Small but Mighty
Willow Myles-Nuffer Founder
Hi! Thank you for checking out Mission Blues and being interested in the world below the surface of the water!
I have been a lover of water all my life, being from Northern Michigan it was easy. Summers at the lake with family and friends were always my fondest memories. However, I didn’t learn to dive and really appreciate all the life below the surface until later in life. As my knowledge has grown, so has my thirst for more… More reasons to spend time in and around the water, more reasons to protect the vegetation, the marine life, and everything in between!
I feel that if I had known more as a child growing up around these waters, I would have had the tools to make a bigger impact. I want to help facilitate others having those options supplied to them!
Additionally, I want to create space for our Great Lakes and inland waters to be sustained in a way that invites people to explore and protect. Obviously, knowledge and fun should go hand in hand and this is what I aim to bring to our community through art and programs with Mission Blues.
Molly Myles, Board Member
Molly is about to enter her Senior Year of High School and is currently involved in KeyClub, Model UN, and Junior Council. Having a young asset like Molly on our Board is a direct link to our youth and she keeps us up to speed on the coolest lingo and what’s really happening within our younger generations as well as insight on how to reach out to the individuals that want to make a difference. You may see Molly at Edson Farms or walking around town enjoying the perks of downtown living. She loves her dogs and although she doesn’t like to play favorites, her three-legged Great Pyrenees would probably win if she did. She likes skiing in the winter and often wonders why they don’t make ski boots more comfortable. Summer is the best though if you ask her and mostly because her birthday is in July.
Angela Myers, Board Member
Angie Myers started her career at the USPS as a part time rural mail carrier in 1999. Angie was the treasurer and Vice President for her local county union of rural carriers for 7 years. She became the local union steward for her office in approximately 2008. By 2012, Angie was one of the four full time stewards appointed to represent the state of Michigan for the National Rural Letter Carriers Association. In her spare time Angie volunteers annually for Char Em/United Way and other community events in the Petoskey area. However, Angie’s biggest devotion has been to the Blissfest Music Organization. She started volunteering at the annual festival nearly 20 years ago. She eventually became an area co-ordinator for the info/volunteer booth. She was elected to the Board of Directors for two consecutive 3 year terms starting in 2010. She was Vice President for 2 years then President of the board for 2 years. She served that role through 2016 when term limits gave her a year off. In 2018 the Board of Director appointed her back to the board. Shortly after that she was as elected President and currently holds that position. Angie and her husband Chris make their home in Petoskey and have two sons, Dylan 23 and Gavin 19. They are also parents to two spoiled dogs, a Great Dane name Blu and their pandemic puppy, a boxer named Lucy Bean.
Melissa Lundy - Board Member
Melissa was raised in Northern Michigan and has had her fair share of time on the water. Spending may hours with friends and family boating and floating as many Michiganders can relate. She graduated from Ferris State with an Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene and is currently using that degree in downtown Traverse City. She is passionate about animals and making local changes to better the environment for future generations.
Kaly Vasquez - Board Member
Fourth Generation Traverse City native, Kaly grew up a block from West Grand Traverse Bay. Having this natural resource as her childhood playground was a great gift and built a lifelong connection to our fresh lakes. In addition to her love of swimming and water related sports, you will find Kaly hiking, camping, gardening and enjoying our Northern Michigan assets. Kaly has a Masters Degree from Wayne State University. She has worked for Northwest Education Services as a school social worker since 2009 and continues her career passionate about advocating for and supporting the educational needs of students with disabilities. In 2022 she was awarded the school social worker of the year for Region G of Michigan.