PROTECT THE PENINSULA’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PETER COHL

Peter and Diane Cohl have had a home on Old Mission Peninsula for over 17 years. Peter is the founding member of the law firm of Cohl, Stoker and Toskey PC. The firm has specialized in municipal law and public sector labor law for over 40 years, representing more than 70 municipal clients. Martindale Hubbell has rated Peter preeminent in legal ability and ethics for over 25 years.

MICHAEL H. DETTMER

Since 1975 he and his spouse have lived and raised their 2 children on the remaining 3 acres of the old Buck Taylor farm off S. Mathison Road. Mike has practiced law since 1972. He is a trial lawyer, having had great Traverse City partners over the years including Jim Olson, Dean Robb, George Thompson and Grant Parsons. Mike has served as the 59th president of the 40,000 member State Bar of Michigan and in 1994 President Clinton nominated and the Senate confirmed his appointment to serve as United States Attorney for the 49 counties of the Western District of Michigan.

ERIN GARTLAND

Erin has been a resident of Old Mission Peninsula since 2012. She has been an advocate for land preservation and creating a balance between residential living and protecting the environment.  This is her first committee advocating for environmental protection.  In 2014 Erin joined the effort in promoting the soon to be built Women’s and Children’s Center at Munson Hospital. Prior to moving to Traverse City she worked in Brookfield, Wisconsin teaching Elementary Education for eight years.  She holds a BA and Masters degree in Elementary Education from University of Minnesota.

L. KENT WALTON

Kent was raised in the processing end of the cherry business from age 14 through college at U of M and law school at UC San Francisco, during which he saw the transition from lug haul to water haul.  For 45 years, Kent maintained a prominent Traverse City litigation/mediation law practice. As an Old Mission Peninsula resident since 1984, Kent advocates the Township’s continued emphasis on agriculture zoning.  He favors maintaining a bucolic, peaceful and tranquil future for OMP residents and neighbors, whether they be homeowners, farmers, vintners, businesses, or others who have been drawn to this magical sliver of land.

JOHN JACOBS

John Jacobs began spending summers in Old Mission as an infant. Mostly retired as a CEO/founder of IT technology businesses, John is now able to spend a six month “summer” here. Preservation of Peninsula Township’s  special character and quality of life is one of John’s top passions. He believes that Old Mission is one of the rare remaining places where children can explore and play safely, people take care of one another, and families can walk to the beach or in the woods protected from the onslaught of modern life. John feels we have an obligation to future generations to preserve this unique spot and its way of life. A special interest of John’s is development of public policy promoting carefully considered development that retains community character. John is a past president and current board member of Leffingwell Forest Preserve, which maintains a large tract of near-virgin forest in Old Mission.

DAVE MURPHY

Dave has lived in Peninsula Township since 1987 and worked on numerous Old Mission Peninsula causes. He’s served on several township planning commission committees, the Parks Committee, and the Scenic Heritage Route Committee.

MARK NADOLSKI

In 1979, Mark was one of the founders of Protect The Peninsula and currently serves as its President.  In 1988, as a real estate broker and land preservationist, Mark brokered the sale of a 507 acre farm with 2 miles of water frontage at the end of the peninsula to the Department of Natural Resources which was then added to an existing 150 acre park, protecting it from development.  In 1988, he co-founded the Old Mission Conservancy which merged with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy in 2002.  Mark has served on multiple township committees since 1989, including the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) committee. Mark also has been the recipient of multiple environmental awards including the NMEAC Environmentalist of the Year award.

JOHN WUNSCH

Growing up as part of a farm family in Old Mission, John has been involved in land preservation in old Mission and other areas since the early 1990s. After training as a Classical guitarist John’s early professional career was as a recording and performing Jazz artist based in New York City. Upon returning home to Old Mission in 1990 he became involved in development of the old Mission Peninsula Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program, and has worked as a performer and teacher at Northwestern Michigan College and Interlochen Arts Academy until 2010. John currently owns a small cherry farm on old Mission and owns and operates an online music supply business. John supported and collaborated with Protect the Peninsula regarding various issues for over 30 years before joining the board of directors.