Staff
staff
CTAC - PETOSKEY
- Grace Darden - Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
CTAC Petoskey
Grace joined Crooked Tree Arts Center as an Administrative Assistant in April of 2025. She has over a decade of experience in the arts, working in administrative and teaching roles. Grace earned her BA in Psychology with a minor in Art History from the University of Colorado and her MFA in Painting and Art History from the American College of the
Mediterranean and Leo Marchutz School of Fine Art in Aix-en-Provence, France. Outside of Crooked Tree, Grace is an artist and instructor specializing in mixed media painting and drawing. - Helen Habicht - Membership & Volunteer Coordinator
Membership and Volunteer Coordinator
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
CTAC Petoskey
Helen joined Crooked Tree Arts Center as Membership and Volunteer Coordinator in June 2025. She received a BA from Albion College and holds both Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Geosciences from University of Massachusetts Amherst. Helen's career has been spent in scientific research and administration. She is delighted to pivot into the arts and non-profit organization with Crooked Tree Arts Center.
- Michelle Horn - Development & Events Manager
Development & Events Manager
CTAC Petoskey
Michelle Horn joined the CTAC - Petoskey team as the Events Manager in 2023 and was promoted to Development and Events Manager in May 2024. She brings over 15 years of event experience from a variety of non-profit settings. She works with CTAC's talented staff and volunteers to plan, organize, implement, and promote events designed to raise funds, grow membership, and promote community awareness. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University in Therapeutic Recreation. After spending 4 years in Memphis, Tennessee she is excited to return to Michigan and call Petoskey home. Along with her husband, she enjoys exploring the many activities that beautiful northern Michigan has to offer!
- Carina Hume - Business Director
Business Director
Carina Hume, Business Director, joined the CTAC staff in 2005 and has overseen the business office since 2009. She is responsible for processing accounts payable, billing, financial reporting and works annually with the auditors. Carina has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and a Master of Arts in Humanities from Central Michigan University.
- Kimberly McCarthy - Development & Events Coordinator
Development & Events Coordinator
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
CTAC Petoskey
Kimberly joined CTAC as Development and Events Coordinator in September 2024. She brings a wealth of experience in fundraising for local non-profits and event planning. A graduate of Wayne State University with a BFA in Photography, she combines her artistic background with a deep commitment to fostering connections and community engagement.
- Angela Morris - President
President
Preferred Pronouns: she / her / hers
CTAC Petoskey
Angela joined CTAC-Petoskey as the Regional Development Manager in June 2023 and was promoted to President in April 2024. She is excited to bring her passion for the arts and experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, marketing, and events to her position. Originally from West Michigan, Angela and her family moved to Petoskey to enjoy all the beauty that Northern Michigan offers. She earned her undergraduate degree from Grand Valley State University and her master’s degree in Business Administration from Ferris State University. She has always enjoyed the arts in all its forms, so she’s thrilled to be surrounded by creative and inspiring people who appreciate the arts!
- Keely Bomee Platte - Marketing & Communications Manager
Marketing & Communications Manager
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
CTAC Petoskey
Keely joined CTAC as Marketing & Communications Manager in June 2024 and is a member of Leadership Little Traverse Class of 2025. She minored in Art History at UCLA and interned at contemporary art and rock and roll photography galleries. After graduating with her masters from the University of Chicago, she landed an apprenticeship in a London photography gallery but due to a curious misunderstanding with Heathrow passport control that sent her back to the States, her life took a pivot from visual arts to the world of book publishing. Consequently, Keely has over 14 years of experience in publicity and marketing as a former book publicist at Penguin Random House and CPG media relations manager working with clients like Bob's Red Mill and Dave's Killer Bread. She is thrilled to return to the arts with Crooked Tree Arts Center.
- Sheila Ruen - Visual Arts Director
Visual Arts Director
CTAC Petoskey
As Visual Arts Director, Sheila curates, organizes, and designs art exhibitions for CTAC-Petoskey, and oversees studio art education classes, workshops, and programs for CTAC-Petoskey.
- Alissa Seelmann-Rutkofske - Exhibition & Outreach Coordinator
Exhibition & Outreach Coordinator
CTAC Petoskey
Alissa Seelmann-Rutkofske joined CTAC as Program Assistant in 2021. Alissa acquired her BA in art history with a minor in fine arts and experience in public relations from Wayne State University. She has a background in graphic design and photography. Prior to moving to northern Michigan, Alissa worked at Cranbrook and held internships at Detroit Institute of Arts and Wayne State University Gallery.
It is Alissa's belief that cultural organizations, like museums, libraries, and art galleries, are meant to serve their communities and it is her goal to foster greater access and inclusion within these important community fixtures.
- Kristal Taylor - Studio & Guest Experience Associate
Studio and Guest Experience Associate
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
CTAC Petoskey
Kristal joined CTAC as Studio Coordinator in September 2024. Kristal holds a BA in Technical Theatre with an emphasis in Costume Design and Technology from Western Michigan University and a Masters in Costume Design and Technology from Virginia Tech.
staff
SCHOOL OF BALLET
- Heather Raue - Artistic Director: School of Ballet
Artistic Director – Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet
CTAC Petoskey
Heather founded Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet in 2003 and presently directs the program, as well as instructs the upper level ballet classes of CTAC School of Ballet.
Heather has dedicated her entire life to dance. Since she was three years old, she was determined to become a ballet teacher and choreographer. Her dancing took her to The Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, Booker T. Washington HSPVA, City Ballet of Houston, Houston Ballet, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Boston Ballet, Hartford Ballet, and Texas Christian University.
In 2010, she received the Dance Teacher Award in New York City, presented by Dance Magazine.
Heather’s choreography has received multiple commissioned collaborations with the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra (2011, 2012, 2019) and was selected to be performed at Midwest RADFest 2020.
Her students have attended the finest summer and year-round programs in the country. Examples include: The Ailey School, American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Boston Ballet School, Chautauqua School of Dance, Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell, Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, Houston Ballet Academy, Hubbard Street Dance, Juilliard, Kaatsbaan – Extreme Ballet, Kennedy Center Ballet Master Class Series, Kirov Academy of Ballet, Miami City Ballet School, North Carolina School of the Arts, Northwest Professional Dance Project, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Pennsylvania Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, School of American Ballet, Suzanne Farrell’s Cedar Island Program.
Many students who have graduated from CTAC School of Ballet have pursued dance in the university/conservatory setting, become professional dancers, choreographers, dance educators, and production and light designers. Examples include: Boston Ballet Trainee Program, Carolina Ballet contract, Charlotte Ballet contract, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater contract, Dominican University, LINES Training Program, Mercyhurst University, Miami City Ballet contract, New York University, Oregon Ballet Theater contract, SUNY Purchase, Texas Christian University, University of Illinois, University of Michigan.
Heather has directed and co-choreographed over 40 full-length performances. Most notably: Alice In Wonderland, Peter Pan & Wendy, The Wizard of Oz, The Trumpet of the Swan, Cipollino, Cinderella, Fantasia Reimagined, Le Petit Prince, Sleeping Beauty, FLOW, Nutcracker (2013-2019).
In just under two decades, after successfully immersed in the dance world, some of the CTAC School of Ballet alumni have moved back to Northern Michigan and are on the CTAC School of Ballet staff, passionately perpetuating the next generations of dancers.
- Finley Van Patten - Operations Coordinator: School of Ballet
Operations Coordinator – Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet
Preferred Pronouns: He/They
CTAC Petoskey
Finley started dancing with the School of Ballet in 2008 and presently works as the Operations Coordinator and instructs lower level contemporary and the School of Ballet Video Crew.
Upon graduating from high school, Finley attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, pursuing a BFA in dance. He presented his choreographic work in collaboration with the School of Ballet dancers at the Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival’s Youth Performance in 2018, 2020 and 2021. During the summer of 2021, Finley held an internship with Bates Dance Festival, performing technical production duties for the festival’s performances. The following fall, he studied screendance one on one with the legendary Peter Sparling, learning the techniques of creating choreography for the camera. Finley completed the Pilobolus teacher training workshop through Pilobolus' summer intensive in 2023. Finley’s teachings include a variety of contemporary and modern dance techniques, contact improvisation and screendance.
staff
CTAC - TRAVERSE CITY
- Brian Iler - Gallery & Volunteer Manager
Gallery & Volunteer Manager
CTAC Traverse City
An abstract art maker originally from the metro Detroit area, Brian joined the Crooked Tree Traverse City team in November 2022. He has years of experience (and adventures) in picture framing, art installation and art center administration. His other interests include writing and readers theater.
- Maren Kilpatrick - Education & Outreach Coordinator
Education and Outreach Coordinator
Preferred Pronouns: she/her
CTAC Traverse City
https://marenkilpatrick.wixsite.com/marenkilpatrick
Maren joined Crooked Tree as the Education and Outreach Coordinator in June 2025. She earned her BFA in Entertainment Arts, Concept Design, from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI. Outside of Crooked Tree, Maren is a freelance illustrator and designer specializing in children's illustration, conceptual design for animated film, and both traditional / digital art mediums.
- Susie Louden-Matts - Guest Experience Associate
Guest Experience Associate
CTAC Traverse City
Susie Louden-Matts and her husband Michael moved to Traverse City in December of 2023. After many summers visiting family and friends and sailing and hiking she and her husband decided to semi-retire here.
Susie studied at The School of the Art Institute Chicago and is a member of Crooked Tree Arts Center Artist Guild and loves all things Crooked Tree!
- Kristi Wodek - Vice President
Vice President, Crooked Tree Arts Center
CTAC Traverse City
Kristi Wodek oversees the day-to-day operations and directs the education programs and community events at our Traverse City location. She graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Art History and Studio Art, with emphasis on ceramics. Kristi later went on to study Art Therapy at Wayne State University. Her professional experience includes serving as education coordinator for Paint Creek Center for the Arts, teaching at Flint Institute of Arts, Macomb Art Center, Paint Creek Center for the Arts, Chaska School District, and Traverse City Area District Schools. She serves on the board of the Northwest Michigan Arts and Culture Network.
Kristi joined the CTAC staff in Fall 2017. Kristi also serves on the advisory committees for the Visual and Communication Arts program at Northwestern Michigan College, and the TBAISD Career-Tech Center graphic arts program.