2024 MLA Conference Speakers
Anna Bennett
Student
Eastern Michigan University
Session:
Panel: Retaining Volunteers & Staff & Recruiting Future Lighthouse Stewards
Anna Bennett is an undergraduate Geotourism and Historic Preservation major at Eastern Michigan University. She participated in a field school at Beaver Island and helped to restore the lighthouse.
Denise Brooks
Volunteer
Fort Gratiot Light Station
Session:
Panel: Stability is a Three Legged Stool: Partnerships with Fort Gratiot Light Station
Denise Brooks is a community volunteer who is passionate about the restoration and renovation of the Fort Gratiot Light Station. She is the retired CEO of the YMCA of the Blue Water Area, and a graduate of Michigan State University. She partners with her husband Dave, President of the Friends of the Fort Gratiot Light, in community efforts to raise funds and friends for the Light Station. With several other volunteers, they started Blue Water SandFest, which has raised over $225,000 for restoration and renovation efforts at the Light Station.
Mark Cansdale
Historic Preservation Project Manager
ICC Commonwealth
Session:
How an Industrial Smokestack Company Became Well Known for Lighthouse Preservation
Mark Cansdale has been with ICC as an Historic Preservation Project Manager for 1.5 years. He previously worked for Boston Valley Terra Cotta for 30 years. Boston Valley is a world leader in the architectural terra cotta industry. Mark was one of the original employees and was instrumental in its growth from a mom and pop to what it is today.
Andrew De Windt
Student
Eastern Michigan University
Session:
Panel: Retaining Volunteers & Staff, & Recruiting Future Lighthouse Stewards
Andrew De Windt is a Graduate Student in Eastern Michigan University's Historic Preservation Program. He has worked 5 years as a Historical Interpreter at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. He attended one year of Field School on Beaver Island, working on the lighthouse, and he consulted with the second year of the Field School to identify maritime objects in the collection at Beaver Island Historical Society. He also participated in the HistoriCorps restoration at Point Iroquois Lighthouse. He will be graduating in April 2024.
Dennis Delor, Jr.
Director
St. Clair County Parks and Recreation Commission
Session:
Panel: Stability is a Three Legged Stool: Partnerships with Fort Gratiot Light Station
Dennis Delor received his Bachelors of Liberal Arts & Science in Public History, Outdoor Recreation and Protected Area Management from Northern Michigan University. Dennis has over 25 years of experience in museum management, historic preservation, and parks and recreation management. Historic site management assignments have included the Copper Harbor Lighthouse and Fort Wilkins in Copper Harbor, Michigan; the Skokie Heritage Museum and Pioneer Log Cabin in Skokie, Illinois; the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier and Breakthrough Battlefield in Petersburg, Virginia; and the Fort Gratiot Light Station in Port Huron. For the last 19 years, he has managed over a dozen St. Clair County historic structure restorations.
Dr. Chelsea Deneault
Coordinator
Michigan Digital Preservation Network
Session:
Panel: Becoming Effective Community Partners - Creating Digital Collections In Collaboration With Other Community Organizations
Dr. Chelsea Denault is the Coordinator of the Michigan Digital Preservation Network, where she works with statewide and national partners to build a shared digital preservation platform for organizations across Michigan. Before joining the MDPN, she spent a decade in the Public History field, serving in various roles at the Newberry Library, The Henry Ford, the Nantucket Historical Association, the Urban History Association, the Archdiocese of Chicago Archives & Records Center, and Landmarks Illinois. Chelsea earned her Ph.D. in U.S. History and M.A. in Public History from Loyola University Chicago, and is also an alumna of Albion College.
Casey Eldridge
Graduate
University of Olivet
Session:
Panel: Retaining Volunteers/Staff and Involving/Recruiting Future Keepers
Casey Eldridge is a recent graduate of University of Olivet who has worked on Port Austin Lighthouse.
Mike Fales
Director of Service Learning and Campus Ministries
University of Olivet
Sessions:
- Service Learning at The University of Olivet: Foundation For Lighthouse Preservation Work
- Panel: Retaining Volunteers/Staff and Involving/Recruiting Future Keepers
Mike Fales currently serves as Director of Service Learning and Campus Ministries, and is on the faculty at The University of Olivet. He teaches cultural awareness classes and has taken students to 16 different countries around the world. Mike has led a variety of disaster relief trips all over the U.S. and Puerto. He has a Bachelor of Arts. from Olivet in 1975 and a Master of Divinity, in 2007, from Earlham School of Religion. He is also an ordained minister.
Jeri Baron Feltner
Founding Director Emeritus
DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society
Session:
Lighthouse Preservation Pioneer Reflections and Looking Forward
Jeri Baron Feltner has been a driving force in the success of DeTour Reef Light's restoration effort. Since 1998 she has worked to establish the 501c3 all-volunteer organization and was involved with the development and execution of several lighthouse restoration and education grants. She has made several presentations related to DRLPS at Michigan Lighthouse Conferences. Jeri received the Michigan Lighhouse Alliance Beacon Award in 2016.
Tyler Finkle
Preservation Division Manager
ICC Commonwealth
Session:
How an Industrial Smokestack Company Became Well Known for Lighthouse Preservation
Tyler Finkle began his career in historic preservation restoring and rehabilitating the Mansions of the "Gilded Age" on Belleview Avenue in Newport, RI. Joining ICC Commonwealth (formerly International Chimney Corporation) in 2013, Tyler began leading teams in the preservation of lighthouses all over the country, including the relocation of Gay Head Light of Martha's Vineyard in 2015. In addition to lighthouse preservation, ICC's work also includes murals, statues, monuments and historic building envelope restoration. Tyler is from a small village located at the mouth of the Niagara River in Western NY, near the west end of Lake Ontario. Growing up in a sailing family, his partiality toward anything and everything coastal was natural.
Jody Glancy
Vice President
Port Austin Reef Light Association, Inc.
Session:
Panel:Becoming Effective Community Partners - Welcome to Mayberry: How a Small Michigan Town Supported a Big Lighthouse Restoration
Jody Glancy is currently the Chief Financial Officer of BnE Services LLC, a construction contractor located in Livonia, Michigan, overseeing accounting, human resources and financial strategy and planning for the firm. Prior to her current role, she served in multiple positions in corporate leadership, accounting & tax, finance, and investor relations. She has also played an active role in many civic and not-for-profit boards, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Port Austin Reef Light Association, Therapeutic Riding, Inc., and the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business, among many others. Ms. Glancy has a B.A. from Hamilton College and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
John Gronberg
Board Member
Holland Harbor Lighthouse
(Big Red)
Session:
Lighthouse Preservation Pioneer Reflections and Looking Forward
John Gronberg, having always resided next to a body of water. is a pilot, sailor, water skier, scuba diver, avid boater and “restorer” of same. His passion for “all things water-related” is clear. He is actively involved in and fills leadership roles in numerous community, civic, and water sports organizations. Those most closely related to his lighthouse community work are as a long-time Board member for the Michigan Lighthouse Alliance and as President of the Board of Lighthouse Commissioners of the Holland Harbor Historic Lighthouse Commission (affectionately known as “Big Red”). In his professional life, John is Past President of Karr Spring Company, Becker Iron and Metal, and currently is CEO of Omni Die and Engineering. Having worked as a conceptual engineer in design and manufacturing techniques, and as a corporate leader, John brings his considerable and diverse expertise and connections to his many volunteer contributions to the lighthouse community.
Dan Hall
Entertainment
Dan Hall Music
Sessions:
- Story Song Creations
- Dan Hall in Concert
Dan Hall is a singer, songwriter, and recording artist who has focused on working within his community to create a musical heritage extending throughout Michigan. He has created songs with elders, songs with students, and songs with friends. Telling stories together is the process of remembering and communicating lessons learned.
Buzz Hoerr
President
Michigan Lighthouse Alliance
Sessions:
- Welcome and MC
- Lighthouse Preservation Pioneer Reflections and Looking Forward
Buzz Hoerr has been a leader of the Michigan Lighthouse restoration movement since finding the Harbor Beach lighthouse in a rapidly deteriorating condition in 1982, as was happening with all Great Lakes lighthouses that faced the arrival of GPS, making them somewhat obsolete as aids to navigation. He was a founder of the Michigan Lighthouse Alliance and has served as an active board member since its inception, and as President for many of those years. He has been tireless in his efforts to keep the network of dedicated lighthouse friends together in the Alliance and to make the case that these special structures need to be restored and maintained as symbols of Michigan’s maritime heritage.
Shiloh Holley
Principal Consultant
Aderworks Consulting, LLC
Session:
Becoming Grant Worthy to Build Your Capacity
Shiloh Holley, Principal Consultant of Aderworks, has over fifteen years of experience working with small nonprofits, notably in arts, culture, and parks/recreation. Her expertise is in assisting small organizations find and leverage their strengths to create a bigger impact on their audiences and communities. Shiloh holds a B.A. in Art History from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio and an M.A. in Art History and Museum Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her work as a museum practitioner has been recognized by the American Alliance of Museums, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Virginia Humanities.
Andrew Kercher
Community Engagement Manager-Historian
Port Huron Museums
Session:
Conference Host
Andrew Kercher has a degree in history and Philosophy from Albion College and a MS in Historic Preservation from EMU. He has worked at museums around the state, living in the Straits of Mackinac for nearly a decade. He is currently the Community Engagement Manager in his home town of Port Huron where he lives with his wife and two wonderful cats, Gilbert and Sullivan. When not talking about history, he can usually be found working on his 1958 Packard or antique firearm collection.
Bryan Lijewski
State Historic Preservation Office
Session:
SHPO: Programs, Partners, and People
Bryan Lijewski, FAIA, NCARB, is a licensed architect with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). He is responsible for technical reviews of all proposed work for lighthouse grant projects, Section 106 review for maritime resources, historic preservation easement monitoring, and administration of the federal tax credit program. He has an undergraduate degree in architecture from the University of Michigan and a graduate degree in Architecture with a specialization in history and preservation from the University of Illinois.
Bruce Lynn
Executive Director
Great Lakes Shipwreck Society/Whitefish Point
Sessions:
- Funding and Nurturing Donors for the Long Term
- Panel: Building Community with Partnerships
Bruce Lynn started his museum career in 1989 as an historical interpreter at Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island. After obtaining degrees at The Ohio State University and in Eastern Michigan University’s Historic Preservation program, he returned to work full-time for the Mackinac State Historic Parks. After a short stint at the Sloan Museum in Flint, he was hired as Operations Manager, and soon-after became Executive Director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.
Anna Marck
Entertainment
Session:
Women of the Watch: Keepers of the Light
Anna Marck is a performer, writer, & ecological gardener based in Royal Oak, Michigan. She studied Musical Theatre at Oakland University & spent time in Chicago writing & performing sketch comedy & working as an actress & teaching artist with theater companies in 4 states. In 2019, she co-founded Cayuga Climate Action, community members working to educate, advocate, & act on climate crisis. Currently, she works with Garden Juju Collective, dedicated to healing places, communities & people. She’s passionate about using storytelling & music to facilitate collective imagining of a world where we heal the land, undo our broken systems, & rebuild ecosystems that work for every living thing. She actively pursues thoughtfulness, hope, and joy in herself and her projects.
Dave McWilliam
Vice President and Director of Restoration and Maintenance
North Manitou Light Keepers
Session:
Lighthouse Preservation Pioneer Reflections and Looking Forward
Dave McWilliam is one of the founding Board members of the North Manitou Light Keepers. He is Vice President and Director of Restoration and Maintenance, but also wears many other hats within the organization- historian, tour guide, grant writer and fundraiser. He has been with the organization since 2016 and enjoys the unique challenges of restoring an offshore lighthouse.
Ulrick Meighan
Student
University of Olivet
Session:
Panel: Retaining Volunteers/Staff and Involving/Recruiting Future Keepers
Ulrick Meighan is a current international University of Olivet student from Belize, who has worked numerous times at the Port Austin History Center.
Lauren Nelson
Manager Fort Gratiot Light Station
Port Huron Museums
Session:
Panel: Stability is a Three Legged Stool: Partnerships with Fort Gratiot Light Station
Lauren Nelson has worked in Michigan's heritage and tourism industry since 2010. She is currently the site manager at Port Huron's most popular attraction, the Fort Gratiot Light Station. She studied Archaeology during her undergraduate at Western Michigan University, and received a Masters of Arts from Central Michigan University in Cultural Resource Management. Lauren enjoys working on her historic home, reading books on medical history, and playing with her two kitties, Gilbert and Sullivan.
Capt. Lou Schillinger
President
Port Austin Reef Light Association, Inc.
Session:
Lighthouse Preservation Pioneer Reflections and Looking Forward
Lou Schillinger has dedicated his entire 50-year professional career in the personal and specialty insurance industry expanding his father's 1947 Insurance Business in Port Sanilac, in the shadow of the Port Sanilac Lighthouse. In support of his “vocation” as lighthouse preservationist, Lou acquired and began restoring the offshore Port Austin Reef Light. He remains President of the Port Austin Reef Light Association, Inc, focused on restoring the Port Austin Reef Light. He is a long-time member of the Board of the Michigan Lighthouse Alliance and the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, and is actively involved with Michigan's and the nation's Lighthouse Industry.
Andrew Schnieder
Graduate
Eastern Michigan University
Session:
Panel: Retaining Volunteers & Staff& Recruiting Future lighthouse Stewards
Andrew Schneider is a Master's graduate of the EMU Historic Preservation program. He worked five years as a historical presenter at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, and one year as the Museum Assistant for the Beaver Island Historical Society. He participated in two summers of field school at the Beaver Head Light Station, and also provided additional documentation to the light station's national register form. Currently he works as a Cataloger for The Henry Ford Museum.
Stef Staley
Director
Grand Traverses Lighthouse Museum
Session:
Funding and Nuturing Donors for the Long Term
Stef Staley is the Executive Director of the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum and has held this position for the past 26 years. She has a Master's Degree from Eastern Michigan University in Historic Preservation and her undergrad from Central Michigan University in Museum Administration. Stef is also the President of the Northport Area Historical Museum.