Ken Ross

Ken Ross was named Commissioner of the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm effective February 22nd, 2008.   

As Commissioner, Mr. Ross is responsible for the regulation of the Michigan financial service industries, including Insurance, Banking and Securities.  The Commissioner administers 29 public acts and regulates a variety of individual licensees and entities, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, 26 HMOS, 127 banks, 174 domestic insurance companies, 211 credit unions, 1,427 foreign insurance companies, 1,858 investment advisers, 2,036 securities broker-dealers, 6,172 consumer finance lenders, 171,443 insurance agents, and 123,604 securities agents.

The Commissioner heads a state agency consisting of over 350 professionals dedicated to protecting Michigan consumers by ensuring the companies that it regulates are financially solvent, follow state and federal law, and are entitled to the public confidence.  During his tenure, Ross has been successful in significantly building agency capacity to meet the multitude of challenges facing financial service regulators in a dynamic environment. Significant recent achievements include passage of the re-codified Michigan Uniform Securities Act, transition to electronic form and producer licensing filings, and initiating a number of innovative consumer education and protection initiatives.  Before being appointed Commissioner, Ross served as the Deputy Commissioner for Policy and the Commissioner’s Chief of Staff.

Prior to coming to OFIR, Mr. Ross served as the Vice President of Regulatory and Legal Affairs for the Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL). Responsibilities included directing all aspects of MCUL’s regulatory advocacy, compliance and legal affairs program. Ross was invited to speak at numerous regional meetings and conventions on a variety of regulatory compliance topics and regularly participated in a variety of legislative and regulatory outreach initiatives, and routinely met with state and federal legislators and regulators. He also led a diverse working group of CEO’s from Michigan credit unions through a review of the Michigan Credit Union Act.  Working with a variety of stakeholders, Mr. Ross participated in drafting the re-codification of the Michigan Credit Union Act.  Three years of work culminated in the passage of the re-codification which Governor Granholm signed into law in December of 2003.

Mr. Ross also served as an Assistant Attorney General, serving under Attorneys General Frank Kelley and Jennifer Granholm. Mr. Ross worked in the Tort Defense Division, representing the interests of the State of Michigan, its agencies and employees, with responsibility for handling litigation at trial and at the appellate level in both state and federal courts.

Ross began his career in public service in 1991, as Chief of Staff for State Representative Agnes M. Dobronski. In that capacity, he was responsible for a wide variety of issues including crafting the legislative agenda, committee management and policy development.  His primary public policy focus areas were election and local government law.

Mr. Ross earned a J.D.,cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a Bachelors degree, double majoring in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.  Ross and his partner, Brian Huggler, live in Lansing with his two children.

Please note: this biographical information is provided for your use in promotional materials and to introduce Mr. Ross at speaking engagements. Please edit as appropriate. If you have any questions, contact OFIR Communications toll-free at (877) 999-6442. OFIR has insurance, bank, credit union, consumer finance and securities information available on our Internet site - www.michigan.gov/ofir.

Monday, August 11, 2008 Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) Commissioner Ken Ross appointed Stephen Hilker OFIR Chief Deputy Commissioner.

Mr. Hilker most recently served as a Bureau Director in the Michigan Department of Treasury and has 30 years of experience in administrative and financial management within government environments. 

Mr. Hilker’s duties include directing the operations of the agency to ensure its mission, goals and objectives are met. He also oversees the development and implementation of OFIR’s regulatory policy, provides technical support to the Commissioner and acts on behalf of the Commissioner in his absence.

Prior to his time at the Department of Treasury, Mr. Hilker’s positions in state government include Budget and Finance Officer for the Department of Public Health and CFO and Deputy Director for the Department of Social Services.

Mr. Hilker received his B.S. in Psychology and Statistics from Michigan State University.  He also received his MBA and performed post-graduate work in Accounting at Michigan State University and has done Doctoral studies at Western Michigan University with a focus on budgeting and program innovation.

He is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Management Accountant and Certified Government Financial Manager.  He has 21 years experience in State budget and finance, 3 years of experience in quality control, and 7 years in tax revenue operations.

Mr. Hilker resides with his wife Nancy Hilker in Haslett. They have nine children.

Please note: this biographical information is provided for your use in promotional materials and to introduce Mr. Hilker at speaking engagements. Please edit as appropriate. If you have any questions, contact OFIR Communications toll-free at (877) 999-6442. OFIR has insurance, bank, credit union, consumer finance and securities information available on our Internet site - www.michigan.gov/dleg/1,1607,7-154-10555---,00.html.