The Blue Star Trail

Clark Carmichael

President

Ganges Township

Clark, President of the Board of Directors, brings a background in banking, business ownership, business asset sales, and real estate to the Board as its President. He was active in helping individuals and small private companies find businesses or expand their market opportunities before retiring to West Michigan.

He joined the Board because of his prior experience as a volunteer on the Anderson Township Transportation Advisory Committee in Ohio. The group developed a trails plan which led to the construction of two major segments or the “spine” of the planned network. He believes “it was transformational for the community; for the first time, residents were connected to each other by something other than roads. The trails also connected them to the many public/private buildings near its path.” In time the trail came to serve as a vital link within the community, something he believes will happen with the Blue Star Trail.

Although he has had to back down on active sports, he remains a big sports fan and music lover.

Richard Donovan

Secretary

Douglas

Richard, the Board's Secretary, joined the Board in the Spring of 2018. He brings over 40 years of legal experience to the Board. He was a partner in an international law firm in New York City and has counseled several non-profit organizations in the course of his career. Now licensed to practice law in Michigan, he hopes to use his legal expertise to help the Friends complete its mission to develop the Blue Star Trail.

He and his family have been visiting the Saugatuck area for many years and moved here full time in 2013. He became familiar with the BST through his wife Ellen’s volunteer efforts.

Richard likes to take advantage of the scenic beauty in this area by hiking with a group in the state park, kayaking, and biking, and has started to learn how to fly-fish. He and his wife enjoy traveling around the world and keeping up with their three sons.

Jack Eisinger

Treasurer

Saugatuck Township

Jack, the Board’s treasurer, brings over 40 years experience as shareholder and Chief Financial person in a Chicago Manufacturer Representation firm and Import Business selling hard goods to all the major retailers across the US.

He plans to use his financial experience to guide the Friends organization to continue building the Trail. He also hopes to deliver some major donors to help provide the matching funds necessary to secure government grants and cover the trails engineering costs.

Jack enjoys maintaining his property, hiking in the Colorado mountains, kayaking in Lake Michigan, and cycling the trails around West Michigan. He says he “would love to be able to accomplish a century ride some year!”

David Isljamovski

Saugatuck City

David has been a full-time resident of Saugatuck since October 2022. His decision to join the Board is driven by his desire to become a more integral part of the community, also a reason why he and his partner moved to a smaller community like Saugatuck from San Francisco. Living very close to the Trail itself and his passion for cycling were also large factors in wanting to get involved. He's excited to lend a hand in securing more sponsors and partnerships.

 David brings a distinct perspective on sponsorship and fundraising, drawing from his extensive career at prominent companies such as Google and Intuit. With a background in leading Advertising Sales teams and spearheading Business Development initiatives for products like Google Ads and QuickBooks in Silicon Valley's top technology firms, David offers a unique insight and strategic approach to establishing innovative partnerships and securing additional sponsors for Friends of the Blue Star.

David possesses a passion for cycling, inspired by his experiences living in and visiting cities like San Francisco, Portland and Provincetown, which have successfully prioritized the needs of cyclists and pedestrians in urban planning. David indicated “I aspire to make a meaningful impact in our communities by playing a small part in helping to continue to build upon the Blue Star Trail, which will connect us all.”

Dan Keller

Saugatuck Township

Dan draws on a career in Marketing for the Board, having extensive experience as a Marketing Executive with Fortune 100 companies involved with consumer package goods and the automotive industry. He currently consults with a primary focus on Customer Relationship Marketing and Loyalty.

Recognizing that The Friends of The Blue Star Trail would benefit from a more consistent branding and communication efforts, he joined the Board in late 2017 to develop and lead a marketing and communications campaign.

In addition to biking, Dan loves to kayak on the big lake, play some golf and Pickleball.

Nancy Kimble

Saugatuck City

Nancy’s passion for cycling was a key consideration in her family’s recent decision to become Michiganders. Nancy and her husband, Mark, are Southern Illinois natives that chose Saugatuck as their retirement and forever home in 2019. West Michigan offers the opportunity to pursue their keen interests in outdoor activities including kayaking, hiking and, most importantly, cycling.
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Nancy’s extensive experience in project and operations management enable her to lead focused and results oriented initiatives. While much of her professional career was in financial services, she has a wide-ranging background, from her role as an Environmental Specialist with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to Operations Manager for a non-profit mental health counseling group in Chicago.

Nancy is eager to use her skills and energy to assist the Board in attaining completion of the Blue Star Trail. In addition to the obvious benefit to cyclists, the economic and health advantages resulting from the trail will support all residents of the Saugatuck/Douglas/South Haven region.

​Kevin Martin

Fennville

Kevin Martin, founder and past president of KLM Creative, Inc. also serves as Chair and Host for Toast to the Blue Star Trail, the organization's annual fundraiser which raised over $80,000 in 2021. KLM is a business-to-business full-service marketing agency with more than 20 associates, located in San Francisco.

Kevin and husband Duane Brown have lived in the Saugatuck-Douglas area since 1989, when they designed and built their own summer cottage. In 2000, they renovated three barns and built their home on property now known as Quiet Creek Farm.

Kevin is active in the local community as a supporter of the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Paws4-Cause, Kids Food Basket and West Shore AWARE.

Having had the opportunity to live and work in several cities across the US, I witnessed the impact that walking, hiking and bicycle trails have on a community - all played major roles in transportation, tourism, mental and physical fitness. I joined the Board of Friends to help bring those same important benefits to, and help in connecting the communities I call home.