Our Mission
At Mt. Holiday, our mission is to foster community connection through accessible and affordable outdoor recreation in all four seasons. Guided by a steadfast commitment to our vision, we strive to develop a community-based, family-oriented, year-round recreational facility with a special emphasis on supporting disadvantaged youth.
Erin Hutt
Co-Chair President
Erin began her love affair with skiing in Northern Michigan at the age of 5 and has not looked back. She ski raced in high school and college (Go Green!), before moving to Aspen for a “year off” and a job as a ski instructor. Fast forward to 2021, Erin and her family moved to Traverse City where they discovered a home in Mt. Holiday, falling in love with its old lodge charm, accessibility to the community, and ability to provide all season outdoor recreation. Erin has since functioned as a ski instructor for Kiwanis, the Ski School Director and now passionate board member. When she’s not at the Hill skiing, biking, or hiking, Erin works as the Business Development and Sales Manager at a concierge medical practice out of Chicago and is a proud mother to her 4 year old daughter who seems to enjoy the outdoors just as much as she does.
Dan Ellis
Co-Chair President
Dan “Danny” Ellis is an avid skier and outdoor enthusiast who lives in
Traverse City with his wife, Katie, and their son, Howie. As an executive recruiter, or “headhunter,” Danny specializes in assisting businesses with organizational development, transition, and transformation. He holds a business administration degree from Western Michigan University and is a recovering CPA.
Dan Packer
Treasurer
Dan has been skiing at Mt. Holiday for over 15 years. Some of his best powder days have actually been right here on The Hill. Dan is grateful for how his kids have grown up at Mt. Holiday and their participation in the Holiday Race Team program. Dan brings a lot of passion and excitement for the current and potential ways Mt. Holiday can meet community recreation needs. Specifically, he likes how Mt. Holiday is offering unique programs that respond to or stay ahead of industry trends such as snow skating, downhill biking on snow, and the Basecamp program.
Kirk Ranny
Secretary
Drawn by its proximity to the big lake, miles of trails, and abundant lake effect snowfall, Kirk and his family moved to Traverse City in 2013. While living in New Mexico and Colorado he fell in love with skiing, mountain biking, trail running, and a host of other outdoor activities. The move to Michigan helped Kirk develop an affinity for small, community oriented ski hills; nothing fancy – an old lodge, a warm fire, and a place where families can stoke the love of skiing for the next generation. As a proud TCAPS educator and the principal at Blair Elementary, Kirk is deeply invested in elevating outdoor recreation opportunities for children and families. At Mt. Holiday, these two passions intersect. He is excited to help ensure that Mt. Holiday continues to fill the role as an outdoor oriented community space for years to come.
Tom Hackney
Member
Tom is an attorney who manages the Traverse City office of Hackney Odium & Dardas, PLC. A Michigan native, Tom moved to Traverse City in 2016 after stints in Chicago and Denver and has been trying (unsuccessfully) to keep pace with his two children down the slopes of Mt. Holiday ever since. Once his kids became Holiday Race Team alumni, Tom joined the Holiday Board of Directors in 2023. His family continues to enjoy the Hill’s 45-acre campus during_all four seasons and he is excited to help promote and expand Mt. Holiday’s role in the community.
Karl Pagel
Member
Karl Pagel is a dedicated finance professional with extensive experience in banking and credit unions. As a board member of Mt. Holiday in Traverse City, he is committed to supporting the organization’s mission of providing accessible outdoor recreation for the community. With a passion for financial stewardship and strategic planning, Karl brings his expertise to help ensure the long-term success and sustainability of Mt. Holiday. An avid outdoor enthusiast, he values the role Mt. Holiday plays in fostering adventure and connection in Northern Michigan.
Corey Phelps
Member
Corey and his wife Julia moved to Traverse City in 2005. He is the Vice President of Mortgage Lending for Guaranteed Rate. He holds an MBA from Western Michigan University. His non-profit experience includes being a Founding Member of the Old Mission Peninsula Education Foundation which was responsible for starting the Old Mission Peninsula School. His family is highly engaged with Mt. Holiday and considers it a second home. Not only did his twin daughters learn to ski as part of the Kiwanis Learn to Ski program but they also raced for the Holiday Race Team for 3 years. He joined the board to help assure that Mt. Holiday continues to be the community cornerstone it has been for over 75 years and that people of all ages can feel that they have a hill to call home.
Eric Shutler
Member
Eric Shutler’s passion for skiing began at age three when his parents
enrolled him in ski lessons at Mt. Holiday through the Kiwanis Ski School. He spent most of his winters at Mt. Holiday, where his love for the sport grew into a dedication to ski racing with the Holiday Race Team and later competing in high school. Eric went on to serve as the Race Director for the Holiday Race Team for 16 years and has held various ski coaching positions throughout the Traverse City area. Growing up near Mt. Holiday, Eric was involved in a range of roles at the hill-helping in the kitchen, building the terrain park, and assisting on the tube run. Mt. Holiday continues to hold a special place in his heart and fuels his passion for year-round outdoor activities in Northern Michigan. When he’s not out enjoying the area’s
natural beauty, Eric can be found at Don Orr Ski n’ Beach Haus, one of the oldest ski shops in the United States.
Joe Suttle
Member
Nineteen years ago, Joe moved into his home in Holiday Hills, drawn to the neighborhood for its proximity to Mt. Holiday and easy access to outdoor recreation. Joe and his wife, Dana have two sons, Carson and Trevor, who have been skiing at Mt. Holiday since they could walk, participating in
Holiday Race Team, and calling Mt. Holiday their second home. Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Joe has a background in the hospitality industry, working as a Food & Beverage Director in cities such as Chicago and Denver. After relocating to Traverse City, Joe joined his long time friend, Ben Coe, and became co-owner of That’s a Pizza. After selling the business and becoming empty nesters, Joe saw the perfect opportunity to give back
to the hill where he and his family have created so many special memories.
He hopes to use his hospitality experience to help foster the growth and continued success of Mt. Holiday.
