Meet the Steering Committee
Mary Winkler
solar president
I’ve been a Solar member since 2008 and immediately took the beginning backpack class. It shaped my views about why this club is important. After the class we were all on the same page, we understood the expectations, the techniques and the goals in the same way. We forged friendships for far more than hiking in the woods. It’s the pillar of the club I love the most. Getting together once a month builds strong ties. Learning about the outdoors from the programs that are offered gives more to dream about. I’ve gone, done and grown more through Solar Outdoors than I thought possible. Thanks Solar. Now it’s time to give back!
Tim Davis
solar vice president
I joined Solar in 2004 with my first workshop being Basic Land Navigation. From that point on, I was hooked. I went on to take all the workshops Solar offered back then, culminating in the Mountaineering course and climbing Mt Rainier in 2007. From there I went on to help teach in the Basic Backpacking workshop and have helped as an instructor in Basic Land Navigation for several years. Solar sparked in me a passion for the outdoors and I love to share my knowledge with others. I have made lifelong friendships in Solar and have had many great lifetime experiences and memories as well. Being a part of the Steering Committee is my way of giving back and doing what I can to keep things going for an organization that has meant so much to me. Some of my favorite activities include hiking, backpacking, road and mountain biking, kayaking and orienteering.
Laura Miller
solar secretary
My name is Laura Miller. I am a Michigan girl. I grew up in a tent, riding bikes, and swimming. Love doing all kinds of outdoor activities in all seasons: hiking, backpacking, open water swimming, camping, biking, kayaking, climbing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and downhill skiing. I love to explore nature in all seasons too. I am excited to be a member of Solar and look forward to trying new activities with the Solar club.
Mary Donahue-Wold
solar treasurer
Krisanne Schmidt
solar activities
Hi there! I have always loved car camping and being outside.
I joined SOLAR in 2007 and immediately started taking as many of the workshops the club had to offer; which led to me finding my love for backpacking, hiking, kayaking, adventure racing and many other activities. I am the current leader of the Beginning Backpacking Workshop and I assist with the Intermediate Backpacking Workshop.
Karen Haroutunian
solar bylaws chair
I first heard about SOLAR through BS Hiking in 2007. I went to a meeting to check it out and liked it so much I joined. I took the Beginning Backpacking Workshop in 2008 and followed that up with several other workshops. I’ve been assistant instructor for beginning backpacking and Enjoying Michigan Winters. I enjoy hiking, backpacking, kayaking and other outdoor activities. Most of all, I enjoy hanging out with the friends I’ve made.
Solar Communications
solar communications chair
Currently open if you are a member and consider helping,
please contact our president for more information.
Carol McCririe
education Chair
Having been a member of Solar Outdoors almost 40 years, I have done almost everything the club has to offer from Backpacking to Winter Camping to Survival to Rock Climbing. I was the lead instructor for the beginning backpacking class for 25 years and I still assist with that and the intermediate class and I love it!
It is hard to believe that 40 years ago, I had never carried a backpack on and had only done car camping. My parents were never much for the outdoors and we only did camping with the girl scouts. When I graduated from college, the sister of a friend of mine talking us into joining SOLAR and I have been a lifetime member since the first time the club offered it.
I was always taught to believe that the people you go to school with would be your friends for life, but for me the people I spend all my time with are the people I have met in SOLAR. I met my best friends in SOLAR and most of my free time and vacations revolve around activities and trips and get together with other SOLARites. These people have become my lifelong friends and I treasure all the times that I have had with SOLAR.
I have held many positions on the SOLAR steering committee; in my early years, I held the positions of activities, program, secretary, equipment, vice-president, and treasurer. I left steering committee after two years as treasurer to start offering up my time as an instructor and have been teaching classes since 1989. Now I am back on steering committee and I just started my 2nd term as treasurer.
In my other life, I am a semi-retired CPA and only work full-time from February to April 15th. I had my own business for 26 years before I merged with another CPA so that I could step back. We work primarily with small businesses and individuals doing financial, tax and consulting work. SOLAR gives me the opportunity to get away from my office life and enjoy the simple things the outdoors can offer – solitude, wildlife, no phones, and no e-mail!
Jeff McWilliams
solar equipment chair
I joined the club in 2007 and made lifelong friends during the Beginner Backpacking workshop. I’ve volunteered to lead or help with many workshops offered through the club including Basic Land Navigation, Advanced Land Navigation, Beginner Backpacking, and Lightweight Backpacking. I’m a certified Leave No Trace trainer. Some of my favorite outdoor activities include backpacking, climbing, and mountain biking
Dana Buxton
solar membership chair
I’ve been a member of Solar since 2006. Like everyone in Solar, I love the outdoors, and being a part of the Solar Club has connected me with so many like minded people. I enjoy hiking, car camping, backpacking, kayaking, biking, snorkeling, cross-country skiing, and downhill skiing. Also, because of Solar I have been able to try new things like winter camping, spelunking and climbing.
Please let me know if you would like more information about Solar or want to join Solar.
Bev Wozniak
solar programs chair
One of the things that attracted me to SOLAR was the incredibly interesting presenters at their monthly meetings. After being entertained, inspired, and informed with these programs, I am giving back to the club by becoming the contact point to help to keep them going. Like all members of the club, I enjoy the outdoors, whether that is hiking, camping, or kayaking. The club also gives me opportunities to expand on my experiences by learning land navigation or ice climbing (when the weather permits). I look forward to another year of great speakers and hope that you will join us in person at a meeting to hear them!
Jim Kadlubowski
solar public relations chair
I’ve been a member of Solar since around 2000. Can’t remember exactly when I joined but I am a lifetime member. I served on the Steering Committee as the Webmaster for a total of six years. I thought I would try the PR job for the club because I would like to learn more about the Public Relations process. After one year I haven’t been happy with the results so I am doing it again for another year, trying to learn from my mistakes. I used to do an awful lot of stuff outdoors in my younger years, including some severe winter camping. Now that I am retired I am doing a lot less. As you can see from my picture, I think there is much to be said for kicking back after a hard day outdoors, in this case trapping and fur processing, with a fur trapper’s hat on and a glass of wine. Cheers!
Stacie Kitchen
solar webmaster
Since I was a young girl, my family would always camp in our pop-up camper every summer in Michigan and out of the state. Exploring the outdoors was something that became a passion of mine. Which lead to biking, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, canoeing, camping, and so much more.
Have been a Solar Outdoors member since the early 2000’s. During that time I was involved with many classes, events, and meetings that Solar had going. Even contributed in the Steering Committee.
Now that I’m back and as your webmaster, I plan to help promote the club by updating the www.solaroutdoors.org.
Past Presidents
Ken demski
1975 – 1976
Lillian vires
1976 – 1978
tim nowicki
1978 – 1980
jeff smith
1980 – 1981
Peg Alford (campbell)
1981 – 1982
Bill Halvangis
1983 – 1984
Bob Westbrook
1984 – 1986
Maureen Peters (Defrance)
1986 – 1987
Larry martin
1987 – 1988
debby campbell
1988 – 1990
joan hettinger (ryan)
1990 – 1992
al fylak
1992 – 1993
Joan Govan (westbrook)
1993 – 1994
cindy harrison-felix
1994 – 1995
steve gardner
1995 – 1996
michael banks
1996 – 1998
doug lanyk
1998 – 2000
leslie cordova
2000 – 2002
tom oloffo
2002 – 2004
tom hayes
2004 – 2006
lou szakal
2006 – 2008
cindy taylor
2008 – 2010
allen duncan
2010 – 2011
chuck smith
2011 – 2013
jennifer mcwilliams
2013 – 2015
jennifer tislerics
2015 – 2017
Carol rogers
2017 – 2019
Debbie Hendrickson
2019 – 2022
Mike Hobig
2022 – 2024
Mary Winkler
2024 – Present
Other Contributors
We also want to thank the following that had contributed (since there are too many to list) as the:
Past and Present Vice Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers, Activities Chairs, Bylaw Chairs, Education Chairs, Membership Chairs,
Public Relations, Communications Chairs (was also the Solar Ray Editor), Historian Chairs, and Webmasters.