Our Leadership Team
Team Leaders
Dawn, Judy, Mary (BR) Elise, Andrea, Carla, Jackie Val, Lea, Becky
2026/2027 Management Team
Judy Burgess, Team Coordinator - Bellevue
Elise Palmer, Communication Coordinator – Battle Creek
Andrea Sheedy, Financial Coordinator - Bellevue
Jackie Olsen, Marketing/Public Relations Coordinator - Plainwell
Dawn Wendzel, Membership Coordinator – Richland
Carla DeLaRosa, Activities/Costume Coordinator - Flushing
Lea Martin, Performance Coordinator – Battle Creek
Becky Behne, Region 17 Coordinator – Kalamazoo
Val Burton, Quartet Coordinator – Battle Creek
Mary Su, Music Director – Dexter
Julie Zehnder
Andrea, Judy, Julie, Carla - SAY Team
A highlight of the installation event was the recognition of member Julie Zehnder, Harmony 500 Certified Director (retired), through the renaming of the former Liz Lapekas Sweet Adeline of the Year Award as the Julie Zehnder Sweet Adeline of the Year Award.
The award is presented each calendar year to a member selected by her peers for exemplifying the core values of the Battle Creek Chorus through leadership, professionalism, dedication of time and energy to the organization, and teamwork.
Julie Zehnder has had a lifetime of achievements in the barbershop and Sweet Adelines communities, especially within the Battle Creek Chorus. She joined the Kalamazoo Sweet Adelines in 1963 at age 23. In 1976, she became involved in the newly formed Lake Michigan Region 3. As a member of the faculty, she served on the 3M team for music, membership, and management, and later became Director of Musical Activities, a role she held for many years.
Julie has also been an active quartet singer, performing with House Blend, Tuxedo Swing, Young and the Rest of Us, Spirit, and her current quartet, Hoop-lah.
Zehnder became director of the Battle Creek Chorus in 1978 and led the chorus to many awards over the years, while alsoserving as Directors Coordinator in Region 17. In 2017, she stepped back from active directing but remains a lifetime member.
Awards
The Julie Zehnder Sweet Adeline of the Year Award is given to a member during the current calendar year by a vote of her peers who has exemplified the core values of a BCC member by her leadership, professionalism, dedication of time and energy to the organization and teamwork. The 2026 recipient is Becky Behne, Region 17 Coordinator~
A Booster Award was given to Dawn Wendzel, Membership Coordinator for her outstanding contributions to the Chorus in helping them continually improve, grow and strive to be a championship chorus.