Creekside Gathering Place

About Us

Joni

Joni Starr, Founder/Facilitator

I love playing ‘get to know you’ games, because I always lead with, “I lived in a restaurant.” This is true. When I was in high school my mother started a luncheon restaurant in our 100-year-old limestone house in Texas. I loved the work as it felt like inviting friends to our home to share good food and good conversation. It was a very successful business and I witnessed my mother set a strong example of authentic hospitality.

Since that time in Texas I have made a career in education, the arts, event planning, and meeting facilitation. It has been my privilege to live and teach internationally: United States, England, China, Guatemala, and Ghana. I have served in non-profit organizations: Charleston Stage Company, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, and Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center. And I have shared in the learning process at College of Charleston, Winthrop University, and Michigan State University. All of this work started with a desire to recognize the valuable imagination and artistry in each individual. This spirit motivates me still. 

Over the years as I have followed my own vocation I often think of those restaurant days and how they have influenced my quality of work. Now, with Creekside Gathering Place I am able to make a space and place to nurture creativity, conversation, and community all with authentic hospitality.

Katie Kosko Stein, Wedding Coordinator

Katie has always had a passion for bringing people together. While attending Michigan State University, Katie planned campus events through the University Activities Board and gave overly enthusiastic tours of campus. After graduation, she taught in elementary schools in Detroit, Westland, London and Accra, Ghana!

Katie does event planning for her church and is the leader of a Moms + Tots group. She is also the calligrapher and watercolor artist of @KatieSteinDesigns. Katie is also a proud Mom of two with her husband Greg.

In her role as the Creekside Gathering Place Wedding Coordinator, Katie strives to guarantee that each couple has a perfectly executed and memorable wedding day. Let’s celebrate together!

Kellyn Uhl, Event Photographer

As a dance/movement therapist, theater artist, and photographer – Kellyn’s priority is nurturing human connection! She has always cherished old family photos and has been documenting the people and stories around her since she was a little girl. 

Kellyn’s photography work paid her bills while she hustled as an actor in NYC, and it later put her through graduate school. She was a resident event photographer at Youtube Space NY and has freelanced for more than 14 years shooting weddings, corporate headshots and portraits of all kinds. 

Kellyn is delighted to be a part of the team at beautiful Creekside Gathering Place, and honored to witness and capture the magic that unfolds there.