Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to Boards and Commissions
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the following appointments to the Strategic Fund Board of Directors, Michigan Employment Relations Commission, Michigan Underground Storage Tank Authority, Michigan Wheat Promotion Committee, and Michigan Community Corrections Board.
Michigan Strategic Fund Board of Directors
Wesley Eklund, of Muskegon, is the owner of Eklund Holdings and a partner in Pure Muskegon, LLC. He is also the former CEO of Fleet Engineers Inc. in Muskegon. He holds a business degree from Grand Valley State University. Mr. Eklund is appointed to represent a member submitted by the senate minority leader representing individuals within the private sector with experience in private equity or venture capital investments, commercial lending, or commercialization of technology, for a term commencing June 8, 2023, and expiring June 7, 2027.
Dan Meyering, of Ada, is the principal of Trillium Investments and chief executive officer of Trillium Ventures MSV. He is also a former project manager for Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Calvin College and a Master of Business Administration from Grand Valley State University. Mr. Meyering is appointed to represent a member submitted by the House minority leader representing individuals within the private sector with experience in private equity or venture capital investments, for a term commencing June 8, 2023, and expiring June 7, 2027.
The Michigan Strategic Fund Board of Directors was created by Executive Order No. 2019-13. The Board’s responsibilities include approval of the use of private activity bonds, authorizing the submittal by local governments of Community Development Block Grant applications, and approval of Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zones. Following Public Act 38 of 2023, these two appointments reflect newly created members on the Board of Directors.
These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan Employment Relations Commission
Robert Chiaravalli, of Waterford, is a practicing labor and employment attorney. He is also president of Strategic Labor and Human Resources that he has operated for almost 25 years. He is a recognized expert in labor relations, combining experience in union and nonunion environments, in addition to experience in large businesses and government. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan, a Master of Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, and a Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School. Mr. Chiaravalli is appointed to represent Independents, for a term commencing June 12, 2023, and expiring June 30, 2024. He succeeds Robert LaBrant whose term has expired.
Tinamarie Pappas, of Ann Arbor, currently serves as a commissioner with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission. She is also an attorney and owner of the Law Offices of Tinamarie Pappas where she has been practicing in the field of labor law for over 35 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor degree from the Wayne State University Law School. Ms. Pappas was appointed to the commission by Governor Whitmer in 2020 and has served as chair since 2021. She is reappointed to represent Democrats, for a term commencing July 1, 2023, and expiring June 30, 2026. Ms. Pappas will continue to serve as Chair.
The Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) resolves labor disputes involving public and private sector employees by appointing mediators, arbitrators, and fact finders, conducting union representation elections, determining appropriate bargaining units, and adjudicating unfair labor practice cases. The Commission, supported by the staff of the Bureau of Employment Relations, administers The Public Employment Relations Act (PERA), The Labor Relations and Mediation Act (LMA), and The Compulsory Arbitration Act (312).
These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan Underground Storage Tank Authority
Juman Doleh-Alomary, of Canton is the director of cyber security for Little Caesars and Ilitch Holdings. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and a Master of Science in Computer Engineering both from the University of Michigan. She is reappointed to represent the general public, for a term commencing June 8, 2023 and expiring May 25, 2026.
Bill Saad is the President and CEO of Michigan Fuels, Inc. He was recently elected as president of the Michigan Petroleum Association and serves as one of the 11 distributors on the National Council Advisory Board for ExxonMobil. Mr. Saad is reappointed to represent individuals from a statewide motor fuel retail association, for a term commencing June 8, 2023 and expiring May 25, 2026.
The Michigan Underground Storage Tank Authority Board of Directors governs the Michigan Underground Storage Tank Authority (MUSTA). The Authority serves Michigan’s petroleum underground storage tank owners and operators, local units of government, and country road commissions by managing the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund, Legacy Release Program, and Public Highway Cleanup Program on a sound fiscal basis.
These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan Wheat Promotion Committee
Dwight Bartle, of Brown City, is a farmer working over 300 acres of wheat. He also has previous experience as a dairy farmer, but has since retired from that industry to focus on row crops. Mr. Bartle is appointed to represent District 5 growers for a term commencing June 8, 2023 and expiring May 31, 2026. He succeeds Sally McConnachie whose term has expired.
Jeff Krohn, of Owendale, is a farmer who works 2000 acres, including 600 acres of wheat. In 2019, he received the State of Michigan Conservation Impact Award from the Nature Conservancy. Mr. Krohn is reappointed to represent District 7 growers, for a term commencing June 8, 2023 and expiring May 31, 2026.
Carl Wagner, of Niles, is a farmer at C3 seeds where he works 125 acres, 50-70 acres of which are wheat. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Crop and Soil Agronomic Sciences from Michigan State University. He is also the young farmer chair at the Berrien County Farm Bureau. Mr. Wagner is reappointed to represent District 2 growers, for a term commencing June 8, 2023 and expiring May 31, 2026.
The Michigan Wheat Promotion Committee seeks to promote the production and consumption of wheat grown in Michigan and assists in the agricultural research and development of wheat products.
These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan Community Corrections Board
Ms. Jewel Hurn, of Paw Paw, is the executive director for Dailey Recovery Zone, an organization focused on providing long term sustainable sobriety support. She holds a license from the Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals. Ms. Hurn is appointed to represent the general public, for a term commencing June 8, 2023 and expiring March 31, 2027. She succeeds Anna Kohn whose term has expired.
Mr. Chokwe Pitchford, of Benton Harbor, is the executive director of Berrien Forward & Berrien Connection and is a Berrien County Commissioner. He received his associate degree in political science from Lake Michigan College. Mr. Pitchford is appointed to represent a member who is a county commissioner, for a term commencing June 8, 2023 and expiring March 31, 2027. He succeeds Jake W. Smith whose term has expired.
Mr. Scott Wriggelsworth, of Holt, is the Ingham County sheriff, a position he has held since 2016. He has been with the East Lansing Police Department since 1994. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Michigan State University. Mr. Wriggelsworth is appointed to represent a member who is a county sheriff for a term commencing June 8, 2023 and expiring March 31, 2027. He succeeds L. Paul Bailey whose term has expired.
The Michigan Community Corrections Board serves in an advisory capacity to the Director of the Michigan Department of Corrections and is charged with approving many components of community corrections programs including: goals, eligibility criteria, program guidelines, program standards and policies, the application process, procedures for funding, and criteria for evaluation.
These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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