MEET OUR TEAM
Our Director
Jennifer Turkiewicz
Executive Director
My husband, Scott, and I moved to the Tomahawk area in October of 2002 with our two babes, Matthew and Gracie; we both spent most of our lives in the Northwoods and knew there was no other place we wanted to raise our own children. We’ve never looked back or been sorry for that decision.
Volunteering is very important to me, and I have served in multiple roles for various boards and organizations. I have held all positions on the St. Mary’s Home and School Board and was co-chair of the Legacy program; I was a Cub Scout Leader and Assistant Cubmaster with our local Pack 548 and also served as a Merit Badge Counselor and Committee Member with Troop 548. I was also on the Little Rice Emergency Services Unit and as co-chair of our annual picnic and Firehouse Chili Competition. I served as the secretary and treasurer for Tomahawk Extended Area Partners in Education (TEAPIE) for several years, and I am currently the Secretary of the Board for the Tomahawk Ambassadors and Tomahawk Wrestling Alumni and Supporters Club, as well as the President of the Tomahawk Community Theater. For me, giving my time is just as important, if not more, than any financial contribution I can give. The work is in the details, and it takes an army to pull off events, and I am so proud to be a part of such a fantastic team.
When I was first approached about joining the Main Street board as the Treasurer (thanks to Brenda Bartz for nominating me based on our work together!), I thought it would be a neat experience. Little did I know that it would lead to adding on the Secretary role, then the Interim Executive Director position; now, I am the Executive Director! I have had so much fun finding out more about each of our businesses, helping owners and staff promote their uniqueness, and showing off our great downtown! I learn a little more every day, and I am thrilled to be working alongside our dedicated board, volunteers, and BID District to help make Tomahawk the place to be!
TIM CALHOUN,
President
Owner, Calhoun Insurance
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Tim Calhoun joined Tomahawk Main Street in 2017. He is the owner/agent of Calhoun Insurance. Tim began his agency with Insurance Producers Network in 2017 after his family made the decision to exit the powersports business. They sold the family business, Tomahawk Sports Center in Tomahawk, after 53 years of commitment to the business and community at large.
He is proud to be a part of Tomahawk's future, helping keep our downtown vibrant, beautiful, and busy throughout the year.
JENNA PULTZ
Vice President
Owner, HMM Boutique
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Jenna Pultz joined Tomahawk Main Street’s Board of Directors in the spring of 2021. She is the owner of HMM Boutique, a business she started in late 2020. She and her husband were born and raised in Tomahawk and are both 2004 graduates of Tomahawk High School. They returned to Tomahawk to raise their family in 2014.
As a native of Tomahawk, Jenna has a strong desire to keep it a vibrant and thriving community, and believes that maintaining the vitality of our downtown plays an important role in that. She hopes that devoting her time and skills to TMS will help achieve that goal.
Jesica witte, Secretary
Crossbridge Community Bank
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Jesica Witte has been highly involved in Tomahawk, and the region, for more than a decade. She is a former director of the Tomahawk Regional Chamber of Commerce and has been active in promoting businesses and organizations in several marketing roles for over twenty years. Currently the Marketing and Business Development Director at Crossbridge Community Bank, Jesica looks forwarded to helping tell the story of our amazing Main Street organization and the impact that our downtown plays in tourism and economic development. She and her husband Jeff enjoy traveling and spending as much time as they can with their adult children, extended family, and friends.
Our Board
Grey Lusty, nominated treasurer
Co-Owner, What's Brewin'
Grey and Kassie purchased What’s Brewin’ in 2020, the coffee shop that has been a staple of the Tomahawk area for 23 years. In 2021, their oldest son, Kenneth, moved to Tomahawk to help run the business. While Grey maintains the books and keeps the equipment running, he isn’t good for much else around the coffee shop, so when Kassie was nominated, she asked him to join the board on her behalf. Grey joins the board as an interim member not only to fill a vacant seat, but especially to help What’s Brewin’ become more involved in the work of sustaining and growing Tomahawk’s Main Street.
Kassie and Grey grew up together in the tiny town of Whitehall, Montana, and as small-town kids, they believe strongly in the connection, community, and culture that is so easily overlooked in this age of technology. Tomahawk embodies those small-town values, providing a welcoming place for visitors, seasonal, and full-time residents to dine and shop while supporting our local small businesses. The Main Street organization is crucial in organizing the resources and planning necessary to create an active and inviting downtown area, and the What’s Brewin Crew is excited to help out!
AL ELVINS
Chief, Tomahawk Police
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Al started working for the City of Tomahawk on July 30, 2012. Prior to starting with the City, he had 17 years of experience as a patrol officer/traffic officer/juvenile detective/ hostage negotiation team leader/ and a Detective Sergeant in Georgia. Al was also a full-time firefighter for 3 years prior to his law enforcement career. He takes pride in leading an agency that provides exceptional and compassionate service to the community we serve. Al has an open-door policy and invites anyone to come in and voice concerns. The only way we can become a better agency is by knowing where we are failing.
Al lives in Tomahawk with his wife Tina, and their 3 fur babies 1) Jack Russell Echo (5), 2) Lab mix Alexa (4), and 3) Boxer Bailey (2). Tina is the Social Services Director at Riverview Health Services in Tomahawk. Echo, Alexa, and Bailey are rambunctious babies that are also best friends that love to run and play. Their family enjoys spending time together and exploring new areas.
DAWN GENELIN
Owner, Honeycomb L.O.F.T.
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Dawn Genelin has called Tomahawk home since 1997, when she moved here after marrying her husband; they are the proud parents of two daughters. She is the owner of Honeycomb L.O.F.T., which opened in 2017.
Dawn joined the Tomahawk Main Street Board of Directors in 2016. Her creativity and passion for community service make being a part of the Tomahawk Main Street organization extremely rewarding, even when challenging and through-provoking. Tomahawk has a wide variety of options and opportunities, and Dawn looks forward to continuing to play a part in making it a destination for generations to come!
DONNA AHLGRIM
Co-Owner,
Sideways Wine & Craft Beer
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Donna Ahlgrim joined Tomahawk Main Street board in 2022.
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Donna had lived in Tomahawk for numerous years where she tended bar at various establishments while working on her computer science degree at Nicolet College. Donna left Tomahawk in 1992 when she obtained a job in the Chicago suburbs. She worked at several positions in IT as a Computer Programmer, Program Manager, and IT Director. Over the years, Donna continued to visit family and friends in Tomahawk often, so her love for Tomahawk and dream to return became a reality in the fall of 2019 when she moved back to Tomahawk with her husband Steve and daughter Shayna. They are the owners of Sideways Wine & Craft Beer, LLC and their daughter is the owner of The Fifth Element Art Gallery LLC located downtown Tomahawk at the previous Surplus Store.
Donna is passionate about wine and art and is looking forward to serving the Tomahawk community. She also enjoys volunteering for Tomahawk Main Street events, gardening, golfing, snowmobiling, and spending time with her family and friends.
Mike bellile
Owner, Coasters Cycle Works
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I am Mike Bellile, owner of Coasters Cycle Works, bicycle and silent sports shop. I grew up in the wonderful community of Tomahawk, attended grade school and graduated from THS in 2006. My passion has always been for the outdoors. When you grow up in Northern WI, you spend a lot of time recreating outside. After high school, I attended college and received a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Education from the University of MN- Duluth. I dedicated my post college years working at nature centers, substitute teaching, and working in sports shops as a bike mechanic and ski shop manager. I have the Entrepreneur spirit and knew what my hometown of Tomahawk needed. So, I decided to give back and bring something positive to my hometown that fostered me as a young man. In 2019 Coasters Cycle Works was born. As we all know, the world fell apart shortly after, and then a beaming light came into my life in the form of my son, Jackson. My wife, Haley, and I are very blessed to have him in our lives. We spend most of our summers biking, paddling, boating, or floating in something. In the winter, I am an avid cross-country skier, teaching multiple classes for beginners every winter. We just started snowshoeing with our 3-year-old Jack, and he took to it like a fish to water.
I'm happy to be a part of the Tomahawk Main Street board. I am so proud of our Main Street, and if I can collaborate with others to keep it thriving, sign me up. Power to the people!
patti hilgendorf
Executive Director
Kinship of Tomahawk
I’m Patti Hilgendorf, Kinship of Tomahawk Executive Director. I have been involved in the Kinship Program since it’s beginning in 1997 in one way or another, board member, program director, and now Executive Director. I worked at Lincoln Hills School for 25 years and during many of those years I was also involved in Kinship while also raising my own three children. I retired from LHS in 2017 and have since dedicated more time and energy to the Kinship Program.
Kinship recently moved to a new location on the main street and has become the owner of the former historic Bradley Bank building (which houses the Tomahawk Main Street office). Joining the Tomahawk Main Street Board has been a wonderful opportunity. I’m looking forward to Kinship being more involved in the downtown community as we partner with Tomahawk Main Street to work on projects in the downtown area. One possible partnership is an upgrade to the outside area to the east of our building as we hope to develop a beautiful welcoming space.
In my free time I love traveling (recently went to Ireland and have an Alaskan Cruise booked for this summer), and spending time with family.
Junior Board Member
Caylie Sawn
Junior Board Member, Youth Apprentice
Caylie Swan is currently a Senior at Tomahawk High School. She is a Youth Apprentice through Tomahawk Main Street where she will receive high school credit through hands-on work experience with her community. Caylie is very involved in both the school and the community. She is currently the Vice President of her class, Vice President of the National Honor Society, Commissioner of Link Crew and involved in Student Council, Varsity Club, FCCLA, Science Club, and the Prom Committee. Caylie has also helped out with Venison Feed, St. Mary’s Famers Breakfast, St. Mary’s Family Mass, and Love and Logic classes held for parents at the school. This past summer, she participated in Badger Girls State where she learned about how the government works at the city, county, and state levels. Caylie has also been in dance for 16 years and has been student teaching for the past 7 years and teaching by herself for the past 2 years. Throughout her high school career, Caylie has earned 3 Varsity letters, Coaches and Captains awards, as well as Academic All State for 2 years. You also might recognize Caylie from her carhopping at the local Dog ‘N’ Suds. In her free time, Caylie loves spending time with her family and friends, spending time on the water doing water sports, reading, and traveling. Although unsure of her future plans, she is very much considering UW-Eau Claire where she will major in Communications Sciences and Disorders in hopes to become a Speech Pathologist.
