History Links
Mary Callewaert
Operations Manager
From housekeeper to dining room manager to bike shop attendant to a server, Mary has done it all. She has lent her hospitality expertise to the Mackinac Island Visitor Bureau Board since 2003, with the last several years as Treasurer. In 2013, Mary was appointed as resident Mackinac State park commissioner by Governor Snyder and served until 2019.
Mary oversees the family’s downtown operations. Her passion is food and wine, along with the preservation of Mackinac Island’s natural beauty. She is a driven businesswoman and spends most of her time at Mary’s Bistro Draught House.
Todd Callewaert
CEO
A guest service-driven leader, Todd Callewaert, is the CEO of the family business operations. He has a lifetime of experience in the service industry in various responsibilities, working as a dishwasher, busser, server, and later continuing the family tradition as a master fudge maker at Ryba’s Fudge Shops. In the late 1980s, with the knowledge he had gained from his many roles over the years, he moved to hotel administration and began working beside his father, Victor.
Proud alumni of Central Michigan University, Todd has held leadership roles with the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau, Mackinac Associates, and Little Stone Church. He is active in the Island House Hotel’s day-to-day operations during the May to October season and is visible to employees and guests alike. Todd enjoys working beside his wife Jennifer and sons, William and Andrew, throughout the family businesses.
Ann Parrish
Controller
Ann Parrish-Callewaert works behind the scenes as the Controller for the family businesses. Before graduating from the University of Michigan, Ann held a variety of jobs in the company, including server, sales associate, reservations manager, and front office manager. Ann has had the pleasure of serving in the past as a trustee on the board of Mackinac Associates. She is happily married to her longtime love, Les, who oversees Ryba’s Fudge Shops’ confectionery production. They have two children together, Riley and Lilly, who both work within the family business.
Gregg Callewaert
Master Fudge Maker
Gregg began contributing to the family businesses at nine, washing dishes at the Pancake House. He also worked as a busboy and bellman before becoming Mackinac Island’s youngest fudge maker at thirteen. After finishing law school, he and his wife, Angel, moved to Chicago to open Ryba’s Fudge Shops in Navy Pier and McCormick Center. These locations have since closed. Gregg’s father, Victor Callewaert, and grandfather, Harry Ryba, are no doubt proud to see him return to Mackinac Island as Master Fudgemaker. Rarely a day passes that you won’t see Gregg paddling fudge through the window of Ryba’s Corner Shop, often teaching his son, Max, the family craft. His wife, Angel works at Mary’s Bistro Draught House, and his daughter Eden at Ryba’s Mall Shop.
