Chamber Board of Directors
Barb Hawkins -- President
Tamaracks Golf Course
Barb Hawkins and her husband Steve moved to Harrison from Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1978. Barb and her husband Steve have one son Zac. They, with Steve’s brothers built, own and operate the Tamaracks Golf Course. She graduated from Mid Michigan Community College with her associates. Barb is very active in the Chamber and has helped with several events for many years. She is the originator of the Murder Mystery Dinner, which she still chairs as well as chairing the Chamber Swing in June and a new event a Barn Dance in September. She has been employed with Michigan Works! Region 7B Employment and Training for 16 years in the planning department. She enjoys reading, golf and spending time with her family and friends.
Kimberly Wood -- Treasurer
Surrey House/Mann Construction
Kim Wood has been active in the Harrison Chamber of Commerce for many years. Kim a life long resident of Harrison, her husband Brook and 3 children are very active in community affairs. Kim brings many years of experience, having worked for Mid Michigan Community College for 15 years, managed Grand Rental Station for 3 years and currently is Controller at Mann Construction, all of Harrison.
Chuck Chapman -- Director
(Lifetime Member)
[No biography available]
Connie Blatt -- Director
Chemical Bank
I have lived in the Harrison area since 1965. I have an identical twin sister, Cathy that is also employed with Chemical Bank. We both graduated from Harrison High School. I have 27 years experience in the banking industry. I started my career as a bank teller and through various promotions; is currently the Branch Manager at the Downtown Harrison Branch.
My husband Roger and I raised one daughter, Jessica here in our wonderful community. We now have two beautiful granddaughters, Maddison and Aubrey that we enjoy spending time with.
I have volunteered to help with Chamber events such as the street fair, Cash Bash and have also served as a small business division leader for the Harrison area of United Way.
I enjoy gardening, camping and spending time with family and friends.
Junjoy Vielhaber -- Director
Michigan Works! Region 7B
Junjoy Vielhaber, Business Solutions Consultant for Michigan Works! Region 7B, has 10 years of experience in workforce development, and has been certified through Michigan State University as a Business Solutions Professional. She also has several national workforce professional certifications. Junjoy’s expertise is in consulting with companies to provide human resource assistance, determine training needs, and providing customized solutions to meet employers' needs.
Kerry Teall -- Director
H & R Block
Kerry Teall graduated from Clare High School in 2006; after graduation she attended Mid Michigan Community College and took business management classes. She then became a C.S.C. (client service coordinator) for the H & R Block office in Clare for two years. She was offered an opportunity to take the H & R Block class and become a tax professional; after providing excellent tax service to her clients she accepted the position of office manager in the Harrison office, where she also teaches basic and advance tax courses to tax professionals with the Clare Area Manager, Lisa Card. She wanted to get more involved with the community of Harrison and became an active member in Chamber of Commence.
In January, Kerry was voted on to sit on the board of directors, and is now assisting with the Frost Bite Winter Fest. She enjoys attending all the events that are a part of the Harrison community, and promotes the events from the H & R Block office.
Kerry also works at a family-owned bakery, J&T Baking and Confectioneries, since 1994, where she has been able to develop business management skills from her parents Jim and Tammy Teall. Additionally, she owns Possibilities, LLC an online business operated from her home in Clare for two years.
Michelle Grant -- Director
Harrison Ez Mart
Michelle Grant came to Harrison as the manager of the Harrison Ez Mart, a Blarney Castle family--owned store in February 2007. She resides in Clare with her husband Brian and their three sons Mark, Camaron, and Garrett.
Michelle wanted to become more involved in the Harrison Community, so she became an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. Her staff, family, and self are very active in the Frost Bite Winter Festival and have also volunteered at and enjoyed attending many other Chamber events.
Debra Niemi -- Director
Country Flowers
Debra Niemi is a lifetime resident of Harrison, MI. This is Deb's first year as a Chamber Board member. She is the General Manager of Country Flowers, which she has helped run for its entire 22-year existence. Deb also serves on the Harrison Women of the Moose Board. She has three daughters and one granddaughter.
Deb enjoys vacationing in the U.P. and spending time with her family in her spare time.
Tracey Beadle -- Director
City of Harrison - Clerk
Tracey was born and raised in Harrison; she raised her 2 children Erica Yost and Corey Elya here. She and Pat Connelly now enjoy 2 grandsons that live in Harrison as well. She graduated from Harrison High School, Mid Michigan Community College and Central Michigan University where she received a B.S.B.A. in Business Administration majoring in accounting. Tracey is the new City Clerk for the City of Harrison, before that she was the City Treasurer for 5 ½ years. She is a member of the Clare County Brownfield Authority, Harrison Downtown Development Authority, Harrison Building Authority and HAEDCO. Before working at City Hall Tracey was employed for 4 ½ years as the assistant controller for Waste Management’s Northern Oaks Landfill and Hauling Company in Harrison. Before receiving her degree she worked 24 years in the family business, Northland IGA. She is also involved in many community activities such as Cubs Scouts, Little League, Relay for Life, United Way, Junior Achievement, the chamber’s “Murder Mystery” and Street Fair.
Debbie Gadberry (Past President) -- Director
Glamorie' Hair, Nails, and Tanning Salon & Fantastique' Bridal
Deb Gadberry, has been involved with the Harrison Chamber of Commerce since 2000 in a volunteer capacity for the HAEDCO Dinner and the FROSTBITE OPEN Golf Outing.
Formerly of Clarkston, MI. in Oakland County, Deb and her husband Frank purchased their home in Harrison in 1994. After opting for an early retirement from her job at Ameritech as Customer Service Manager, they decided to move to Harrison in 2000 making this their permanent residence. Deb and Frank have one son, Brandon who graduated college from Oakland University with a degree in Sociology and currently resides in Pennsylvania working as a Social Worker. They have two Dobermans, Angel and Apollo and one “Grand Pup” named Rip.
Deb was Chamber President for six consecutive terms and is a very dedicated and passionate individual. She has been past chairperson for the Frostbite Open Golf Outing for the last eight years and volunteers her time at almost every event the Chamber sponsors in addition to helping out behind the scenes at any given time.
In addition to her 20+ years experience in customer service and claims negotiation, Deb is the owner of Glamorie’ Hair, Nail, & Tanning Salon, llc. which is located in downtown Harrison to serve the needs of our community.
She has served as President of the Leota Business Association for the past four years, and previously served two terms as Vice President . Deb has also been a board member of the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund Committee for the past three years. Deb enjoys working with people and takes great pride in our community.