about lecdc
“The future of any society depends on its ability to foster the health and
well-being of the next generation.”
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child
Photo by Megan Ernst
The mission of the LECDC is to provide families with access to a high quality, comprehensive, accountable system of care and early childhood experiences for all children, birth through age five. The LECDC is a 501(c)3 organization; the all volunteer working Board receives no financial compensation. Committees are comprised of Board members and community volunteers.
Leelanau Early Childhood Commission
Email: lecdc12@gmail.com
Address:
c/o Benzie-Leelanau Health Department
7401 E. Duck Lake Rd., Suite 200
Lake Leelanau, MI 49653
LECDC Board of Directors
Gary Bardenhagen, Treasurer
Gary earned a degree in mathematics and was a system analyst for IBM and the NM Computer Center. Gary and family have been farming his wife, Christi’s family farm since 1973. Gary is an active member of the agricultural community and is Treasurer for the Leland Community United Methodist Church and the LECDC. He and Christi live north of Lake Leelanau.
Email: g.c.bardenhagen@gmail.com
Greta Campo
Greta is a 5th generation native of Leelanau County. A Suttons Bay High School graduate, Greta earned a BS in Kinesiology from Michigan State University; she worked with young children for several years. Now, together with her husband, Joe, Greta practices real estate at Schaub Team Premier Realty and co-owns the iconic Dam Candy Store in Fishtown. Greta, Joe, daughter Charlie, and son Will, live in Leland.
Email: greta@damcandystore.com
Beatriz Moreno
Beatriz was born in Mexico and has lived in Leelanau County for 30+ years. For 7 years, Beatriz worked as a Home Visitor for Parenting Communities serving our Spanish-speaking families. In 2013, she transitioned to the Suttons Bay Schools and Northwest Education Services as their Migrant Specialist and Liaison. Beatriz and her 3 boys live in Suttons Bay.
Barbara Duvall
With a Master’s degree in education from Michigan State University, Barb facilitated the 4-H Youth Development Program in Leelanau County for 25 years before specializing in youth financial literacy for MSU Extension. She currently serves as President of the Suttons Bay-Leelanau County Rotary Club. Barb lives in Suttons Bay.
Email: duvall@msu.edu
Heidi Kruse
Heidi earned a BS in Communications/Business from Northern Arizona University and has over twenty years of non-profit experience in organizational development and fundraising. Her family has deep roots in the area and she is grateful to be able to raise her family in such a magical place. She currently serves as Executive Director for the Leelanau Children’s Center and lives in East Leland.
Marian Kromkowski
Marian serves as the Leelanau County Probate/Family Court judge. Her career as an attorney has included work as a trial and appellate attorney, mediator and a domestic relations referee. An Indiana University graduate, Marian obtained a Juris Doctor at Wayne State University Law School. She lives in Suttons Bay with her husband, Matthew Posner, whose family has roots in Northport.
Email: mfkrom@gmail.com
Mary Manner
Mary holds a Master’s degree in Zoology from Michigan State University. She serves as the Great Start Coordinator for the five-county area where she advocates for increased collaboration and investment in early childhood. In addition, Mary is the co-director of the Great Start to Quality NW Resource Center at United Way NW MI. Mary works at the state level to increase the quality of child care and improve the status of early childhood educators. Mary resides on the Old Mission Peninsula.
Email: mary@venturenorthfunding.org
JENÉE ROWE
Jenée’s family moved to Leelanau County when she was in elementary school. An artist, entrepreneur and mother, she owns and creates for Breakwater Company, an artisan textile business focusing on sustainable design. Jenée worked on conservation and stewardship with the Leelanau Conservancy and served SEEDS in project management and fund raising. Jenée, husband Adam, and two sons live in Suttons Bay.
Email: jeneerowe@gmail.com
Patricia Soutas-Little, Chair
Patricia earned an advanced degree in biomedical engineering from Michigan State University and became a faculty member in MSU’s College of Engineering. A former County Commissioner for District 5, she is currently the Chair of the Leelanau Peninsula Economic Foundation and Chair of LECDC. Patricia and her husband, Robert, live south of Leland.
Email: psoutaslittle@gmail.com
Mary Tonneberger, Secretary
A graduate of Denison University, Mary has a graduate degree from the University of Missouri. She served on both the local and intermediate school boards in Kent County. In her business career, she served as a senior marketing executive with a national market research firm. Locally, Mary has been an elected official at the township and county board levels. Mary and her husband Ron live in Omena.
Email: mptomena@torchlake.com
Samantha Twocrow
Originally from Peshawbestown, Samantha is a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. She is the Director of Indian Education at Suttons Bay Schools where she encourages and assists Indigenous students to learn and exercise their cultural identity. Samantha is currently studying sociology at NMC. She and her husband reside in Northport with their 4 children.
Email: twocrow6@gmail.com
Neil Wetherbee
Neil earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan and has education-related graduate degrees from Michigan State University and Central Michigan University. He spent nearly a decade teaching elementary school in Detroit before returning home and becoming Superintendent of Northport Public School in 2016. He lives in Northport with his wife and three daughters.
Email: nwetherbee@northportps.org
Former LECDC Board Members
Robin Carden - Pastor of Suttons Bay Congregational Church
Mike Hartigan - former interim Superintendent of Glen Lake Community Schools and former Superintendent of Leland Public School
Mike Hill - Regional President of the Michigan Leadership Institute; former Superintendent of the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District and former Superintendent of Glen Lake Community Schools
Mike Long - Attorney in private practice, specializing in Family Law in Traverse City; Tribal Judge for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
Doug Luciani - Management Consultant and former CEO of TraverseCONNECT, former CEO of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and former co-chair of the Children’s Leadership Council of Michigan
David Marshall - former Leelanau County Commissioner for District #6 and former Music Director for the Leland Community United Methodist Church
Thor Mikesell -Dentist in Suttons Bay and former President of the Suttons Bay Public Schools’ Board of Education
Michael Murray - Education Management Consultant and former Superintendent of Suttons Bay Public Schools
Joe Povolo - former Leelanau Family Court Administrator and former Board President of the Leelanau Children’s Center
Jim Scherrer - former CEO of Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan
Maggie Sprattmoran - Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant and former Executive Director of the Leelanau Children’s Center
Jason Stowe - Teacher and former Superintendent of Leland Public School
Ryan Sterkenburg - former Owner/President of Gill’s Pier Vineyard & Winery, Inc. and former Director of Investment Management and Trust Services for State Savings Bank in Traverse City
Ty Wessell - Leelanau County Commissioner for District #4 and former Superintendent of Northport Public School
In Memoriam
We appreciate the contributions of these former LECDC members
Robert MacEachran - former Superintendent of Suttons Bay Public Schools and founding member of the Leelanau County Family Coordinating Council
Jean Watkoski - former Leelanau County Commissioner for District #1