Board of Trustees

Tom is the President/CEO of the U.P. Catholic Credit Union. He previously served on the Lake Superior Community Partnership Board and on the United Way Board as the campaign co-chair. Tom has been involved in numerous organizations benefiting local nonprofits and is a past. He currently serves on the executive committee of the Michigan Credit Union League U.P. Chapter. He was a member of the Kiwanis for many years and served as the pas KI Sawyer/Gwinn Kiwanis Club President. “Having served in various service clubs, nonprofit organizations and working with nonprofits over the years, I have learned how organizations serve a purpose in the community. When organizations work together, a stronger and healthier community is resulted.”

Maura Davenport is known throughout Marquette County as a tireless volunteer and advocate. She currently serves on the grants committee for the Community Foundation and is chair of the board of directors of the Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy. She previously served as a trustee of the Marquette County History Museum, now Marquette Regional History Center.  She volunteers for the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Presque Isle, St. Vincent DePaul, Room at the Inn and St. Michael Church. Davenport has led efforts with several environmental initiatives in Marquette County, including the “red bucket” program with the Superior Watershed Partnership to help prevent cigarette butts from polluting Lake Superior. Working with Emily Whitaker of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, Davenport also helped establish and expand the popular household battery recycling program in Marquette.

Gail’s bio

Mark Canale was born and raised in Marquette. He is a 1975 graduate of Marquette Senior High School, attended Northern Michigan University and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science. He has been serving on the Embers Credit Union board of directors since 1995 where he was past board chair for over 12 years.  He has been actively involved with numerous other organizations including serving on the State of Michigan Board of Examiners in Mortuary Science, United Way of Marquette County board of directors, Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice board of directors, member and past president of the Marquette West Rotary Club, and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Trish Davis has called Marquette home since May of 2015. She was elected as to the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation of Marquette County in 2017, having previously served on the Marquette Area Committee. She continues to serve on that committee and is a member of the Annual Celebration Committee and as co-chair to the Personnel Committee. As an attorney with Kendricks Bordeau, P.C., Trish focuses her practice in estate planning, business law, and probate/trust administration. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and in Legal Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a law degree from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Trish is active in the community, including serving on the Economic Club of Marquette County’s board and as a Marquette County Ambassador.

Marcia Gonstead has called the Upper Peninsula home since 1999. In 2006 she settled in Big Bay with her husband Sven Gonstead. Marcia’s passion for volunteer work developed early in life and was accelerated after college when she moved to New York City to work for Project Hospitality serving the homeless. Her more recent volunteer work has been focused in the Big Bay community. Preserving the sense of place and sustainability are the mottos that underlie most of the work that she takes part in. Marcia has held seats on the board of the Yellow Dog Watershed, the NTN and most recently the marketing committee of the Big Bay Stewardship Council. In 2018 the Gonsteads started the Summer Concert series in Big Bay which has since become a function of the Powell Township Parks and Rec committee. She also actively volunteers with the Big Bay Pathway, the Honey Bear Classic, the Big Bay Fall Fest and the Big Bay Community Presbyterian Church.

Lisa Jahnke is retired from Marquette Area Public Schools as a Special Education Teacher and Department Chair for 15 years. She currently works for Northern Michigan University as a Supervisor of Student Teachers. Lisa served on the School Improvement Team at MSHS for MAPS and served on the Board of the Superior Arts Youth Theater and the Grant Henrickson Foundation and Golf Outing. “Having served in various service clubs and having been a grant recipient over the years, I have learned how nonprofit organizations serve an important purpose in the community. When organizations work together, a stronger and healthier community is the result.”

Alex Kofsky brings extensive nonprofit work experience to the Board of Trustees. He is the enterprise facilitator for Accelerate UP and owner of the Steinhaus Restaurant. He has also served as the Vice President of 40 Below Young Professionals, is a member of the Upper Peninsula Collaborative Development Council and a member of the Regional Prosperity Initiative. Alex serves on the Marquette-Alger CTE Committee and volunteers at the UP Children’s Museum. “I am passionate about our community and ready to help in the area where my contribution will be the most valuable.”

I was born and raised in Detroit and like most Northern Michigan University graduates, I stayed up here after I graduated in 1980.  That same year I went in for a haircut at The Lion’s Den by a barber I had heard about, Scott Searle, and we’ve been together ever since.

I’ve had a diverse and exciting professional life!  After a very short stint selling Medicare Supplements (I was unsuccessful securing a job using my Accounting Degree), I went back to NMU and became a cosmetologist.  That was a great field that I thoroughly enjoyed until my retirement in 1997.

My husband and myself have been working side by side in the Food and Beverage business since 1989, having opened four Restaurants/Bar and Grills in Marquette County.  We are currently the proud co-owners of The Up North Lodge in Gwinn.

I have a wonderful family having been blessed with two amazing granddaughters and a fabulous step son (although he is truly a son to me).  My immediate family and in laws are very warm, kind people who have supported me in all of my endeavors.

I have a strong sense of community, having been involved in many organizations throughout the years.  One of my proudest is one of I’ve been a huge part of since 2011, UP Pink Power.  I look forward to this journey as a Trustee on the Community Foundation of Marquette County’s Board.