Board of Directors
Anne Linja, President
Anne is currently in the PhD program for Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors at Michigan Tech University. She has an associate degree in Network Administration and a B.A in Music Education with a concentration in piano and flute from DePaul University. After a career as a performing artist, Anne spent over 15 years woking in the IT sector. She has taken part in more than 50 musicals, either playing in the pit, as a rehearsal pianist, or as musical director. Today she performs 4-5 concerts a year accompanying Courtney Clisch Jones. Anne is an active volunteer in the community, having volunteered for the Copper Country Humane Society and the Copper Dog 150, playing organ at her church, and having served on the board of The Calumet Theatre.
Heather McIntosh, Ph.D., Vice President/Secretary
Heather is an Associate Professor at Minnesota State University in the Department of Mass Media. She has had appointments at Boston College and Northern Illinois University. She holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communications from Pennsylvania State University, a Master's Degree in Communication Studies from Northern Illinois University, and a Bachelor's Degree in English with a Minor in Journalism from Northern Illinois University. Her previous teaching experience includes a broad range of courses in media studies, including social media, television, film, and gender. She is co-editor of Documenting Gendered Violence: Representations, Collaborations, and Movements (Bloomsbury, 2015). Heather joined the board in 2019.
Heather is an Associate Professor at Minnesota State University in the Department of Mass Media. She has had appointments at Boston College and Northern Illinois University. She holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communications from Pennsylvania State University, a Master's Degree in Communication Studies from Northern Illinois University, and a Bachelor's Degree in English with a Minor in Journalism from Northern Illinois University. Her previous teaching experience includes a broad range of courses in media studies, including social media, television, film, and gender. She is co-editor of Documenting Gendered Violence: Representations, Collaborations, and Movements (Bloomsbury, 2015). Heather joined the board in 2019.
David Geisler, Treasurer (terms expires 2023)
After living in Chicago for 40 years, Dave retired in 2011 and moved to Calumet where he has become active in a variety of civic and not-for-profit organizations. In addition to serving as Secretary/Treasurer for Main Street Calumet, Dave is also the Calumet Village President. He also serves on the board of Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly as their Treasurer and on the boards of the Pine Mountain Music Festival and the Norwegian Lutheran Church Historical Society. In 2017, Dave was appointed as a member of the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission. He is an active volunteer at the St. Paul the Apostle Church. In his spare time, Dave enjoys gardening, reading and his four cats.
After living in Chicago for 40 years, Dave retired in 2011 and moved to Calumet where he has become active in a variety of civic and not-for-profit organizations. In addition to serving as Secretary/Treasurer for Main Street Calumet, Dave is also the Calumet Village President. He also serves on the board of Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly as their Treasurer and on the boards of the Pine Mountain Music Festival and the Norwegian Lutheran Church Historical Society. In 2017, Dave was appointed as a member of the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission. He is an active volunteer at the St. Paul the Apostle Church. In his spare time, Dave enjoys gardening, reading and his four cats.
Jerry Younce, Director
Jerry, a professional guitarist, has performed Jazz, Rock, Top 40, and Country music in show bands and various musical groups during his 30+ year career as a musician. Born and raised in Detroit, he started his professional career performing in Jazz bands around the Motor City. He currently performs with his son in Younce Guitar Duo, an acoustic improvisational collaboration inspired by Jazz, Fusion, and World music.
Jerry brings his management and business experience to the board. From 1992-2007, he owned AHA Home Systems which specialized in home automation, commercial automation, home theater systems and commercial sound systems installed in schools, hotels, stores. He also owned and managed a Radio Shack franchise and home appliance and repair store for nearly two decades. In 2008 he sold his franchise to pursue music full-time.
Jerry, a professional guitarist, has performed Jazz, Rock, Top 40, and Country music in show bands and various musical groups during his 30+ year career as a musician. Born and raised in Detroit, he started his professional career performing in Jazz bands around the Motor City. He currently performs with his son in Younce Guitar Duo, an acoustic improvisational collaboration inspired by Jazz, Fusion, and World music.
Jerry brings his management and business experience to the board. From 1992-2007, he owned AHA Home Systems which specialized in home automation, commercial automation, home theater systems and commercial sound systems installed in schools, hotels, stores. He also owned and managed a Radio Shack franchise and home appliance and repair store for nearly two decades. In 2008 he sold his franchise to pursue music full-time.
Jean Bolley, Director (term expires 2023)
Jean has a Masters in Education in Storytelling from East Tennessee State University and thirty years of experience with schools, libraries, community groups, and festivals. She has served on various nonprofit boards including the Northlands Storytelling Network, local YWCA, Lansing Reading is Fundamental, Lansing Storytellers, and Friends of the Lansing Libraries. She recently retired from 40+ years with the public library system in Lansing working in adult, teen, and children’s services. The last 23 years was spent as the head of a small branch.
Jean has a Masters in Education in Storytelling from East Tennessee State University and thirty years of experience with schools, libraries, community groups, and festivals. She has served on various nonprofit boards including the Northlands Storytelling Network, local YWCA, Lansing Reading is Fundamental, Lansing Storytellers, and Friends of the Lansing Libraries. She recently retired from 40+ years with the public library system in Lansing working in adult, teen, and children’s services. The last 23 years was spent as the head of a small branch.
Mark Spreitzer, Director (term expires 2024)
Mark Spreitzer has had a illustrious 28 year career as a music educator and theatre professional.
He received his B.A. in music and vocal performance from McGill University and an advanced degree from Wayne State University in Opera Theatre.
Mark taught music in several school districts within the Detroit Metropolitan area as well as serving as a minister of music and choirmaster for numerous churches in the region. He was involved in many amateur and professional choral groups and theatre companies. Activities included choral and theatrical performances as well as executing set designs and decorations, costuming, millinery, hair & wigs, makeup design, jewelry, and public relation displays.
He has acted in numerous theatrical performances including roles in"Evita", "A Little Night Music", "Hello Dolly", "La Cage Aux Folles", "Oklahoma" and "Mary Poppins".
A Calumet native, Mark has always had a keen appreciation for the Copper Country and its marvelous history. Upon his retirement, he and his wife returned to his hometown, settling into a historic residence. Since his return, Mark has been and active community volunteer. He has been involved in children's theatre productions, puppet plays and re-enactment of historical figures for the Keweenaw Historical Society's summer programs. He also shares his musical talent at local nursing homes, performing on the piano and singing for residents. He is a current member of Michigan Tech's Concert Choir, Copper Country Chorale, and the Maple Sugar Folks.
In addition to the Real People Media board, Mark serves on the board of the Calumet Players, heading the props committee.
Mark Spreitzer has had a illustrious 28 year career as a music educator and theatre professional.
He received his B.A. in music and vocal performance from McGill University and an advanced degree from Wayne State University in Opera Theatre.
Mark taught music in several school districts within the Detroit Metropolitan area as well as serving as a minister of music and choirmaster for numerous churches in the region. He was involved in many amateur and professional choral groups and theatre companies. Activities included choral and theatrical performances as well as executing set designs and decorations, costuming, millinery, hair & wigs, makeup design, jewelry, and public relation displays.
He has acted in numerous theatrical performances including roles in"Evita", "A Little Night Music", "Hello Dolly", "La Cage Aux Folles", "Oklahoma" and "Mary Poppins".
A Calumet native, Mark has always had a keen appreciation for the Copper Country and its marvelous history. Upon his retirement, he and his wife returned to his hometown, settling into a historic residence. Since his return, Mark has been and active community volunteer. He has been involved in children's theatre productions, puppet plays and re-enactment of historical figures for the Keweenaw Historical Society's summer programs. He also shares his musical talent at local nursing homes, performing on the piano and singing for residents. He is a current member of Michigan Tech's Concert Choir, Copper Country Chorale, and the Maple Sugar Folks.
In addition to the Real People Media board, Mark serves on the board of the Calumet Players, heading the props committee.
Claudia Youakim, PhD, Advisory Board
Claudia is a research associate at the Center for Business Leadership for women (CiBL.W) in the Olayan School of Business at the American University of Beirut. Claudia earned her doctorate in sociology from the University of Florida, where she focused on race and ethnic relations on a global scale with a concentration on women and gender studies. Her dissertation examined the lives of millennial children of Arab immigrants who grew up in the U.S. after September 11th. This work highlights the impact that the tragedy had on Arab American citizens and their identity development. Claudia’s research has also focused on the (mis)representation of Arab and Muslim persons in the news, over time. Currently, she is co-editing an interdisciplinary book on the Arab diaspora which features the diversity of the region. Previous to joining AUB, she worked as an assistant professor of sociology and served as chair of institutional research at Finlandia University.
Claudia is a research associate at the Center for Business Leadership for women (CiBL.W) in the Olayan School of Business at the American University of Beirut. Claudia earned her doctorate in sociology from the University of Florida, where she focused on race and ethnic relations on a global scale with a concentration on women and gender studies. Her dissertation examined the lives of millennial children of Arab immigrants who grew up in the U.S. after September 11th. This work highlights the impact that the tragedy had on Arab American citizens and their identity development. Claudia’s research has also focused on the (mis)representation of Arab and Muslim persons in the news, over time. Currently, she is co-editing an interdisciplinary book on the Arab diaspora which features the diversity of the region. Previous to joining AUB, she worked as an assistant professor of sociology and served as chair of institutional research at Finlandia University.
Founder/Executive Director
Rebecca Glotfelty
In 2006 Rebecca co-founded Real People Media with fellow storytellers Jeff Morgan and Mary Pierce. Upon receiving its 501(c)3 nonprofit designation in 2010, Rebecca was appointed the organization's Executive Director. The organization provided workshops and classes in video production and storytelling to numerous organizations in northwest Michigan.
Under Rebecca's visionary leadership, RPM established the 16,000 square foot Keweenaw Storytelling Center in historic Calumet, Michigan. The Center serves the people of the Keweenaw Peninsula and is a destination for visitors.
Always a community leader, Glotfelty has worked and volunteered within the nonprofit sector for the past 25 years, helping to initiate many community and art related initiatives including an art co-operative, the Calhoun County Fair Museum, Marshall Community Art Fair, and the Marshall Film Festival and the Charlevoix Circle of Arts. She has served on several nonprofit boards and committees including Marshall Friends of the Arts and Jordan River Arts Council. She spearheaded the movement to established the Charlevoix Circle of Arts in Charlevoix, Michigan, serving as its founding president and several years later as its Executive Director.
Rebecca has a degree in Broadcast Communications /Video Production and a B.A. In Social Science-International Relations from James Madison College at Michigan State University. She has earned graduate credits in Sociology from the American University in Cairo and in Film and Digital-Media from Main Media College in Rockport, Maine.
Her cultural documentaries have been shown and utilized by educators, universities and organizations across the world. For six years she was under contract with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians located in Harbor Springs, MI to produce the tribe's documentary programming. The program, Four Directions and the Waganakising Odawa has been broadcast on all Michigan PBS affiliate stations and offered as a satellite feed to national markets.
In 2006 Rebecca co-founded Real People Media with fellow storytellers Jeff Morgan and Mary Pierce. Upon receiving its 501(c)3 nonprofit designation in 2010, Rebecca was appointed the organization's Executive Director. The organization provided workshops and classes in video production and storytelling to numerous organizations in northwest Michigan.
Under Rebecca's visionary leadership, RPM established the 16,000 square foot Keweenaw Storytelling Center in historic Calumet, Michigan. The Center serves the people of the Keweenaw Peninsula and is a destination for visitors.
Always a community leader, Glotfelty has worked and volunteered within the nonprofit sector for the past 25 years, helping to initiate many community and art related initiatives including an art co-operative, the Calhoun County Fair Museum, Marshall Community Art Fair, and the Marshall Film Festival and the Charlevoix Circle of Arts. She has served on several nonprofit boards and committees including Marshall Friends of the Arts and Jordan River Arts Council. She spearheaded the movement to established the Charlevoix Circle of Arts in Charlevoix, Michigan, serving as its founding president and several years later as its Executive Director.
Rebecca has a degree in Broadcast Communications /Video Production and a B.A. In Social Science-International Relations from James Madison College at Michigan State University. She has earned graduate credits in Sociology from the American University in Cairo and in Film and Digital-Media from Main Media College in Rockport, Maine.
Her cultural documentaries have been shown and utilized by educators, universities and organizations across the world. For six years she was under contract with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians located in Harbor Springs, MI to produce the tribe's documentary programming. The program, Four Directions and the Waganakising Odawa has been broadcast on all Michigan PBS affiliate stations and offered as a satellite feed to national markets.
Laura Miller, Book keeper
Laura has a Business Administration degree with an emphasis in accounting. For the past four decades, Miller has worked in management positions. In 2004 she became the Calumet Theatre’s Operations Manager and was named the Executive Director in May 2009, during a severe deficit fiscal year. Skilled in organizing workflow, ideas, materials, and training people, she developed new staff procedures, found additional funding sources, enhanced Theatre membership and volunteer programs, tightened the budget, and began increased marketing. Throughout her tenure and through her retirement in November 2018 the Theatre has not had a deficit year. Laura joined the Real People Media board in 2019.
Laura has a Business Administration degree with an emphasis in accounting. For the past four decades, Miller has worked in management positions. In 2004 she became the Calumet Theatre’s Operations Manager and was named the Executive Director in May 2009, during a severe deficit fiscal year. Skilled in organizing workflow, ideas, materials, and training people, she developed new staff procedures, found additional funding sources, enhanced Theatre membership and volunteer programs, tightened the budget, and began increased marketing. Throughout her tenure and through her retirement in November 2018 the Theatre has not had a deficit year. Laura joined the Real People Media board in 2019.
