The by-laws of Northern Community Mediation stipulate that the board consists of a minimum of five and a maximum of 15 members. Each term begins on January 1 and ends three years later on December 31. A director may serve a total of two consecutive terms.
Kirstyn Horan, President
Health Department of Northwest Michigan
Cyndy Tonkavich, Vice President
Retired Teacher
Bill Meengs, TreasurerAttorney
Suzanne Kanine, Secretary
Emmet County Clerk
Judy Zorn, Member-at-Large
Retired
Merry Brown, Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
Bill Cattin, Retired Safety & Compliance Engineer
Denise Drake, Retired from JP Morgan
Phil Harmon, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa
Kristin Hasse, Restaurant Owner
Lisa Hoyt, Petoskey Chamber Membership Director
Harry (Hob) Ingleson, Attorney
Nikki LaDeur, Software/Human Resources
Jody McLeod, Attorney / Owner of McLeod Legal Solutions
Kirstyn Horan, President
Health Department of Northwest Michigan
Kirstyn Horan serves as the Community Health Coordinator / Community Connections HUB Coordinator at the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, bringing over eight years of experience in public health with a focus on health education and prevention. She holds certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid and is trained in mediation, having facilitated general civil, divorce, and VORP mediation cases.
Kirstyn is committed to making a positive impact in her community. She has served on the Board of Directors for Northern Community Mediation, including a term as president, and is an active member of the Leadership Little Traverse Steering Committee, where she contributes to developing local leadership.
After earning her degree from Grand Valley State University, Kirstyn relocated to Northern Michigan, where she quickly developed a deep connection to the area. In her personal time, she enjoys gardening and spending time near the shores of Lake Michigan, as well as hiking with her husband, Ben, and their two dogs.
Cyndy Tonkavich, Vice President
Retired Teacher
Cyndy and her family sailed the Great Lakes for years. It was their dream to live in northern Michigan. They found a perfect piece of land on the south arm of Lake Charlevoix where they built their retirement home.
Cyndy is a mother, a grandmother, and a retired 5th grade teacher. She understands that when conflict and anger interfere with life, families and children suffer. She believes mediation can help people through these difficult times.
After moving here, Cyndy became involved with the Boyne Valley Garden Club. She served as co-president for two years and now heads their annual holiday wreath and garland sale. She is proud to help at the Good Neighbors Food Pantry. This past summer, she got back on the water as a deck hand on the Ironton Ferry!
Bill Meengs, Treasurer
Attorney and owner of the law firm Stroup Meengs, PC
William L. Meengs, Jr. is an attorney and owner of the law firm Stroup Meengs, PC. He is entering his 30th year of practice. Bill spent his first 10 years of practice in Grand Rapids before moving back home to Petoskey in 2005. He is a 1987 graduate of Petoskey High School and a 1991 graduate of Hope College with a BA in English and a minor in Political Science. After college, Bill attended law school at the University of Louisville. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the US District Court for the Western District of Michigan, a member of the Estate Planning and Elder Law sections of the State Bar of Michigan, and the current President of the Estate Planning Council of Northern Michigan. He has served as a law clerk for Judge Richard A. Enslen of the US District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and as a faculty member for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s annual Probate and Estate Planning Institute. His 30 years of practice have entirely be spent in the area of probate, estate planning, elder law and real estate.
Bill is married to Melanie who serves as his part time legal assistant, while also serving as general manager of a retail store in downtown Petoskey. He has two children: a daughter who is currently attending the University of Michigan studying aerospace engineering; and a son who is a senior at Petoskey High School and who intends to study Political Science after his graduation.
Bill’s civic involvement has included serving on the boards of the McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation, Northern Community Mediation, the Petoskey Chamber, including serving as chair of the board, and is now returning to the board of Northern Community Mediation for a second term of service, while also joining the board of the Petoskey Chamber Foundation. Bill is also a member of the marketing and development committee for the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation and served on the City of Petoskey’s Board of Review for a period of 10 years the last five as chair.
Bill has been very involved with the hockey community having served as commissioner of the Char-Em Adult Hockey Association’s C League for a period of 11 years. He no longer plays, but is still a USA Hockey certified referee and continues to officiate adult and youth games in the area. Bill’s other interests include tennis, reading, and golfing with his son.
Suzanne Kanine, Secretary
Emmet County Clerk
Suzanne has served in the Emmet County Clerk’s office for almost six years and was recently elected to be the County Clerk. Previously, she served 16 years in the Air National Guard as Technical Sergeant in Aircraft Maintenance. After graduating from Central Michigan University, she worked with at-risk youth as the Outdoor Recreation Coordinator at West Midland Family Center.
Suzanne lives just outside of Petoskey with her husband, Jake, and three children, Brady, Jackson, and Addison. She spends a majority of her free time watching her children play sports. When she is not at the ball fields, she enjoys almost any outdoor activity with her family.
Judy Zorn, Member-at-Large
Retired Attorney & Non-Profit Executive
Judy received her Bachelor of Music degree from St. Louis University. She maintained a private studio, coaching singers and giving voice lessons, in addition to performing as soloist with many organizations, such as the Detroit Symphony Chorale and the Kenneth Jewel Chorale. She attended Detroit College of Law, and after receiving her Juris Doctorate degree, practiced law for 25 years, specializing in the representation of individuals with bipolar and schizophrenia.
Judy’s family has had a house on Burt Lake for the past 40 years. Upon moving full time to Burt Lake almost seven years ago, Judy took a position as the Executive Director of the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra in Petoskey. Recently retired from the Orchestra, Judy now enjoys spending more time with family, as well as playing golf, gardening, and continuing with other musical pursuits.
Merry Brown
Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
Merry Major-Brown has lived in northern Michigan for over 30 years and worked in the banking industry for most of her career. She co-founded and operated the first Which Wich in Michigan with her husband, Mitch, from 2012-2018. In 2018, Merry joined the State of Michigan’s Department of Health & Human Services, where she continues to serve the community. Outside of her work, Merry enjoys fitness, evening walks with her husband, and baking for family and friends.
Bill Cattin
Retired Safety & Compliance Engineer
Bill has a BS in Physics from Alma College, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Michigan. After a 20 year career at Ford Motor Company, he took early retirement in 2007 and moved permanently to Harbor Springs in 2010 where he owns and manages a retail property.
In addition to being a volunteer mediator at NCM since 2017, Bill has been a volunteer at the Lyric Theatre in Harbor Springs since it opened in 2016 and can be found behind the counter most Friday and Saturday nights.
Bill is single, but shares his home with Lewis, a three-legged cat he recently adopted from LTBHS. In his spare time, he enjoys adventure-based travel, photography, skiing, and mountain biking, hiking and snowshoeing in the beautiful woods of northern Michigan and the UP.
Denise Drake, Retired – Management & Leadership Development
After a career devoted to management and leadership development that spanned several industries including over 20 years at JPMorgan Chase, Denise Drake retired in 2015. She and her husband Paul used their first year of retirement to complete America’s Great Loop, living aboard their boat for nearly a year. They then made Petoskey, where they had owned a second home for many years, their full time home where they continue to seek out new adventures.
Denise has enjoyed volunteering for many organizations throughout the years including Make a Wish, Hospice House and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. In Petoskey she has worked with Women’s Resource Center, Manna Food Pantry and Northern Community Mediation.
Denise’s career focus was on helping managers and teams resolve conflict through effective communication, which lead to her belief in the power of mediation to solve problems. She has been a volunteer mediator since 2017 and is honored to join the board. She was named Veteran Mediator of the year in 2020.
Denise holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master’s Degrees in Human Resource Development and Clinical Behavioral Psychology.
Phil Harmon
Executive Director Unit 1 of Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa
My name is Phil Harmon, and I am a Tribal Citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I moved to Petoskey in 2001 to work for my Tribe as a Probation Officer. Over the years, I’ve held several positions with the LTBB Government. I’ve been in my current position of Executive Director, Unit I since November of 2016. It’s been an honor and privilege to work for my Tribe. One of my duties and responsibilities as the Executive Director of Unit I is to help with disputes in the workplace. As a trained mediator, these skills truly help with dealing with disputes
In my personal life, I’ve been happily married since 2022 and truly enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I try to spend most of my free time enjoying sports, hunting, fishing, snowshoeing, hiking, and pretty much anything to do with the outdoors.
I’m honored to be a member of the Northern Community Mediation Board. I’ll do my best to fulfill my duties and responsibilities and to help ensure a bright future for NCM
Kristin Hasse
Owner of Birdies Tavern in the Indian River Golf Club
Kristin has an AS in Nulcear Medicine Technology and a BS in Radiological Sciences. She is a member of the National Ski Patrol and Ski and Patrol at Nubs Nob. She loves golf and is n the Board for First Tee Northern Michigan and Ski team boosters.
Kristin has two high school daughters whom she follows around watching them golf, ski race, and play softball.
Lisa Hoyt
Petoskey Chamber of Commerce
Lisa joined the Petoskey Chamber in January 2007 as Membership Director. Previous to this she worked at LexaLite in Charlevoix in Marketing and International Sales. Lisa joined the Petoskey Chamber in January 2007 as Membership Director. Previous to this she worked at LexaLite in Charlevoix in Marketing and International Sales. Lisa has served on various local boards over the years , including NCM 2009-2014 and 2022-current.
With her job at the chamber, she enjoys being involved in the community and loves working with our area businesses – whether it is helping them with a marketing plan or helping them fill a position or helping them make a connection. She excels at programming, partnerships and collaborations through the chamber.
She began birding in 2013 and joined the Board of Directors of Petoskey Audubon Society the same year and help with their marketing. In June of 2022, she assumed the role of President of Petoskey Audubon. Lisa was co-lead on the establishment of the Sunset Coast Birding Trail in 2017.
Lisa and her husband Dave live in Charlevoix. Lisa enjoys exploring area preserves in search of different species of birds, cooking and travel.
Hob Ingleson
Attorney
Hob Ingleson is an attorney with the Bensinger, Cotant & Menkes Law Firm in Gaylord, Michigan. He received his J.D. degree from Michigan State University College of Law. Throughout his career his areas of practices have been varied, such as insurance defense litigation, medical malpractice and first and third party automobile claims.
In recent years, Hob has focused more on general civil litigation matters, business and real estate matters, and estate planning and probate litigation. He serves a very wide geographical area of clients throughout Michigan, often meeting in his clients’ homes or businesses.
Hob has been highly involved in community activities, . He is a former Camp Daggett Board of Directors member, served on the Kirtland Community College Foundation Board, belongs to Rotary, a past Hospice volunteer and a former member of the NW Michigan Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors to name a few.
Hob belongs to the State Bar of Michigan, Western District Bar Association, Emmet/Charlevoix Counties Bar Association, and the Otsego County Bar Association.
In his off-time, Hob enjoys maintaining the family farm, skiing, snow shoeing and hiking.
Nikki LaDeur
Software / Human Resources
Nikki LaDeur is a Customer Success Executive with SmartRecruiters. In her daily work, she consults with companies on their recruiting strategies to achieve Hiring Success. The last few months she has implemented a methodology and software to help her clients achieve quick time to value on their software purchase. Prior to SmartRecruiters she has worked in the areas of marketing, consulting, account management, and HR. She has a MBA and Bachelor degree from Quincy University.
For many years she was a customer advocate working to build relationships and bring to life the customer’s voice. While in these roles, Nikki facilitated discussions to develop and settle on solutions that met the involved’s needs. This experience is similar to the personal mediation strategies that NCM uses with their clients. With this experience Nikki is well suited to join the board of NCM.
She and her husband moved to the Petoskey area seven years ago when Scott accepted a position to teach at NCMC. New to the area Nikki was invited to join Noon Rotary. She’s served on their board for six years and led their marketing for the last five years.
Scott and Nikki have two children Izzy (5) and Ryan (8) and they currently live in Harbor Springs. In her spare time, Nikki enjoys photography and travel.
Jody McLeod
Attorney
Jody is a proven leader and licensed attorney in good standing with more than 30 years of experience- first as a successful state prosecuting attorney followed by various in-house counsel roles with increasing responsibilities at many large organizations. She has founded the legal consulting firm, McLeod Legal Solutions, in Charlevoix supplying businesses of all sizes with pragmatic, effective, and cost-effective legal solutions for their organizations.
Jody focuses on helping business leaders and HR teams navigate the far-reaching and high stakes complexities of legal issues working toward optimal resolutions. She has directed and conducted numerous workplace investigations, and cost-effectively resolved company litigation portfolios with the reputation of a ‘trusted legal advisor.’ The key to success is building a rapport with the business leaders while assessing their business strategies, risk appetite in line with company objectives and delivering practical and workable solutions.
Jody has a Bachelor of Arts form the University of Michigan (Economics and English), Juris Doctorate form Detroit Mercy Law, and an LLM in Labor and Employment from Wayne State University.