President:
Karen Majewski, a historian by profession, began public service on the City of Hamtramck’s Historical Commission.  She served on city council and as city council president before being elected Hamtramck’s first woman mayor in 2005.  She is the former executive director of the Polish American Historical Association and on the board of the Dekaban Foundation, Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, and Michigan Suburbs Alliance.  She is also a member of the Michigan Association of Mayors and Michigan Women in Municipal Government.

During Majewski’s tenure in government, Hamtramck has been released from the state of Michigan mandated oversight of its finances.  It is completing the last steps in fulfilling the terms of a 40-year-old racial discrimination lawsuit.  Majewski has consistently supported programs and legislation that recognize and empower Hamtramck’s growingly diverse population, and that strengthen its position as an urban core community.  Her term expires in 2012.

Vice President:
David Lossing has served as mayor of the city of Linden since 2004 after serving on the Linden City Council since 1998.  As mayor, Lossing has initiated a regional dialogue on land use planning called the “Southern Lakes Planning Initiative” which includes six local governments in two counties in southern Genesee and northern Livingston counties.  The SLPI is focusing on the establishment of the Shiawassee River Heritage Water Trail and a non-motorized bicycle path. 

Lossing currently works for the University of Michigan-Flint as the director of government relations and as an adjunct lecturer for the School of Education on UM’s Ann Arbor campus.  He previously served as associate director of State Outreach on UM’s Ann Arbor campus in the Office of Government Relations.  He also served on the congressional staff of U.S. Senator Carl Levin (MI) for nearly nine years.  David serves on a number of League committees—chair of the Elected Officials Academy (EOA) board of directors, the Legislative Governance Committee, the Economic Development/Land Use Committee, and the Policy Rewrite Subcommittee.  He is also a Level II graduate of the EOA.  His term expires in 2012.

Michigan Municipal League Trustees

Lois Allen-Richardson serves as mayor pro tem of the city of Ypsilanti and is in her third term on the city council.  She has attended several classes in the Elected Officials Academy and has served on the League's Legislative Governance Committee, the Nominating Committee and participated on panels for League trainings.  Richardson served as a member of the founding committee and currently serves as the secretary of the Michigan Black Caucus-Local Elected Officials.  She was recently appointed as a member of the executive committee of SEMCOG.  She also serves on the Aerotropolis Committee for Detroit/Willow Run Airports.  Richardson played a major role in the continued operation of the Parkridge Community Center when the city budget forced the closing of all recreation facilities; she continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.  She is actively involved in social, civic clubs and organizations and the faith community's efforts to bring change to the Ypsilanti community.  Richardson served as council representative to the Ypsilanti Area Community Foundation, and she serves on the executive committee of the Ypsilanti Willow Run Branch of the NAACP.  Her term expires in 2014.

Susan Baldwin is serving her fifth term as a city commissioner and third year as mayor.  She is on the Battle Creek Unlimited Board, Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Board, Planning Commission and Public Transportation Committee.  Baldwin chaired the Police and Fire Retiree Health Benefit Study Committee to address the issue of rapidly rising retiree health care costs.  Prior to elected office, she served on the Community Development Block Grant committee and the Local Officers’ Compensation Committee.  She is a Level III Elected Officials Academy graduate.  She is currently serving as president of the Michigan Women in Municipal Government, on the board of the Michigan Association of Mayors, and on the League’s Legislative Governance and Transportation Infrastructure Committees.  A retired attorney, Baldwin practiced for 14 years in corporate health care and managed care programs, and then served nine years as executive director of the Economic Development Forum for Calhoun County.  Her term expires in 2012.

Ricci Bandkau serves as a councilmember for the city of Brighton.  She has been involved in city government since 1977 where she has served on the Planning Commission, Officer's Compensation Commission, Election Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals (member and chair).  Bandkau has served on the city council since 2004, served as mayor pro tem (2005-2009), and as mayor (2009-2011).  Her League memberships include the Water, Infrastructure and Environment Committee, Legislative Governance Committee, EOA Board (member and chair), vice chair and currently chair of Region 1.  Bandkau has been a member of the National League of Cities, served on its Leadership Training Council, and attended the NLC Institute in Chicago.  She has served her community by being inducted into the Brighton Area Women's History Role of Honor in 2006, served as past elder of the Brighton Presbyterian Church, as past board member of the Brighton Center for the Performing Arts, and the Brighton Historical Society.  Bandkau is currently serving as chair of Brighton's Veteran's Memorial Committee where a memorial is scheduled to be built and dedicated in 2012.  Her term expires in 2014.

Dick Bolen serves as mayor on the Wakefield City Council.  He also served his first three council terms as mayor, beginning in 2004.  As a councilmember, he has represented the city on various authorities and commissions.  He is also a past member of the Wakefield School District Board of Education where he served as board president for nine years.  Bolen has been actively involved in economic development in Gogebic County where he has been a Gogebic County Economic Development Commission board member since 1988.  From 2004 to 2005, he served as EDC chairman.  Bolen is very active in veterans affairs as a member of the Wakefield VFW and American Legion posts.  He is also president of the Wakefield-Bessemer Rotary Club.  In December 2010, he retired from Gogebic County where he served as the county forester (1978-2000) and as director of Forestry and Parks (2001-2010).  His term expires in 2014.

Pat Capek is serving her fourth term on the Cedar Springs City Council where she held the position of mayor pro tem of three mayors. She currently serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals and on the Public Library Construction Committee. Capek has also served on the boards of the Elected Officials Academy, The Grand Valley Metro Council, and the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission.  She is a long-time member and past president of the Cedar Springs Rotary Club, the Cedar Springs Women’s Club and has served on the board of the Red Flannel Festival for twenty years.  Her term expires in 2012.

Scott Erickson was appointed as the city manager/city engineer of the city of Ironwood in January 2006.  With 25 years in local government administration, Erickson has previously served as the engineering manager for the cities of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Andover, Minnesota.  Erickson is a member of the Ironwood Industrial Development Corporation, Ironwood Economic Development Corporation, and provides support for the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority along with other city committees and commissions.  His civic involvement includes being a member of the Ironwood/Hurley Rotary Club, president of the Ironwood Soccer Club, and coaching youth soccer and basketball.  His term expires in 2014.   

Dan Greer has served on the Jackson city council since 1997, where he served as vice mayor from 2001 to 2003.  He is currently chairman of the city’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, and also treasurer of the county Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.  Greer has been an active member of the League since 1998.  He is currently chair of Region 2, is a Level III Elected Officials Academy graduate, and he spearheaded Jackson’s winning Community Excellence Award project in 2008 for the Armory Arts Village, a renovation project that turned the original state penitentiary into an artist colony.  Greer served on the National League of Cities subcommittee (2002-08) where he lobbied his congressional delegation on behalf of local communities and the city of Jackson’s applications for EPA Brownfield grants of which it has received $1.2 million to date.  His term expires in 2013.

Deb Greene serves as mayor pro tem of Rogers City and has served over 21 years on the city council.  She is a Level III Elected Officials Academy graduate, served on the League Nominating Committee (2009-10), and as chair of Region VI.  She has served on many local boards and commissions such as Parks & Recreation Board, Planning Commission, Ambulance Board, Design Commission, Heritage Route, etc.  As a registered nurse, Greene has volunteered for her community as a disaster volunteer for the American Red Cross for Presque Isle County, member of the Local Emergency Planning Team for Presque Isle County, board member for the Purple Martin (nonprofit to fund programs for foster children), board member of Nautical Festival Committee, past president of Kiwanis, past elder of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Sunday School teacher, Girl Scout Leader, camp nurse, and board member for Presbytery Point in Michigamme.  Her term expires in 2013.

Kathie S. Grinzinger serves as city manager for Mt. Pleasant.  She has been in municipal service for nearly 30 years with a long history of advocating for professional local government.  In 2004, Grinzinger was the first female elected to serve as president of the Michigan Local Government Management Association where she continues to serve in several volunteer capacities including conference planning; ethics; advocacy; diversity; membership; and strategic planning.  She has been involved with the League and various associations as a trainer and consultant.  Grinzinger is currently on the Board of Directors of Central Michigan University Research Corporation and the Executive Board of Middle Michigan Development Corporation.  She is vice chair of Mid-Michigan Area Communications Consortium, a member of the Industrial Development Corporation, and serves in various capacities with the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce.  Her term expires in 2012.

Larry Nielsen has over 24 years of public administration experience.  Before becoming the manager for the Village of Paw Paw, he served over seven years as manager for the City of Bangor.  Nielsen served six years as manager in Berrien Springs, seven years as township supervisor in Benton Charter Township, and he served two years with the Regional Economic Development Corporation.  He also worked two years for Senator Carl Levin.  Nielsen serves on the League’s Workers’ Compensation Fund board and is also president of the Southwest Michigan Managers Association.  His term expires in 2012.

Jacqueline K. Noonan is currently serving her 12th term as mayor of the city of Utica—she is the first woman to serve in that position.  She previously served a four-year term on the Utica city council.  Noonan is currently vice president of the Michigan Association of Mayors.  She has served on the board of directors for the Property and Liability Pool, as chair, vice chair, and secretary of Region I, and as a member of the Governance and Transportation Committees.  She has been a SEMCOG Executive Committee member and long-term chair and member of the Macomb County Mayors Association.  She has served on many local boards and commissions, works with the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and works with the Metro Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau.  Noonan is generally recognized as the architect of Utica’s rebirth and ongoing success as a tiny full service city in the midst of Detroit’s suburban rim.  Her term expires in 2013.

Amos O’Neal serves as mayor pro tem of Saginaw and is in his second term on the city council.  He is a Level II graduate of the Elected Officials Academy and has served on the Municipal Services Committee.  O’Neal serves as the fundraising chair of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, on the Elected Officials Academy board, chair of Region IV, and on the National League of Cities Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee.  He is very involved in his community serving as the co-chair of the Cities of Promise task force, chairman of the Saginaw County HIV/AIDS task force, and as a board member on the Aging committee.  O’Neal co-founded Parishioners on Patrol, a faith-based anti-crime community group in Saginaw.  Since its inception over two years ago, crime has significantly reduced in the community.  He is a recipient of the Saginaw Chamber of Commerce President’s Award and the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award.  His term expires in 2013.

Suzanne Pixley is in her second term as Mayor of the city of Eastpointe, serving in that position since 2007.  She previously served on city council 2005-2007. She has previously served on the Beautification Commission, Library and Senior Housing Commission and currently serves on the Retirement Pension Board and the DDA.  She is a past chair of the SE Macomb Disposal Authority and the Sanitary District.  She has completed Level III of the Elected Officials Academy, has served on the League’s Governance; Communication and Technology; and Water and Infrastructure Committees, and is a Region 1 past president.  She is the past chair of the Macomb County Historical Commission,  past president of Eastpointe's Rotary Club, and plays an active role in the US Army's Grass Root Advisory Council . She also serves on the boards of SEMCOG and MI Suburb Alliance. She was the recipient of a League Outstanding Service Award at the 2010 Annual Capital Conference for outstanding contributions to state and federal affairs initiatives.  Her term expires in 2013.

Charles Pugh has served as the president of the Detroit City Council since 2009.  A native Detroiter, he is a respected journalist having reported in Columbia, Missouri; Topeka, Kansas; Fort Wayne, Indiana and Norfolk, Virginia, for Fox 2 Detroit, and a commentator and news director of WJLB FM 98.  Pugh is committed to engaging, informing, and empowering citizens to reclaim their communities and improve their neighborhoods.  He serves with Hartford Men United, volunteering at Bethune/Fitzgerald Pre-K School and doing outreach at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center.  In addition to sitting on several boards and commissions, including the Democratic Municipal Officials, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, and Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Pugh is actively involved in mentoring young Detroiters.  He is a recipient of numerous honors, awards, and citations, including Michigan Chronicle's Men of Excellence award.  His term expires in 2013.

Pauline Repp is mayor of the city of Port Huron and has been involved in city government for 28 years.  Prior to being elected to city council in 2009 and, subsequently, appointed to the position of mayor by the city council after receiving the highest number of votes in the election, she was elected and served as chair of the Charter Revision Commission.  Repp retired from the city in 2008 where she worked as city clerk for almost 20 years and earned the designation of master municipal clerk during her tenure.  She currently serves as an Executive Committee member of Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), is a board member of the St. Clair County Child Abuse Neglect Council, and is a member of the St. Clair County Land Bank Authority.  Her term ends in 2014.

Nathan Triplett serves as the mayor pro tem of the city of East Lansing where he has served on the city council since 2007.  Triplett began his service to East Lansing as a member of the city’s Human Relations Commission and Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee.  He has served as a member of the League’s Legislative Governance Committee and Land Use & Economic Development Policy Committee and is a Level III Elected Officials Academy graduate.  Triplett also serves on the Board of Directors of the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) and Haven House, a shelter providing emergency housing and support services to families with children.  He is the president-elect of the Rotary Club of East Lansing and a recipient of the Governor’s Service Award and the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 10 Over the Next 10 Award.  His term expires in 2012. 

Adam J. Umbrasas currently serves as the village manager in Kingsley.  While in Kingsley, the village has focused on municipal capital improvements including extensive water and sewer line replacements, downtown streetscapes, park renovations/improvements, and the construction of a new village hall and library.  Umbrasas has served the League as chair of Region VI, vice chair, and secretary and has served on various committees including: Nominating, Infrastructure and Legislative Governance.  He is a member of the Michigan Local Government Managers Association where he serves as chair of the Awards Committee and has served on several committees, and a member of the International City Managers Association.  Umbrasas was instrumental in the creation of the NextGen initiative creating a conduit for newcomers to the management profession to connect with more experienced municipal managers.  His term expires in 2014.