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Call: 231-947-0312Email: hello@ecoseeds.org
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800 Cottageview Dr., Ste 1080Traverse City, MI 49684
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P.O. Box 2454Traverse City, MI 49685
Prior to becoming a board member, Jessica worked for SEEDS in their accounting department. A Northern Michigan native for most of her life, Jessica enjoys the beauty our local area has to offer and is passionate about SEEDS’ mission within it. How SEEDS works to impact our community, especially… the younger generations and those in need of a helping hand, is a driving force for Jessica and has empowered her to take on a board member role. Outside of SEEDS, Jessica is the sole business owner of FreshTrippin, a Traverse City based cleaning, maintenance and concierge service company meeting the needs of local homeowners, property managers and businesses.
Katelyn Kikstra is motivated by and committed to mission-driven work that directly impacts her community. After graduating from Grand Valley State University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Natural Resource Management, Katelyn has dedicated her career to connecting diverse ideas and fostering collaboration …
within sustainability and waste management initiatives, particularly in relation to food systems. Prior to joining SEEDS, Katelyn was recognized as a 2023 GVSU Sustainability Champion and a co-chair of the Kent County Food Policy Council. She brings authenticity, compassion, and creativity to EcoStrategies and personally supports finding innovative solutions to both overconsumption and strengthening our relationship with nature. Outside of work, Katelyn enjoys spending time with her husband, toddler daughter, and two dogs, while also finding joy in gardening, baking, and exploring the outdoors together.
An Elk Rapids native, Sandra is thrilled to be back in the area after living in Wisconsin for many years where she worked as a middle school principal. She is delighted to be working at SEEDS, an organization that combines her passions for education and the environment. Sandra has a BA in Communications from U of M and an MA in Education …
from EMU. Weekends are spent running, golfing, skiing, boating and enjoying all that Northern Michigan has to offer.
Hannah Bird is a native of Fife Lake and no matter where her ventures have led her, she has always returned to this tight-knit community. After studying Family Life Education, Hannah moved back to Fife Lake with her husband and pursued a grant funded position at Fife Lake…
Elementary. This position gave her one-on-one interactions with families to coordinate access to basic needs and support their social emotional needs. As luck would have it, Hannah was able to return to the place she loves, with the kids she cares about deeply, in a new position as EcoSchool Associate Program Director. She is now able to continue to create meaningful connections in a fun educational capacity. In Hannah’s personal time she enjoys rock collecting and exploring our Great Lake State. Hannah’s favorite things in the world are hearing her baby laugh hysterically at her dog playing fetch, hiking with her husband, and camping at their property in the U.P.
Choosing a career is hard. Lucky for Kris, he always knew he’d be working with youth. What challenges him is the delta between “education” and “fun” for many students. His strong impression of “what kids are taught in schools” versus “what they are interested in” developed in college as he interned with a student-empowering program …
in Kalamazoo. Years later, after getting his MS and working in several youth-serving fields, he met up with SEEDS EcoSchool. It attracted him because of the unique opportunity to engage students in topics not always prioritized during the school day such as SEL, ecology and STEM. With curiosity, openness and a jovial manner, he attentively oversees operations in six rural schools (K-12) near Traverse City. Leisure for Kris is lifting weights: he’s squatted over 500 pounds! Prepping for an upcoming marathon and indulging his nerdy side balance his life out beautifully.
© 2024 SEEDS. All rights reserved.