Our Team

Visit Keweenaw's professional staff lead the day-to-day efforts to promote the Keweenaw Peninsula as a destination for tourism and driver of the visitor economy.

Staff

Brad Barnett

Executive Director
bbarnett@visitkeweenaw.com    

Core Areas: Visit Keweenaw Marketing Program; Media Outreach; Industry Engagement

About Brad
Brad is a native of Central Kentucky and moved with his family to the Keweenaw Peninsula in 2013 to complete a PhD at Michigan Technological University in Environmental and Energy Policy. Prior to working for Visit Keweenaw, he was a regional planner with the Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region (WUPPDR) focusing on renewable energy and recreation planning projects.  

As the Executive Director of Visit Keweenaw, Brad has the privilege of sharing the Keweenaw’s unique attractions and amenities with visitors and members of the media.  He oversees the development and implementation of the organization’s annual marketing program and works with the community’s economic development leaders to enhance the region’s visitor economy.  

Kayleigh White

Content Manager
kayleigh@visitkeweenaw.com

Core Areas: Digital Content; Social Media Management; Keweenaw Explorer Newsletter; Area Event Submission and Information; Visit Keweenaw Retail Program 

About Kayleigh
Kayleigh is a U.P. native with a passion for the outdoors. Some of her favorite outdoor hobbies are rock collecting on the shores of Lake Superior, springtime foraging, and hiking. She is also passionate about flow arts and can be found recording technical double hula-hooping videos throughout the scenic Keweenaw Peninsula. If you are interested in seeing her latest flow arts videos, you can follow her work here:   https://www.instagram.com/waywardkay/ 

Jesse Wiederhold 

Public Relations & Events Coordinator
jesse@visitkeweenaw.com

Core Areas: Media Outreach and Special Events

About Jesse
Jesse graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in English writing. He joins Visit Keweenaw from WLUC TV6 in Negaunee where he worked for a year as a digital anchor and another year earlier as the Houghton/Hancock area reporter.

Jesse is connected to Upper Michigan and especially loves the Keweenaw. He frequently hikes spots like Bare Bluff and Hungarian Falls, but prefers sitting on a warm, sandy Keweenaw beach in the summer. He listens mostly to midwest emo bands and pop music. Jesse enjoys going out with friends and is a houseplant expert who grows rare plants. Jesse is the media contact for Visit Keweenaw and is always ready to help.

Donna Holmstrom

Office Manager
donna@visitkeweenaw.com    

Core Areas:  Finance; Procurement; Membership; Organizational and Area History

About Donna
Donna is the office manager and has 30+ years of experience promoting the Keweenaw.   She enjoys hiking and sharing her favorite spots and things to do in the area.  When traveling to other areas, she likes to check out their visitor centers. She is a Michigan Tech graduate.  She is blessed to be married to Rick, have 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Andrea T. McMahon

Visitor's Information Specialist

Andrea was born and raised in the U.P. Her mother instilled a strong love for Nature and animals, she also taught her how Kindness grows a Community. 

She loves spending time with animals at our Copper Country Humane Society, weaving / beading dreamcatchers, painting, or simply volunteering whenever she can. Andrea also attends local Farmer’s Markets and Craft Fairs in the Keweenaw, regularly in Lake Linden.

Ian Raymond

Visitor's Information Specialist

Ian was born in the Keweenaw and recently returned to the area to take advantage of all the splendor the area has to offer. After living on the east and west coast, he is happiest being surrounded by Lake Superior.

He enjoys many aspects about the Keweenaw, which include researching its unique copper mining history (especially his family involvement in the process,) investigating its geological past along the trails, kayaking its beautiful waterways, and soaking in the sun at Bete Grise’s sandy shores.