DEARBORN, Michigan - There were many awards, honors and accolades given during the 2010 Michigan Municipal League Convention in Dearborn, Sept. 21-24, and the top honors went to Grand Blanc Mayor Michael Matheny and the City of Grand Haven.

The City of Grand Haven won the League’s most prestigious community award taking home the coveted Community Excellence Award Cup. Grand Blanc Mayor and former League President Michael Matheny received the Honorary Life Membership Award; Hastings Mayor Robert L. May received the Jim Sinclair Exceptional Service Award; and Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Anthony “Tony” Bosbous was awarded the Michael A. Guido Leadership and Public Service Award.

Legislator of the Year Awards went to Rep. Ed Clemente, D-Lincoln Park; Rep. Doug Geiss, D-Taylor; and Rep. Joe Haveman, R-Holland.

Special Awards of Merit were given to Kenneth V. Cockrel Jr., Detroit councilmember; Gary Heidel, interim executive director for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA); and Clara Shepherd; Muskegon city commissioner.

The League also recognized graduates of our Elected Officials Academy. Level 1 graduates were Joseph Greene, Caro councilmember; Kathleen Ling, Mt. Pleasant commissioner; Rusty Showalter, West Branch councilmember; Eileen Steadman, Berkley councilmember; Nathan Triplett, East Lansing councilmember; and Joel VanSlambrouck, Portland councilmember. Level 2 graduates were Joshua Meringa, Grandville councilmember; and Nathan Triplett, East Lansing councilmember. Level 3 graduates were Susan Baldwin, Battle Creek mayor; William Lasher, Ovid Village president; David Lossing, Linden mayor; and Gary McDowell, Adrian mayor. In addition, the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (MAMA) awarded three people the Distinguished Municipal Attorney Award. The recipients were Thomas R. 

To learn more about the League and what we do go to mml.org. For additional posts about Convention go here and for additional photos from the 2010 Convention go here.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municial League. He can be reached at mbach@mml.org or 734-669-6317.

In the photo below: Grand Blanc Mayor Michael Matheny (left) accepts the 2010 Honorary Life Time Membershp Award from MML President Jeff Jenks.

The eight assets of a 21c3 community will be the topics of separate breakout sessions on Wednesday and Thursday of the Michigan Municipal League's 112th Annual Convention, Sept. 21-24 in Dearborn. The breakout session on entrepreneurship will feature Brian Balasia, co-founder and CEO of Digerati, Inc. in Detroit.

Brian was a sophomore at the University of Michigan when he and classmate Joe Klecha co-founded Digerati Inc., a company that develops individually tailored electronic  records systems for medical practices and institutions.

Today, the thriving company with a growing staff is based in downtown Detroit, where Balasia has been on the board of directors of the Detroit Regional Chamber since 2005. He's been instrumental in the chamber's Michigan Opportunities & Resources for Entrepreneurs (MORE) program.

Here’s a 2008 youtube video of Brian explaining the MORE program goal of encouraging Michigan universities and the business community to help young entrepreneurs find opportunities to grow and stay in Michigan. It's a great example of the 21c3 concept at work. His ideas on how to retain talent and empower innovation served as the inspiration for a 2007 report by the University of Michigan's Committee for Entrepreneurial ENvironment and Programs for Students.

At age 26, Brian was named to the 2008 Twenty in Their 20s list of Michigan's best and brightest young entrepreneurs and leaders by Crain’s Detroit Business.

The Michigan Municipal League’s Annual Convention is Sept. 21-24 in Dearborn and you can register online TODAY! Sign up now so you won’t miss a Convention that will be unlike any others. Go here for details. To register, go here.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 or mbach@mml.org.