Michigan Municipal Executives

Press Release

Contact:

Matt Bach
Director of Communications
Michigan Municipal League
(734) 669-6317; C: (810) 874-1073
mbach@mml.org; www.mml.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 5, 2020

Ottawa County Official to Lead Statewide Association

John Shay Named President of Michigan Municipal Executives

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GAYLORD, Michigan – Ottawa County Deputy Administrator John Shay is the new president of the statewide association representing Michigan’s municipal managers.

Shay was selected as the 2020 president of the Michigan Municipal Executives (MME) during the organization’s annual Winter Institute in Gaylord, Jan. 28-31. Shay succeeds Fenton City Manager Lynn Markland, who now serves as immediate past president. Shay has spent the past year as the organization’s president-elect.

“I’ve served as municipal manager in Michigan for more than 20 years now, and it is truly an honor to have a leadership role in the profession I’ve dedicated much of my life to,” Shay said. “MME is an outstanding organization, and we have multiple major projects underway that I’m excited to help complete.”

In particular, Shay said he will continue to oversee the work started by Markland and the MME board to update and implement a strategic plan to help guide the organization into the future and provide more professional development opportunities for members. Shay also plans to continue the MME’s support of the 16/50 Project in an effort to attract more women into leadership roles in local government management.

Shay’s career in municipal management began in 1998 when he became Village Manager in Almont, located in Lapeer County. He then spent over 15 years as Ludington City Manager before becoming Deputy County Administrator in Ottawa County in July of 2018. He’s been very involved with the MME throughout his career by serving on various committees and is also a member of ICMA (International City/County Management Association).

He has a master’s degree in public administration from Oakland University and has a bachelor’s degree from Boston College.

In addition to selecting Shay as president, the organization elected the following to serve new roles and terms on the board: President-Elect Battle Creek City Manager Rebecca Fleury; Vice President Michael Cain, City Manager for Boyne City; and Trustees Victor Cardenas, Novi Assistant City Manager; James Wickman, Hartland Township Manager; Susan Montenegro, Leslie City Manager; and Melissa Marsh, Madison Heights City Manager. The organization also thanked outgoing board members for their service—Ray Anderson, Norway City Manager; Thad Beard, Rockford City Manager, Shea Charles, former Howell City Manager; and Bridgette Gransden, Administrator/Controller for Midland County.

MME is a nonprofit, professional organization representing the managers of Michigan’s cities, counties, townships and villages. Its purpose is to foster and encourage the personal and professional development of its members so that they can better serve their communities and to promote, encourage and preserve high ethical standards for municipal administrators.

About the League: Michigan Municipal League is dedicated to making Michigan’s communities better by thoughtfully innovating programs, energetically connecting ideas and people, actively serving members with resources and services, and passionately inspiring positive change for Michigan’s greatest centers of potential: its communities. The League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington, D.C., and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services. Learn more at mml.org.

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