Before the start of Cherry Republic, Bob Sutherland was board president of Michigan Land Use Institute for 5 years and commissioner of Leelanau County for a year. Previously in his business career, he was a Leelanau County Commissioner, General Partner of a new urbanist neighborhood, and incorporated seasonal housing for 50 employees. He is a published writer on a variety of topics, from politics to swimming alone. His business has drawn national media attention from the cover of the Wall Street Journal to the Food Network. He is a proud Board Member of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

In 1989 Sutherland started selling Cherry Republic T-shirts sporting the motto “Life, Liberty, Beaches and Pie” out of the trunk of his car. Over time the business has grown to have some 200 cherry-based products including chocolate-covered cherries, BBQ sauce, jams, jellies, salsas, nut mixes, ice cream toppings, baked goods, condiments, summer sausage, soda pop, cherry wine, and cherry beer. The company’s geography has grown, as well. Beyond Glen Arbor flagship store, Cherry Republic now has locations in: Downtown Traverse City, Charlevoix, Ann Arbor, Frankenmuth, and downtown Holland. Along the way on this crazy journey, Sutherland has not lost sight of the original motto printed on the back of his first Cherry Republic T-shirts. He still believes in ‘Life, Liberty, Beaches and Pie,’ and he runs his company according to those principles. He believes in giving back to his community, creating a fun work environment for his employees, protecting our precious lakeshore, supporting cherry farmers, and making sure every customer feels welcome and gets the chance to experience what he loves most: Northern Michigan.