Peter Starkel

Name:
Peter Starkel

City/State:
Traverse City, MI

Employer/Former Employer (if retired):
Communication Services of America

Type of Business/Organization:
Branding / Consultancy

Membership Level:
Lifetime Member

Please add a brief bio of your relevant experience:
I have been a BMO member since 2012, and currently a Blissfest board member working with Policy, Development, Programming and Security during the festival. 
 
 I have served extensively in leadership roles in many Non-Profits including Children's House Montessori, Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse, and WNMC; where I hosted "Mornings on WNMC" for 20+ years. 
 
 Much of my day job consulting work involves Out of Home Entertainment, and have brought experience and ideas to BMO during my first term. As a result, I serve on the "Lead Team" working on the strategic plan for the next 40 years of our organization.
 
 Outside work, I chase my passion for live music following Phish, Billy Strings and festivals like Merlefest to see and learn how others are doing things well. I have a son and daughter who are Bliss veterans, and live in Traverse City with my partner Lisa.

Why are you interested in serving on the Blissfest Board?
This organization has grown so tremendously much in the last 3 years under the leadership of Angie, Caroline and Ashley. Many of our Strategic Plans have yet to begin, and I hope to continue working on the many excellent ideas we need to realize. I feel my past experience, and ability to work on goals that span over years can help Blissfest build on the foundation that has been created since the transition from a founder lead organization to a staff lead organization. I often thrive on the work many don't find very interesting.

What do you see as your most valuable contribution to Blissfest?
Experience working within Non-Profit organizations offering the ability to turn ideas into reality through process, systems and collaboration. A big part of this has been leading several multi-million dollar fundraising campaigns to aquire and renovate buildings.

What do you see as challenges and opportunities for us in the next few years?
Overall, we are at a very healthy point in BMO's history with festival revenue, leadership and values. 
 
 We have an outstanding opportunity to fundraise for the upgrading of our facilities; Site committee is working on renovating and improving our buildings. Although our festival revenue is strong, a capital campaign will ensure that our plans are well funded. BMO has a framework and some tools to accomplish this, but the organization need to commit to a proper fundraising program. It will ensure the long-term sustainability for both Capital needs and growing our endowment. 
 
 Although we are very stable and very successful with operating the festival, we need capacity building to ensure our staff is capable of thriving. There are a few key roles that would better support Ashley and Caroline with the work they do. Roles like operations support, development staff, and part time bookkeeping to ensure the festival books close in a timely fashion would make us a stronger organization. 
 
 The only other opportunity is the need for clear policies and procedures. We have cleaned up both in the last year, but the development of a "training" tool for our many volunteers would ensure these systems make it to the execution at festival time.

Please provide more details about your nonprofit or board experience such as the organization’s size or other roles not listed above.
Blissfest Music Organization, Development, Policy, Programming, Lead Team. Worked to transition the organization from founder lead to staff lead. Designed a fund-raising program. Worked to revamp the policies and bylaw updates. Helped secure an operational consultant and helped develop a strategic plan for the organization. Served as security liaison during the festival.
 
 Children's House Montessori, Chairperson - Oversaw the securing and development of our second campus, helped vision a 7 million dollar endowment campaign, built a 5 year strategic plan, reviewed and revised By-Laws.
 
 Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse Inc, Founding Chairperson. Transitioned a 24 church revolving temporary winter emergency shelter into a fixed location 72 bed facility. Lobbied for development of ordinances, special land use permits and City support of the shelter. Secured and renovated a 15,000 square foot former school into a modern shelter. Developed operation systems, and a volunteer system for over 1,600 people who operate the shelter 7 days a week from October - April each year. 
 
 WNMC 90.7 WNMC, Morning Host, consultant Worked to secure a full time station manager, working as Morning Host for 20+ years, active with Folk, Bluegrass and Americana libraries. 
 
 Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue - Board member. Worked to transition the rescue from the founder to a board driven organization. Developed online fundraising program, website, social platforms and communication systems. 
 
 Long Lake Peninsula Association, Vice President. Built a playground, kept neighbors from killing each other at annual meeting (as sergeant of arms). Kept the peace.

Skills and Expertise you will contribute to the Board of Directors, Blissfest Music Organization and Committees you serve.
Event Planning, Accounting, Information Technology, Marketing, Public Relations/Speaking/Presentations, Social Media, Web Design, Grant Writing/Fundraising, Professional Nonprofit Experience, Public Policy / Advocacy, Strategic Planning, Real Estate, Other

Attributes:
Collaborative, Comfortable Speaking in front of groups, Enthusiastic, Facilitative Style, Good Sense of Humor, Optimistic, Asks tough questions with respect, Respectful of varying points of view, Responsive, Strong Work Ethic, Willing and able to lead a discussion, Other

Other Attributes: Persistence to stick with the goals of the organization.

Other Skills/Areas of Expertise: Knowledge of musical acts that fit our values.

Please describe your level of comfort or experience with the expectations of the organization: including any concerns or potential conflicts with this time commitment?
No issues. Love the current Board and staff.

Please List the Organization(s) you have served?
Blissfest Music Organization, Children's House Montessori, Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse, Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue, WNMC, FEC-NRG, Long Lake Peninsula Association. 

Chairperson, Founder, Vice President, Board Member, Morning Host

Additional Comments: I look forward to see where we go next.