Episode 1: Paul Beachnau - Home Was Always the Answer

For over 40 years, Paul Beachnau has been the driving force behind Gaylord's identity as a world class destination. But before any of that — he left. In Episode 1 of Inheriting the Future, we sit down with one of Northern Michigan's most impactful community builders and ask him the questions that matter most. What does it take to build something worth inheriting? And when it came to choosing between home and everything else, how did he know home was always the answer?About Paul BeachnauPaul Beachnau is the Executive Director of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau — a position he has held for over 40 years. A lifelong Northern Michigan resident, Paul was one of the youngest chamber directors in Michigan history and went on to co-found the Gaylord Golf Mecca, helping establish Gaylord as one of the premier golf destinations in the country. He has served as an Otsego County Commissioner, currently chairs the Northwest Regional Airport Authoity overseeing the Gates to the Future terminal expansion at Cherry Capital Airport, and serves as President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Gaylord. In 2024, he was named Der Bergermeister (Honorary Mayor) for Gaylord's Alpenfest and received the Trailblazer Award in 2022 for his lifetime commitment to Northern Michigan tourism.Learn more about Paul and the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau at gaylordmichigan.net.