Meet the Board
MICHELE AUCELLO
Michele Aucello is a landscape photographer who lives in Leelanau County and specializes in night photography. Her connection to the Glen Arbor Arts Center began as a student, where photography classes and workshops helped spark a passion that led to exhibiting work at the Dennos Museum, Oliver Art Center, and the Glen Arbor Arts Center.
Michele previously served on the GAAC Board before joining the staff as Outreach Manager. In that role, she managed communications, social media, and public relations while helping launch several community-focused initiatives, including Light Up Glen Arbor, Mini Masterpieces, a Little Free Art Gallery, and creative activities in The Grove. She also taught art classes for preschool and elementary-aged children.
Today, Michele serves on the Board of Directors, where she supports Curator Circle events and volunteer outreach efforts. She is proud to help advance the Arts Center’s mission of fostering creativity, community engagement, and lifelong learning through the arts.
Jane Becker
Raised on a farm in Indiana, Jane Becker developed an early appreciation for nature, learning, and community. She earned a degree in Economics from the University of Notre Dame and began her career as a financial analyst before transitioning to education, where she taught middle school Humanities for many years.
Jane and her husband, Ron, spent decades visiting Northern Michigan before making Glen Arbor their permanent home in 2015. Since then, she has been actively involved in community service, including work as a CASA volunteer advocating for children in foster care. She also served as Director of Training for Michigan CASA, participated in leadership roles with Interlochen Public Radio, and is a past president of the Glen Arbor Women’s Club.
Jane values the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s role in nurturing creativity and building community. She is honored to serve alongside fellow board members and staff in supporting an organization that enriches the lives of residents and visitors alike.
Kristen Berlacher
Kristen Berlacher brings more than two decades of experience in corporate philanthropy and social impact to the Glen Arbor Arts Center Board. She serves as Director of Community Programs at Airbnb, overseeing the company’s $100 million Community Fund, and was a founding member of Airbnb.org, helping lead efforts that provided free housing to people displaced by crises around the world.
Kristen lives in Glen Arbor with her husband, Keenan May, founder of Northerly Architecture, and their daughter, Aila. Through her family’s deep connections to the local arts community, she has developed a strong appreciation for the role the Arts Center plays in fostering creativity and community engagement.
As a GAAC board member and Curator Circle supporter, Kristen is committed to helping strengthen the Arts Center’s impact and ensuring it continues to serve as a vibrant cultural resource for the Glen Lake community.
Patty Brandt
Patty Brandt joined the Glen Arbor Arts Center Board in 2025 after many years as a supporter, participant, and advocate for the organization. A longtime visitor to Glen Arbor since childhood, she and her husband, Jeff, eventually made the area their permanent home and look forward to retiring here full-time.
Patty is an attorney and serves as Deputy General Counsel for PwC US. Prior to joining PwC, she was a partner at Bryan Cave LLP in St. Louis. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and a Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University, graduating cum laude from both institutions.
Patty, Jeff, and their daughter Katie own Synchronicity Gallery in Glen Arbor, a longtime supporter of the Arts Center. Through her board service, Patty is pleased to support an organization that contributes significantly to the cultural vitality and creative spirit of the community.
Barb Cochran
Barb Cochran has spent summers on Glen Lake since childhood and has long considered Leelanau County her true home. After raising four children in the Chicago area, she and her husband, George, settled permanently in Maple City, where they created a family farm growing cider apples, berries, vegetables, and flowers.
Barb holds a degree in studio art and worked in graphic design for a Chicago television station before focusing on family life. Living in Leelanau County allowed her to return to painting, drawing inspiration from the region’s landscapes and natural beauty.
As a member of the Glen Arbor Arts Center Board, Barb has enjoyed watching the organization grow into a vibrant community resource. She values the Arts Center’s ability to inspire creativity, connect people of all ages, and enrich the cultural life of the Glen Lake community.
Barb Galeana
Barb Galeana was drawn to Leelanau County by its extraordinary natural beauty and the vibrant community of people who call it home. Since becoming involved with the Glen Arbor Arts Center several years ago, she has enjoyed helping bring arts experiences to people of all ages.
Before embracing the quieter pace of life in Glen Arbor, Barb spent nearly 40 years in automotive advertising, working with both Ford and General Motors. Her career included collaborations with Hollywood celebrities, renowned musicians, major sporting events, and PGA golf, including projects involving Tiger Woods.
Today, Barb divides her time between Glen Arbor and Rochester, Michigan, and treasures time spent with her five grandchildren, who love visiting Leelanau. An enthusiastic traveler, she has visited all seven continents. While Antarctica remains her favorite destination for its pristine beauty and sense of peace, the Leelanau Peninsula is a close second—a place she values for its unique blend of natural beauty, creativity, and community.
Georgia Gietzen
Georgia Gietzen has long cherished the beauty and sense of community that define Leelanau County. Originally from Grand Rapids, she developed a deep connection to the area while attending Northwestern Michigan College and later strengthened those ties when she and her husband, Jeff, purchased a home in Glen Arbor. Today, they own and operate Northwoods Hardware, Home & Garden with their daughter, Gillian.
Throughout her career, Georgia has combined business leadership with community involvement. She served as Vice President of Human Resources for her family’s supermarket company and later owned and operated a specialty food market in the Grand Rapids area. She was also a co-founder of the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and has been actively involved in numerous educational and community initiatives.
Georgia served as co-chair of the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s Plein Air Weekend for five years, helping strengthen connections between artists and the community. She values the Arts Center’s ability to bring people together through creativity and cultural experiences.
Jeff Gietzen
Jeff Gietzen and his family made Glen Arbor their permanent home in 2010 after developing a longstanding appreciation for the area through their daughter’s attendance at The Leelanau School. Soon after relocating, Jeff and his wife, Georgia, purchased Northwoods Hardware, Home & Garden, further deepening their investment in the community.
Jeff built a successful career over more than three decades with D&W Food Centers, where he developed expertise in retail operations, customer service, leadership, and community engagement. Those experiences have informed his longstanding commitment to nonprofit service and community development.
Jeff became involved with the Glen Arbor Arts Center during the organization’s expansion of its gallery facilities. Over the years, he has served as Treasurer, Vice President, and Board President, including two terms as president. He currently serves as campaign co-chair and chairs the Facilities and Grounds Committee. Jeff believes the Arts Center plays a vital role in strengthening both the cultural and economic vitality of the Glen Lake community.
Carol Hohle
Carol Hohle first discovered the Glen Arbor Arts Center in 2018 while attending a theatrical performance and was immediately drawn to its creative spirit and welcoming sense of community. After moving to Glen Arbor full-time, she became an active volunteer, helped develop the Arts Center’s website, joined the Board of Directors, and currently serves as Board President.
Carol holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Textiles from Boston University and spent many years in the publishing industry, working in design, production, marketing, sales, and executive management. She later earned a master’s degree in Psychology and Religion, focusing on the relationship between creativity, spirituality, and human well-being.
Today, Carol teaches courses, workshops, and retreats that explore creativity as a pathway to personal growth and balance. Through her leadership and board service, she is committed to helping guide the Arts Center’s continued growth while ensuring it remains a welcoming place for creativity, learning, and community connection.
Karen Van Nort
Karen Van Nort has been connected to the Glen Arbor area since childhood, when family vacations at The Homestead led to summers spent at Camp Kohahna on Port Oneida. Those early experiences fostered a lifelong love of Leelanau County and a dream of one day making it home. In 2009, she and her husband, Peter, fulfilled that dream by moving to Glen Arbor full-time.
An art enthusiast with a degree in art history, Karen spent much of her professional career as an interior designer. She has long valued the role the arts play in enriching both individuals and communities.
Karen joined the Glen Arbor Arts Center Board in 2010 and served for six years before continuing her involvement as a volunteer. She returned to the Board in 2023 and is now serving her second term. She is honored to support an organization that provides meaningful opportunities for artistic expression, learning, and community engagement throughout the Glen Lake region.
David Westerfield
David Westerfield is a Michigan artist whose lifelong passion for drawing and painting has shaped both his professional career and artistic practice. He studied art at Wayne State University, North Park University, the American Academy of Art in Chicago, and the Sedona Arts Center, developing a strong foundation in both studio and plein air painting.
For more than thirty-five years, David worked as a graphic designer and illustrator, creating artwork for editorial and corporate publications nationwide. His illustration credits include The Saturday Evening Post and numerous other publications, as well as a series of instructional drawing books for children.
In recent years, David has devoted himself primarily to fine art, painting both in the studio and on location throughout Michigan and beyond. He is co-owner of Arbor Gallery in Glen Arbor. As a member of the Glen Arbor Arts Center Board, he values the organization’s commitment to supporting artists, inspiring creativity, and strengthening the cultural life of the community through exhibitions, education, and artistic experiences.