Summit Speakers

Patty Cantrell 

Patty Cantrell serves as Program Director at the Michigan Land Use Institute (MLUI.org), a statewide public interest advocacy organization based in northwest Lower Michigan's Traverse City.

Under her leadership, MLUI's Entrepreneurial Agriculture program has fostered the emergence of a new local food economy in northwest Michigan. This Taste the Local Difference campaign (LocalDifference.org) has grown, since its start in 2004, to include 250 farms, nearly 150 food retailers, dozens of school cafeterias, and 90 community-based sponsors.

To learn more about Patty 

Guy L. Bazzani 

Guy leads West Michigan with more than 25 years of expertise in sustainable business practices through his firm's architectural design, construction, and real estate services. Guy manages a team of experienced professionals committed to innovative solutions in green building technologies, historic preservation and urban revitalization. Bazzani's balances economic viability, social responsibility and environmental stewardship to meet the Triple Bottom line for its projects. It is Guy's philosophy to lead in his community as well as in his profession and he holds a wide variety of leadership positions in the West Michigan community.

To learn more about Guy

Sigrid Bergland

Sigrid Bergland is a Historian with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) specializing in above-ground cultural resources.  She also serves as the historic preservation technical support for the Enhancement Grant program and works with the Heritage Route Program.  Ms. Bergland received a B.A. in the History of Art from the University of Michigan, and a M.A. in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University.

MDOT received a 2009 Building Award from the Michigan Historic Preservation Network, with the Arenac Area Heritage Route Authority, for the rehabilitation of the Standish Depot.

Nan Taylor

Nan Taylor is the Greater Michigan Field Representative for Michigan Historic Preservation Network, the Michigan statewide historic preservation nonprofit, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Her responsibilities include providing guidance on historic preservation techniques and approaches, fundraising, organizational development, advocacy efforts and community relations with municipalities, preservation groups, historic property owners and  nonprofit groups. She covers the greater Michigan area, working with communities outside the Southeast Michigan region.

Nan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Michigan University in journalism, a Master of Arts degree from Michigan State in advertising and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Savannah College of Art and Design in historic preservation.

Sarach Van Buren

Sarah Van Buren is a Transportation Planner with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the Michigan Division Office.  She has FHWA planning coordination responsibilities for the Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids, Holland, Jackson and Niles urbanized areas.  Ms. Van Buren also has the Division Office responsibility for various program areas, including the National Scenic Byways Program.

Sarah began her career with FHWA in the Professional Development Program (PDP) and, upon completion of the program, served in the Minnesota Division Office as a Planning and Environmental Specialist.  Ms. Van Buren is a certified planner, and holds a B.S. in International Studies for Jacksonville University and a M.A. in Urban Planning from the University of Kansas.

Debra Yee

Debra Yee is currently the Executive Director for the Branch County Tourism Bureau, a position she has held for the past ten years.  During her tenure, she has built partnerships and working relationships with state, county and regional tourism and economic development entities to establish Branch County as a destination.  Debra is involved with many marketing and economic committees and agencies in Coldwater and Branch County including the US 12 Heritage Trail Committee, Education Committee for the Michigan Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, Bronson Planning Commission, Branch County's Arts Alive, Branch County Historical Society, US Old 27 Motor Coach (tour starts in Coldwater and proceeds up to Cheboygan), Advisory Board member of the Branch Area Careers Center Hospitality and Culinary Program and the Coldwater Joint Downtown Marketing Committee.  Yee has been instrumental in helping establish the Coldwater Ice Fest, Remember the Alamo Car Cruise and the US 12 - 212Miles of Antiques, Collectibles and Treasures

Wayne Babcock

Wayne Babcock graduated in 1985 from Hillsdale High School and attended Northwood University in Midland Michigan earning a Restaurant and Hospitality degree.  He moved to Reno, Nevada and worked for ten years in the food and beverage industry.  In 2001 he opened his first restaurant, The ChicagoWater Grill, in Jonesville Michigan and in 2005 he opened The Saucy Dog's BBQ, also located in Jonesville.

John Farrand

Owner of Boundary Waters Cafe and Market in Vicksburg and Sturgis has been in the food and beverage industry for over 20 years. After graduating from Michigan State University in Business Management, he began his career with Hyatt Hotels in Chicago, moving to Hilton Head Island and Vail Colorado.

He has worked for noble companies including Paramount Restaurant Group, Sky Chefs, and Henry Ford Museum as the Corporate Catering Director. He founded Boundary Waters Cafe and Market on the idea of providing a fresh new approach to the way we eat by using home grown and local produce and some organic meats. To ensure quality, everything is made in house, daily. As John sees it, it's the only way.

Kim Gallagher

After beginning her career in print advertising sales with Donnelly Directory Yellow Pages in Cincinnati, and later with Advo, the largest direct mail house in the nation, Kim became executive director of the downtown association in St. Joseph, Michigan. There she created over ten new events, opened a downtown visitor center and managed annual promotional campaigns targeting locals and out-of-state visitors. 

Kim developed her tell-it-like-it-is style during her five year career with St. Joseph Today and in her current role as project manager for the US 12 Heritage Trail and the I-69 Recreational Heritage Trail with the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission. Kim believes that communities need to take an honest and sometimes uncomfortable look at what really sets them apart from everyone else and understand they need to be selling experiences not geography.

Driven by her sincere interest in others and a genuine passion for helping people, Kim continues to work with communities to help create interesting connections between historic, cultural, natural and recreational experiences that will inspire people to care about preserving these important assets.