Manistee Area Leadership Program

04/23/2026

Big thank you to everyone who came out to support our Celebrity Bartending event last night! 🍸

We’re especially grateful to The Blue Slipper Tavern for hosting, and to our incredible celebrity bartenders, Kyle Gurzynski (Filer Credit Union), Jermaine Sullivan (City of Manistee, Jermaine Sullivan Realtor), and Dan Mesyar (Onekama Portagers School Page) for bringing the energy and making it such a fun and memorable evening. Cheers to a great night!

04/20/2026

On Thursday, April 16, the Leadership Cohort completed the remaining tours from Education Day with visits to Onekama Portagers School Page and Manistee Area Public Schools. During these stops, participants gained insight into each school’s offerings and their priorities moving forward.

The group then transitioned into History Day, beginning with a presentation from Sammie Lukaskiewicz of Manistee Tourism, who highlighted the strong connection between tourism and local history. This was followed by a presentation from Mark Fedder of the Manistee County Historical Museum, who shared an overview of Manistee’s rich history.

After lunch at the Painted Lady Saloon, the cohort continued the afternoon with a historic trolley tour, followed by a guided tour of the Manistee County Historical Museum. The day concluded with a tour of the Ramsdell Theatre, led by Laura Ortiz-LaVelle of The Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts

A special thank-you to our program sponsors, Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital, Filer Credit Union, West Shore Community College, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and Republic Services.

04/18/2026

Join us tomorrow for Sunday Fund Day at The Outsider to help support our community service project benefiting The Rec Center!

🎉 SUNDAY FUND DAY 🎉

Play It Forward. Support the Manistee Leadership Program. 💪

10% of all sales will be donated.Dine in and make a difference. 🍔

04/17/2026

🍸 Meet Your Celebrity Bartender! 🍸

Join us on April 22 at the Blue Slipper Tavern for a fun night supporting a great cause!
From 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Dan Mesyar, Superintendent of Onekama Consolidated Schools, will be stepping behind the bar as our Celebrity Bartender.

Dan is a passionate leader in education, dedicated to supporting students, staff, and families in the Onekama community. Through his role as Superintendent, he works to create opportunities for student success and strengthen the connection between schools and the broader community.

Stop in, say hello, and enjoy a drink while supporting a great cause!

04/15/2026

🍸 Meet Your Celebrity Bartender! 🍸

Join us on April 22 at the Blue Slipper Tavern for an evening of great drinks and even better company! From 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Jermaine Sullivan, Mayor of the City of Manistee and Realtor with Dwelling Realty- KW Northern Michigan, will be stepping behind the bar as our Celebrity Bartender.

Jermaine is a dedicated community leader, serving as Mayor while also helping individuals and families find their perfect place to call home through her work with Dwelling Realty. Her passion for Manistee shines through in both her public service and her commitment to strengthening our local community.

Stop in, say hello, and enjoy a drink while supporting a great cause!

04/13/2026

🍸Meet Your Celebrity Bartender!🍸

Join us on April 22 at the Blue Slipper Tavern for a fun and lively evening behind the bar! From 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Kyle Gurzynski., President & CEO of Filer Credit Union, will be stepping in as our Celebrity Bartender, serving up drinks and good conversation.

Not only is Kyle a familiar face in our community, but he also leads Filer Credit Union, a trusted local financial institution committed to helping individuals, families, and businesses achieve their financial goals. With a strong focus on community involvement, personalized service, and financial education, Filer Credit Union continues to make a meaningful impact across the region.

Stop in, grab a drink, and help us support a great cause!

04/08/2026

Looking for plans? We’ve got you covered! 🎉

Join us at The Outsider or the Blue Slipper Tavern for our Leadership Fundraisers - a time for fun, connection, and giving back.

All proceeds will go directly toward our community service project in support of “The Rec.” Your night out can make a real impact right here in our community. We hope to see you there!

03/25/2026

🍸✨ Celebrity Bartenders in Action! ✨🍸

Join us for a fun night where local leaders shake, stir, and serve-all for a great cause! Support the Manistee Area Leadership Program community service project, "The Rec" while enjoying drinks, laughs, and a chance to see your favorite community figures behind the bar.

📅 April 22 | 🕒 6:00PM | 📍Blue Slipper Tavern

Thank you to the Blue Slipper Tavern for their partnership on this event!

Celebrity Bartending at The Blue Slipper Tavern

03/23/2026

Join us at The Outsider on Sunday, April 19th for a Fund Day!🍹

✨10% of all sales will be donated to our community service project, The Rec, as we work to upgrade and revamp this important space for local youth. 💛 A BIG thank you to The Outsider for their partnership on this event!

Sunday Fund Day at The Outsider

03/20/2026

The 2025/2026 Manistee Area Leadership Program team embarked on a visit to the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Government Center to participate in Tribal Day!

Upon arrival, the group was warmly welcomed by Tribal Manager William Willis and Director of Commerce Jim Wabindato. The day began with engaging presentations from Jessica Steinberg and Corey Wells, who shared insights on tribal history and governance. Participants also heard from Chief of Tribal Police Robert Medacco and Court Administrator Spring Medacco, who provided an overview of public safety and the tribal court system.

Tribal Day concluded with a tour of Little River Casino Resort led by Director of Compliance Lee Ivinson, followed by a brief presentation from General Manager Michael Schrader. The leadership cohort also enjoyed lunch graciously provided by the Casino. We are grateful for the collaboration across departments in creating such a meaningful and educational experience, highlighting the significant impact of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians on our community.

The group then traveled to CASMAN Alternative Academy for a rescheduled tour following the snow day during Education Day. The day wrapped up back at 400 River Street with a public speaking presentation from Jennifer Lundberg, professor at West Shore Community College.

Thank you to our sponsors— Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital, Filer Credit Union, West Shore Community College, Republic Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

03/11/2026

On March 5th, the Manistee Area Leadership Program had the opportunity to travel to Lansing, where we joined the Cadillac Leadership Program for a day of learning and exploration at the Michigan Capitol and Heritage Hall.

We had the privilege of hearing from an outstanding lineup of speakers, including Representative VandeWall, Stacie Bytwork (Acuitas), Henry Wolfe (Rural Office of Prosperity), and Terri Langley (Michigan Executive Director of Disability Network). Their insights and expertise provided valuable perspectives on government, advocacy, and community engagement.

A special thank you to the Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce for including us on this trip and for all their time and effort in coordinating the day.

Thank you to our sponsors— Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital, Filer Credit Union, West Shore Community College, Republic Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan — for their support of the Manistee Area Leadership Program!