• What is the Commission and when do they meet? The Commission consists of 25 members appointed by the Governor. The voting members of the Commission elect one of the members to serve as chairperson of the Commission. Members serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the Commission.
Carolyn Bloodworth Chair
Carolyn Bloodworth is a 27-year employee of Consumers Energy and currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Consumers Energy Foundation and the CMS Energy Foundation. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the foundations, Carolyn is also Director of Corporate Giving for CMS Energy and Consumers Energy. Her responsibilities involve corporate charitable contribution activities, administration of the corporation's dues and memberships and coordination of various community relations activities, including volunteer promotion and recognition. Carolyn is on the board of directors of the Food Bank Council of Michigan, the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Jackson County and The LEAGUE Michigan, a program of the Michigan Nonprofit Association. She serves on the board of regents for Baker College-Jackson and is a member of the United Way of Jackson County's Full Circle Steering Committee. She has served as a director of the Michigan Nonprofit Association, ConnectMichigan Alliance, WKAR's Community Advisory Board, Junior Achievement of the Michigan Edge, Jackson County's Promise to Youth Alliance and the Jackson Nonprofit Support Center. She has been an MCSC member since 2008 and was elected as Chair in September 2011.
Diana Rodriguez-Algra Volunteer Centers of Michigan
Diana Rodriguez-Algra currently serves as the Executive Director of the Volunteer Centers of Michigan, an association that represents the 32 Volunteer Centers in Michigan. Prior to this she was the Service-Learning Coordinator for the Michigan Community Service Commission. In this role she was responsible for advancing the use of service-learning among policy and educational organizations. Her other positions have included serving as the Volunteer Services Liaison for the Family Independence Agency within the director office. Diana served for four years as the first Director of AmeriCorps State/ National programs at the Corporation for National and Community Service. In this position she oversaw the selection and distribution of over $526 million dollars in federal support for National Service Programs. Right before she left Michigan for Washington, she served as the first director of Michigan Community Service Commission established by Governor Engler in 1991. Ms. Rodriguez-Algra has been an MCSC member since 2010.
Breannah Alexander Student, Grand Valley State University
Breannah R Alexander is the Program Associate for Youth Philanthropy at the Council of Michigan Foundations. She is a Junior at Grand Valley State University majoring in Public Administration with a Criminal Justice minor. Breannah is a former Michigan Community Foundations' Youth Project Committee member as well as a former Youth Advisory Council member of the Saginaw Community Foundation Youth FORCE. Breannah serves as a commissioner on the Michigan Community Service Commission, LEAGUE Michigan Commission, and a member of the Michigan Youth in Government Alumni Association. She has been an MCSC member since 2007.
Julie Calley Ionia County Commissioner
Julie Calley was elected as Ionia County Commissioner for District 7 in 2008. Within her home county, she serves on the Ionia County Community Mental Health Board Authority, the Community Corrections Board, the Tax Allocation Board, and the Board of Public Works. Prior to her time in the public sector, she spent a decade employed in residential and commercial property management. She is a youth leader for multiple programs within her hometown church and has previously worked with Junior Achievement. Julie holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Northwood University.
Antoine Campbell Heart of West Michigan United Way
Antoine (Tony) Campbell is the Vice President, Community Investment, at the Heart of West Michigan United Way. He is responsible for allocating more than $6 million to 53 agencies throughout the Grand Rapids area and for developing research based initiatives around literacy and early childhood. He currently serves as the Associate Pastor for Messiah Missionary Baptist Church. He previously served as the Executive Director for Community Mobilization for America's Promise while Colin Powell was the Chair. He has been an MCSC member since 2007.
Kara Carlisle W. K. Kellogg Foundation
Ms. Kara Carlisle is a program director at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan.
As a member of the Civic and Philanthropic Engagement team, Kara serves as a convener, collaborator and catalyst, responsible for program conceptualization, design, planning, management, coordination, communication, evaluation, policy, and learning from programming efforts. She focuses on citizen participation and engagement, public philanthropy and new models for movement building as she develops innovative partnerships, and promotes civic and philanthropic engagement in a wide range of sectors and professional spheres. In addition, Kara serves on the Foundation's New Mexico place based team. She has been a member of the MCSC since October 2009.
Robert Collier Council of Michigan Foundations
President and CEO of the Council of Michigan Foundations, Mr. Collier has been an MCSC member since 2000. He serves on numerous boards including the Michigan Nonprofit Association, Michigan Association of United Ways, and Michigan Municipal League. His career in philanthropy includes service as a program officer with the C.S. Mott Foundation, grants director for the Gannett Foundation, executive director of Rotary Charities of Traverse City, and founding director of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation.
Michael Hill Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District
Michael Hill is the Superintendent for the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District. Throughout his 21-year professional career, he has held various positions within the education field. He currently volunteers as a youth coach in football, baseball, softball and basketball. He is President of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Northwest Lower Michigan and Chairman of Leadership Grand Traverse for the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce. He is also co-chair of the five county Traverse Bay Area Poverty Reduction Initiative. In 2005, Mike led an initiative in the Traverse City area to secure a grant of over one half million dollars to construct and operate a Youth Health and Wellness Center. This health center currently serves students ages 10-21 who may not have access to affordable, quality health care. Mr. Hill has served on the MCSC as State Superintendent Michael Flanagan's representative since 2009.
Lloyd Jackson WJR Radio
Lloyd Jackson describes himself as "just a regular guy", but most people would probably disagree. This ambitious, broadcast journalist attained his personal goal of employment with WJR News long before he expected it to happen. Lloyd has covered Nelson Mandela's visit to Detroit, ridden with the police department on raids and even been shot at by a barricaded gunman!
Jackson, who began his career at WJR in 1993 as the city/county beat reporter, is now assistant news director. Lloyd has won numerous awards while at WJR, including honors from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists. He is also the host of many special interest shows on WJR, such as "Ask the Mayor", "Ask the Governor" and "Ask the Chief". He has been an MCSC member since 2007.
Lori Jewell State Farm Insurance Companies
Lori currently manages Community Relations for State FarmŽ in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. She oversees philanthropic giving for the above mentioned states that make up our Great Lakes Zone. Lori has been a member of the Michigan Business Leaders for Education Excellence (MBLEE) working group since 2001. She currently serves as Co-Chair for the MBLEE group. The Michigan Business Leaders for Education Excellence program is an initiative which represents a collaborative effort between the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Business Roundtable, and additional partners such as the Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Foundation for Education Leadership, State Board of Education and other K-12 representatives. She has been an MCSC member since 2007.
Michael Lavoie Butzel Long
Michael J. Lavoie is a 1975 honors graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso (then Upper Volta) from 1975-77. He received his law degree with honors from the University of Detroit in 1980. After law school, he became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Detroit where he rose to become Assistant Chief of the Criminal Division. He joined Butzel Long in private practice in 1986 and is a leading member of their business litigation practice group. Mr. Lavoie has served for several years as the President of the Historical Society for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and has also served for many years as a board member and officer of the Pontiac Alumni Foundation engaged in youth mentoring and related activities. Mr. Lavoie is also the President of Friends of Burkina Faso, a national association of former Peace Corps volunteers who served in Burkina Faso. Mr. Lavoie has been an MCSC member since October 2011.
Janet Lawson Ford Volunteer Corps
Janet Lawson is currently in the Office of the Chief of Staff, Ford Motor Company and Director of the Ford Volunteer Corps. Prior to this position, Janet served as the Executive Director of the Michigan Community Service Commission. Ms. Lawson brings to Ford Motor Company a 20-year history of collaborative leadership in the nonprofit and corporate sectors. Ms. Lawson served as the National Director of the UAW-Ford Family Service and Learning Centers sponsored by United Auto Workers, Ford Motor Company, and Visteon. Ms. Lawson has also served as the Manager of the Volunteer Leadership Coalition under former Governor George Romney, Harold A. "Red" Poling, Doug Fraser and the Honorable Anna Diggs Taylor. Janet has also worked at United Way Community Services as the Manager of Detroit's Promise and the Director of Volunteer Services. She has been an MCSC member since 2006.
Judge Fred Mester Fred M. Mester P.C. Law
Fred Mester retired as a Circuit Judge in 2008 from the Sixth Circuit Court after 26 years. He is currently in private practice in Birmingham handling arbitration, facilitation, mediation and consultation services. Prior to becoming a Circuit Judge, Fred Mester served as Court Administrator/Judicial Assistant for the Sixth Circuit; Chief of the Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office; and Assistant United States Attorney. He is a former President of the Federal Bar Association, Detroit Chapter, National First Vice President, Federal Bar Association; former Chairman, Advisory Committee to the Professional Assistance Committee, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Fred Mester is the Founder and President of the Pontiac Alumni Foundation whose mission is a Certainty of Opportunity for the children of the City of Pontiac through its four tier program: mentoring, tutoring, community service and enrichment. He has been involved with many community service programs, including serving as Chairperson of the William Booth Legal Aid Clinic having served over 15,000 clients in the Tri-County area; former President and Founder of Reading to Reduce Recidivism. He is a member of Board of Directors, Salvation Army (Pontiac Division); Common Ground Sanctuary; and Charter Board Member of the Center for the Study of Citizenship at Wayne State University. He has been an MCSC member since October 2011.
Donna Niester Acheson Ventures
Donna Niester is Director of the James C. Acheson Foundation and Chief Financial Office for Acheson Ventures, L.L.C. She is a principal in Austin, Niester, Beauchamp & Finnegan, P.C., CPA Firm. Ms. Niester is a member of the Council of Michigan Foundations, Association of Small Foundations, and the National Council on Foundations. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, Port Huron Hospital and the Blue Water Health Services. Ms. Niester has been an MCSC member since 2005.
Bernard Parker Wayne County Commissioner
Bernard Parker has dedicated his life to community and public service. He was a co-founder of Operation Get Down (OGD) in 1971. As a community leader, he has provided direct services and programs for the homeless. He also served as executive-on-loan to the Detroit Public Schools and as Deputy CEO of Community Responsibility. He was elected as Wayne County Commissioner for the eastside District 2 in 1991. Bernard also sits on numerous boards of Directors including New Detroit, NAACP, Detroit Alliance for Fair Banking, St. John Hospital, The Wellness Plan and Southeastern Village. He has been a MCSC member since November 2003.
Larry Romanelli Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
Larry Romanelli is the Ogema, or Chief, of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. Ogema Romanelli was sworn in to the elected office in June 2007 and was re-elected in 2011. Ogema Romanelli is a long time Muskegon resident and business owner. Romanelli also worked as an employment and training coordinator for over ten years in West Michigan. Ogema Romanelli is in his second term as President of the United Tribes of Michigan and also serves as Board Member and Chairman of Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority. As President of the United Tribes of Michigan, Ogema Romanelli was recently accepted by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to serve as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) of Michigan by the Deputy State Director of Emergency Management. He has been a member of the MCSC since October 2011.
Marsha Smith Rotary Charities of Traverse City
Marsha Smith has served as the Executive Director of Rotary Charities of Traverse City since 1997. She served as the Executive Director of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation from 1993-1997. Prior to that she served several institutions as a development officer including Interlochen Center for the Arts, the Grand Traverse Health Care Foundation, Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital and the Women's Resource Center of Traverse City. Ms. Smith has a wide range of community interests and has held a variety of leadership roles in environmental, growth management, cultural, educational, and health organizations. She has been an active community volunteer in environmental and growth management efforts, serving on the Grand Traverse Planning Commission for 9 years. Ms. Smith has been an MCSC member since 2005.
Alphonso Swain Capital Area Center for Independent Living
Associate Director at the Capital Area Center for Independent Living and an MCSC member since 2001, Mr. Swain is president of the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition and serves on the Michigan Commission on Disability Concerns and the Capital Area Transit Authority Local Advisory Council.
Jerry Swartz Lansing Public Schools
Jerry is the President of the Lansing Schools Education Association, representing the teachers of Lansing, an affiliate of the Michigan Education Association. Jerry has served as a special education teacher in the states of Kansas, Massachusetts and Michigan. He is serving in his 9th year as President of the Lansing Teachers where he serves as a teacher advocate and partner with the Lansing School Board and administration. He has been living and working in the Lansing area partnering with business and labor for the past 23 years providing services to students, parents and staff throughout the Lansing community. Jerry has served in a number of capacities professionally and socially and currently is proud to serve with his fellow board members on the Capital Area United Way Board. Mr. Swartz has been a MCSC Commissioner since 2010.
John Truscott Truscott Rossman
John Truscott, President and Principal of Truscott Rossman, is one of the foremost experts in public relations and politics in Michigan. For over a decade, John served as Director of Communications and Press Secretary to Michigan Gov. John Engler. He was responsible for developing communication strategies for the Engler Administration, wrote speeches and press releases. John chaired the Emergency Public Information Committee by appointment of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The committee was mandated by Congress and analyzed the country's preparedness in communicating during a crisis, especially bio-terrorism and major public health incidents. Active in volunteer and philanthropic activities, John is also a community leader and serves as Past Chairman of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Sparrow Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. He is a sponsor and supporter of Ele's Place and has volunteered for the March of Dimes, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Chance at Childhood Foundation, Easter Seals and Toys for Tots. Mr. Truscott has been an MCSC member since October 2011.
Ella Kate Wagner Student, Michigan State University
Ella Kate Wagner, a recent graduate of Belding High School, has been active in service-learning since middle school. During that time, Ella Kate championed service-learning among her peers through efforts to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina by selling wristbands. In addition to that she worked with kindergarteners to write and publish a book about animals displaced during Hurricane Katrina. Proceeds from the book benefited local shelters that took in the animals. This year, she wrote a grant and implemented a project in her school that addressed the achievement gap. She worked with her peers to develop resources on the achievement gap and shared the results with local curriculum directors and high school principals. Ella Kate has been an active member of the Michigan Community Service Commission's Service-Learning Youth Council, a group that recently worked to create public service announcement videos encouraging youth civic engagement. Ella Kate is a member of the National Youth Leadership Council Youth Advisory Council and the Corporation for National and Community Service's Youth Speakers Bureau. She regularly presents at the local, state, and national level on service-learning. Ella Kate has been an MCSC member since 2010.
Larry Williamson Comcast Cable
Larry Williamson is Area Vice President for Comcast's Grand Rapids-based management team. He has responsibility for the company's operations in 200 central and western Michigan communities, including Grand Rapids, Lansing, Jackson, Muskegon, Holland, Battle Creek and Adrian. He currently participates in the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce's CEO Roundtable program and serves on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Cable Telecommunications Association. In Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mr. Williamson was active in the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, where he was a member of the executive committee and chaired the government and community affairs division. He also served on the board of the Northeast Indiana Corporate Council, Junior Achievement, the Three Rivers Literacy Alliance and the Better Business Bureau. Mr. Williamson has been an MCSC member since 2005.
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Carolyn Bloodworth
Diana Rodriguez-Algra
Breannah Alexander
Julie Calley
Antoine Campbell
Kara Carlisle
Robert Collier
Michael Hill
Lloyd Jackson
Lori Jewell
Michael Lavoie
Janet Lawson
Judge Fred Mester
Donna Niester
Bernard Parker
Larry Romanelli
Marsha Smith
Jerry Swartz
John Truscott
Ella Kate Wagner
Larry Williamson
