at Public Sector Consultants, in Lansing. She manages the firm’s environment and energy policy development, and client projects concerning water quality, land use, community and economic development, and natural resource management.
Onlee Bowden
ONLEE BOWDEN owns In Your Own Words, a consulting firm specializing in professional communications coaching in Traverse City that helps people improve their public speaking skills. She has extensive experience helping regional businesses with organizational development, marketing, and public relations.
Leslie Hamp
LESLIE HAMP, a pilates and lifestyle coach, has worked in public relations, campaign coordination, online and offline media, and community fundraising. She heads to Benzie County from her Lake Superior home each summer to enjoy the region’s beauty and local sustainable foods.
Dr. Oran Hesterman
DR. ORAN HESTERMAN is president and CEO of Fair Food Network, a national non-profit that works to improve access to healthy, fresh food. His 2011 book, Fair Food: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All, has quickly become a national sensation. Oran lives in Ann Arbor and spends time at his home in Omena, in Leelanau County.
Howard Learner
HOWARD LEARNER is the president and executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center, in Chicago—the Midwest’s leading public interest, environmental law, advocacy, and economic innovation organization. ELPC develops and promotes new directions for environmental policy issues.
Chris Macinnes
CHRIS MACINNES is Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa’s chief operating officer and president of Crystal Properties. Chris and husband Jim transformed the local, family-owned resort into a “green,” premier, four-season destination. Chris was the recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Service Award from the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Jim Macinnes
JIM MACINNES, CEO and co-owner of Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa, has an extensive background in renewable energy. He organized the 2008 and 2009 Conference on Michigan’s Future: Energy, Economy and Environment, and is the recipient of the Institute’s 2011 Milliken Distinguished Leadership Award.
Patty Pelizzari
PATTY PELIZZARI has served on the board of the Michigan Legacy Art Park for many years, and works with many other arts and education groups and projects, too. The longtime Grand Traverse area resident now lives in an historic Traverse City neighborhood.
Denis Pierce
DENIS PIERCE heads Pierce & Associates, P.C., a Chicago real-estate law firm, and the Pierce Family Foundation, which turns his "give back" philosophy into funding many good causes in Chicago and northwest Michigan. He summers on Glen Lake.
Stanley "Skip" Pruss
STANLEY "SKIP" PRUSS founded 5 Lakes Energy LLC, a clean energy technology consultancy, after directing former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm’s Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth. Skip works to enable and accelerate Michigan’s clean energy economy.
Maureen Smyth
MAUREEN SMYTH is senior vice president of programs and communications at the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. She directs the Foundation’s program activities, including its grant making and special projects, as well as all of its communications work. She enjoys spending time in her downtown Traverse City condominium on the weekends.
Judy Twigg
JUDY TWIGG is a longtime resident of northwest Michigan, currently living on the Old Mission peninsula in Grand Traverse County. She is an environmental activist, writer, healer, labyrinth facilitator, and children’s book author.
Dennis West
DENNIS WEST is president of Northern Initiatives, a private, not-for-profit community development financial institution based in Marquette. Founded by Northern Michigan University, Northern Initiatives helps to grow businesses, develop partnerships, and promote entrepreneurship and regional collaboration in underserved rural markets.
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Traverse City Office:
148 E. Front St., Suite 301
Traverse City, MI
49684-5725
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2011 Michigan Land Use Institute.
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148 E. Front St., Suite 301. Traverse City, MI 49684-5725 Phone: 231-941-6584 Fax: 231-929-0937 webinfo@mlui.org
