Director Candidates for Election
Please review the candidate biographies below. Voting will take place at the annual meeting.
Emily Ahlquist
Hello all. My name is Emily Ahlquist and my family and I have been coming up to Beaver Island for many years. We love it so much we bought a house on Indian Woods road in 2018. My husband Marc and I have 2 young adult sons, Danny and Evan and we reside in Troy Michigan for the majority of the year. I am a former Spanish teacher and currently subbing during the school year. Marc is a VP of Human Resources. I am thrilled to join the board for St. James Township and be a small part of this wonderful community.
Tina Carlton
I came to Beaver Island for the first time in 2010. I was in love the minute I stepped off the boat. I bought property in 2012 and got my house built by 2021. I moved here from Chicago in 2022 and never looked back. I love this island and its sense of community and consider it a responsibility to get involved and contribute to its well-being. I enjoy volunteering and helping out when I can. Being on the PSJA board would be another great way to do that.
Kailonnie Dunsmore
KaiLonnie Dunsmore has been part of the Port St. James community for the past 16 years. After spending two summers renting in PSJA, she and her family purchased a home and lived on Beaver Island year-round for seven years. During that time, she owned a rental cottage in PSJA, her son attended preschool on the island, she worked remotely as a senior researcher with the University of Chicago, and later taught at Beaver Island Community School. Those experiences gave her firsthand insight into both the rewards and the practical challenges of island living, including transportation, connectivity, and balancing the needs of year-round and seasonal residents. For the past four years, she has returned to PSJA during summers and holidays while her son completed high school in Traverse City. With her son now away at college, she has recently returned to Beaver Island full-time. KaiLonnie holds a doctorate in literacy and currently works with a consortium of Michigan ISDs to support elementary literacy improvement, allowing her to continue working remotely from the island while traveling periodically to schools across the state. She enjoys kayaking, hiking, swimming, and spending time in PSJA's shared spaces, and is committed to helping the association thoughtfully address future opportunities and challenges while preserving the character, natural beauty, and strong sense of community that make Port St. James such a special place.
Becca Foli
I am a Michigan girl. Born and raised in Kalamazoo. Graduate of Michigan State University. I moved to Champaign Illinois after graduating to begin my career in Therapeutic Recreation. While in Illinois, I met my husband Bryan, and we raised our family. 9 years ago, we vacationed to Beaver Island for the first time. We bought a cottage imagining ourselves coming here every summer. 5 years ago, we became year-round residents as we moved here permanently. Bryan teaches high school science and I manage our island vacation rentals and serve on the brew crew at Whiskey Point Brewing co. I would love to serve as a PSJA board member. Thank you for your consideration.
Dave Keibort
My name is Dave Kibort. I first came to Beaver Island on a sailboat from Chicago in 1983. My wife Anna and I have been married 41 years and have 3 children who live in Wisconsin, Florida and California. We are also blessed with 7 soon to be 8 grandkids. We’ve been returning to the Island almost every year the past 35 years and love the natural beauty, relative solitude and people! Our beach home is Allenmore. My wife and I enjoyed planting in our native gardens doing prairie burns as needed. We avoid pesticides, herbicides etc. Anna loves cooking and makes sour dough bread regularly! I was involved in different sports playing coaching and now spectator. We respect our dunes and efforts to protect, enhance and believe PSJA and the Board do an excellent job and we all benefit from the amenities as well as the many locals and visitors to our world class beautiful beach.
Ian Rittof
I am a husband, father to a four-year-old daughter, engineering manager, former chef, and supporter of Beaver Island since 2021. Professionally, I have spent nearly two decades leading engineering, manufacturing, quality, and continuous improvement initiatives across a variety of industries. My experience includes project management, facilities management, regulatory compliance, environmental stewardship, capital planning, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects. I have also served as an educator, teaching 3D modeling and CAD at the college level. Prior to my engineering career, I worked as a chef at restaurants, hotels, country clubs, and off-site catering operations before becoming the executive chef and owner of my own catering company. My background in foodservice has given me a passion for bringing people together through cooking and event planning. Most recently, I coordinated food service for the Beaver Island Historical Society's Kids Camp, providing meals for campers, volunteers, and staff throughout the week. My family and I have owned property on Beaver Island for several years and are actively working toward making the island our permanent home. My wife and I first visited the island in 2021 and immediately felt drawn to its natural beauty, close-knit community, and unique character. We have been humbled by how welcoming everyone has been. Since then, my wife has joined the Beaver Island Historical Society as Assistant to the Editor of the Northern Islander and Event Coordinator. I joined the Beaver Island Elks Lodge, and together we have been actively renovating our home on Tamarack Trail while building lasting friendships with our island neighbors. I believe strongly in preserving the island's character and fragile environment while supporting thoughtful growth, community engagement, and opportunities for future generations. I am honored to be considered for the Port St. James Association Board and look forward to contributing my experience in leadership, project management, strategic planning, and collaborative problem-solving in service to the property owners while upholding the integrity of the Association's bylaws. I hope to help ensure the Association continues to serve residents and visitors while balancing the long-term needs of the island, its environment, and its economy.