Jenna Smith
Manpower

Jenna Smith is the Market Manager for Manpower of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, creating impactful talent solutions for Upper Peninsula businesses. She has worked in HR in the UP for over a decade in a variety of roles in both the private and public sectors. Jenna is a Marquette native and graduate of the University of Michigan. After living away for a decade in Ann Arbor, MI and Boulder, CO, she returned home with her husband Lou to start their family; they have two daughters, Olive and Clara. In her free time, you can find her listening to audiobooks, cross-country skiing, hanging at the beach, hopping in the sauna, or, you know – running for local office 😂.

Debb Brunell
Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!

Debb Brunell is the Chief Executive Officer of Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!, a position she has held since May 2023. With a workforce development career spanning more than 20 years, she brings expertise in organizational leadership, program planning, and talent development.

She holds a B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Communication and is a Certified Program Planner and Certified Instructor. Brunell is committed to advancing innovative workforce solutions across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Austin Morris
KMI Space

Developing technical solutions with direct applications, Austin has built experience in R&D, prototyping, product development, and manufacturing across various industries, most notably aerospace. His background of success includes project and team management to develop physical prototypes, products, and production plans, leading to Austin spearheading the strategic leadership on the design, assembly, testing, and integration of multiple segments within KMI Space, including the successful in-space demonstration of REACCH on the International Space Station.

Nathan Clisch
Integrated Designs, Inc.

Nathan Clisch, P.E., is a Structural Engineer and Associate with Integrated Designs, Inc. (IDI), where he has worked for the past eight years. He collaborates with architects, engineers, contractors, and owners to develop practical, cost-effective structural solutions for a wide range of projects. Nathan earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 2017, with a focus on structural design. Outside of work, he enjoys mountain biking and spending time outdoors with his wife, Kara, and their three sons.

Jen Tucker

With more than 18 years of professional experience in community development and over 20 years as a proud Upper Peninsula resident, Jen brings a deep understanding of Michigan communities and a passion for helping them grow and thrive.

Jen’s experience spans the local, county, and state levels, with expertise in downtown development, real estate development, community revitalization, and placemaking. Most recently, she served as Redevelopment Services Director for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), supporting communities throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Prosperity Regions 9 and 10—from Ironwood to Dearborn. Throughout her career, Jen has embraced a wide range of professional experiences, including wildland firefighting, teaching earth science courses, fundraising, and event planning. These diverse experiences have shaped her creative, adaptable approach to community development and problem-solving.

Jen attended Northern Michigan University, where she earned a degree in Environmental Conservation, and Eastern Michigan University, where she studied Urban and Regional Planning. Outside of work, Jen enjoys spending time outdoors in the Great Lakes State, walking her dog Peete, watching football, tackling home improvement projects, exploring her passion for music, and cooking. Her curiosity and enthusiasm for trying new things continue to inspire both her professional work and her life outside of it.

John Madigan
Pictured Rocks Cruises

John Madigan is a native of Munising, Michigan, where he grew up playing sports and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He is a graduate of Mather High School.

John became a charter boat captain at the age of 18 and, while attending Northern Michigan University, navigated the waters of Lake Superior as his part-time job. Upon graduating from university with a degree in education, in 1982 John moved to Northern Illinois, where he taught high school for four years. In 1986, John moved to California to run a construction company.

John and his family returned to Munising 25 years ago, and he has worked in the insurance business there ever since. In 2007, John also purchased an interest in Pictured Rocks Cruises in Munising, and became manager of the business two years later. He has led a number of projects, including two dock expansions and the acquisition of new vessels for the cruises, and a major renovation of an historic building in downtown Munising, now a regional interpretive center. He recently was involved with the construction of the Kayak Express for Munising Water Sports, which was voted one of the top ten boats by Workboat Magazine for 2019. A new kayak vessel is currently under construction for Munising Water Sports as well as a new dock. Both will be completed in 2021. He also co-owns Madigan’s Hardware in Munising, which was opened by his grandfather in 1920.

Under Governors Engler, Granholm, and Snyder, John served on the Michigan Natural Resources Commission for 12 years. He currently serves on the Michigan Travel Commission.

John is a member of the Munising Hospital Board; president of Munising Water Sports, which transports individuals by boat to meet their guided Pictured Rocks kayak trips, co-chair of the Central Upper Peninsula Regional Prosperity Initiative, and a member of Great Waters, a marketing organization to promote the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

In 2014, John launched the “Pictured Rocks Day” event, an annual event, which today attracts over 7,500 visitors to Munising.

Jason Meneguzzo
Louie’s Fresh Markets

Jason Meneguzzo is the Chief Financial Officer of Louie’s Fresh Markets and helps manage his family’s rental properties and Lac La Belle Resort. A lifelong Copper Country resident, he serves as Vice President of the Lake Linden Housing board and coaches girls’ hockey. He is committed to supporting local businesses and creating more housing opportunities in the community.

Nicki Basch
Great Lakes Housing Services

Nicki has been with Great Lakes Housing Services as a Housing Consultant since December 2024 assisting Developers, Non-Profits and Local Units of Government navigate the housing ecosystem. She works in the Northwest and Northeast Lower Michigan regions and the entire UP. Nicki received her bachelor’s degree in management and organizational development from Spring Arbor University. She is a certified Professional Indian Housing Manager and member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBI) Affordable Housing Advisory Council. Nicki has over 22 years’ experience in Housing, previously employed with the Grand Traverse Band as the Housing Director/Development Manager, experienced in LIHTC and federal funds. A lifelong resident of Northern Michigan, she has two sons and three grandchildren. Nicki is an enrolled member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

Grace Feed
Marquette County Planning Division

Grace Feed is a MI Healthy Climate Fellow at the Marquette County Planning Division. She is supporting the County’s Master Plan update, as well as leading community engagement projects and coordinating with stakeholders on sustainability, recreation infrastructure, and community development.

Patricia Davis
Kendricks Bordeau, P.C.

Patricia “Trish” Davis is Managing Partner of Kendricks Bordeau, P.C. and has been with the firm since 2015. Trish received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she was editor-in-chief of the William Mitchell Law Review. After law school she served as law clerk to the Honorable Steven E. Rau, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, and worked as associate litigator for two Minneapolis-area law firms before moving to the Upper Peninsula. Trish’s primary areas of practice include estate planning, estate and trust administration services, and probate litigation. In addition, she serves as the Marquette County Public Administrator. She is also an active participant in many organization in Marquette, including serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Community Foundation of Marquette County and an Ambassador with the Marquette County Ambassadors.

Rep. Karl Bohnak
Michigan State House of Representatives 109th District

Rep. Karl Bohnak was first elected to the state House of Representatives in November 2024. He serves the 109th House District, which includes the counties of Alger, Baraga, Marquette, and portions of Dickinson including the townships of Breen, Felch, Norway, Waucedah, and West Branch as well as the cities of Ishpeming, Marquette, Munising, Negaunee, and Norway.

Bohnak serves as vice chair of the House Committee on Economic Competitiveness. He also serves as a member of the Natural Resources and Tourism, Health Policy, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees.
A love of snow drew Bohnak north to the Upper Peninsula nearly 40 years ago where he became chief meteorologist at WLUC-TV6 in Marquette. He’s been there ever since. Weather has been Bohnak’s passion since his youth, to this day he is captivated by learning about and informing people of interesting, extreme weather.

But Bohnak is more than just a meteorologist. He is also an author and historian. His award-winning book, “So Cold a Sky” was released in 2006. His next effort, “Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Almanac” was co-written with Ron Jolly. His latest book, “Sunburns to Snowstorms, Upper Michigan Weather in Pictures and Stories” is a collaboration with photo historian Jack Deo.

Bohnak and his wife, Liz, live in Deerton with their beloved cat Gracie. He has two sons and a twin sister who live in the Milwaukee area. He also has three grandchildren. Bohnak is a past co-chair and former member of the United Way of Marquette County. He is still broadcasting daily radio weather updates in Newberry and Sault Ste. Marie.

Sen. Ed McBroom
Michigan State Senate 38th District

State Sen. Ed McBroom serves the people of Michigan’s 38th Senate District in the Upper Peninsula and is the Senate Republicans’ Caucus Dean.

He previously chaired the Senate Natural Resources and Oversight committees.

McBroom is a fourth-generation dairy farmer and operates his family’s 100-year-old farm, where he raises Holsteins and grows corn, wheat, and hay. He previously served three full terms in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2011 to 2016.

He is active in his community, serving on the U.P. State Fair Authority, as dairy superintendent of the Dickinson County Fair, and as director of the Norway City Band. He also directs music at the First Baptist Church of Norway.

McBroom holds bachelor’s degrees in music education and social studies secondary education from Northern Michigan University. Ed and his wife, Sarah, have five children and reside in Waucedah.

Jay Gage
Upper Peninsula Regional Manager for U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin

Jay is a lifelong Democrat and has been active in Upper Peninsula politics since his start in 2008 on the Obama campaign. Since then he has campaigned for and supported candidates nearly every election cycle from the U.S. Senate down to City Commission. He was previously elected to serve as a Sault Ste Marie City Commissioner and while in college was the President of the Student Association of Michigan, the statewide Student Government association for Michigan’s 15 public universities.

He is a fierce advocate for the Upper Peninsula, rural issues, and for small towns across the State of Michigan.

Jodi Ouellette
District Representative for U.S. Representative Jack Bergman, 1st District

Jodi has worked as the District Representative for the office of US Representative Jack Bergman since 2024. She has a background in marketing and small business consulting.

Natalie Chmiko
Lake Superior Community Partnership

Natalie Chmiko serves as CEO of the Lake Superior Community Partnership, a role she began in May 2026. She brings more than 12 years of economic development experience, with a background in strategic planning, organizational leadership, partnership development, small business support, international trade, rural development, and business growth.

Prior to joining LSCP, Natalie held several leadership roles at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Culture & Collaborative Operations. In that role, she oversaw strategy, corporate projects, research, customer experience, internal communications, human resources, and learning and development.

Throughout her tenure at MEDC, Natalie helped build successful teams, develop impactful economic development programming, secure state and federal funding, manage budgets, and bring partners together to support Michigan businesses and communities. Her previous roles also included Senior Vice President of Small Business Solutions, Vice President of Pure Michigan Business Connect and International Trade, and Director of International Trade.

As International Trade Director, Natalie led a nationally recognized state export assistance program. Under her leadership, the International Trade team facilitated $1.5 billion in export sales for Michigan small businesses, supporting 6,962 Michigan jobs. The team also received the 2017 President’s “E” Award, the highest recognition a U.S. entity can receive for supporting export activity.

Before joining MEDC in 2014, Natalie served as Assistant Economic Developer at Saginaw Future Inc., where she supported local business and community economic development projects. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business from Saginaw Valley State University and is accredited as a NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional.

Natalie has also served in several volunteer and leadership roles, including President and Vice President of the State International Development Organizations, board member of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, and ex officio member of the East and West Michigan District Export Councils.
After years of visiting the Upper Peninsula with her family, Natalie relocated to the area in 2023 and now calls Marquette County home. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the U.P., reading, and baking sourdough.

Dakota Baker
Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance

Dakota Baker serves as Director of the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance, where he leads advocacy, strategy, and policy initiatives to strengthen the region’s business community and support long-term economic development. In this role, he works closely with federal, state, and local elected officials, as well as regulatory agencies, to advance legislation and policy that benefit Northern Michigan.

A graduate of Lake Superior State University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Dakota brings extensive experience in public service and government. His background includes serving as Campaign Manager for Congressman Jack Bergman, Lower Peninsula District Liaison in Bergman’s office, and Deputy Chief of Staff for State Senator John Damoose.

Passionate about the future of Northern Michigan, Dakota has served on the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging Advisory Board and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Government for Tomorrow, a nonprofit that engages high school students in local government leadership.

Originally from Traverse City, Dakota enjoys hockey, hunting, hiking, DJ’ing events, and game nights.

Madeleine Krol
Graham Sustainability Institute

Madeleine Krol is the Clean Energy Land Use Specialist at the Graham Sustainability Institute’s Center for EmPowering Communities. She bridges research and practice by helping local governments plan and zone for large-scale energy infrastructure, including solar, wind, battery storage, and data centers. Through U-M’s partnership with Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), she leads the Renewable Energy Academy, developing educational programs and providing individualized technical assistance to communities. Madeleine also contributes to U.S. Department of Energy-funded research on energy zoning, land ownership, and renewable energy siting. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in spatial planning from the Technical University of Dortmund, Germany.

Ron Akers
Charter Township of Van Buren

Ron Akers, AICP is the Municipal Services Director of Van Buren Township, a municipality in Wayne County, Michigan. Mr. Akers main responsibilities include the oversight of Township’s Planning & Economic Development, Public Services, and Water & Sewer divisions. Prior to joining Van Buren Township, Mr. Akers served as the Public Services Director for the City of Ypsilanti where he was responsible for overseeing the City’s public works contracts and operations and the Planning & Economic Development Director for Van Buren Township where he led the Township’s Economic Development efforts. Mr. Akers is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and also holds a State of Michigan S-2 Drinking Water Operator Distribution Certification. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and holds a graduate degree from Wayne State University. Mr. Akers currently resides in Wayne County, Michigan.