Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Westerman.
Hi Michelle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Michelle Westerman. I have a degree in social work, and after college I returned to my hometown to become a program director for our family’s group homes. Our story, however, began long before that. In 1964, my grandfather started our business after my uncle was born with severe developmental disabilities. At a time when resources were limited, my grandfather believed he could do better and became one of the first adult foster care providers in our area.
My father took over the business in the late 1970s, and in 2008 my sister and I assumed leadership roles. Community has always been at the center of everything we do. Investing in the people around us has never felt optional — it is simply part of who we are.
In 2014, the state placed a moratorium on group home services, which limited our ability to serve the community in the ways we always had. This forced us to pause and ask an important question: How could we continue to help others and still make a meaningful impact?
In 2017–2018, I completed training to become a MAPS and PATHS facilitator. This work focused on bringing people with disabilities together with their interdisciplinary teams to dream big and set goals without restrictions. We identified who was on their team, what obstacles existed, and what they hoped to accomplish, then mapped those goals into clear timelines at three months, five months, one year, and three years.
Inspired by this process, we applied the same approach internally with our administrative team. Together, we created a shared vision board for our organization. One theme stood out clearly: promoting independence, which ultimately became Northstar: Promoting Independence.
In 2018, we launched Northstar: Promoting Independence as a separate company providing in-home supports for the elderly and people with disabilities. I transitioned into that role and ran the program. This became one of the most meaningful periods of my career. I had the opportunity to work with individuals who knew my grandparents and could share stories about them that I would have never otherwise known.
Through Northstar, we focused on bridging the gap for individuals living in our group homes by supporting them as they transitioned into independent living. We watched people move from 24-hour care into their own apartments — and even into their own homes after getting married. Seeing their confidence grow and their independence flourish was incredibly rewarding.
As our vision continued to grow, another need became clear. For nearly 60 years, our offices had been located within buildings where people lived. We wanted to create a dedicated, multifunctional space that could serve as office space while also providing a place for the community to gather. That vision led to the creation of Legacy Event Center, which officially opened in 2020.
Opening an event center during a global pandemic was far from ideal. During COVID, much of our focus shifted back to providing care within our facilities, and events were largely put on hold. When restrictions were lifted, we opened Legacy as a wedding and event venue to meet a growing community need. Accessibility was a top priority, and we were intentional about creating a space that was welcoming and usable for everyone.
Our goal was to create an all-encompassing venue. We offer everything from simple room rentals to fully managed events, along with event rentals, custom florals, and both on-site and off-site services. In 2022, we expanded again by launching catering services and obtaining our liquor license, allowing us to serve events both at Legacy and throughout the community.
In 2021, I transitioned into a full-time role at Legacy Event Center, and my sister took over managing the healthcare side of our business. While I no longer run Northstar: Promoting Independence day-to-day, I am incredibly proud of the foundation we built and the lives it impacted.
Beyond weddings and private events, Legacy Event Center plays an active role in supporting and strengthening our community. We help organize and host a community winter festival, partnering with other local organizations and businesses because we truly believe that success is better when it is shared. We also host school district appreciation nights alongside community sponsors, giving district employees a fun and meaningful night out with a guest of their choosing.
Our community is also fortunate to have one of the highest-ranked education foundations in the state, currently ranked second overall, which provides hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to local students each year. Education and opportunity matter deeply to us, and this year Legacy Event Center will be offering a scholarship to one graduating student, with the hope of expanding this effort in the years to come.
For me, this is really about asking a bigger question: How do you leave your imprint on your community? How do you help make it a better place than you found it? So many people and businesses have helped guide me along the way, and I feel a strong responsibility to give that support back to others whenever I can.
That commitment to service extends beyond our businesses. I currently serve on our local school board and truly enjoy helping our community in whatever capacity is needed. Being involved allows me to better understand the challenges, opportunities, and strengths of our schools and the people who make them successful.
Looking back, I never imagined I would be where I am today. I feel incredibly blessed — not only for where I am now, but for every step of the journey that brought me here. My hope is to continue building, supporting, and investing in our community year after year, always focused on how we can make it stronger for the next generation.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We have faced many struggles and challenges along the way. In our healthcare business, staffing has been an ongoing challenge both before and after COVID. There were many sleepless nights spent problem-solving, adjusting, and figuring out how to make everything work while continuing to provide quality care.
With Legacy Event Center, many of the challenges were centered on simply figuring out how to make it all happen. We had to learn what it took to obtain the necessary licenses, determine how to bring people into a brand-new space, and step into areas we had never worked in before. Early on, we did not anticipate offering catering, so our kitchen was designed differently than what we ultimately needed. As the business grew, we quickly realized we had run out of space, and some areas were not quite the size we originally thought they would be.
We also ran out of storage sooner than expected, which required us to rethink layouts, workflows, and how the space functioned day to day. A lot of time went into making adjustments so everything flowed better and worked more efficiently. It was a constant process of evaluating what wasn’t working and finding ways to make the space more functional.
I have always believed that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. Sometimes it simply takes extra work, determination, and persistence — and that challenge is what drives me. I thrive in the unknown and enjoy figuring things out along the way, even when the path isn’t clear.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Legacy Event Center specializes in creating meaningful, personalized experiences. We host weddings, corporate events, fundraisers, community gatherings, and private celebrations. What sets us apart is that we are truly an all-encompassing venue. We offer flexible packages ranging from simple room rentals to full-service planning and coordination, along with catering, bar services, event rentals, custom florals, and both on-site and off-site services. Our goal is to make events feel seamless and stress-free for our clients.
We are also known for being community-rooted. Legacy helps organize and host community events such as Frost Fest, partners with schools and nonprofits, and collaborates regularly with local businesses. We host school district appreciation nights, community fundraisers, and events designed to bring people together. We believe success is stronger when it’s shared, and we actively seek opportunities to lift others up through partnership rather than competition.
What I am most proud of is not just the business we have built, but the impact it has had. From watching couples celebrate some of the biggest moments of their lives, to seeing local organizations raise funds, to helping create traditions that bring our community together — that impact matters. I am also proud that Legacy will be offering a student scholarship and that we continue to look for ways to give back each year.
What sets us apart is our mindset. I genuinely believe in doing business with heart. We are hands-on, adaptable, and willing to learn as we go. I thrive in the unknown, enjoy problem-solving, and am not afraid to take on new challenges. Our team works as one unit — everyone steps in where needed — and that creates an experience that feels personal rather than transactional.
To me, success is not just measured by growth or numbers. It’s measured by relationships, trust, and whether we are leaving our community better than we found it. That is the legacy I care most about building.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can work with us, collaborate with us, and support us in many ways. At Legacy Event Center, we love partnering with individuals, businesses, schools, nonprofits, and community organizations to create meaningful events and experiences. Whether it’s hosting weddings, corporate events, fundraisers, school district appreciation nights, or community festivals, we believe the best outcomes happen when we work together.
We are always open to collaborations that support community growth — from co-hosting events and sponsorship opportunities to vendor partnerships and shared programming. We enjoy working with people who are willing to think creatively, problem-solve, and build something that benefits more than just one organization.
Supporting us can also look like attending events, spreading the word, recommending our services, or simply reaching out with ideas. We value relationships and conversations, and many of our best opportunities have come from people who were willing to start one.
At the core of everything we do is a belief in lifting others up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.trflegacyeventcenter.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TRFLegacyEventCenter/
