The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) will never ask you to provide credit card numbers or other personal information by phone, text, email, or mail. LARA has identified fraudulent communications impersonating department staff. These scams may include requests for payment or personal information. Please do not respond to these messages and report any suspicious activity to LARA‑Safety@michigan.gov. (This email is for fraud purposes only; messages unrelated to LARA‑related fraud will not receive a response.)
Courtney Pendleton
Chief Operating Officer
Courtney Pendleton serves as Chief Operating Officer of the department. Courtney oversees the Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), the Bureau of Community and Health Systems (BCHS), the Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL), the Bureau of Survey and Certification (BSC), the Corporations, Securities, and Commercial Licensing Bureau (CSCL), the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission (MUCC), the Office of Communications, and the Regulatory Effectiveness Office (REO).
Prior to her role as Chief Operating Officer, Courtney served as a LARA deputy director, deputy operations officer, equity and inclusion officer, and transparency liaison. She also has over 25 years of experience working for the State of Michigan and has held positions in the Department of Treasury, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Office of Children’s Ombudsman.
Courtney earned an associate degree in travel and tourism from Lansing Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix. She earned a certification in executive women in leadership from Cornell University.