February 03, 2012
LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointments of Patrick McQueen of Bloomfield Hills, Andrew Palms of Chelsea and the Honorable Benjamin Friedman of Huntington Woods to the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
Snyder also appointed current member Robert L. Anthony of Northville to serve as board chair for a term at the pleasure of the governor. Anthony retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in 2004 and has served on the Gaming Control Board since January 2011. His term expires Dec. 31, 2014.
Headquartered in Detroit, the Gaming Control Board is responsible for licensing and regulating the state's gaming industry.
"These four individuals bring unique skills and backgrounds to the board," Snyder said. "I look forward to their work to ensure fair and honest gaming in Michigan."
McQueen is managing director of McQueen Financial Advisors in Royal Oak. Previously, he served as senior vice president of Manufacturers Bank, now Comerica, and in other leadership positions within Michigan's financial industry. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and an MBA from Michigan State University. McQueen replaces Barbara Rom.
Palms is the executive director of communications systems at the University of Michigan where he is responsible for providing voice, data and video systems for all departments on campus. He attended the University of Michigan. Palms replaces Benjamin Friedman.
Friedman is a member of the Friedman & Lichterman, P.C. law firm. He previously served as a 45B District Court judge in Oakland County and on the Gaming Control Board for seven years, including a term that ended Dec. 31, 2011. Friedman will fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Jim Plakas.
McQueen and Palms will serve four-year terms, expiring Dec. 31, 2015. Friedman will serve the remainder of a four-year term that expires Dec. 31, 2012. The appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
