December 21, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 21, 2021
Contact: press@michigan.gov
Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to Boards and Commissions
LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the following appointments to the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority Board of Directors, Board of State Canvassers, Michigan Board of Medicine, Michigan Board of Physical Therapy, Michigan State Tax Commission, and the Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification.
Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority Board of Directors
Claude Molinari, of Northville, is the president and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau and the former general manager of Huntington Place in Detroit. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Point Park University. Mr. Molinari is appointed for a term commencing December 21, 2021 and expiring August 31, 2022. He succeeds Larry D. Alexander who has resigned.
The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority is responsible for overseeing the development, ongoing management, and operation of Huntington Place, formerly Cobo Hall, in an efficient and effective manner. Created by the Regional Convention Facility Authority Act of 2008, the authority is a municipal public body corporate and politic, and is a metropolitan authority authorized by section 27 of article VII of the state constitution of 1963.
This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Board of State Canvassers
Mary Ellen Gurewitz, of Detroit, is of counsel for Cummings & Cummings, PLLC. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University Law School and Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan. Ms. Gurewitz is appointed to represent Democrats for a term commencing December 21, 2021 and expiring January 31, 2023. She succeeds Julie Matuzak who resigned effective December 15, 2021.
The Board of State Canvassers canvasses and certifies statewide elections, elections for legislative districts that cross county lines and all judicial offices except Judge of the Probate Court. The Board also conducts recounts for state-level offices, canvasses nominating petitions filed with the Secretary of State and state-level ballot proposal petitions, assigns ballot designations and adopting ballot language for statewide ballot proposals, and approves electronic voting systems for use in the state. The Board of State Canvassers consists of four members-two members from each major political party-who are nominated by their state central committee.
This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan Board of Medicine
Michael D. Chafty, M.D., of Kalamazoo, is the medical director for Kalamazoo Anesthesiology Pain Consultants. Dr. Chafty is also the pain management department chair for the Western Michigan University Stryker School of Medicine. He holds a Doctor of Medicine from Michigan State College of Human Medicine and a Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University Law School. Dr. Chafty is reappointed to represent physicians for a term commencing January 1, 2022 and expiring December 31, 2025.
Mustafa Mark Hamed, M.D., of Novi, is the medical director for Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, and Tuscola Counties and an attending staff physician with Henry Ford Health System. Dr. Hamed is also an associate clinical professor for the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and Central Michigan University College of Medicine. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from St. Matthew's University School of Medicine of the Cayman Islands. Dr. Hamed is appointed to represent physicians for a term commencing January 1, 2022 and expiring December 31, 2025. He succeeds James Sondheimer whose term expires December 31, 2021.
Surya Nalamati, M.D., of Novi, is the senior staff surgeon and director of robotic surgery for the Henry Ford Hospital Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Dr. Nalamati is also a clinical associate professor of surgery for the Wayne State University School of Medicine. He earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Osmania Medical College of India. Dr. Nalamati is appointed to represent physicians for a term commencing January 1, 2022 and expiring December 31, 2025. He succeeds Richard Bates whose term expires December 31, 2021.
Cara Poland, M.D., of Alto, is an assistant professor of internal medicine and psychiatry and an adjunct assistant professor of women's health for Michigan State University. She is a board-certified addiction medicine doctor and earned her Doctor of Medicine from Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Poland is reappointed to represent physicians for a term commencing January 1, 2022 and expiring December 31, 2025.
Venkat K. Rao, M.D., of Grand Blanc, is a doctor with Chest and Sleep Medicine Consultants, PLC and the chairman of the department of medicine at McLaren-Flint. Dr. Rao is also a clinical professor of medicine at Michigan State University. He attended medical school at the Guntur Medical College of Andhra University in India. Dr. Rao is reappointed to represent physicians for a term commencing January 1, 2022 and expiring December 31, 2025.
The Michigan Board of Medicine works with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to oversee the practice of medical doctors in the state. The Public Health Code mandates certain responsibilities and duties for a health professional licensing board. Underlying all duties is the responsibility of the board to promote and protect the public's health, safety, and welfare. This responsibility is implemented by the Board by ascertaining minimal entry level competency of medical doctors and requiring continuing medical education during licensure.
These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan Board of Physical Therapy
Rajiv P. Amin, of Walled Lake, is a physical therapist and president of All-Pro Physical Therapy. He holds a master's degree in physical therapy from Idaho State University. Mr. Amin is appointed to represent physical therapists for a term commencing January 1, 2022 and expiring December 31, 2025. He succeeds Adam Swain whose term expires December 31, 2021.
Priti M. George, DScPT, of Northville, is a physical therapist for Henry Ford Health System. She holds a Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy from Andrews University, Master of Orthopedic Physical Therapy from Mumbai University, and a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from Nagpur University in India. Dr. George is appointed to represent physical therapists for a term commencing January 1, 2022 and expiring December 31, 2025. She succeeds Sarah McAllister whose term expires December 31, 2021.
Craig T. Miller, of Macomb, is a senior physical therapist and the director of therapy home care and outpatient for Rivetus Rehabilitation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Wayne State University. Mr. Miller is reappointed to represent physical therapists for a term commencing January 1, 2022 and expiring December 31, 2025.
The Michigan Board of Physical Therapy works with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to oversee the licensing of physical therapists in this state and ascertains the minimal entry level competency of health practitioners. The Public Health Code mandates certain responsibilities and duties for a health professional licensing board. Underlying all duties is the responsibility of the board to promote and protect the public's health, safety, and welfare.
These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan State Tax Commission
W. Howard Morris, of Detroit, is a certified public accountant and the president and chief investment officer for The Prairie & Tireman Group. He is a certified public accountant and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University and Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Morris is reappointed to represent members with at least 5 years' experience in government or the private sector, dealing with matters relating to state or local taxes. He will serve for a term commencing January 1, 2022 and expiring December 31, 2025.
The State Tax Commission has general supervision of the administration of the Property Tax Laws in Michigan and shall render such assistance and give such advice to assessors, as they deem necessary. The Commission is responsible for the education and certification of assessing officers. The Commission is also responsible for assessing certain state-assessed properties such as telephone companies and railroads.
This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification
Eric Michielssen, Ph.D., of Ann Arbor, is the associate dean for research and the Louise Ganiard Johnson Professor of Engineering at the University of Michigan. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium. Dr. Michielssen is appointed to represent business, policy, research, or technological leaders in future mobility, for a term commencing December 21, 2021 and expiring October 21, 2025. He succeeds Huei Peng whose term expired October 21, 2021.
Gary Oshnock, of Oxford, is the environmental and energy senior manager for vehicle safety and regulatory compliance for Stellantis. He holds Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University, Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan Dearborn, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan. Mr. Oshnock is appointed to represent business, policy, research, or technological leaders in future mobility, for a term commencing December 21, 2021 and expiring October 21, 2024. He succeeds Stephen Bartoli who has resigned.
Satish S. Udpa, Ph.D., of Okemos, is a university distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering and the interim director of mobility at Michigan State University. He holds a Ph.D. and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University. Dr. Udpa is reappointed to represent business, policy, research, or technological leaders in future mobility, for a term commencing December 21, 2021 and expiring October 21, 2025.
The Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification serves in an advisory capacity to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, the Governor, and the Legislature, providing annual recommendations on changes in state policy. In doing so, the Council works to ensure Michigan continues to be an epicenter of future transportation solutions around mobility and electrification.
These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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