Megan Motil - BOARD PRESIDENT 

Parallel Solutions, Founder and Principal

Megan is the President and Principal of Parallel Solutions LLC, a Traverse City-based consulting firm that supports public, private, and non-profit sector clients by providing strategic and business planning, partnership facilitation, project management, fundraising, and communication services.

Her professional background and passions include community and economic development, land and water conservation, food and farming, and access to nature.

Kate Redman - Director (Commonplace Founder)

Commongrounds Cooperative, Project Director/
Co-Founder

Kate is an enterprise attorney and is experienced at advising nonprofits, small businesses, and cooperatives in every life stage on legal and tax structure, governance, mergers, and collaborative partnerships. 

She also has experience in real estate and community development, including managing community-driven real estate development and crowdfunding. Kate is the founder of both Commonplace, a nonprofit co-working space, and Commongrounds, a community-owned real estate cooperative.

Heather Ratliff - Director 

Cherry Capital Foods, Farm to School Coordinator

 As the Farm to Institution Sales Rep for Cherry Capital Foods, Heather works with schools, hospitals and senior centers to help them procure locally grown produce.  As a leader in the Northwest Michigan Food and Farming Network, she facilitates the conversation among leaders in the local food industry to collaborate on their good work.

And as a wife and a mother, she votes with her fork every day and shares the wonders of nature through the fresh eyes of her toddler.

Elise Crafts, director

Founder and Principal of Statecraft

Elise is a professionally certified planner turned community developer, who, after working in zoning administration, land use planning, and real estate development, founded Statecraft to help communities create and implement their dreams.

The best part of the job is building relationships, resources, and momentum with the courageous, collaborative, and bright community leaders that she is fortunate to support.

David Reimer, Director

CEO and Managing Partner of The ExCo Group

David is a recognized expert in the leadership development of the C-suite. A former operator himself, David brings a hands-on knowledge of leadership, strategy, operations, and mentoring to the subject of accelerating top executives’ impact. He is consulted by boards, operators and senior HR leaders on the pragmatic development of leaders best-suited for an era of disruption.

Will Kitchen - Director

Entrepreneur and Consultant

Will has launched multiple telecommunication and education businesses. He served as and IBM Performance Consultant across the US, Asia, and Europe, and was their GM of Learning and Leadership Development in India. Previously, Will served as Winona State University’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence and director of StartUp Winona State. Currently, Will co-leads the Office of Possibilities with NMC and community partners like Commonplace.

commonplace Staff

Nick Beadleston - Executive Director

Commonplace, Executive Director

Nick is a multiple deployment Army veteran of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Previously, he wrote for multiple Colorado and Michigan news publications before entering the field of international community development. There he was introduced to the power of mission-driven businesses with a desire to create more ethical, transparent supply chains.

He currently serves as Comonplace’s first full-time executive director.