Agenda & Speakers

Breakout 1 - Beginner

Carly Mphasa serves as Secretary of the Grand Rapids Area Bee Club (GRABC) and is a member of the GRCC Apiary Committee, supporting local beekeeping education and community engagement. In this session, Carly will walk new beekeepers through the practical steps of setting up their first apiary, including choosing a suitable hive location, selecting essential equipment, and deciding how and where to purchase bees. She'll share tips for planning ahead, avoiding unnecessary expenses, and making informed decisions to help beginners get their beekeeping journey off to a strong start.

Breakout 1 - Beyond Beginner

Stay tuned!

Breakout 1 - Beyond the Hive

With over 50 years of combined experience as an ISA-certified arborist, nursery grower, and beekeeper, Mike Connor offers a unique perspective in his talk Trees and Flowers for Pollinators Mike explains which trees provide the best forage for honey bees and why they’re critical to colony health and honey production. Attendees walk away with practical guidance for planting and advocating for pollinator-friendly landscapes.

Breakout 2 - Beginner

Jan Lawson started beekeeping in the 1960s and quickly learned that beekeeping requires a commitment to continuing education. That's especially true today, given the many challenges pollinators face. Jan is still learning how to become a beekeeper, and one of these days… he just might make it! In this session, Jan will explain how timely inspections can increase your chances of success during your first year of beekeeping. Learn to sharpen your observational skills and build confidence as you dive into your hive!

Breakout 2 - Beyond Beginner

Dixon Apiaries consists of two brothers - Andrew is a scientist, and David is a finance guy - who are adventuring their way through beekeeping! In this talk, you’ll hear them discuss a science-informed approach to overwintering. Specifically, the concept of the “condensing” winter hive will be discussed, and contrasted with the “Ventilation” hive method you were probably taught to do when you got in to beekeeping

Breakout 2 - Beyond the Hive

Megan Kobe is part of the family behind Kobe Apiaries, a Grand Rapids-based beekeeping business that grew from a hobby into a passion for honeybees and pollinator conservation. The family maintains apiaries throughout West Michigan, producing honey, beeswax products, queens, and nucleus colonies. In this session, Megan will explore bee photography, sharing tips for capturing the beauty and fascinating behavior of honeybees through the camera lens. With a strong interest in environmental conservation, Megan brings a unique perspective on using photography to appreciate and share the remarkable world of bees.

Breakout 3 - Beginner

Charlotte Hubbard has been keeping bees since 2008 and was named Michigan’s 2018 Beekeeper of the Year. She manages about a dozen colonies, leads Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s beekeeping program, and serves on the Kalamazoo Bee Club board. In this session, Charlotte will share practical insights into Varroa mite biology, monitoring, and treatment options, helping beekeepers develop effective integrated pest management plans. Beyond beekeeping, she donates proceeds from her writing, speaking, and honey sales to feeding the homeless in Southwest Michigan.

Breakout 3 - Beyond Beginner

Jessica Steller of Steller Apiaries has been keeping bees since 2009, specializing exclusively in alternative hive designs. Along with her husband, Keith, she manages approximately 35 colonies in Jackson, Michigan, using top bar, AZ, and Warré hives. In this session, Jessica will explore alternative hive setups, sharing practical insights into their design, management, and benefits, as well as considerations for beekeepers interested in trying something beyond traditional Langstroth hives. Jessica and Keith practice natural beekeeping, raising bees without chemical treatments or foundation, with a focus on sustainable beekeeping and pollinator health.

Breakout 3 - Beyond the Hive

Learn how to use beeswax to make skincare salves and balms with a live demo from Haley Terpstra. She has over a decade of experience and will guide you through salve making; while offering tips and tricks to simplify the process. You will have the option to sample several salves and balms made with a variety of botanicals. You will also be provided a salve recipe and instructions to take home. 

Breakout 4 - Beginner

Don Lam and his wife, Jean, have been keeping bees for nearly 25 years, providing pollination services, producing honey, and hosting educational visits to their apiaries. Don teaches beekeeping classes and regularly speaks to community groups. In this session, Don will share practical tips for harvesting honey, from knowing when it's ready to removing frames, extracting, and preparing honey for storage. Don is also an officer of the Holland Area Beekeepers’ Association and serves on the board of the Michigan Beekeepers’ Association.

Breakout 4 - Beyond Beginner

Mike Sauter has been keeping bees for over 25 years and manages more than 100 colonies as an active sideline beekeeper. His extensive hands-on experience includes swarm collection, hive removals, and raising locally adapted queens and nucs. In this session, Mike will share practical insights into single brood box management, including strategies for maintaining healthy, productive colonies while simplifying hive management. A certified Kentucky Queen Breeder, Mike is passionate about sustainable beekeeping and helping others succeed through education, mentorship, and access to quality locally raised queens and nucs.

Breakout 4 - Beyond the Hive

Kristine Jacobson is a Grand Rapids-based beekeeper and apitherapist who has practiced bee venom therapy (BVT) since 2003. She has presented on apitherapy to numerous local and national organizations and has been featured on The Travel Channel demonstrating BVT. In this session, Kristine will introduce apitherapy, the therapeutic use of honeybee products, including bee venom, and explore its history, applications, and growing interest as an alternative health practice. She will share insights into the different bee products used in apitherapy and their potential benefits, along with considerations for their safe use.