Trustee Profiles

Dan Rasmussen, Chair

Dan Rasmussen was appointed to North Central’s Board of Trustees in September 2017. He is chairman of the board and serves on the Bylaws & Policy Committee and Finance & Facilities Committee.

Rasmussen is a Principal and Managing Partner of Rasmussen, Teller, O’Neil & Christman, P.C., in Petoskey. He has been a member of the firm for more than 20 years and has more than 26 years of experience in public accounting. 

Rasmussen graduated with honors from Michigan State University, where he received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Professional Accounting with an emphasis in taxation. His bachelor’s degree is in accounting, and he is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.

Rasmussen’s service to the community is extensive. He is a founding member and a past President of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Petoskey, former Treasurer of the Petoskey Education Foundation, and he spent a decade managing baseball teams within the Petoskey Little League. He has also been active as a past Committee Chair for the SFX Troop 7 Boy Scouts and as the Treasurer of the Top of the State Michigan State University Alumni Club.

Dan and his wife live in Petoskey and have three sons.

Term ends December 31, 2026

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Chris Etienne, Vice Chair

Chris Etienne was appointed to the Board of Trustees in June 2022, serving on the board's Curriculum, Personnel, and Foundation committees.  She has served on the NCMC Foundation Board of Directors since 2016.

Etienne is an Associate Broker with Harbor Sotheby’s International Realty and Director of Leasing and Community Relations for Bay Harbor Company.

She has had a career in real estate since 2001 and has been in sales for more than 25 years, previously as Vice President of Treasury Management Sales for National City Bank. Chris has a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland European Division and an MBA from Lake Superior State University.

In addition to Chris’ love for the real estate industry, she enjoys her involvement in the community. She is a founding board member of the Bay Harbor Foundation, member of the Rotary Club of Petoskey, board member and administrator for Northwest Michigan Industrial Association. She is a past board member of Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce and Hospice of Little Traverse Bay. Chris was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder in 2011 to serve on the Michigan Women’s Commission and was appointed chair in 2016. Chris received the Athena Award in 2007 and the Emmet Association of Realtors Realtor of the Year award in 2014. 

Chris’ involvement in Rotary began in 1990 and she served as club president in 1997-98.  Chris has served Rotary at the district level in many capacities and was district governor in 2007-2008. She has also served in leadership roles, as a committee member and as a training leader at the zone and international levels of Rotary International since 2009.  Chris participated in a National Immunization Day for polio eradication in India in 2004 and in Nigeria in 2015.

Etienne served as interim trustee through December 2022. She was elected November 2022 to serve a full six-year term, which ends December 31, 2028.

Term ends December 31, 2028

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Melissa Keiswetter, Secretary

Appointed to the North Central Michigan College Board of Trustees in July 2015, Melissa Keiswetter serves as board secretary.

Melissa has a history of dedication to education.  Coming from a family of educators, she has been an elementary school teacher, a high school special education teacher, and a volunteer in several school settings. Melissa is a member of the Curriculum Committee and also the trustee representative to MCCA, serving on this organization’s board of directors.

During the period from 1999 to 2020, Melissa was an active director of the NCMC Foundation, serving on the executive committee, the annual giving committee, and the special events committee, among others.  In 2013, Melissa and her husband, Paul, served as co-chairs of the capital campaign for the building of the Jack and Dorothy Harris Health Education and Science Center.  In 2014, Melissa, Paul, and his company, Petoskey Plastics, were honored with the Founder’s Society Award. 

Along with dedication to the college, Melissa has committed herself to many community endeavors, including serving on boards of the Crooked Tree Arts Council, Hestia Women’s Giving Circle, and others.  She and Paul support several community philanthropies to enhance the quality of life in northern Michigan, with an emphasis on youth and on education.

Melissa lives in Petoskey and has two “gift children,” two natural children, and three grandchildren.

Term ends December 31, 2028

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John Fought, Treasurer

John Fought has been a member of the North Central Michigan College Board of Trustees since November 2004 and currently serves as the board's treasurer. He is a member of both the Foundation Committee and the Bylaws & Policy Committee, while also chairing the Finance and Facilities Committee.

Throughout his tenure, Fought has guided NCMC through several major projects, including the construction of the Health Education and Science Center, the library renovation, and the expansion of the Administration/Classroom Building. He also played an important role during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked closely with CFO Tom Zeidel to secure a $6M bond for the Career and Technical Education Enhancement (CATEE) project and participated in a debt refinancing initiative in 2017.

Outside of his board service, Fought has contributed to the Petoskey community in various ways, including more than 35 years as the filmer for the Petoskey varsity football team. From the mid-1980s until his 2018 retirement, Fought captured games from what he called the “best seat in the house,” developing a passion for high school football and traveling across Michigan to film both home and away games. His dedication extended to helping shape improvements in the filming process, including the creation of a film booth atop the Curtis Field press box.

Fought's love for football and commitment to the community were integral parts of his volunteer work, where he took pride in being part of the team and contributing to the success of the program.

Fought earned his bachelor’s degree from Albion College and his MBA from the University of Michigan. A retired CPA, he resides in Petoskey.

Term ends December 31, 2024

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Keith A. Pretty, J.D., Trustee

Keith A. Pretty was appointed to North Central’s Board of Trustees in November 2023. He serves on the Personnel and Bylaws and Policy committees.

Pretty joined Northwood University as President and CEO on October 2, 2006, and retired as President Emeritus on August 1, 2019. He arrived at Northwood from Walsh College, where he served as president for seven years. Prior to Walsh, he was Vice President for external affairs and General Counsel at Western Michigan University and President and CEO of the Western Michigan University Foundation. Prior to his service at WMU, Pretty held executive roles in the private sector with the Standard Oil Company (Indiana).

Pretty earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Western Michigan University and a juris doctor degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

He is the recipient of many awards and commendations and has served on numerous boards and commissions in both the public and private sectors.

Keith and his wife live in Harbor Springs and have four adult children.

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James Shirilla, M.D., Trustee

Dr. James Shirilla has been a member of the North Central Michigan College Board of Trustees since January 2012. He earned his bachelor's degree from Oakland University and later graduated from Wayne State University’s School of Medicine. Now retired, Shirilla resides in Springvale Township, having practiced medicine for many years.

On the Board of Trustees, Shirilla currently serves on the Curriculum Committee and is the chairman of the Personnel Committee. Throughout his tenure, he has helped guide the college through significant initiatives, including the construction of the Health Education and Science Center, the library renovation, and the expansion of the Administration/Classroom Building.

In addition to his service on the board, Shirilla is a proud member of Petoskey’s Sunrise Rotary Club, which supports area food pantries through its annual Venison for Manna initiative. This program covers the processing fees for deer harvested and donated by local hunters, ensuring that the Manna Food Project has a consistent supply of protein to distribute to families in need. Shirilla’s commitment to the community extends to his direct involvement with the Manna Food Project, where he actively supports its mission to fight hunger across Northern Michigan.

“I am privileged to serve the community as its representative, working closely with the dedicated faculty and administration at the college," Shirilla said. "Our common goal is to offer educational opportunities for the residents of Northern Michigan and see the college grow.”

Term ends December 31, 2024