Staff

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Tammy grew up in Racine, WI and Door County is now home after traveling extensively throughout more than 20 years in her Human Resources career. Life continues to be made interesting through The Clearing community of Winter, Summer and Workshop Program students, its many volunteers, and The Clearing’s long-standing traditions. To be able to come to work in this beautiful place with the creative spirit that permeates it, and have a role in its operation is a lucky position to be in.

REGISTRAR

No one knows The Clearing as well as Kathy. She grew up at The Clearing (with her dad and mom, Don & Louise Buchholz, Resident Managers from 1976-1999). Can you imagine having The Clearing’s 128 acres as your very own backyard! Kathy never ventured too far from Door County and returned to work here in 1993. If you call The Clearing, you will not find a more kind or more informative person than Kathy. When not registering students, Kathy can be found quilting, knitting, tending her bonsai trees or out hiking with her husband Mike and their little dogs.

RECEPTIONIST & BOOKSTORE MANAGER

Kim is the newest member of The Clearing staff. It has been a familiar transition after having taken classes herself and she’s enjoying meeting the many people who make this such a special place.

Growing up in Oconomowoc Wisconsin, Kim first became acquainted with Door County through family camping trips in Peninsula State Park. Many years later when the opportunity to move to the Peninsula presented itself, she jumped at the chance and has called it home since 1999.

She lives in Sister Bay with her husband, Craig and their cat, Gordon. When she’s not working, chances are she’s not far from a good book, hiking in one of the Peninsula’s beautiful parks or attempting to tame her flower gardens.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Emily comes to The Clearing with a lifelong love of artistic pursuits and the environment. Emily serves on the Public Arts Initiative of Egg Harbor committee and the Parks Committee of Jacksonport. She is a trained hike leader and land steward with the Door County Land Trust. Emily has most recently been a dental hygienist serving the Door County community and working at the Idea Gallery in West Jacksonport, where she shows her photography and jewelry. Her photography has recently been in shows at the Kress Pavillion in Egg Harbor, The Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay and The Neville Public Museum in Green Bay. She has won first place awards for the Peninsula Pulse newpaper’s Hal Prize photography contest in different categories the last two years. Emily with her husband Chris, opened Hatch Distilling in Egg Harbor 5 years ago. Raising their four children here, they have called Door County home since 2016. Emily is excited to be a part of The Clearing.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Erik first came to The Clearing in 1993 as an Iowa State landscape architecture student. His love of the outdoors, council fires and smores led him back to this land of oatmeal in 1997 for a three month summer job. That was a while ago and the rest, as they say, is history. And oh what an interesting history it has been. Erik’s work at The Clearing takes him inside and out. Whether he’s behind the computer, teaching a carving class, at the table saw or out on the trail, Erik enjoys the infinite creative currents running through The Clearing and the many people it calls to.