TRAVERSE CITY — Mike Wills, one of the region’s most prolific maritime champions, hasn’t always had the wind at his back, but he never stopped advocating for the water resource.
Wills received the inaugural Maritime Community Lifetime Service Award sponsored by Great Lakes Sailing Company on Dec. 13. The award recognizes his contributions and dedication to local maritime initiatives. During ceremonies hosted by Grand Traverse Yacht Club and Traverse Area Community Sailing, Wills was also honored with TACS 2023 Robert Allor Memorial Award for advancing sailing in the Grand Traverse Region.
“There’s not enough words to describe what he’s done,” said TACS program manager Ben Ferris who added that his contributions are backed by character. “He has the highest integrity of anyone you’ll ever meet. He’s kind and honest. The good of the whole always comes first.”
Wills’ lifelong affinity for the waters took many forms, none more telling than the middle names he gave his three daughters — Sea, Bay and Brook.
“It was pretty natural with my love and passion for water,” he said.
Wills’ entrepreneurial skills, matched by his zeal for the waters, proved an effective formula for helping achieve some of the area’s milestone marine accomplishments, although his work came as a cost to the vision for his own life.
“I dreamed to live on a boat and sail around the world,” he said. “But life got in the way.”
Wills leadership and talents aided both maritime research and recreation. The now-retired real estate developer moved to Old Mission after graduating from the University of Michigan.
Driven by his love of the water, he had worked as a lifeguard and scuba instructor in his youth. During his final two university years, Wills sold diving equipment from his Ann Arbor apartment. To his parents’ dismay, the young graduate turned from his architecture training to helping others experience the waters he loved.
Two years after setting up his diving business on Old Mission, Wills realized a move to the population center of Traverse City could save his then rocky endeavor and Scuba North became his business home. It was followed by other marine developments, including Harbor Boat Shop/ Harbor West Marina.
In 1994 Willis was instrumental in founding the nonprofit TACS. Thirty years later, TACS youth, adult and adaptive sail programs train 600 individuals annually, primarily youth. Last season exceeded averages by training 950 youth.
“Our schools don’t have swim programs, despite having water all around us,” Wills said. “It’s one of the few programs that teach water skills and safety.”
The water advocate also sparked development of the Discovery Center & Pier in Greilickville in the mid-2000s. Wills served as the nonprofit’s president for 12 years and continues service as a board member. The Discovery complex provides a hub for marine nonprofits and businesses supporting stewardship, education and historic preservation programs connecting people of all ages and abilities to the Great Lakes, including 3,000 youth annually.
“He’s always willing to lend a hand whether it’s something big or little,” said the organization’s CEO Matt McDonough. “He’s our biggest volunteer, always looking out for the Discovery Center. He’s invaluable.”
Wills promoted a more recent effort to establish the Traverse City asset as a cruise host. The fall of 2019 welcomed a handful of ships. However, the community failed to embrace the concept and the enterprise was short-lived.
While involved with the center and pier, Wills got behind a major initiative establishing the Great Lakes Water Resources Center, the predecessor to Northwestern Michigan College’s Great Lakes Campus and Water Studies Program, including the country’s only bachelor’s degree in marine technology.
The program spawned a joint venture for creation of the planned $70 million Freshwater Research & Innovation Center on the Discovery Center Campus. The proposed center involves NMC, Michigan Technological University and more than 20 additional entities.
As a real estate developer, Wills led several significant Traverse City projects including River’s Edge redevelopment in midtown.
He plans to spend his retirement lending his talent and passion in support of TACS and the Discovery Center’s continued growth.