Leadership Charlevoix County (LCC) Class of 2023 is partnering with Top of Michigan Trails Council (TOMTC) to create safe trails and connected communities in Charlevoix County for their community service project. The goal of this project is to connect non-motorized trails in Charlevoix County by adding signs and trail markers to improve safety and navigation on the trails as well as identify local points of interest. This will allow residents across all social and economic demographics to enjoy the natural beauty and local communities that Charlevoix County offers.

LCC and TOMTC’s first steps are to connect the Boyne Valley Trailway with the Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail by identifying a safe trail route through Boyne City and placing signs and trail markers along this route. These signs will help trail users navigate from the Boyne Valley Trailway to the Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail while identifying points of interest and local businesses in Boyne City. If funding and time permit, LCC and TOMTC will expand the scope of the project to include additional signs along the Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail and the Little Traverse Wheelway.

Leadership Charlevoix County is a nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and promote community based leadership in individuals and organizations within Charlevoix County.. To do this, LCC has developed a nine-month program that exposes participants to issues of community awareness, local governmental services, and educational opportunities to develop leadership knowledge and skills.

The diverse group of alumni totals 174 from LCC’s inception. Many of these past participants now serve in leadership roles ranging from various boards to local government elected positions.

The Class of 2023 is the 11th LCC class. The current class roster consists of:

  • Clancey Becker from Great Lakes Energy
  • Ryan Deery from the Charlevoix Public Library
  • Matt Greer from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation
  • Patty Hellebuyck from the Char-Em Intermediate School District
  • Brian Hochstetler from Boyne Mountain
  • Sarah Ingalls from Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital
  • Kendra Lake from North Central Michigan College
  • Skylar MacNaughton from the Gnarly Artisan
  • Leah McGuire from Charlevoix County
  • Erin Miedema from EJ
  • Sam Ottgen from 4Front Credit Union
  • Jordan Peck from City of Boyne City Main Street
  • Cynthia Pepin from East Jordan Family Health Center
  • Sam Persons from Boyne Mountain
  • Tim Smith from Charlevoix County Probate and Family Court

 LCC’s administrators are Mary Faculak and Alison Hubbard.

As part of the program, each class is required to identify a need within Charlevoix County and participate in a community service project to help address that need. They look forward to collaborating with the community for the duration of this project. Please consider making a donation to help support their efforts.

For more information on this project please reach out to Patty Hellebuyck at 231-459-8439 or hellebuyckp@charemisd.org or Erin Miedema at 231-495-8314 or erin.miedema@ejco.com.