January 12, 2018
Friday, Jan. 12, 2018
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointments of Karsten Bekemeir of East Lansing and Todd Koopmans of Fremont to the Developmental Disabilities Council.
Housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the 21-member council advocates for people with disabilities on a statewide level.
“I thank Karsten and Todd for serving and I am confident they will be great advocates for Michiganders with disabilities,” Snyder said.
Bekemeier is a policy consultant of the Michigan Vocational Rehabilitation Program within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Eastern Michigan University and both a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and a doctorate in rehabilitation counseling education from Michigan State University. He will represent an individual from the state agency that administers funds provided under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Koopmans works at Fremont Cinema as a ticket taker and maintenance worker and previously spent 13 years as a greeter at Walmart. He will represent individuals with a developmental disability and a member of the Self-Advocates of Michigan. He fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Katie Miller.
Bekemeir will serve a four-year term to expire Sept. 30, 2021. Koopmans will serve the remainder of a four-year term to expire Sept. 30, 2020.
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