J. Michael Zelley was appointed to the Commission to represent Independents for a term expiring December 31, 2009. Mr. Zelley is Founder and President of The Disability Network, a nationally recognized, consumer driven, private non-profit, technology and advocacy organization, serving 6,000 individuals with disabilities. Previously, Zelley was Founder and President of TravAbility, Inc., and Senior Vice President and Board Officer for Securedata Corporation.

Mike Zelley has been a paraplegic and wheelchair user for twenty-seven years as a result of an automobile accident in 1979. Zelley is a national leader on workforce and disability issues and a frequent guest speaker and advocate for the employment of individuals with disabilities.

A resident of Grand Blanc, Zelley majored in Theology at Crozier Catholic College in Syracuse, Indiana, and has taken management courses at Cornell University and Harvard University Business School. He is married and the father of seven children. Zelley was appointed to succeed Albert Calille, whose term has expired.