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Steve Hutchinson
General Manager, Bill Marsh Ford
Steve, his wife Jackie and daughter Zoey moved to the Gaylord community in April of 2022. Steve has been in the car business for just shy of 20 years, most of which was spent with The Suburban Collection downstate. Steve and Jackie have 4 children between them, three boys and a girl. Steve and Jackie own and operate a family farm called BFC Acres (Big Fat Chickens) They have, cows, goats and horses. All 50 of the animals made the move with them, it is quite the story. You will find them watching Zoey and Rascal (her barrel horse) competing at the Twilight horse shows on Thursday nights at the Otsego fairgrounds. Steve believes strongly that supporting the community is the job of all its businesses. If you support the community you serve they will support you and your business.
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Tiffany McDonald
Treasury Management Associate, State Savings Bank
Tiffany is the Treasury Management Associate at State Savings Bank and the Chairperson of the Ambassadors Committee. She enjoys working with customers to find the best banking products and services to manage their cash. Although, Tiffany did grow up in the Gaylord area there is still a lot she is learning about our community.
“Why are you a Gaylord Chamber Ambassador?” I became a chamber ambassador because it was an opportunity to get to know the people and businesses in our community. Being an ambassador allowed me to see Gaylord in a different light than just being a resident. I am so proud to live in such an inspiring and growing community.
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Ashley Troumbly
Vice President of Operations, Flexible Staffing.
Ashley Troumbly is the Vice President of Operations for Flexible Staffing. She has been with the company since 2015. She loves her job and says there is nothing better than finding associates employment that fit their skills and experience. She currently sits on the Leadership Otsego County Steering Committee and tries to volunteer as much as possible in the community. She is a Gaylord native and resides with her husband Michael and two children Danika and Kaleb.
WHY you wanted to become an Ambassador? – I LOVE our community!!! The Chamber is an asset to Gaylord and I wanted to find other ways to become more involved. I look forward to working with this great group of people and getting to know and assist our amazing Alpine Village.
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Brandy Welch-Cohoon
Membership Relationship Specialist, Northland Area Federal Credit Union
I became a permanent resident of Gaylord 6 years ago though I have had family in the area for many many years. I have only been at the credit union for a little over a year but I thoroughly enjoy my position helping our members with their finances. I have also learned a lot personally along the way.
I became a Chamber Ambassador because I Love being a part of our community and helping others in any way I can.
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Katie Warner
Jr. Vice Commander, VFW Post 1518
Since retiring from a 20 year career in the Navy, Katie continues to serve by volunteering throughout the community; including positions within the Ralph Holewinski VFW Post, her property owners association, and serving as an ambassador for the Chamber. As a nature enthusiast, she and her family have enjoyed their newfound rural lifestyle, and are consistently out on the trails and waters of northern Michigan. As a newer resident, she has been eager to explore and learn more about Gaylord and Otsego County, and is a part of the Leadership Otsego County 2023 class.
Why do you want to be a chamber ambassador? Moving to a new area you are unfamiliar with is difficult for anyone, but the added challenges of the pandemic and the volunteer work I was doing for nonprofits left me feeling I was not making the right connections to businesses and other organizations. Jumping into the Chamber has allowed me to network, learn Gaylord norms, and bridge my own knowledge gap but also assist others in not missing the ever so important relationships within the community.
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Melissa McDonnell
Business Solutions Professional, Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium
Melissa McDonnell, Business Solutions Professional with Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium covering Otsego and Montmorency counties. I absolutely love my job! Being able to assist in developing customized solutions for an employer which, can lead to continued prosperity in our area. I relocated to Northeast Michigan in 2018 and have found nothing but endless opportunities to grow!
I wanted to become an Ambassador because I love the unity it brings to a diverse community. By being an Ambassador I have found numerous ways in which I can become involved in the community. Additionally, I can make connections with employers that I may not have had the opportunity to do so if not for being an Ambassador!
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Kari Jo Stefanski
Sales and Leasing Consultant, Bill Marsh Ford of Gaylord
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Mary Bickley
Senior Account Executive, PMP Personnel Services
Mary Bickley is a Senior Account Executive at PMP Personnel Services powered by Axios HR. She has been with PMP since 2009.
In addition to being an active Ambassador in the community, Mary is actively involved with the Grand Traverse Manufacturing Council, Business Leaders of Michigan, SHRM, and Connecting Women. She enjoys working with the local business community and focuses on fostering long-term relationships with PMP clients by providing the right solutions for their staffing needs. She is married to her husband Dave. They have four children and eleven fabulous grandchildren.
Why are you a Chamber Ambassador? I love people and being a Chamber Ambassador allows me to connect with the other Ambassadors and business community in a meaningful way. Celebrating local business Anniversaries and new Business Openings is most gratifying. There is so much to do and we are all so fortunate to be living in Northern Michigan! -
Angela Jewett
Operations Manager, Family Plumbing & Heating
I was born and raised in Gaylord, Michigan and worked for my dads company Family Plumbing and Heating part time while I was a senior in high school.
Why are you a Gaylord Chamber Ambassador? "To help around the community and support local businesses."
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Mike Cwik
Kiwanis Club of Gaylord, Treasurer
Mike is the Treasurer of the Kiwanis Club of Gaylord and The Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce. He is also a retired accountant from Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital.
Why are you a Chamber Ambassador? "When my wife and I moved to Gaylord in 2010, this community welcomed us with open arms. By giving back to the community as a volunteer, I hope to make Gaylord a better place to live. It's vital to have a strong business community and to be able to reach out to individual business owners, through the Chamber, is very important. I enjoy talking with the owners and finding out how the Chamber can better help them in these most difficult times".
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Janet Cerveniak
Showroom Coordinator / Specialty Sales, Preston Feather of Gaylord
Janet is the Showroom Coordinator / Specialty Sales at Preston Feather of Gaylord. She is a member of the Preston Feather “1915 Crew,” whose mission is to create a social, collaborative and engaged workplace and connect with the local community. A Gaylord native, Janet loves this town and being involved in the community.
Why did you become an Ambassador? “Now that my kids have left for college I wanted to find a way to stay involved, give back and make a difference in my hometown, as well as help my employer become more involved in our community.”
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Toni Straughen
Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
Being client-centric has always been a top priority throughout my professional career. Prior to becoming a financial advisor, I have 20 years’ experience in the credit union industry, where building relationships and finding solutions to help individuals and business owners achieve their financial goals is what brought me the most satisfaction.
Today, I am intentional in helping women build, protect, organize and transfer their wealth. I do so by asking the difficult questions, providing education and financial guidance in a welcoming environment. I am seeking those who value professional advice and a trusting, lifelong partnership.Why are you a Gaylord Chamber Ambassador? "As a transplant to Gaylord I felt instantly welcomed and at ease when I moved here. From the start I could tell we had an innovative and dedicated Chamber of Commerce, I knew I wanted to be involved with helping our community flourish."
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Heather Appold
Director, Kirtland Foundation, Kirtland Community College
Heather has the pleasure of being the Director of the Kirtland Foundation at Kirtland Community College and M-Tec. Philanthropy supporting various non-profits has been her passion for over 20 years. She is excited the Foundation offers various scholarships to help students reach their goals and fulfill their dreams. As a transplant to Gaylord in 2018, she is blessed to have been welcomed in the community. Whether it's committees, working the concession stand at a sporting event or simply out and about, Otsego County is a cool place to live with wonderful people.
Why are you a Gaylord Chamber Ambassador? I love meeting people, learning their connection to the community and how we can all work together to make our hometown stronger. Please introduce yourself the next time our paths cross!
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Heather Bischof
Business Technology Advisor, Visual Edge IT / Dunn's Business Solutions
Being a part of the Chamber Ambassadors allows me to support the local businesses who are so important to our community.
I’m glad to be on the team that welcomes new businesses and organizations to town…we are great at celebrating each other! -
Kirk Miller
Sr. Transportation Manager, WM
I’m excited and honored to serve our beautiful city of Gaylord as a Chamber Ambassador! As someone who spent 16 years in the transportation and waste industries in the Detroit area, I’m happy to now call Gaylord my home. I truly believe I was brought here to make a difference, and I’m 100% dedicated to do so for our community. As a Senior Transportation Manager for WM, you can find me out in the field building and strengthening relationships, working on new and exciting opportunities and “talking trash”. I’m a huge foodie and my family and I love the outdoors, so if you see me out, give me a shout!
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Donna Stubenvoll
Associate Broker, Coldwell Banker Schmidt
Real Estate is my career, not a hobby. I became licensed in 1989 and received my Associate Brokers License in 2003. I am a full time agent that believe in good communication. I believe that it is important to be available for my clients. If I am with another client when you reach out, I will call you back within a few hours . I am a mother of 4, grandmother of 10 and great grandmother of 6. Family and Community are important to me!
Why are you an Ambassador? First and foremost is: I love Gaylord! By helping business grow, we all grow. I love when people succeed in life and the Gaylord Chamber helps business do that!
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Collin Wilson
General Manager, Comfort Inn & Suites and MainStay Suites
Collin Wilson is 29 years old, originally from Clarkston, Michigan. He is the General Manager for Comfort Inn & Suites / Mainstay Suites here in Gaylord. Collin graduated from Oakland Community College with an Associates degree in Business Administration, and a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Walsh College.
Collin currently lives with his grandmother, Elizabeth on the lake and enjoys paddle boarding and rock hunting. A fun fact about him is that his great great grandfather is credited with the idea for the assembly line at Ford.
