Community involvement
Participants in the Cadillac Leadership program make the decision to spend nine months investing in themselves and their community. In doing so, they make new professional contacts, gain a deeper understanding of the business sectors that makeup our local economy, and identify and develop personal leadership skills. We ask our participants to answer the following question: How will you use your newfound knowledge and skills to create your own legacy of community involvement?
Community involvement can come in many forms. It might mean sitting on the board of a local non-profit, or volunteering a couple Saturdays a year for Project Christmas. It can be as involved as coaching a youth sporting team, or as low-commitment as sitting on the annual mock interview panel at the Career Tech Center. Our goal is to help participants find a way to give back that fits their interests and lifestyle.
Community service project
Historically, the Cadillac Leadership Program has included a community service project chosen by the class. The goal was to identify a community need and develop a project that will address that need. The project provided an opportunity for participants to work together in small groups, practice project development skills, and provide a benefit to the community.
The service project afforded Leadership participants an opportunity to practice skills necessary for being community trustees – coming to consensus and working with people of various backgrounds and interests. Participants gained lasting friendships, a better understanding of community needs, and shared sense of accomplishment for a job well done.
This tradition was continued for more than 30 years, with more than $1,000,000 raised by Leadership Classes through the support of the community.
Past projects
Community Partner: Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce
Project: Relocation packets
Community Partner: City of Cadillac
Project: Cadillac welcoming signs
Community Partners: Council on Aging, Community Mental Health, Mercy Hospital, Lakeview Lutheran Manor & Autumnwood of McBain Day Break
Project: Adult Day Care Center
Community Partner: Michigan Dept. of Transportation
Project: Highway clean up
Community Partner: Cadillac Teen Center
Project: Chaperoned dance
Community Partner: Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce
Project: Spirit of Community Award
Community Partner: Cadillac Leadership Program
Project: Extensive re-development of existing leadership program
Community Partner: Jaycees
Project: “Kenwood Community Playground”
Community Partner: American Heart Association
Project: “Jump Start Your Heart” defibrillators for local emergency vehicles
Community Partner: Wexford County
Project: “The Wex Floor…and More!”
Class Members: Elain Collier, Dave Embertson, Wayne Fox, Tina Gehrke, Karen Guiney, Carlton Kohler, Cindy Long, Brian Lydick, Carol Morgan, Christie Norman, Elizabeth Schweitzer, Matt Seward, Deborah Thompson, Lionel Weedon, Jon Wennstrom, Tracy Winkle, Will VanderPol
Community Partner: CASA/City of Cadillac
Project: “Field of Dreams” Bridge Project
Class Members: Tom Aldrich, Kristen Anderson, Theresa Dimmick, Carol Donahue, Scott Farley, Katrina Griswold, Traci Hall, Julie Keller, Corey Kohler, Jim MacKenzie, Emily Potvin, Diane Seehase, Julie VanAlst
Community Partner: Wexford Co. Habitat for Humanity
Project: “Nehemiah II” Reading Book Project for second grade students
Class Members: Mona Alpers, Amy Bilyea, Kristin Bonney, Cristen Brandsma, Dave Champion, James Charles, Chad Denike, Charity England, Jeff Hawke, Tracey Kanouse, Rick Marczak, Pete Suminski, Donna Weaver
Community Partner: OASIS/Family Resource Center
Project: Project “Warm Welcome” building improvements to the women’s shelter
Class Members: Gary Anderson, Suzie Brannam, Carolyn Brooks, Colleen Buckley, Deb Christie, Patty Clous, Alan Cooper, Mike Finstrom, Jennifer Gaffke, Shelley Hurrell, Bobbi Jo Jacobson, Linda Kent, Brandy Loveless, Mary MacEachern, Tim Martin, Tim McNalley, Hollie Olson, Mary Rosser, Lois Stryzynski, Jeannine Taylor, Kevin Venhuizen, Christy Wennstrom
Community Partner: Cadillac Area Public Schools
Project: Cooley School “I Can” Project—renovations to the student center and enhancements to the entryway and gymnasium
Class Members: Jerry Adams, Paul Gaffke, Sara Garrod, Kristi Goebel, Brent Haskin, Karen Karpicke, Kathy Kimmel, Peter Lanc, Teresa Langworthy, Melissa Mcpherson, Krista Miller, Bill Mitchell, Ginger Ranguette, Sue Conradson, Holly Schonert, MaryJo Shivlie, Julie Snider, Nichole Young
Community Partner: Northern Lakes Community Mental Health
Project: Club Cadillac “Hope for the Future”—enhance, update & redesign the training area and improve the Lobby/Library area
Class Members: Shari Ault, Heather Brannam, Jon Catlin, Judy Catto, Josh Eling, Bonnie, Forbes, Sara Hoffman, Tammy Kangas, Pam Klifman, Peg Lutz, Katie McLaughlin, Rick Odette, Bruce Pfeiffer, Bethany Piziks, Sheila Richardson, Valerie Shultz, Tony Silveri, Nancy Tanner, Nat Wayman
Community Partner: Cadillac Area Public Schools
Project: Camp Torenta…Another 100 Years—construction of a new cabin
Class Members: Joanne Bear, David Cox, Barb Depew, Bob Hunt, Ginny Johnson, Mike Kelso, Stephanie Kline, Vicki Long, Brooks Lucas, Penny MacEachern, Carol Nelson, Leslie Nowlin, Lindsay Rumohr, Christiane Sanburn, Mark Sanburn, Shannon Smith, Jackie Soltman, Scott Tanner, Kari Wineland
Community Partner: New Hope Shelter Organization
Project: Renovation of a transitional home for families
Class Members: Iwalani Baker, Sandy Blevins, Patrick Bunting, Clare Colwell, Nancy Culp, Sharon Dagon, Jeffrey Dietlin, Carla Filkins, Elizabeth Hanson, David Holland, Amanda Johnston, Robert Lockhart, Ruth Mitchell, Donna Molnar, Lorie Moriarty, Charlotte Nisbet, Janeen Russell, Charles Schwarz, Chris Sodergren, Vincent Tembreull
Community Partner: United Way of Wexford County
Project: Wexford County “Get Connected” bringing 2-1-1 to our area
Class Members: Tom Armstrong, Tammy Arrand, Corey Christensen, Christy Church, Heather Corner, Wayne Crawford, Julie Dyer, Ryan Ellis, Leigh Gifford, Joanna Hoenshell, Sara Keinath, Tom King, Luther Lovell, Kristin McKinley, Dave Miller, Lori Murton, Laura Sawyer, Steve Selewski, Nancy Tanner, Andy Ulrich, Tera Veddler, Rob Wing
Community Partner: Cadillac Area Public Schools
Project: CAPS Quest Initiative
Class Members: Dan Alto, Catherine Bear, Kimberly Cool, Scott Duncan, Kristin Ellis, Eric Gustafson, Brad Hall, Randy Hill, Robyn Kohler, Rhonda Lung, Heather McClure, Laurie McKay, Susan Mongar, Rebecca Reinink, Julie Rushing, Carol Sanborn, Shana Strickler, Steve Townen, Amy Vail, Becky Vlassis
Community Partner: City of Cadillac
Project: “Cadillac Leadership Pride” Lakeside Pavilion at Kenwood Park
Class Members: Lisa Bannon, Rob Best, Chad Brunink, Chris Crawley, Joe Davy, Shelly Davy, Deb Garvon, Marielle Hill, Andy Holtgrieve, Nick Kassuba, Lia Krantz, Heather Martinson, Julie McAllister, Michelle Payne, Sandy Smith, Mark Snider, Jason Stahl, Tim Town, Rob Tuck, Marcia Wieringa
Community Partner: After 26 Project
Project: “Building Hope” The After 26 Patio Project
Class Members: Kris Barcey, Daniella Bell, Alan Belville, Katrina Bontekoe, Tina Champion, Ann Clous, Michelle R. DeView, Cody Dick, Michelle Geiger, Andrea Herman, Danielle Kline, Scott Leesch, Karl Marcusse, Nick Nowlin, Bill Panasiewicz, Heather Peterson, Brian Scwiegl, Annie Shetler, Dan Smith, Kelly Smith, Ken Tyrer, Shannon Lee Welihan, Dana Ray Willis
Community Partner: Wexford County Council on Aging
Project: “DayBreak…The Next Generation” New roofing, windows and siding to the home and detached garage
Class Members: Cheri Bechtel, Brian Bejcek, Jason Black, Kayla D. Bodary, Paul Booth, Jackie Bottomly, Julie Boss, Tracy Coe, Peg Devereaux, Lindsey Evans, Kyle Farmer, Cindy Frohmader, Lauren Heilman, Jeff Kassien, Jodi Keeler, Deb Maxey, Mike Morin, Zach Nimeth, Niki Schultz, Janine Skunda, Darcy Tacoma
Community Partner: City of Cadillac
Project: “Lakefront Play Project” Construction of an ADA compliant play structure to be placed along the Keith McKellop Walkway
Class Members: Mark Ashley, Rae Berwald, Adam Cooley, Steve Drabik, Josh Hesselink, Laura Hoisington, Meghan Howell, Jeff Jennette, Jenni Johnson, Jon Johnson, Laura Johnson, Serena Johnson, Kara Kosloski, Tac Lee, Buster McClure, Dan Miller, Jennifer Neff, Danielle Nordhof, Brian Priddle, Katelyn Richard, DeAnn Schneider, Kelli Schutte, Eric Seguin
Community Partner: Stehouwer Free Clinic
Project: “Stehouwer Free Clinic Improvement and Awareness Project” Supplied the entire clinic with new medical equipment
Class Members: Jojo Allen, Bob Badner, Matt Boersma, LeAnne Bush, Kendra Dolorfino, Cassandra Drys, Eric Gildner, Karie Hankins, Darin Kearns, Carl Kielbasa, Stefanie LaRoque, BobbiJo McNeilly, Jamie Mielke-Mitchell, Michelle Norton, Joshua Patrick, Craig Peters, Kerry Porter, Bill Rickard, Jason Roderick, Jerry Roth, Jenifer Smith, Becky Voelker
Community Partner: City of Cadillac
Project: Cadillac Splash! A new splash pad in the Cadillac Commons downtown development
Class Members: Eric Allen, Josh Bailey, Doug Barnes, Kathy Cress, Max Davidson, Lucas Dent, Sarah Dodde, Jennifer Downey, Kelly Duncan, Matt Engels, Brian Kelsey, Brittany Kielbasa, Helen M. Kiomento, Joni Krolczyk, Tammy McLeod, Shaina O’Dwyer, Sam Phelps, Judy Schulze, Edward Shaw, Tracy Sherman, Dean Smallegan, Patrick Spalding, David Stearns, Gary Weisheim
Community Partner: Friends of Mitchell State Park
Project: Launch Cadillac! Kayak and canoe docking system located on Lake Cadillac at the Wm. Mitchell State Park
Class Members: Kaycee Barber, Chris Blessing, Jeff Durga, Samantha A. Fent, Michael Henderson, Travis Hepfner, Monica Malcomnson, Sarah Moeller, Courtney Mulder, Mike Mullins, Jason Owens, Sindi Powell, Jake Punelli, Tim Rigling, Devin Sharp, Shaina Squires, Eric VanHaitsma
Community Partner: NMMBA
Project: “Cadillac Pathway Pavilion Project” Construction of a new pavilion at the Cadillac pathway trail head
Class Members: Chris Ball, Holly Barber, Robert Benson (Pastor), Brittany Brunink, Katie Deller, John Gatewood, Kevin Graham, Josh Hayes, MaryAnne Macintosh, Lindsay Majors, Jonathan Meeks, Craig McCarthy, Kelly Rhodes, Jimmy Rollo, Jacquie Sabo, Scott Slavin, Shannen Smith, Brad Soules, Caren Straight, Teal Vanderhoef
Community Partner: Footliters
Project: “Leadership in the Spotlight” A portable theater which included a state, sound equipment, and an enclosed trailer
Class Members: Kevin Baker, Michael Bush, Betsy Campbell, Tom Carrington, Joshua Fenner, Katie Frier, Ryan Harris, Eli Hoffert, Chris Kennard, Jarret Nelson, Allison Peters, Deb Rozeveld, Rebecca Salm, Andrea Thompson, Kristopher Toy, Tracy Logan-Walker
Community Partner: Cadillac Wexford Public Library
Project: Leadership by the Book: New furniture for the library.
Class Members: Steph Barron, Amy Barrozo, Tom Casperson, Michael Davis, Bryce Downing, Darrick Earegood, Michelle Gallagher, Karl Hanson, Shelly Harwell, Kenneth Hottenstein, Jim Jakubos, Kimberly Kindt, Nickolas Perrin, Bobbi Pontz, Alexandria Sian, Clayton Taylor, Jason Traviss, Brandy Waltemyer
Community Partner: City of Cadillac
Project: Shay Showcase: Renovated structure housing the Shay Locomotive.
Class Members:Ken Ames, Caitlyn Berard, Mike Colby, Amber Durst, Chandlar Gabara, Ashley McNalley, Paris Philo, Kristopher Smith, Moria Stoll, John Wallace
Questions?
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Cadillac, MI 49601