Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to Boards and Commissions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
May 1, 2020 
Contact: press@michigan.gov     

Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to Boards and Commissions  

LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced the following appointments to the Michigan Apple Committee, Elevator Safety Board, Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement Board, Military Appeals Tribunal, Advisory Council on Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing, and the Suicide Prevention Commission: 

Michigan Apple Committee 

Michael Dietrich, of Conklin, is the manager of Homestead Orchards, a family-owned apple and cherry orchard. Mr. Dietrich is reappointed to represent District 3 growers for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring April 1, 2023. 

Jeremy R. Shank, of Dowagiac, is the vice president of Central Produce Sales, Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southwestern Michigan College. Mr. Shank is reappointed to represent District 1 growers for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring April 1, 2023.

The Michigan Apple Committee is dedicated to improving the profitability of Michigan's fresh and processed apple industries. The Committee coordinates market development, educational activities, and research that benefits the 1000 family apple growers in Michigan through improved profitability, ensuring the continued success of this sector of Michigan agriculture. 

These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.  

Elevator Safety Board 

Richard M. Karp, of Lansing, is the chief executive officer of Buildtech Ltd Construction Development, a company that owns, operates, and maintains over 30 elevators. Mr. Karp is appointed to represent owners and lessees of elevators within this state for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring July 22, 2022. He succeeds Terri Flint who has resigned. 

Ricardo L. Knott, of Grosse Pointe Woods, is an elevator inspector for the City of Detroit Building and Safety Engineering Department. Mr. Knott is reappointed to represent a municipality in the state having a population of at least 500,000 for a term commencing July 23, 2020 and expiring July 22, 2024. 

The Elevator Safety Board promulgates rules and prepares examinations in relation to contractor licenses. The Board also conducts hearings to determine whether an elevator contractor license or certificate of competency or commission should be suspended or revoked.   

These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.     

Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement Board 

Patricia A. Chatman, Ph.D., of Clinton Township, is the dean of the School of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Professional Development and the director of Workforce and Professional Development at Henry Ford College. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University. Dr. Chatman is appointed to represent an administrator or trustee of a community college which is a reporting unit, for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring March 30, 2024. She succeeds Ann Kroneman whose term expired March 30, 2020.   

Anne Hamming, of Middleville, is the board president of the Thornapple Kellogg Board of Education and the communications director for Tent Schools International in Grand Rapids. She holds a Master of Science in Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Ms. Hamming is appointed to represent an elected member of a reporting unit's board of control for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring March 30, 2024. She succeeds Laura Colligan whose term expired March 30, 2020.  

Kevin D. Philipps, of Grand Rapids, is the assistant superintendent of administrative services for the Kent Intermediate School District. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Wayne State University. Mr. Philipps is reappointed to represent a member who is working in a school system in a finance or operations management position but who is not a school system superintendent, for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring March 30, 2024. 

John J. Solecki, of Bloomfield Hills, works in institutional sales and marketing for Morgan Dempsey Capital Management, LLC. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance from Cornell University. Mr. Solecki is appointed to represent a general public member with experience in institutional investments for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring March 30, 2024. He succeeds Steven Epstein whose term expired March 30, 2024.  

The Michigan Public School Employees' Retirement System Board is responsible for general oversight of retirement, survivor, and disability benefits to employees in public school districts, intermediate school districts, community colleges and certain universities.  

These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.   

Military Appeals Tribunal 

Robert C. Gardella, of Brighton, is a private practice attorney with his firm, Robert C. Gardella, PLLC. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Mr. Gardella is appointed to represent an individual licensed to practice law in this state for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring April 16, 2024. He succeeds Thomas Bourque whose term expired April 16, 2020.   

Eric A. Jonker, of Bloomfield Hills, is a veteran and former Judge Advocate General (JAG) with the U.S. Army and is currently a volunteer reserve deputy sheriff for the Wayne County Sheriff’s office. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School and Master of Laws in Military Law from the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School. Mr. Jonker is appointed to represent an individual licensed to practice law in this state for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring April 16, 2024. He succeeds Gaetan Gerville-Reache whose term expired April 16, 2020.  

The Military Appeals Tribunal has appellate jurisdiction, upon petition of an accused, to hear and review the record in all decisions of a court-martial after the review provided in the Michigan code of military justice. 

These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. 

Advisory Council on Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing 

Louis Bailey, of Detroit, is a program coordinator for the Disability Network of Wayne County and Detroit and a finance manager with Savon Luxe. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Robert Morris University. Mr. Bailey is appointed to represent deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing persons for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring January 18, 2021. He succeeds Elizabeth Bystrycki who has resigned. 

Shayla R. Griffin, Ph.D., of Detroit, is an equity, diversity, and school culture consultant with Washtenaw Intermediate School District, an independent social justice consultant, and a member of the Detroit Disability Power Advisory Board. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Work and Cultural Anthropology from the University of Michigan. Dr. Griffin is appointed to represent individuals knowledgeable in the field of deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing matters, for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring January 18, 2023. She succeeds Michael McKee whose term expired January 18, 2020.  

Liliana Ospina Herbstreith, of Howell, is the creator, editor, and video journalist for Latinos En Michigan TV, founder and producer of Hispanic Marketing Solutions, LLC, and a freelance international correspondent for HispanoPost. Ms. Ospina Herbstreith is appointed to represent individuals knowledgeable in the field of deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing matters, for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring January 18, 2023. She succeeds Joanne Forbes whose term expired January 18, 2020.   

The Advisory Council on Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing serves to advise the Department of Civil Rights on matters pertaining to deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons.  

These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.   

Suicide Prevention Commission 

Laurin Jozlin, of Huntington Woods, is a clinical analyst for the Oakland Community Health Network, a therapist with Peace of Mind in Berkley, and a trainer in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). She holds a Master of Clinical Social Work from Michigan State University. Ms. Jozlin is appointed to represent a member nominated by the Senate Majority Leader for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring April 2, 2024. 

Kiran Taylor, M.D., of Grand Rapids, is the chief medical officer for Hope Network and a clinical assistant professor in the Michigan State University Department of Psychiatry. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Michigan Medical School. Dr. Taylor is appointed to represent a member who has expertise in suicide prevention from a community mental health services program that holds a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is nominated by the Senate Majority Leader. She is appointed for a term commencing May 1, 2020 and expiring April 2, 2024. 

Additional appointments to the Suicide Prevention Commission include: 

Kellie D. Cody Jr., Ph.D., of Augusta, is the recently retired Michigan Veterans’ Facility ombudsman. He holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Western Michigan University. Dr. Cody is appointed as the Michigan Veterans' Facility ombudsman or his or her designee. 

Barbara J. Smith, of Saginaw, is the executive director of the Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network, a certified trainer for Yellow Ribbon International, and a member of the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department Victim Advocate team. Ms. Smith is an appointee of the director of the Department of Health and Human Services.  

The Suicide Prevention Commission was signed into law in 2019 and became effective March 19, 2020. The Commission will work with state departments and agencies and nonprofit organizations to research the causes and possible underlying factors of suicide in Michigan. The Commission consists of sixteen members recommended by various organizations and appointed by the Governor, a member appointed by the director of the Michigan State Police, a member appointed by the director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, eight members recommended by various organizations and appointed by the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the Michigan veterans' facility ombudsman or his or her designee.  

These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.   

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