February 28, 2017

Getting to Know: Levin Center manager leads the pack on the job and in the snow

Kaylee Place’s motto might well be “never let go … hold on no matter what.” She’s applied it to her lifelong infatuation with sled dog racing, and now she also uses it as her workplace credo.

The Marquette native does double duty these days, serving as the program manager for the Levin Center at Wayne Law and as interim director of marketing and communications for the Law School. But she’s used to being really busy — she’s been working since she was a kid.

Place started volunteering for the Upper Peninsula’s Sled Dog Association’s UP200 and Midnight Run sled dog races when she was 10 years old.

“I volunteered every year until 2014. Over time, I took on more responsibility," Place said. "When I was about 16, they asked me to be the race coordinator for Chocolay Township, a small community right outside of Marquette. I was responsible for making sure all the road crossings over this eight-mile span were covered and running smoothly.”

Place attributes her early interest in dogs to her first canine love: a golden retriever named Keanna. “Keanna was a sled dog, she did agility exercises and she was ‘trained’ by a little girl — me! Keanna was a great, great dog.”

Sled dog racing is a popular sport in the Upper Peninsula. The races are televised locally and mushers come from as far away as Alaska to participate. “The UP200 is such a huge tradition,” Place said. “I’ve never seen dogs more well-cared for than dogs in the mushing community. They’re highly trained athletes.

“When I was about 20, I was asked to serve as a board member of the Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association. I was their youngest board member and was really involved in the administration and execution of the races. I thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone in the mushing community.”

Place had several opportunities to run her own sled team. “We’d do fun runs. The most important lesson I learned ‘was never let go.’ If you do, the dogs will take off and you’ll be stranded.”

As program manager for the Levin Center, Place handles event planning, coordinates logistics and works directly with Senator Carl Levin, for whom the center is named. “I also work closely with the dean, our director, Washington directors, and our internal and external advisory boards.” Her background includes managing a state house race in the Upper Peninsula several years ago, which gave her a taste of the political landscape.

In her role as interim director of marketing and communications for Wayne Law, Place gets to use her experience as an organizer, event planner and administrator. “I’m really enjoying the marketing and communications part of this job. I love the work I’m doing.”

Place lives in Madison Heights with her two rescued golden retrievers, Josie and Mandy. She walks them two miles every night after work.

“They are a huge part of my life,” Place said. “They’re like my children.”

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