Meet Our Team

The Governing Board of The Heritage Association of Hillsdale, Michigan consists of the following:

Heather Tritchka, Executive board Member, Scupltor/Founding Member, (b. 1970) holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Hillsdale College (1998) with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She also holds a Master of Arts degree from Biola University (2014) in Philosophy. She left home in California at age 16 and made her way to Hillsdale College after years of working to support herself. As a 28 year-old senior at a liberal arts college, Heather enrolled in a sculpture course to fulfill an arts requirement for graduation (she thought she was heading to medical school). In that course, taught by renowned sculptor Anthony Frudakis, Heather discovered a talent and love for creating sculpture. Others recognized her talent and commissioned sculptures from her. Becoming fully immersed in the world of sculpture, Heather decided not to attend medical school. Her knowledge of anatomy and biology from those pre-Med studies, however, give her sculptures a wonderful life-like quality. She also presents projects for The Heritage Association to community groups.

Heather is also Hillsdale Woman's Club past president and and a board member for Artworks of Hillsdale, Inc..

These commissioned works include:

1998 Ludwig von Mises bust for Hillsdale College Library (senior class commission)
1999 Life size woman with basket and fawn (Hillsdale College donor commission)
1999 18 inch angel, on permanent display at Hillsdale College Sage Center for the Arts
2001 Winston Churchill, commissioned by Hillsdale College, 7 feet tall with desk and books (15 of the 18 inch Churchill statues have been purchased); on permanent display in the Hillsdale College Student Center
2003 commissioned to design and carve a wooden coat of arms for Will Carleton Academy, Hillsdale, MI
2016 Winona, Daughter of Chief Baw Beese of the Potawatomis, commissioned by The Heritage Association of Hillsdale, Michigan
2018 Mama Black Bear and Cubs, commissioned by The Heritage Association of Hillsdale, Michigan

Connie Sexton, Executive Board Director/Founding Member, (b.1954) born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, she now lives in Hillsdale, Mi. She wrote The Heritage Association’s mission Statement and firmly believes in preserving local heritage and educating the community of its rich history. Connie is a retired Chrysler-Jeep Training and Education Co-Ordinator for Skilled Trades and her involvement with several local organizations and being an active community volunteer provides deep experience in organization, fundraising, bookkeeping, leadership.

She is a member and past president of The Hillsdale Womans Club, member and past president of the Hillsdale Garden Club . She also belongs to 100 Women Who Care (Jonesville, MI) and serves on the board for Hospice of Hillsdale County.

In addition, she was an active member of the Hillsdale Ladies Beautification League (now disbanded due to IRS regulations that limited it to 5 years of existence), which brought to life three wonderful murals in Hillsdale. Connie is president of Artworks of Hillsdale, Inc., a lifetime member of the Hillsdale Historical Society, and a Michigan Garden Club Board Member. She oversees and directs all aspects of current projects including grant writing, fundraising, event planning. She creates project literature for publicity and fundraising, presents projects to community groups, collects and documents donations and money spent, maintains correspondence such as; sponsorship letters, thank you notes and acknowledgements.

Heather and Connie are on the executive board but they wouldn't be able to do what they do if it weren't for help from the other amazing men and women who make up the committee!

Dedra McDonald- Birzer PH D- Executive Board member, Editor, Founding member
Dedra lives in Hillsdale, Mi and is a professor at Hillsdale College. She edits all written material for The Heritage Association. She holds a doctorate in the Comparative History of Women and Gender and in the History of the American West from The University of New Mexico (2000) and a Master of Arts in the History of Women in America from The University of Wisconsin-Madison (1993). She was graduated from Texas Lutheran University summa cum laude in 1991, with a double major in History and Spanish. She is the author of numerous articles, chapters in anthologies, and book reviews, as well as the forthcoming book, Something No Other Woman Has Been: Public Intellectual Women in Twentieth-Century America (ISI Books). She teaches courses in the History of the American West, Colonial Latin American History; Modern Latin American History.

Brooke Amstutz - Editor
Brooke is the daughter of Connie Sexton, she lives in Toledo, Ohio with her husband and two sons. She grew up camping in Hillsdale on Boot Lake and has always considered Hillsdale her second home. She often supports The Heritage Association by donating her time to help behind the scenes at fundraising and community events. Brooke has a Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toledo and works in Ann Arbor.

Pam Heckel - Editor/Photographer
Pam is a Hillsdale area artist and art educator specializing in the use of historic photographic processes. Her work celebrates the physical qualities of hand-coated photographic papers that she makes herself. She captures her photographs using vintage film cameras and primitively handmade box cameras. Her photographic prints are often exposed in her back yard using light from the sun. Pam earned an M.A. in Arts Administration (2013) and an M.F.A. in Photography (2005) from Savannah College of Art & Design. She is also a Hillsdale College alumna.

Karen Hill
Karen is a retired speech and language pathologist, community supporter active in various clubs and non-profit. She is a member of the Hillsdale College Woman Commissioners, Past President of Hillsdale Woman’s Club, Board member of Hospice of Hillsdale and member of St Anthony’s Catholic Church.

Jennifer Lehman - Artist
Jennifer was born in San Diego, California. She received her BA from Taylor University where she studied art. She continued her art studies at the Irvine Fine Arts center in Irvine, California and with the California Art Institute in Westlake Village, Ca. Her artwork has been described as “inspiring and engaging.” Jennifer finds inspiration from the beauty of the natural world and from her travels to far-flung places such as Malawi, Africa; Dingle, Ireland; and Orvieto, Italy. Jennifer lives and works in Hillsdale, Michigan

Kathy Norton - Hospitality
Kathy moved to the Hillsdale/Jonesville Community in 2015. She is an avid supporter of the arts. Kathy is passionate about and believes in building a sense of hometown community through supporting homegrown talent.

Robin Page - Assistant Grant Writer
Robin has been married for 30 years, she loves to hunt and fish. She is an active member of the 100 Women Who Care Organization of Jonesville, MI. For the past 19 years she has worked at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center.

Madeline Richards - Artist
Madeline is a local artist studying the Fine Arts at Hillsdale College. She has been a rigorous student of art for 3 years and has been painting for 1 year. She has shown in various exhibitions and has had the wonderful opportunity to study for a semester with master artists at the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. Madeline is influenced by many renowned artists, including the impressionists, the renaissance painters, and more recently, names such as Nick Alm, Burton Silverman, and more. Her inspiration most often comes from scenes of everyday life. She is still growing as an artist, trying to find her voice, and the things that she is attempting to say with her art. Regardless of what this may be, she knows that her artistic philosophy relies on creating with integrity and truth. This is her ultimate aspiration, and what she continuously keeps in mind while in the studio. After she earns her bachelor's degree, it is her hope to go to graduate school, and specialize in painting and drawing."

Diane Williams - Secretary
As a Michigan State University graduate with degrees in Art History and Historic Preservation, Diane brings a variety of talents and experience to The Heritage Association of Hillsdale, MI. Diane was owner and CEO of successful interior design and home staging firms as well as serving on the Birmingham Historic District Commission. Diane has served on various committees including Detroit Dressage and Motor City horse shows, Children Education at Christ Church Cranbrook, Mentadent Tennis Tournaments and Bloomfield Open Hunt Swim Team. She has also been an etiquette instructor at The Birmingham Community House, The Village Club as well as schools and sororities. Event planning is also a passion of Ms. Williams including planning weddings, showers, fund raisers and social events. Diane is the proud mother of Margo Millard (Hillsdale College graduate), Glynis (Hillsdale College graduate) and Rhys (Hillsdale Academy graduate and Hillsdale College student). As a member of the Hillsdale community since 2013, she is a member of the Hillsdale Garden Club and Hillsdale Woman's Club and is excited to be a part of the projects the Heritage Association brings to our area.

Kay Castellese
Kay moved to Hillsdale with her husband John in 2016 to buy their retirement home and to enjoy lake life. Kay has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Organizational Development from Spring Arbor University. She is retired after working 30 years in the steel industry as a department manager. Kay is a former member of AWMI (Association of Women in the Metals Industry) and is a current member of the Hillsdale Women’s Club. Since her husband is an Artist, Kay has special interest in supporting the Arts of Hillsdale County as well as volunteering her time to preserve the local heritage of the Hillsdale community.

Sarah Walworth
Sarah is currently the art teacher at Hillsdale High School. She was raised in Hillsdale and has lived here most of her life. She graduated from Hillsdale High School and then went on to receive her teaching certificate from Adrian College; Go Bulldogs! She currently resides in Hillsdale where she lives with her two beautiful daughters and her handsome husband. She has a passion for photography, painting and drawing. In her spare time Sarah loves to spend her time with her family, in the garden or reading. At the school Sarah is not only the art teacher but she is also the class adviser for the class of 2020, along with the head girls’ varsity soccer coach. Outside of school Sarah is not only a mother but is also a member of ArtWorks of Hillsdale County. All in all, she loves being an advocate of the arts!

Daniel Bisher - Associate Member, Historian/Advisor
Dan Bisher is a published author, writer, journalist and local historian. A native of Hillsdale County and graduate of Hillsdale High School, he is a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran having served as a Combat Correspondent. After attending California State University at Fullerton and working in southern California for two and one/half decades, Dan returned to his hometown of Hillsdale and was employed by Hillsdale College in Media Relations as a writer. Later, he became the managing editor of the Hillsdale Daily News. For several years, Dan narrated a historical program titled Tales of the Old Sauk Trail on Hillsdale’s WCSR radio station, where he also serves as a color commentator for high school and college football and basketball games. Dan’s recently published book is titled, “Faded Memories: Examination & Profiles of Hillsdale County’s Pioneer Period.
Sergeant Bisher served as a Marine Corps combat correspondent during the Viet Nam War. He was widely published in military publications such as Stars & Stripes, and he received the Purple Heart for combat wounds. He was the 17th individual inducted into the Hillsdale County Veteran's Hall of Fame, the first U.S. Marine to be inducted, and the fourth Vietnam War inductee. Dan currently serves as the president of the Hillsdale County Veterans Hall of Fame, and as a member on the board of directors of the Hillsdale County Veterans Affairs. He is also a member of the American Legion, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association.
Dan resides on his family’s Michigan Centennial Farm in Woodbridge Township with his wife, Noel.