Core Team

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The core team includes:

Executive Board:

Ponyride Executive team:

Developer/Design/Build: Phillip Cooley
Phillip Cooley opened Slows Bar B Q and Slows To Go with various partners and is a general contractor with O’Connor Development. Because of Slows success, Cooley has been afforded the opportunity to help residents of Detroit in need. He works on projects ranging from helping others open small businesses, to designing and building public spaces.  Ponyride, his latest project involves re-developing a large warehouse, assisting small businesses with build out in the space and developing programming to help sustain the process.  He is passionate about Detroit because he believes that it is a Democratic city where all are welcome to participate.

Architecture/Design: Kaija E Wuollet
Kaija E Wuollet has a Master of Architecture and is a lead designer and founder of Aberrations, a Detroit based design studio.  Since January of 2011, Kaija has worked on developing the concept, programming, building design and redevelopment strategy for what today is Ponyride.  As an urbanist, Kaija has an interest in understanding how the architectural design profession can practice ‘sense-making,’ rather than problem solving, to benefit the profession, the urban built environment and society itself.  This process must consider the social conditions, environmental and economic impact.  Particularly, in Detroit, the urban ‘barn-raising’ perspective of building businesses through community support has shaped her current approach to architectural design.

Ponyride Executive Director: Kate Bordine
Kate Bordine has an education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a BFA in Painting. After moving to San Diego, CA she found passion working for a wholesale jewelry design firm as the lead designer. Over the last four years she developed an entrepreneurial spirit in Bordine by Design, a handmade collection of jewelry wears shown in art fairs throughout Ohio, and in boutiques located nationwide. Upon completing her MFA in Design Management at Savannah College of Art and Design she promptly moved to Detroit, MI where she is currently focusing on her thesis work around the value of arts and culture to inspire grassroots community renewal at Ponyride in the working role of Executive Director.

Building Manager:  Patricia C Cooley
Patricia was second born to Francis and Madeline O’Connor in Port Huron, Michigan on July 26, 1950.  She was raised there and graduated from Port Huron Catholic High School. Patty graduated from EMU with a B.S. degree in Physical Education and married Ronald W. Cooley in 1971. They have two sons Ryan and Phillip and two grandsons.  Patty was a teacher for 4 ½ years in Dearborn, Michigan before moving to Marysville, Michigan where they started careers in real estate and land development. After retiring from real estate Patricia and Ronald moved permanently to Detroit, Michigan in 2008. They became part owners of Slows Bar BQ that year and began developing several properties.  At Ponyride, Patty manages the tenants, assists with day to day needs and has developed the maintenance program for the building.

Program Developer: Noah Kaminsky
Noah Kaminsky was born and raised in Bloomfield Hills, MI. During his childhood, both of his parents worked in the Midtown and New Center areas and his experiences in the city caused him to develop a deep admiration for Detroit. After graduating from Andover High School, Noah moved to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan. After two years of indecision, he decided to major in Environmental Studies and specialize in Urban Planning. Before working at Ponyride, Noah worked for Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision for 11 months, working with residents and business owners in the Southwest Detroit region, Michigan legislators and city bureaucrats to ensure that a community benefits agreement is included in the inter-local  agreement to build a new public bridge from Detroit to Windsor. His hobbies include practicing Mandarin, playing drums and guitar and snowboarding.