Tulip Time Announces Three New Board Members for 2025 Festival Year
Tulip Time Festival, Inc. welcomes Colleen Schipsi of the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce, Luke Panning, of Arcadia Capital, and Leanne Schaeffer of Boileau & Co. to the board of directors for the 2025 festival year.
Schipsi, the Vice President of Operations at the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce, moved to Holland in 2016 to take a job at the local chamber and was immediately immersed in Tulip Time. Schipsi got her first Dutch costume that year, “I had a blast participating in my first Tulip Time parade that year, and I'm looking forward to getting Dutch costumes for my little ones soon!” she said. Schipsi manages daily operations at the chamber, driving success forward. She is a graduate of Central Michigan University and lives in Holland with her husband and two children.
Panning, who served in the Michigan National Guard in the 126 Michigan Army Band, joins the Tulip Time board after having been involved in Tulip Time as a performer for over 20 years, playing with his family band, FiddleFire. Panning is a graduate of Hope College and, after spending a few years away, returned to Holland in 2021, where he lives with his wife and daughter. When asked about his new role, Panning stated, “I'm excited for the opportunity to help drive the tradition forward. Tulip Time does a great job of honoring the past and celebrating the present, and I'm excited to help shape the future.”
Schaeffer also serves on the board of Girls on the Run of West Michigan and the advisory board of the West Michigan Sports Commission. A resident of Zeeland, Schaeffer says of Tulip Time, “Holland is such a wonderful community and I love that Tulip Time brings together all members of the community to celebrate our history and roots.” Schaeffer is a graduate of Grand Valley State University.
Gwen Auwerda, Executive Director for Tulip Time welcomes the three new board members, “Colleen, Luke, and Leanne are the perfect additions to our board of directors,” she says, “All three have been extremely community-minded and involved in Tulip Time for years! It’s time we give these smart and talented people an official role in the festival.”
Schipsi, Panning, and Schaeffer join the current board of Rosemary Ervine, Past Chair; Duncan Bocks of Miller Knoll, Chairperson; Darcy Fluharty, First Vice Chair; Sarah Phillips of DeBoer Baumann & Co., Second Vice Chair; and directors Bill Badran of Holland BPW, Linda Hart of the Holland Area CVB, Andy Kenyon of the City of Holland, Iliana Vasquez-Ocha of Holland Language Academy, Scott Stenstrom of Fifth-Third Bank, and Sandra Pierce of BASF.
