Board of Trustees

President – Mel Drumm is a retired non-profit professional. He served as the President of the Detroit Science Museum from August 1995 through April 2002.  Most recently he retired from over 18 years at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum as President & CEO.  He specializes working in the intersection of science, technology, engineering and art to inspire people to become STEM enthusiasts via interactive exhibits, technology, and social interaction.

Treasurer – Steve Bulger is the Chief Operating Officer at eFulfillment Service (EFS), one of the nation’s leading distribution companies for online sellers. Steve has been with EFS for 8 years and is responsible for developing and overseeing all aspects of the company. Prior to EFS, Steve worked for 6 years at Oneupweb managing the digital marketing efforts for enterprise-level organizations. Steve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Central Michigan University. In his free time, Steve enjoys being a family man with his three children, and the occasional round of bad golf.

Vice President – Cheryl Bloomquist is an Early Childhood Program instructor/faculty and an Education Program advisor at Northwestern Michigan College. Cheryl’s work at the college and in the local early childhood education community furthers her mission to improve the quality of early education and care for young children and their families in the region. She has worked in the early childhood education field for more than 40 years as a child birth educator, elementary and preschool teacher, with Head Start as a teacher supervisor and Early Head Start Director, with Traverse City Area Public Schools in Early Education Administration and as the early childhood faculty at Northwestern Michigan College.

Secretary – Tracie MacPherson is a student of children’s and science museums nationwide specializing in exhibit design and educational content. As a Coast Guard family member, she has been able to connect and serve in multiple museums nationwide while developing a depth of knowledge regarding industry professionals. Tracie and her husband Glen have five children age 16 and up.

Anthony Chipkewich is the Human Resource manager at the Traverse City Sara Lee Frozen Bakery. Tony has been with Sara Lee for 1 year and oversees development and implementation of all aspects of the bakery’s people strategies, its community partnerships, local outreach efforts and community commitment. Prior to his time at Sara Lee, he worked for 25 years in the Public Utilities and Vehicle Manufacturing industries. Tony holds a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree in Human Resources Management from Michigan State University. In his free time, he enjoys being a family man with his wife and three adoptive children and likes to fish on the Platte lakes as much as possible.

David Glenn is a partner at Kuhn Rogers PLC, Northern Michigan’s largest law firm.  He concentrates his practice in the areas of real property, construction, business, energy, and environmental law.  David was born and raised in Traverse City (TCW – 2003) and holds degrees from Central Michigan University (B.S. – 2007) and the University of Detroit Mercy (J.D. – 2011).  David and his wife Lauren (a registered nurse and also a Traverse City native) have four children (Reid, Kendall, Boyd, Wells) and a Black Labrador named Kota.  David is an avid outdoorsman with a passion for hunting and fishing.

Philip Leete is co-owner and Director of Curriculum and Development for Quarkmine, a locally based technology company integrating robotics and STEM into the school day. Graduating from Hope College in 2000, Philip used his Engineering, Math, Education and Dance degrees to bringing creative problem solving to every aspect of his professional and personal life. As a ten year high school teacher, Philip brings a practical voice to the table as he works to open new pathways with school administration and Michigan legislators, putting kids and STEM education first. Philip has worked with the City Opera House, Swing Shift and the Stars, NMC College for Kids, competitive robotics and guest appearances in dance productions with NMBT and CDT. Philip and his wife, Angela, have three children. While Madely, Piper and Landon have aged out of most GLCM programs and activities, they will never outgrow their love of learning, passion for science, and the child-like wonder at the heart of GLCM.

Judge Jennifer Whitten is the Grand Traverse County Probate Court and Family Division Judge. Jennifer was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and was sworn in on March 4, 2022. Prior to her appointment, Judge Whitten was a partner with Alward, Fisher, Rice, Rowe & Graf, PLC, where she specialized in family and probate court matters, as well as estate planning. Jennifer earned her Juris Doctor degree from Michigan State University College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Alma College. She currently lives in Traverse City with her husband, Brent, two children, Malakai and Zeke, and golden doodle, Bohdi.

Advisory Council

Blake Bernard – Trustee 2016-2018, Realtor

Nick Ceglarek – Superintendent, Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District

Brianne Geetings – Business Owner, Parent & Past Trustee

Rob Hanel – Human Resources professional, Parent & Past Trustee

Kim Lovell – Interim Trustee and Member

Gretchen MacArthur – Banker, Parent & Past Trustee

Joe & Pam McGraw – Founding Trustees, Past Treasurer and President,

Genevieve Minor – Trustee 2014-2017, Past Volunteer Committee Chair, Educator

Matt Missias – Trustee 2012-2016, Past President, Educator

Chris Morse – Founding Trustee, Past Treasurer, Finance

Dan Smith – Trustee 2011-2017, Past President, Marketing

Martha Topol – Founding Trustee, Past Vice President, Finance

Ashlea Walter – Traverse City Commissioner

Staff

Interim Executive Director – Tracie MacPherson

Tracie is a student of children’s and science museums nationwide specializing in exhibit design and educational content. As a Coast Guard family member, she has been able to connect and serve in multiple museums nationwide while developing a depth of knowledge regarding industry professionals. Tracie and her husband Glen have five children age 16 and up.

Consultant – Michael Long
Michael is a nuclear trained, US Naval Academy graduate and comes to Great Lakes Children’s Museum with over 20 years of non-profit leadership. His non-profit roles include 5 years serving on the board of directors for a startup rural children’s museum in Northern Wisconsin followed by 9 years as the Executive Director for that children’s museum. From 2008 to 2014, he was Executive Director for a membership association supporting administrators in Colorado’s largest school district. From May 2014 to October 2023, Mike served as the Executive Director.

Impact Manager – Thomas Maynard
Tom comes to the Great Lakes Children’s Museum from Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) where he was their Volunteer Coordinator and Educator. Prior to ISEA, Tom was the Mind Trekkers Coordinator at the Center for Pre-College Outreach at Michigan Technical University, setting up STEM festivals across the United States. As the Museum’s Impact Manager, Tom strives to build and nurture our volunteer base while reinforcing hands-on learning across our programs, exhibits, outreach and Power of Play store offerings. His goal is to use his volunteer and non-profit coordination experience to help the Museum reach the next level of excellence.

Museum Educator – Anne Drake
Anne has 20 years of experience delivering children’s hands-on programming in nature centers. Her enthusiasm for inquiry-based learning and her talent for inspiring curiosity in young minds make her uniquely qualified to assist in the design and delivery of the Museum’s special programs and activities.

Guest Services Assistant & Store Manager – Michelle Sehl 
Michelle brings an eclectic mix of skills to the Guest Services Assistant & Store Manager position. Her background is in Art History and Humanities. She has worked at the Interlochen Arts Academy, and as a DJ on a local radio station. Most recently, Michelle was an Indian Education Instructional Assistant within the Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS). As Store Manager, her goal is to research and offer items in the Power of Play store that reinforce and amplify the learning opportunities in the Museum’s exhibits, facilitated programs, and the Mobile Museum.

Guest Services Assistant – Rachel Levine 

Guest Services Assistant – Jordan Shell