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Michigan Theatre Board of Directors
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Dan Machnik, Chair
Dan is a registered Financial Investment Advisor and partner in the firm of Willis & Machnik Financial Services. He is a Jackson native who returned following college and several years in the financial investment business in the Chicago area. He is a board member of the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce and serves as chair of their Economic Club Committee.
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Malachi Crane, Vice Chair
Malachi is the General Manager of HOME.fm 106.9 radio at Spring Arbor University. Malachi and his wife Sarah moved to Michigan from Sarasota, Florida where he worked in development for a local radio network. The Cranes reside in Chelsea, Michigan and enjoy being an active part of the Jackson community.
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Patrick Walz, Treasurer
Patrick is a Certified Public Accountant who worked five years with the international accounting firm of KPMG in Los Angeles. He is a certified public accountant in the state of Michigan, employed at Bond & Company PLC in Jackson, Michigan, for twelve years, the last five years as a partner. He is also a board member of Segue, Inc.
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Martha Fuerstenau,
Secretary
Martha is Executive Vice President of American 1 Federal Credit Union where she has been employed for 23 years. As Executive Vice President, she is responsible for administrative oversight of day-to-day credit union operations encompassing 10 branch offices, 40-plus ATM's, and 140 employees. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Alma College and an MBA at the University of Michigan. She serves on the NAFCU Region 1 Advisory Council, the City of Jackson Historic District Commission and the Board of Trustees at the Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History. Ms. Fuerstenau has lived in the Under the Oaks Historic District in downtown Jackson for 24
years.
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Kathryn Keersmaekers, Chair of "The Producers"
Kate retired from a management position with Consumers Energy in the past year. She is a community activist, serving as board president of Girl Scouts – Irish Hills Council, secretary of the board for Jackson Public Schools and is a charter member of the Michigan Theatre Producers, the fund-raising organization of the theatre. She also co-chaired The Producers' Veteran's Day event in 2007.
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Alice Cole, Vice Chair of "The Producers"
A lifelong Jackson
resident, Alice worked for Camp International for 27 years where she
was Product Manager for an International Design Project, educating
manufacturers and sales people. She retired recently from a sales position
at Art Van Furniture. Alice was a 4-H Horse Project Leader for 15 years,
taught kids, managed horse shows and was the Open Class Horse Superintendent
at the Jackson County Fair for 13 years. She is an expert seamstress and
gifted gardener who also enjoys volunteering. |
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Charles Ahronheim
Chuck is a local entrepreneur who was one of the Michigan Theatre of Jackson, Inc., founders in 1993. By that time, he had already made valiant attempts to save the Capitol Theatre, the other only remaining movie house in Jackson
at that time, so the Michigan Theatre has been his focus for a very long
time. Chuck manages a number of real estate properties and is currently working on establishing a retail business in the downtown Jackson area. |
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Diane Y. Bower
Diane is an attorney and shareholder in the law firm of Marcoux, Allen, Schomer, Bower, Nichols, Kendall and Lindsey, P.C., (commonly referred to as Marcoux Allen), and is currently a Vice President of the firm, having completed her term as President and Managing Partner in December of 2007. She has been with the firm since graduating from the University of Michigan law school in December of 1980, and became a shareholder in the firm in 1984. She was born in Jackson, Michigan, and attended Michigan Center High School and Jackson Community College, before graduating summa cum laude from Eastern Michigan University in 1978. Her principal areas of practice are banking law, corporate law, and employment law, including employment discrimination defense. She and her husband, Richard, have four adult children and live on a farm near Grass Lake, Michigan.
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Mindy Bradish-Orta
Mindy is president of the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the
Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau. She also serves on the boards of
numerous organizations, including the Da Vinci Institute, the Jackson
Non-Profit Support Center, and the Jackson Citizens for Economic Growth. |
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Carroll Bush
Carroll is a retired engineer from Sparton Corporation, a long-time Jackson manufacturer. Carroll has been on the Michigan Theatre Board of Directors for many years, and very ably chairs the Theatre's Building Committee. In addition, he spends many hours every month working on projects in and around the Theatre as well as for other charitable organizations throughout the area. |
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Jessica Dietz
Jessica began studying aviation at Jackson Community College and continued at Western Michigan University. She then took a leap of faith, pursuing a degree in Fine Art. A short time after obtaining her Bachelors of Fine Art from Siena Heights University, Jessica moved back to Jackson and began working for Jackson Radio Works (K-105.3, NewsTalk 970, and ESPN 1450). In 2007 she moved to the Detroit area to work for the Walt Disney Company in marketing, but found that her heart was still in Jackson. She returned to the area and to the family at Jackson Radio Works, where she enjoys helping local businesses and non-profit organizations find innovative ways to reach the surrounding community. Jessica also volunteers her time for the American Red Cross, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and serves on the advisory committee for Parents Magazine.
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Linda Furgason
Linda was one of the founders of the Michigan Theatre of Jackson, Inc. group in
1993 and she has continued to be involved with development of the
Theatre. She is co-owner of two dry cleaning establishments in Jackson as well as operator of AVIS Rent-a-Car at the Jackson County Airport. She is a community activist, having served as President of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the American Red Cross, the Jackson Chorale and many other community organizations.
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John Francey
John is a Registered Architect with Consumers Energy and a long time Jackson
resident and supporter of Jackson Public Schools. John is also a member of
the Board of Trustees at Arbor Grove Congregational Church.
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Marilyn Guidinger
Marilyn volunteers as bookkeeper at the Theatre. Previously she was COO and part owner of NET, a nationwide environmental testing
company and retired from Primerica Financial Services. She has taught high school and college and has a
PhD in chemistry and an MBA. Marilyn is passionate about historic preservation and currently serves as chair of the Jackson Historic District Commission.
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Larry Lloyd
Larry is the Blood Services Director for the South Central Michigan
chapter of the American Red Cross and a firm believer in the importance
of non-profits, historic preservation, and the arts in a democratic
society. Larry is a member of the Visiting Committee of the Gerald R.
Ford Institute for Public Policy and Public Service at Albion College (a
2002 graduate) and the college's Veterans Advisory Council, as well as
the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee. He is
also a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves and served four years
active duty mostly with the 101st Airborne Division.
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David Mahon
Dave has over 30 years of business experience ranging from practicing as a
Certified Public Accountant to responsibilities as a Chief Financial Officer
in industry. He currently is employed within the Treasury Services division
of Allegiance Health where his work includes both the fields of accounting
and finance. Dave has been involved for many years with multiple non-profit
organizations, including Family Services and Children’s Aid, Big
Brothers/Big Sisters, Jackson Civic Theater (including on stage production),
and several other business and civic organizations. His personal interest
includes sporting activities, theater, travel, and family life (including
dog Greta). Dave has lived in Jackson for over 30 years, having moved here
from the Detroit area. His educational background includes attending Wayne
State and Western Michigan Universities. |
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Marianne Moller
Marianne is founder and president of The Brokerage House, a long-time full service real estate firm located in Jackson. Marianne has served on the Michigan Theatre Board of Directors for numerous years, including organizations previous to the current Michigan Theatre of Jackson, Inc. organization.
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Kathy Schmaltz
Kathy was the anchor broadcaster for Lansing's WILX-TV channel 10 for
over 10 years. She is currently a freelance broadcaster covering a wide area
of southern Michigan. She is active in the Jackson community, serving on
many nonprofit boards and projects, including Big Brothers/Big Sisters,
United Way, the Wendy's Charity Classic LPGA Adoption Event, and the
Michigan Dyslexia Institute. She also serves on the advisory committee for
Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea. |
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Mark Schissler
Mark is Director of Development for Jackson Community College. Prior to JCC,
he accumulated over 20 years experience from a variety of organizations
ranging from production, sales, and service to education and volunteer
management. Throughout his corporate career, Mark has put into practice his
belief that an organization will only be as strong as the community it is in
and takes part in developing. He is active in numerous community, civic and
religious organizations throughout Jackson County. Mark has a contagious
love of life, diversity and passion for 'thinking outside the dots'. |
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Allen E. Spiess, Jr.
Al is currently involved as a board member of the Ella Sharp Museum, co-chairs
the Ella Sharp Museum Capital Campaign and Building Committee, and serves on the fundraising committee for the Cascades Humane Society, and hosts dinners for “Taste for the Arts.”
He is a past board member of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and chairman of Jackson's Sister City
Committee, and is the previous CEO/owner of Kellogg Crankshaft Company (production and prototype crankshafts), which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
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Advisory Board
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Tony Pinson M.D.
Dr. Pinson practices urology and manages the Pinson Urology and Continence Center. He has served as Chief of Staff at Foote Hospital and was Medical Director of the Jackson Outpatient Surgery Center. Dr. Pinson graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, served in the Naval Reserves Medical Corps and has been in the medical profession for over 20 years.
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Bill Rayl, Past Chair
Bill is Executive Director of the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association
and Senior VP of The Enterprise Group, Jackson County's professional economic development organization. Bill serves on the State of Michigan's Early Childhood Investment Corporation's Corporate Board by appointment of Governor Granholm, and is also a founding member of the Association of Online Professionals, a member of the Michigan Manufacturers' Association and the Great Lakes Manufacturing Council, and serves on the Presidents' Council of the National Association of Manufacturers.
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Michigan Theatre Staff
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Operations Manager: Dennis Burkhart
Dennis has been a long time worker/volunteer for the Michigan Theatre. Along with his wife, Sue,
and their whole family, when the Michigan needs a crew, the Burkhart Family answers the call.
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Operations
Assistant Manager: Lucas Metcalf
Lucas Metcalf returned to the Michigan in February 2009 to serve as Dennis
Burkhart's assistant, filling in and providing backup on all technical
aspects of running the theatre. Lucas has years of experience, both as a
volunteer and as an occasional paid staff person during concerts and special
events.
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