VOTE NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 31 - MEET THE CANDIDATES!
Voting is now open! Cast your ballot by October 31 to help shape the Board for the next three years!
In this year's election for the Board of Directors, there are four seats to be filled for the 2026 Term, with up to one of them being eligible to be a virtual remote position. Get to know the candidates by reading their bios below.
Then click on the link at the bottom of the page, and cast your ballot! Eligible positions will be decided based on the highest number of votes.
You may also call us (906) 226-8575 or email us at hiawathamc@gmail.com to obtain a paper ballot.
Election results will be announced at the Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 1st, at 6 pm at Barrel + Beam Brewery in Marquette.
Phil Britton
Artist and freelancer Phil Britton loves exploring the balance between creativity and structure. His work bridges the tools of systems and process development into new and unexpected settings. A lifelong musician and active community member, Phil has been involved with the Hiawatha Music Co-op through being a monitor on the Stage Set-up team, and volunteering with HOTAP, Teen Scene, and events at The Fold.
Phil brings eight years of experience on the Marquette Food Co-op Board of Directors, where he served as Board President for four years and helped organize governance trainings. He is skilled in cooperative governance, financial analysis, and developing effective systems and processes.
Ultimately, Phil is drawn to serve because of the strong sense of community Hiawatha fosters. “I’ve received far more from Hiawatha than I could ever give back,” he says. A Yooper most of his life, Phil can often be found outdoors, in the sauna, playing music, feeding people, or exploring the beauty of the U.P. with his family.
Susan Divine
Susan Divine has been part of the Hiawatha Music Co-op community since attending her first Festival in 1987. Over nearly four decades, she has volunteered in nearly every area of Festival operations, opened her home to performers for both Festival and year-round Hiawatha events, and later served as Hiawatha’s Executive Director from 2012 until her retirement in 2021. She continued to assist the Co-op through mentorship, grant writing, and bookkeeping until early 2025.
“The Festival is a must-do each summer for our children and grands. Our family campsite flag says ‘Camp Reunion’ - we come together to enjoy each other and all the Festival has to offer,” she says.
A longtime advocate for the arts and cooperative values, Susan brings 25 years of professional experience from Pathways Community Mental Health, leadership in youth and music organizations, and recognition as a 2022 recipient of Marquette’s Arts Advocate Award. She now resides near Lansing, but remains devoted to Hiawatha’s mission and legacy and is eager to lend her financial insight, institutional knowledge, and lifelong commitment to ensuring the Co-op’s continued success. “I care very deeply about the Co-op and my heart and soul is committed to ensuring its survival,” she adds.
Andie Johnston
Andie Johnston has been part of the Hiawatha Music Co-op community as a Co-Area Coordinator for Children’s Crafts, helping create engaging and memorable experiences for young festival-goers. Her organizational skills and creativity have been a valuable contribution to the Festival’s programming.
“What I cherish most about the Hiawatha Music Festival is the way it brings families together through music and dance. It’s a celebration that beautifully blends the traditions of the past with the rhythms of the future, creating a space where generations connect and joy is shared,” she says.
A retired State of Michigan employee and current part-time computer analyst, Andie and her husband have called Marquette home for over 30 years, raising three children surrounded by the beauty of the Upper Peninsula. An avid quilter, traveler, and outdoor enthusiast, she loves sharing adventures with her grandchildren. Andie is committed to supporting community-driven initiatives and bringing her creativity and organizational expertise to the Hiawatha Board.
Kevin Knaffla
Kevin Knaffla has been part of the Hiawatha Music Co-op community for more than 25 years, spending summers camping with his family, listening to great music, and enjoying the friendships and sense of belonging that make the Festival so special. “I’m passionate about giving back to the organizations that help our communities thrive,” Kevin says. “Hiawatha has given so much to my family and me, and I’d be honored to help keep the Festival strong and sustainable for years to come.”
Over the years, Kevin has volunteered in a variety of roles, including ticketing, security, and the merchandise tent, and values the teamwork and joy that keep Hiawatha running year after year.
A finance and operations professional with more than 30 years of experience across healthcare, hospitality, and environmental consulting, Kevin brings expertise in budgeting, planning, and organizational management. He currently resides between Manistique and Munising and serves as Treasurer for Schoolcraft Tourism and Commerce and is a founding and current board member of the Highway 2 Drive-In (UP Film Union nonprofit) that has been transformed into a community hub for film and music events.
Steven Sams
A lifelong Michigander, Steven is a passionate supporter of traditional music and community-driven arts. He has served on multiple festival boards and would bring experience in leadership, planning, and project management to the Hiawatha Board. A registered professional engineer, he leads a team of technical professionals and applies his skills to long-term planning, team management, and logistical coordination.
Steven has been part of the Hiawatha Music Co-op community as a monitor on the Festival Set-Up Crew, specifically managing trailers to help ensure that Festival logistics run smoothly year after year. He enjoys bringing people together through collaboration and shared interests.
“It takes a village, and we are the village. We all pull together, and I’m here to pull,” he says. Steven lives in Negaunee Township with his wife Sherri and their three children and enjoys cycling, outdoor adventures, and sharing music with friends and family.
Mary Tilson
Connected to Hiawatha since 1979, Mary Tilson recently returned to Marquette full-time after more than four decades in California. A lifelong advocate for traditional and roots music, one of her first radio jobs was at WNMU, where she started “In The Pines”, a program still running today. She now hosts and produces America’s Back 40 on KPFA Berkeley, a wide-ranging Americana show she continues to create weekly from Marquette.
Mary’s career in nonprofit broadcasting spans leadership roles at KALW, KQED, and KFAT, where she raised funds through on-air campaigns, membership programs, and donor cultivation, alongside extensive experience in administration, compliance, and board management.
A passionate supporter of live music, Mary has volunteered as an MC at the Hiawatha Festival and hosted stages at San Francisco’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. “I’m enthusiastic about supporting music and musicians,” she says, “and more than delighted to convince those with money to part with some of it for Hiawatha.”
When not volunteering, Mary enjoys cold-water swimming, baking, gardening, and time with her cattle dog, Hank.
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