2024 Board of Directors
The Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors is the principal governing and policymaking body of the organization. The board's membership represents a variety of business sectors throughout the Charlevoix area.
The Board of Directors meet monthly, on the second Thursday, with the exception of July & August. The Executive Committee, consisting of the Chair, Past Chair, Vice Chair, and Treasurer, may act on behalf of the Board in the interim between meetings.
Members may attend Board meetings as guests upon request and with granted approval; intent to attend must be given to the Chamber President with at least one weeks' notice.
Ryan Deery, PAST CHAIR - Charlevoix Public Library
Ryan Deery is the Director of the Charlevoix Public Library, and joined the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2021.
Ryan is a native of northern Michigan, growing up in Petoskey and graduating from Petoskey High School (with his high-school sweetheart, now wife). Before relocating back to the area, Ryan utilized his Masters in English and Masters in Library Science to serve as the youth librarian at Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montepelier, VT, Director of the Suttons Bay Bingham District Library in Suttons Bay, MI, and Allegan District Library in Allegan, MI.
Ryan lives in Petoskey with his wife and two children.
Brett Binkley, CHAIR - North Prime Real Estate
Brett Binkley, owner at North Prime Real Estate, joined the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2022.
Brett moved to northern Michigan in 1993 and started North Prime Real Estate and North Prime Rentals in December 2020. He graduated from Miami University, has been a licensed realtor since 2006, and earned his Broker's License in 2016. Apart from Real Estate, his career experience includes business ownership, marketing for a non-profit trade association, and insurance sales.
Brett has served on the Charlevoix County Housing Committee, coached Youth Baseball and Football and served on the Little League Board, served on church council, and served the Antrim-Charlevoix-Kalkaska Board of Realtors by being Forms Committee Chair, Director, Sec/Treasurer, Vice President, and President over his years in local real estate.
Seth Arnold, VICE CHAIR - Michigan Scientific Corporation
Seth Arnold is a Senior Machinist at Michigan Scientific Corporation, and joined the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2023.
Seth was born in Lansing, Michigan, and moved with his family to Charlevoix at the age of 3. He is a graduate of Charlevoix High School, and attended college at both Northwestern Michigan College and North Central Michigan College. He has been with Michigan Scientific Corporation for 29 years. He has recently completed his term as president of the Charlevoix Children’s House Montessori School Board of Directors.
Corey Bascom, TREASURER - Kammermann & Bascom, P.C.
Corey Bascom, principal at Kammermann & Bascom, P.C., joined the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2021.
Corey was born and raised in Charlevoix, graduating from Charlevoix High School and earning a Bachelor's Degree and then MBA from Grand Valley State University. He is a Certified Public Accountant, and has worked for Kammermann & Bascom (previously Mason & Kammermann) for 17 years.
Corey is a graduate of Leadership Charlevoix County, and has served as the former treasurer of Leadership Charlevoix County and the Rayder Enrichment Foundation. In addition to serving the Chamber, he serves as the current treasurer and member of Rotary Club of Charlevoix, and board member of the Community Food Pantry.
Abbie Hart, DIRECTOR - 4Front Credit Union
Abbie Hart is the Regional Branch Manager for 4Front Credit Union, and joined the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2022.
Abbie is native to the area, growing up on Beaver Island and moving over to Charlevoix in 2007. She worked as the Athletic Trainer for Charlevoix High School (Go Rayders!) before joining the team at 4Front Credit Union. Starting as a member services representative, then lender, then branch manager, she now oversees 8 of the 15 4Front locations.
Abbie also serves on the Rotary Club of Charlevoix Board, the Charlevoix Township Planning Commission, and the 4Front Foundation Committee; she recently completed over 6 years on the board of Leadership Charlevoix County.
Cody Crain, DIRECTOR - Charlevoix Insurance Agency
Cody Crain is an insurance agent at Charlevoix Insurance Agency, and joined the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2022.
Cody was born and raised in Charlevoix, now living here with his wife and son. He became a licensed insurance agent and began working at Charlevoix Insurance Agency in 2012. Cody also is a member of the Charlevoix Lions Club and is the assistant coach for the Charlevoix Boys Varsity Basketball team.
Matthew Kavanaugh, DIRECTOR - Huntington National Bank
Matthew Kavanaugh is the Brand Manager at Huntington National Bank of Charlevoix, bringing to the role over 20 years of banking experience, and joined the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2022.
Jeff Anderson, DIRECTOR - Chicago Summer Resort Co.
Bio coming soon!
Kent Knorr, DIRECTOR - City of Charlevoix Recreation Department
Bio coming soon!
Amber Parsons, DIRECTOR - Harwood Gold
Amber Parsons is the owner of Harwood Gold and a Charlevoix Native, and joined the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2024. Amber also served a one-year appointed term with the Board in 2019.
After graduating high school, she studied business and marketing at Grand Valley State University. Post college, she took the time to travel the US and internationally, living in places such as American Samoa and Australia. Her favorite role before moving back to Charlevoix in 2014 was working for a non-profit organization helping women start their own small businesses. Amber is the 5th generation to take over her family farm with her sisters. She started a specialty food manufacturing facility in 2014 and in 2016, opened Harwood Gold in the heart of downtown Charlevoix with the mission to offer the community great specialty food products rooted in her family's history of making maple syrup
APPOINTED DIRECTORS - SERVING 1 YEAR
Tim McQueer - Beaver Island Boat Company
Mike Simpson - Walstrom Marine