Mark has served on other boards over the years and he is familiar with Roberts Rules of Order. He has been part of the Thunder Bay Folk Festival since the first event in 2015.
He began managing the Merchandise Tent for the Folk Festival in 2016. In 2019, he was elected to the board and accepted the weighty position as Chair of the Membership committee.
He has not found a musical style he does not enjoy. His tastes range from Bach to Zydeco. His father listened to what is now called Classic Country, Mom loved “Classical” music (every Saturday was “Live From the Met” opera on WIAA Interlochen). Christian Hymns were also a staple in his home. He continues to love music, especially when it is live and brings the community together.

Alisha is a Social worker with Child Protective Services and a business owner.

She also is on the Thunder Bay Folk Fest Programming Committee.

Diane has a background in several organizations as District President, Secretary, Chairmanships, Customer Service, and Secretarial/Administrative positions. She also has a background in choir, musical theater, and public television.

She loves music, singing, theater, camping, and discovering weekend music festivals. She also loves meeting people and is interested in the Folk Society Festival Operations.

Laura has been involved with the Thunder Bay Folk Society in the past and is currently on the Programming Committee.

She was on the Board of Directors, assisted with obtaining workshops for the annual festival, booked local musicians, and she initiated the Stage in the Woods addition to the festival.

She feels the Folk Society is a great organization and puts on a nice, family-friendly festival that brings people to the area and is part of enhancing NE Michigan and part of the blossoming seen in the music scene in the area.

She says, “After the last few years, we all need music!!”

Jeannie is retired and enjoys all genres of music. She has sung and played guitar for both Country and Bluegrass bands in the past.

She volunteered at the annual Thunder Bay Folk Festival for several years and is now the festival Vendor Coordinator.

Her job is to recruit vendors for the annual Folk Fest and to make sure she has a variety of Vendors, place them in the proper location and explain the rules of the festival.

She is a great addition to the Folk Society board.

Stephanie has been an active supporter of the Thunder Bay Folk Festival since the first year. She is very interested in participating in the Festival’s future success. She has many connections with the community, musicians and potential volunteers, and ACC’s Granum Theatre.

Doug has been involved as a performer and as a promoter/host with other music festivals. He is new to the northeastern Michigan area and would like to be more involved with the local music scene. He is eager to build, promote and contribute to the growth and development of the music scene in this region.

Michael has directed 3 Separate Film & Video Festivals based in Ann Arbor Michigan, co-directed multiple Avant Garde Michigan based music festivals, produced & managed thousands of individual events in theater, dance, spoken word, video, computer, satellite, sound, sculpture, & multiple forms of art.

He is proficient in all aspects of production & conference design & implementation, from site design layout operation recording distribution & archiving among other things. He lives for live production support

He has also been engaged in multiple area festivals from volunteer, stage sound, light, communication, security, nutrition, accessibility & sustainability etc.

He has managed multiple configurations of support talent, from pairs to hundreds, from children to elderly to the multiple abled.

He is also a Raw Vegan Vegetarian & whole food nutrition Chef, and has designed accessible kitchens for a variety of settings permanent & portable.

Jeff has a lot of experience with planning and was on committees the first two years of the Thunder Bay Folk Festival.

He is very supportive of the community as a citizen and as a business owner of Latitudes Tavern.

Jeff is the out of the box thinker and brings many ideas to the table with fundraising and planning events.

He believes that the Thunder Bay Folk Society organization benefits from fresh thinking to keep growing and thriving. Jeff would love to have your support to join the folk society board.

Mike has been involved with the Thunder Bay Folk Festival since the establishment of the organization. He feels it has been a wonderful experience and takes pleasure working together and serving on the board.

Mike’s interests lie in Public Relations, Special Events and Festival Operations.

I have lived a full life as a Producer/Director in local television, an on-air personality for a children's show, produced fireworks shows across the country, managed an insurance office, and 15 years in Law Enforcement. 

Through it all I have enjoyed music, Country/Gospel being my favorite. I bought a guitar in 1955 which I still have and play.  In the past, I've enjoyed being part of Picking For People, a group founded by, now deceased, pastor Jack Williams.  “Roadkill” Jack became my best friend and mentor.  I’m married, have 5 children, and live in Alpena.

I was born and raised in Port Huron, Michigan. Music was always in our home, we loved listening to swing band music and watching our parents dance. I sang in the school and church choirs, marrying my guitar player high school love. He had overheard me sing and told me that an all-girl band was looking for a singer. So I tried out, beginning my career using my singing voice. We traveled from California to Florida, staying 2 years in Florida as a house band. We moved to Alpena, for my husband (Dave Cole) to take a job playing guitar. Little did I know I would start my singing career in a small town again. I attended Alpena Community College, earning my Associate of Arts degree. eventually, working for Mental Health Services and Medilodge, aka Tendercare, retiring after 31 years.

 I love singing the blues and enjoy listening to all types of music. I sang in bands for 25-30+ years, performing everything from Patsy Cline to AC/DC, loving every minute of it.

One of my greatest moments was singing with my daughter, Alisha, at a concert series in Port Huron in the summer of 2023, I hope we can sing together again soon.

I love riding my Townie bike, golfing, swimming, traveling, gardening, canning, and enjoying life. I am very thankful for all that I have.