About the Club
Welcome,
The Economic Club of Traverse City has been part of the fabric of northern Michigan since 1979. Since its founding, the Club has provided a forum for timely discussions of regional, national and international matters related to business, leadership, finance, and economics. At our monthly program meetings, we host diverse thought leaders who enlighten, engage and challenge our membership. Lively question-and-answer sessions and open discussions between speakers and members are encouraged. Furthermore, we provide a venue for Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Kalkaska and Antrim counties and all their business and civic leaders to make meaningful connections. The Club is nonpolitical, nonpartisan, and nonprofit and takes no side on any issue.
A member-elected board of directors leads the Club, and I am honored to serve as the president of the Club through 2024. If you are interested in joining the Economic Club of Traverse City, please go to our membership tab and apply.
Norman D. Plumstead
President 2023-2024
Current Board Members
Norm Plumstead
President
Norman D. Plumstead is the President & CEO of Honor Bank and is also a member of its Board of Directors. During his 24-year of banking career, Norm has served in various leadership civic and industry roles, including serving as a Director with the Benzie Chamber of Commerce, Finance Committee member with Traverse Connect, Director of the Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary, and a Director with the Michigan Bankers Association Service Corporation. Norm graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Central Michigan University and is a graduate of the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking, earning a Wharton Leadership Certificate. Norm has been a Club member since 2020 and a board member since 2022. He currently serves as ECTC President for the 2023-2024 term.
Norm recommends board or volunteer experience since it allows him to offer his time and talents to help the Club remain vibrant when organizations such as this are needed more than ever. His favorite part of being a Club member is learning from speakers and members, each of whom has different perspectives and opinions.
He lives in Traverse City with his wife and two sons.
Des Worthington is the owner of Worthington Fundraising Solutions. She has spent 30 years working with charitably-minded families and organizations to achieve great things, and has led several campaigns for both start-up and large charities, resulting in preserving land for future generations, building medical facilities, and sustaining important community programs. She volunteers on the Finance Council for the Diocese of Gaylord.
She has been a member of the Economic Club of Traverse City since 2008 and a board member since 2022. She currently serves on the Membership/Marketing Committee, on the
Policy/Procedures Committee and as ECTC Vice President and Treasurer. Des recommends board or Club volunteer experience as a great way to meet interesting people.
Des says her favorite part of being a Club member is meeting up with friends from throughout the region. She enjoys sailing and other outdoor activities with her family.
Des Worthington
Vice President/Treasurer
Ann Bollinger is a parter at Blueprint Partners, and a licensed registered Investment Advisor. She is the former President and Chief Financial Officer at Traverse City State Bank.
She has been a member of the Economic Club of Traverse City since 2011 and a board member since 2022. She currently serves on the Program Committee and as ECTC Secretary.
Ann recommends board or Club volunteer experience since it has allowed her to utilize her business consulting and networking skills to advance a variety of Club initiatives. Her favorite parts of being a Club member are learning the stories of the many remarkable and interesting members of our community and witnessing how many individuals engage in a love of lifelong learning.
Ann enjoys boating, bike riding, playing ping-pong and all types of board and card games. She resides in Traverse City with her husband, Steve, and has two sons who reside in New York and Washington, D.C.
Ann Bollinger
Secretary
William "Bill" Cron is a retired Professor of Accounting at Central Michigan University. He has been a member of the Economic Club of Traverse City since 2002, a board member since 2004 and has previously served as ECTC Treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee.
Bill recommends board or Club volunteer experience since his professional experience has served the Club in guiding it in prudent financial management. His favorite part of being a Club member is the monthly program featuring informative, timely and relevant economic issues.
Bill and his wife Sharon split their time between beautiful Northport in the summer and The Villages in the winter, so they can consistently enjoy the sun and warmth, along with a few good pickleball games thrown in.
William Cron
Andi Dolan is the owner and founder of Traverse Benefits, an independent insurance agency providing health, life and disability insurance solutions for individuals, employees and Medicare beneficiaries across our business community and Northern Michigan region. She has been a member of the Economic Club of Traverse City since 2017 and a board member since 2019. She currently serves as chair of the Program Committee.
Andi recommends board or Club volunteer experience since it has created wonderful and lasting friendships. Her favorite part of being a Club member is the impactful learning experiences and opportunities the Club consistently provides.
Andi enjoys weekend adventures; the top of her list includes meandering Michigan's sandy beaches and trekking the endless wooded trails of our beautiful state.
Andi Dolan
Program Chair
Christopher Rogers is a full partner with Kuhn Rogers PLC. His legal career is focused on estate planning, business succession planning, real estate law and general civil practice. He has been a member of the Economic Club of Traverse City since 2012, a board member since 2016 and was Club president for the 2020-2021 term. He currently serves as chair of the Policy/Procedures Committee.
Chris recommends board or Club volunteer experience as a great way to contribute to ensuring the long-term success of the ECTC. His favorite part of being a Club member is having the opportunity to meet a network of well-educated, experienced and connected professionals/entrepreneurs from throughout Northern Michigan.
Chris and his wife, Lindsey, have two sons, Harvey and Carson. They all enjoy skiing, golfing, traveling and all things fun and adventurous together! He is an avid amateur golfer and enjoys competing - both on his own and with Lindsey in “husband-and-wife tournaments.”
Christopher Rogers
Chris Branson is President of the Bonek Insurance Agency in Suttons Bay, and has been associated with the agency for over 40 years. He is the current Chairman of the Suttons Bay Township Zoning Board of Appeals, past president of NMC Foundation Board, Traverse Area Community Sailing, Bay Area Insurance Agents Association, Grand Traverse Yacht Club (past Commodore) and Suttons Bay Chamber of Commerce. He has been a member of the Economic Club of Traverse City since 2008 and a board member since 2009. He currently serves as chair of the Nominating and Sponsorship Committees.
Chris recommends board or Club volunteer experience since it allows engagement and connection with many Club members. His favorite part of being a Club member is the stimulating presentations on economic issues from local to international topics.
Chris and his wife, April, have 2 daughters (both born in Traverse City), Molly in Florida and Abigail in Colorado. Abby just had her first child and their first grandchild. He enjoys downhill skiing, sailing and fly fishing, and can’t think of any other place in the entire world he would rather live than here.
Chris Branson
Jan Chapman is a retired marketing and advertising director in radio and the magazine industry. She is a past hospice volunteer, as well as giving of her time for a variety of community organizations - the NMC BBQ, museum fundraiser, WNMC, Traverse City DDA Board and as a Kiwanis member.
She has been a member of the Economic Club of Traverse City since 1998 and a board member since 2015. She currently serves on the Membership/Marketing Committee
Jan recommends board or Club volunteer experience since it has allowed her to contribute to ideas on speakers, membership, Club organization and growth. Her favorite parts of being a Club member are the great speakers and networking with community members, business leaders and doers.
Jan has a great passion for family, sailing, biking, x-country skiing and yoga — just to name a few.
Jan Chapman
Kathy Dixon
Kathy Dixon is a retired Trust and Wealth Advisor, with extensive experience working with high net-worth individuals, families and non-profit organizations. She is a board member on the Munson Medical Center Foundation and Munson Healthcare Board, and the Secretary for Settlers Cove Homeowners Association.
She has been a member of the Economic Club of Traverse City since 1999, a board member since 2008 and Club president for the 2013-2014 term. She currently serves as co-chair of the Membership/Marketing Committee and on the Nominating and Scholarship Committees.
Kathy would recommend board or Club volunteer experience since it has allowed her to utilize her organizational skills to advance a variety of Club initiatives. Her favorite part of being a Club member is meeting talented and accomplished community members.
She enjoys boating on Long Lake, playing pickleball with friends, spending family time with her husband, Mark, and their daughters and grandchildren; they consider themselves lucky, since all are Traverse City residents.
Ron Jolly is the host of The Ron Jolly Show, Mornings on WTCM NewsTalk 580 since 1994. He is the author of Northern Michigan Almanac and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Almanac (U of M Press 2005/2010), and a volunteer mentor in Big Brothers Big Sisters of NW Michigan. He has been a member of the Economic Club of Traverse City since 2013 and a board member since 2020. He currently serves as chair of the Scholarship Committee and on Membership/Marketing and Program Committees.
Ron recommends board or Club volunteer experience since it brings satisfaction knowing that his contributions help to sustain and grow this Club, which is enjoyed by so many. His favorite parts of being a Club member are gaining knowledge on economic issues while enjoying the company of new and old friends.
Ron stays out of trouble by pursuing a hobby of book collecting, writing, hiking and cross-country skiing. He and his wife, Laura, are blessed to share life with Bill and Megan and their three children, thanks to a mentoring relationship that started 15 years ago.
Ron Jolly
Kathleen Guy
Kathleen Guy is the Founding Partner of Eaton Cummings Group, a fundraising, strategic planning and executive coaching firm. She has extensive experience in higher education fundraising and communications at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. She is also a board member of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy and Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary Club, and a member and Elder at Presbyterian Church of Traverse City.
Kathleen has been a member of the Economic Club of Traverse City member since 1999, a board member since 2011 and Club president for the 2021-2022 term. She recommends the board or Club volunteer experience since it allows working alongside interesting, talented and accomplished professionals while guiding the Club in fulfilling its mission and purposes.
Her favorite part of being a Club member is, as a lifelong learner, gaining knowledge about important local, state, national and international governmental, business, economic and social issues with like-minded people who bring a myriad of experience to the room.
She and her husband Mark love spending time with their married children and four grandchildren, traveling, absorbing this region’s vibrant cultural benefits and enjoying the beautiful four-season environment.
Jeff Guy is the Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, and a Board Member at Stand Up for Great Lakes. He has been a member of the Economic Club of Traverse City since 2016 and a Board Member since 2019. He currently serves on the Program and Nominating Committees.
Jeff recommends board or Club volunteer experience since serving on the Program Committee has led to many introductions and friendships with smart and interesting people from across the globe. His favorite part of being a Club member is discussing new ideas with guest speakers and other Club members.
He spends a lot of his free time playing hockey, golf, fishing, and stand-up paddle boarding. He and his wife Melissa also enjoy boating, cross-country skiing, and relaxing at their cabin at Lee Point.
Jeff Guy
Rebecca Teahen is a Financial Advisor with The Rivard Teahen Group of Baird Private Wealth Management. Rebecca is a board member of the Northport Promise and 20 Fathoms as a member of the Traverse City Rotary Club.
Rebecca has been a member of the ECTC since 2011 and board member since 2022. She currently serves on the Sponsorship Committee
Rebecca recommends board or Club volunteer experience since it provides an opportunity to contribute where her talents will have the greatest impact as a new ECTC board member. Her favorite part of being a club member is meeting all the amazingly talented and accomplished members.
Rebecca and her husband, Ben Purdy, have three children: Elsie, Grant and Benjamin. They have a small farm in Northport where they grow hay, make maple syrup and keep chickens and horses.
Rebecca Teahen
Suzanne Stepan is Vice President, Sr. Wealth Management Advisor with Greenleaf Trust. Chartered Financial Analyst, CFA®, and Certified Financial Planner, CFP®, with over thirty years of experience in the financial industry. She has been an ECTC Club member since 2005 and a board member since 2022. Suzanne currently serves on the Finance Committee.
Suzanne recommends board or Club volunteer experience as it encourages community involvement and offers an opportunity to grow and focus the vision of the Club to make a stronger impact within the community. Her favorite part of being a Club member is involvement in a community club that inspires learning and open discussion on numerous economic issues; locally, nationally, and internationally.
Suzanne enjoys living in Traverse City and says it is her favorite place to kayak and camp in the warmer months and downhill ski and snowshoe in the colder months.
Suzanne Stepan
Past Presidents
2020's
2021-2022 Kathleen Guy
2010's
2019-2020 Christopher G. Rogers
2017-2018 Verne Powell
2015-2016 Brian Ursu
2013-2014 Kathy Dixon
2011-2012 Bryan Poirier
2000's
2009-2010 Bob Brick
2007-2008 Carol Baldwin
2005-2006 Joel Myler
2001-2004 Susan Cogswell
1990's
1999-2000 William A. Corbett
1997-1998 Joell M. Lovelace
1995-1996 Bruce C. Willett
1993-1994 C. Eugene Chang
1991-1992 Christopher Wright
1980's
1989-1990 Randall J. Kiessel
1987-1988 Philip L. Cochran, Sr.
1985-1986 Marc Oberschulte
1983-1984 Forrest Lewis
1981-1982 Robert M. Seward II
1979-1980 James Dutmers, Sr.