Alumni Speakers

Mike attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, earning a bachelor's degree in Art, with a double major in Communication Arts - Radio, TV/Film, and Scandinavian Studies. During this time, Mikko took a two-year break and enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Germany as a Field Artillery Cannoneer, leading to his pursuit of an Army ROTC Reserve Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. After 32 years of service, Mikko retired in 2015 as Lieutenant Colonel.

During his service, and as a Public Affairs Officer, Mikko covered every major Army Reserve operational activity around the globe, from supporting NATO peacekeeping efforts in the Balkans to support in Afghanistan to filming 55 hours of video B-roll and interviews from the Marine/Army Iraqi War march to Baghdad in 2003. After earning a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma, he served four years as the U.S. Army Attaché’ to the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki, Finland.

Additionally, the Commanding General of the U.S Army in Europe recruited Mikko as an Army Civilian to serve as his personal media advisor, which led to extensive travel, ensuring our European Allies of US support during the Russian invasion of Crimea. Later Mikko served as the primary planner for the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Landing in Normandy, France. He currently serves as the Congressional Liaison and Public Affairs Officer for the Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, Maryland.

Among other awards, Mikko has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal and First Class Knight of the White Rose of Finland.

Michael is married to Sabine and has three sons Sean, Max, and Henry.

Kelly was an active member of the Wayland theatre department and Thespians, participating both on and backstage. After Kelly Cantley-Kashima `81, went on to Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Although Kelly studied geology for a few semesters at Colby, she inadvertently registered for a stagecraft (set building) class and was introduced to stage management. After taking a few years off to enjoy Colorado’s ski slopes, Kelly decided to return to higher education at Boston University (BU), where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Production.

After graduating from BU, Kelly worked for a couple of years as a professional Equity stage manager in the Boston area. In 1991 she was hired as a short-term Production Assistant (PA) for PBS’s American Playhouse production (live to tape) of O Pioneers at The Huntington Theatre in Boston. While on the PA job, she discovered the DGA (Director’s Guild of America) Training Program for Assistant Directors, applied, was accepted, and moved to Los Angeles. Kelly’s last job in Theatre was a production of “Speed the Plow” at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas.

Kelly was a DGA Trainee for a little under two years, going to Saturday seminars and receiving on-the-job training on a wide range of movies and TV shows, including Terminator 2, Sneakers, Murder She Wrote, and the New Adventures of Lassie. Her first job was on Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the TV show (not the movie). After graduating from the Training Program in 1993, she worked as a Key Second Assistant Director (AD) on movies, commercials, music videos, and TV shows until 2000, when she moved up to First Assistant Director. As a First AD, she has worked in movies and TV in every genre, from big-budget action to low-budget indie to half-hour television comedy. Recent highlights from Kelly’s First AD career include; The Office, Jack Ryan, and Space Force. She directed an episode of The Office in Season 9, “Customer Loyalty,” and a 5-part webisode, “The Mentor.”

Kelly lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband Kevin Kashima and their cattle dog Roxy. They (Kevin & Kelly) race sailboats, fly fish (with Roxy), and travel for fun.

After graduating from Wayland in 2011, Anne attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison for a bachelor's degree in Art. Upon graduating from UW-Madison, Anne was hired as a graphic designer and show manager for Steinjäger, Inc., a company that makes Jeep suspension and accessories. On the side, she continued to do photography and various other art projects.

As Anne's photography client base grew, so did her portfolio, which now includes watercolor, oil paintings, wedding videography, wedding photography, portrait photography, and logo design for her own photography company, Anne Raisor Photography & Design.

Anne married in 2017 and continues to work for Steinjäger in Cincinnati, OH, and her photography and design business.

Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Montana (’01) and a Master of Arts in New Media from Emerson College (’05). He is both owner and Director of Operations at Camp Nicolet for Girls in Eagle River, Wisconsin; his family business of over 75 years. Since 1995, Jeremy works part-time in local radio and currently volunteers at WXPR Public Radio in Rhinelander, Wisconsin as a rotating host on the Northwoods Cafe, playing eclectic, alternative, and electronic music. In 2015 and 2018, Jeremy served as Interim Operations Manager at WXPR, managing automation, programming, studio & transmitter upgrades, and FCC compliance.

Jeremy podcasts each summer with Camp Nicolet campers & staff, who excitedly share their summer experiences and camp stories with friends and family.

He enjoys skiing, playing guitar, and leading wilderness trips for Nicolet campers in his spare time.