Chad Schenkelberger
Director of Hagerty Center
Chad Schenkelberger is the Director of the Hagerty Center at Northwestern Michigan College. During his tenure, Chad oversaw the operations and strategic planning that resulted in a successful and award winning operation. Before this role, Chad was the Operations Manager for the Battle Creek Country Club where he learned the finer points of formal dining and developed his love for the hospitality industry. Chad holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Western Michigan University. In his spare time he likes to spend time outdoors camping with his wife and kids.
Crystal Bailey
Operations Manager
Crystal Bailey is the Operations Manager for the Hagerty Center and has been with NMC since 2010. Crystal oversees the operational and administrative duties and helps in planning events for both the conference center and Lobdells. Crystal is a NMC alumni and received her Bachelors in Business Administration through Davenport University. She enjoys working with people throughout the community and in an environment that is challenging and always changing. In her spare time Crystal enjoys spending time with her family and friends, her partner Sean and their two dogs, strength training, traveling, house projects, and playing music. Crystal is always on the lookout for innovative and efficient solutions, eager to streamline your event planning experience and ensure it is as seamless as possible.
Scott Williams
Head Chef
Scott Williams is the Executive Chef at The Hagerty Center. After 10 years as a manufacturing and design engineer in the automotive industry, Scott shifted gears to his other talent of cooking. While attending culinary school at NMC’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute, he also began excelling as a high volume Catering Chef for Grandview Catering in Traverse City. Upon graduation from GLCI, Scott spent 5 years as Sous Chef at the Hagerty Center before eventually becoming the Executive Chef. He has built a team of chefs at the Hagerty Center that produce food and displays of the highest quality for your event. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Product Design Engineering from Ferris State University as well as an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts from Northwestern Michigan College. When the Northern Michigan weather allows, Scott is an avid slalom water skier. He also enjoys local music, microbrews, camping and spending time with his wife and daughter.
Lil Anderson
Event Coordinator
Lil is the Events Coordinator for the Hagerty Center at Northwestern Michigan College. Originally from northwest Ohio, Lil received their BA in Economics from Denison University before moving to Traverse City in 2022. They joined the Hagerty Center team in the fall of 2023 and are thrilled to be a part of the NMC community. Lil appreciates connecting with the people of Grand Traverse County and beyond to bring meaningful events to life in our beautiful waterfront venue. In their spare time, Lil enjoys playing pickleball, volunteering with youth programs, and visiting Michigan’s beautiful national parks and lakeshores.
Lindsey Bradeen
Event Supervisor
Lindsey Bradeen is the Event Supervisor at the Hagerty Center. Lindsey and her team are here to provide excellent service to you and your guests throughout your event. In 2021 she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing at Northern Michigan University before moving to Traverse City and joining the Hagerty team in 2022. Lindsey enjoys connecting with the community and in her spare time she enjoys playing tennis, golf, and spending time with her family and friends.
Claire Thelander
Office Manager
Claire Thelander is the Office Manager at the Hagerty Center. With over a decade of experience in the customer service and hospitality industries, she provides administrative support to the Hagerty Center team. After graduating summa cum laude with her Bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University in 2020, she moved back to northern Michigan to be closer to family. In her spare time, Claire enjoys collecting vinyl records, working on New York Times crossword puzzles, and spending time with her husband and their two orange cats, Bolt and Barley.
Leland Nelson
Sous Chef
Leland is a native of Traverse City who gained interest in the culinary field while working part time for the Hagerty Center. After joining the Hagerty Center team, Leland decided to pursue his passion and attended the NMC’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute. After graduating from GLCI, Leland continued his career at The Boat House as a Grill Master, and later returned to NMC as the Hagerty Centers Sous Chef. In his spare time Leland enjoys being outdoors and fishing.