Seminar Stage Headliners

Cara Middleton, owner of Freshwater Vacation Rentals, will speak to both guests and owners about the ever-changing vacation rental industry. For owners, Cara will reveal how to maximize your second home investment. She will explain how to do it yourself, when to ask for help, short-term rental strategies and common pitfalls of the industry. With eighteen years of experience, you will be able to apply her insights to your 2^nd home. In addition, Cara will give guests suggestions on how to pick your ideal vacation rental, what to look for, and how to avoid extra fees. With tips from her own personal practices, realistic examples, and the occasional funny story, you will be sure to enjoy exploring the short-term rental industry.

Offering renovation management, fixer upper consulting, full-service interior design, and designer furniture shopping- Alcove Interiors + Furnishings ensures clients have the best experience throughout the home design process. Their team can help you create the perfect look for your space, whether you’re looking for a complete overhaul or just a few accent pieces. Alcove Interiors is also the headquarters for Alyssa Designs & Co. that offers complete interior design services in Greater Grand Rapids area.

The team at Alcove takes pride in their creative, personalized, and all-inclusive approach to home improvement and design- hosted in a welcoming and stress-free setting. They can’t wait for you to visit the studio and see for yourself how their design team can make your project a success. Head to the website to learn more or please book your private shopping experience with Alyssa and Mark to learn which level of design service is the best fit for you!

Alcove Interiors + Furnishings

hello@alcovedesigns.co

www.alcovedesigns.co

Rich Kogelschatz, owner of Heartland Builders; which is an on-your-lot custom builder and specializes in building on lakes and tear downs, will share some of the lessons he has learned over 25 years of building cottages and homes. Our journey began by building spec homes; however, once we built our first custom home the rest was history. Today we are proud of how we evolved – but we are especially proud that our mission has remained the same: to inspire our clients and ensure that building your dream home is one of the most incredible experiences of your life.  Rich was the Past President of the Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids in 2009 and 2010, and the Past President of the Home Builders Association of Michigan in 2014.  In his spare time, he sits on the Executive Board of Dwelling Place, a non-profit housing developer in Grand Rapids.

Pete Bower is the founder of Bowery Boatworks, which makes wood-composite boats in Ada, Michigan. Pete began building wooden boats more than 25 years ago. His passion to find the perfect paddling experience became the catalyst for Bowery Boatworks. Despite their good looks, these working boats are built to paddle and made to last. Pete has always believed that wood makes a better boat, and when combined with modern materials, it creates canoe nirvana. As a paddling enthusiast and boat geek, Pete will share why the simplicity and elegance of canoeing is as relevant today as it was 7,000 years ago, when the first canoes dipped into the water.

Since 2006, Angie has been presenting energetic, vibrant, and upbeat programs, seminars, workshops, and classes surrounding Michigan’s growing culture of far-to-table culinary experiences, local agriculture, grain distillation, wildcrafted elixirs, as well as herbalism and foraging.

Angie is a passionate professional speaker with 25+ years of experience in the food and beverage industry.  She is a freelance culinary mixologist, brand consultant, and educator.  She has designed and executed award-winning beverage programs throughout the Midwest’s top bars and restaurants, numerous craft distilleries, national distributors, as well as global brands.

Angie’s great-grandfather, Waldo, founded Michigan Radio and loved the cottage life.  He purchase their family cottage in 1922 on Omena Point in Omena, Michigan and the cottage is still in the family.  Thanks to Waldo, Angie’s family still enjoys summers at The Abbey Cottage with all generations to this day.

Janet Schrader is the founder of Sand Pirates: Sand Sculpting, Photography, & Beach Art, started in 2006.  She spends her summers on the beaches of Michigan, teaching, sculpting, and enjoying all that the lakeshore has to offer.  After successfully fighting a severe battle with cancer, Janet found comfort walking the shoreline of Lake Mi. Looking for answers among the beach treasure (beach glass, rocks, fossils, & driftwood) Schrader found more than what she was looking for. What she found was a new way of life, a new philosophy, and a new career.

Come to the show and see in person, how living by the lake has changed her life.