Making a Difference
Bob started Cherry Republic 25 years ago with a t-shirt he sold from the trunk of his car. Over 30 years and many thousands of those t-shirts later, the company now has over 80 employees across 6 different locations. And before founding Cherry Republic, Bob was board president of Michigan Land Use Institute for 5 years and a commissioner of Leelanau County.
Bob’s supporting Michael for his steady leadership: “Mike and I went on a hike on the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes just after an ice storm, and I was slipping all over the place. But Michael was as steady an influence as I had ever seen. He was walking out there like it was a summer day. And that steadiness will be a trademark for his future representing northern Michigan as a state representative.”
– Bob Sutherland, Cherry Republic
People are Important
Sarah is an instructor of comparative religion and English at Northwestern Michigan College (NMC). She teaches Eastern and Western Religions, an introductory English composition course, and works with the college’s International Student Service Learning Department to lead study abroad opportunities related to religion and culture.
Sarah’s supporting Michael because he cares about people: “In the time that I’ve known Michael, I’ve had the opportunity to discover his depth of compassion for the people around him. Michael is a community builder with people of all ages and background, his a wealth of experience navigating challenging situations — turning them into opportunities from growth and collaboration. As an educator and mother, I know that Michael possesses the skills to champion that which would not only uplift us as Michigan citizens, but the skills to lead us into a future that prepares us to engage in new and wonderful ways with our fellow Americans and the world around us.”
– Sarah Montgomery-Richards, Northwestern Michigan College
Committed to His Values
Sarah works in the Community & Impact Partnerships organization at Meta, where she leads a team that produces educational content on such topics as bridge building, fundraising, combating misinformation and more for nonprofits and communities around the world. She previously worked as a Program Officer at the Schusterman Foundation, built the development arm of BBYO, and served for 2.5 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala.
Sarah and Michael were set up on a blind date 2.5 years ago, not realizing that they were both Michiganders. The rest, as they, say is history. When asked about Michael running for the Michigan State House of Representatives, Sarah said: “Michael is one of the most dedicated and mission-driven people I’ve ever met. He’s committed to his values and pursues them more optimistically than anyone I know. I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together and build our family, knowing that he’ll always contribute meaningfully to our community.”
– Sarah Schonberg, Superstar & Michael’s Wife
