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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 20, 2025 Contact: press@michigan.gov Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to Boards and Commissions
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced appointments to the following boards and commissions: Health Endowment Fund Board; Michigan Arts and Culture Council; Michigan State Waterways Commission; Council on Climate Solutions; Michigan Women’s Commission; Michigan Travel Commission; State Building Authority Board of Trustees; Governor’s Educator Advisory Council; State Teacher Tenure Commission; Local Community Stabilization Authority Council; Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission; Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council; Manufactured Housing Commission; State Fire Safety Board; Michigan Board of Athletic Trainers; Collection Practices Board; and Health Information Technology Commission.
Health Endowment Fund Board Liz Boyd, of Lansing, is the principal at Liz Boyd Public Relations. Boyd holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and a Master of Arts in advertising from Michigan State University. Elizabeth Boyd will be reappointed as a member representing the business community for a term commencing October 1, 2025, and expiring October 1, 2029.
Gilda Jacobs, of Huntington Woods, is a retired legislator and the former chief executive officer of the Michigan League for Public Policy. Jacobs earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in behavioral science from the University of Michigan. Gilda Jacobs will be reappointed as a member of the general public for a term commencing October 2, 2025, and expiring October 1, 2029.
Reverend Jimmy Womack, M.D., of Detroit, is an ordained minister, a retired physician, and a former state representative. Rev. Dr. Womack holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Dillard University, Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary, and Doctor of Medicine from Meharry Medical College. Rev. Dr. James Womack will be reappointed as a member of the general public for a term commencing October 2, 2025, and expiring October 1, 2029.
The Michigan Health Endowment Fund Board was created as a result of the Nonprofit Health Care Corporation Reform Act. The Fund’s purpose is to benefit health and wellness through funding of programs for minor children and seniors through the state with a significant focus on infant mortality, wellness and fitness programs, access to healthy food, technology enhancements, health-related transportation needs, and foodborne illness prevention. These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan Arts and Culture Council Phil Gilchrist, of Mount Clemens, is the executive director of Advancing Macomb. Gilchrist previously served as executive director of the Anton Art Center and as a development specialist at Pewabic. Gilchrist chairs the board of the Macomb County Art Institute Authority and serves on the board of CultureSource. Gilchrist holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in design and photography from Northern Michigan University and a Master of Public Administration in non-profit management from Wayne State University. Phil Gilchrist will be appointed for a term commencing September 2, 2025, and expiring September 1, 2028. Gilchrist succeeds Joori Jung, whose term is expiring.
Esther Triggs, of Interlochen, is the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Triggs holds a Master of Arts in applied theatre for social justice from The City University of New York and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music theatre performance from Western Michigan University. Esther Triggs will be reappointed for a term commencing September 2, 2025, and expiring September 1, 2028.
Marissa Pierce, of Flint, is the director of development and external relations at the Flint Institute of Arts Museum + Art School. Pierce holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications and a Master of Arts in English language and literature from the University of Michigan-Flint. Marissa Pierce will be appointed for a term commencing September 2, 2025, and expiring September 1, 2028. Pierce succeeds Julie Egan, whose term is expiring.
Amy Spadafore, of Saginaw, is the managing director of Pit and Balcony Theater. Spadafore is a member of the Arts Midwest Board of Directors and additionally and sits on the Cultural Advocacy Network of Michigan board, the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors, and the Saginaw Downtown Development Authority. Spadafore holds a Bachelor of Science in arts management from Western Michigan University. Spadafore is appointed as chair of the commission for a term commencing September 2, 2025, and expiring at the pleasure of the Governor. Spadafore succeeds Gretchen Gonzales-Davidson, whose term is expiring.
The Michigan Arts and Culture Council serves to encourage, develop, and facilitate an enriched environment of creative and cultural activity in Michigan. The Council envisions a Michigan where every citizen celebrates the state’s cultural treasures and arts, and cultural experiences are accessible to all its citizens. These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan State Waterways Commission Captain Scott LaBonte, of Sault Ste. Marie, is the general manager at Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Previously, LaBonte served as the fire chief for the City of Sault Ste. Marie Fire Department. LaBonte holds a Bachelor of Science in fire science from Lake Superior State University. Scott LaBonte is reappointed to the State Waterways Commission as a person residing north of Townline 16 in the Upper Peninsula for a term commencing September 19, 2025, and expiring September 18, 2028.
The Michigan State Waterways Commission is responsible for the acquisition, construction, and maintenance of recreational harbors, channels, docking and launching facilities, and administration of commercial docks in the Straits of Mackinac. This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Council on Climate Solutions Kerry Duggan, of Detroit, is the founder and chief executive officer of Energy Security Partners and the founding director of the SEAS Sustainability Clinic at the University of Michigan. Duggan served as deputy director for policy in the Office of the Vice President and Executive Office of the President during the Obama-Biden administration and served on the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board under the Biden-Harris administration. Additionally, Duggan served as deputy director and development director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. Duggan holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental studies from the University of Vermont and a Master of Science in natural resource policy and behavior from the University of Michigan. Kerry Duggan is reappointed for a term commencing August 20, 2025, and expiring February 3, 2029.
Jonathan Overpeck, of Ann Arbor, is the Samuel A. Graham dean and William B. Stapp collegiate professor of environmental education at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. Overpeck holds a Bachelor of Arts in geology from Hamilton College and a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in geological sciences from Brown University. Jonathan Overpeck is reappointed for a term commencing August 20, 2025, and expiring February 3, 2029.
Mary-Elizabeth Estrada, of East Lansing, is a climate and energy jobs fellow with the Michigan AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute. Previously, Estrada was a research and policy associate at the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network. Estrada holds a Bachelor of Arts in sustainability and the environment and a certificate in agroecology from Florida International University, as well as a Master of Arts in global sustainability and a certificate in sustainable tourism from the University of South Florida. Mary-Elizabeth Estrada is appointed for a term commencing August 20, 2025, and expiring February 3, 2029. Estrada succeeds Tanya Paslawski, whose term has expired.
The Council on Climate Solutions was created by Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-182. The Council acts in an advisory capacity to Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to formulate and oversee the implementation of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, which will serve as the action plan for this state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition toward economy-wide carbon neutrality. These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan Women’s Commission D. Sue Townsel, of West Bloomfield, is the project manager of Corewell Health Children’s Southeast Michigan. Previously, she was program manager at the Gilbert Family Adolescent and Young Adult Program at Corewell Health East and served as a health educator for Cancer Clinical Trials at legacy Beaumont Health System. Townsel holds a Bachelor of Science in human ecology from Michigan State University and a Master of Science in social work from Wayne State University and is also currently enrolled in the global executive MBA program at the University of Notre Dame. D. Sue Townsel is reappointed for a term commencing August 20, 2025, and expiring July 15, 2028.
Dr. Geneva Williams, of Detroit, is the chief executive officer of Dr. Geneva Speaks, LLC. Dr. Williams holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and speech from Morgan State University, a Master of Social Services in community organization and social planning from Bryn Mawr School of Social Work and Social Research, and a Doctor of Education with a concentration in educational leadership and public policy from Wayne State University. Dr. Geneva Williams is reappointed for a term commencing August 20, 2025, and expiring July 15, 2028.
Charity Dean, of Detroit, is the president and chief executive officer of the Michigan Black Business Alliance and the owner of Detroit Rosa. Dean previously served as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Dean graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Charity Dean is reappointed for a term commencing August 20, 2025, and expiring July 15, 2028. Charity Dean will succeed Lisa Cawley as Vice Chair of the Michigan Women’s Commission once Cawley’s term concludes on October 14, 2025.
Lisa Cawley, of Ann Arbor, is the managing director for Health and Public Service at Accenture and has held multiple high-level roles since first joining the firm in 2010. Cawley previously served as vice president of Empower Success Corps of New England. Cawley earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Colorado and a Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law. Lisa Cawley is reappointed for a term commencing August 20, 2025, and expiring July 15, 2028. Lisa Cawley will succeed D. Sue Townsel as Chair of the Michigan Women’s Commission once Townsel’s term concludes on October 14, 2025.
Amanda Said Canto, of Ann Arbor, is the executive director of the Michigan Hispanic Collaborative. Said Canto holds a Bachelor of Arts in international studies, applied statistics, and French from the University of Michigan and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University. Amanda Said Canto is appointed for a term commencing August 20, 2025, and expiring July 15, 2028. Said Canto succeeds Muna Jondy, whose term has expired.
The Michigan Women’s Commission was created by statute in 1968. The Commission’s duties include reviewing the status of women in Michigan, directing attention to critical problems confronting women, and recognizing women’s accomplishments and contributions to Michigan. These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. Chairperson and Vice Chairperson designations are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan Travel Commission Jamie Furbush, of Frankenmuth, is the president and chief executive officer of the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau. Furbush was previously the owner of the Frankenmuth Wedding Chapel. Furbush serves as a member of the Frankenmuth Economic Development Corporation and Frankenmuth Emergency Task Force. Furbush holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts from Central Michigan University. Jamie Furbush will be reappointed for a term commencing August 21, 2025, and expiring August 20, 2029.
Darren Ing, of Haslett, is the executive director of the Self Storage Association of Michigan. Previously, Ing was director of the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds. Ing is also a member of the Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan. Ing holds a Bachelor of Science in communications and psychology from Northern Michigan University. Darren Ing will be reappointed for a term commencing August 21, 2025, and expiring August 20, 2029.
Liz Ware, of Grosse Pointe, is the vice president of sales and marketing and co-owner of Mission Point Resort. Ware holds a Bachelor of Arts in public and environmental affairs from Indiana University. Ware serves on the board of directors of the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau, Mackinac Arts Council, and as treasurer of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association. Liz Ware will be reappointed for a term commencing August 21, 2025, and expiring August 20, 2029.
Brian Yopp, of Southfield, is the deputy director of MotorCities National Heritage Area. Yopp holds a Bachelor of Arts in English language arts and teacher education from Eastern Michigan University. Brian Yopp is reappointed for a term commencing August 21, 2025, and expiring August 20, 2029.
The Travel Commission was established to promote, maintain, and develop the orderly growth of the Michigan travel product. The Commission assists the Michigan Travel Bureau with the development of a comprehensive long-range master plan, annually assesses the activities and accomplishments of the Michigan Travel Bureau, and works to the maximum extent practicable with those private associations, nonprofit corporations, organizations, or other private entities which promote tourism in this state. These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
State Building Authority Board of Trustees Todd Begerowski, of New Baltimore, is the president of Dearborn Mid-West Company and the president of the Michigan Conveyor Manufacturers Association. Begerowski serves on the Association of Union Constructors Board of Directors and on the National Maintenance Agreement Policy Committee. Begerowski holds a certificate from the Millwright Institute of Technology and a certificate in executive leadership from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business. Todd Begerowski will be reappointed for a term commencing August 22, 2025, and expiring August 21, 2029.
Randall Whitaker, of Chelsea, is a business manager for United Association Local 190. Whitaker holds an associate degree in applied science from Washtenaw Community College and is a licensed journeyman plumber. Whitaker also serves as president of the Washtenaw County Skilled Building Trades Council and as the financial secretary-treasurer for the Michigan Pipe Trades Association. Randall Whitaker will be appointed for a term commencing August 22, 2025, and expiring August 21, 2029. Whitaker succeeds Price Dobernick, whose term is expiring.
The State Building Authority was created to acquire, construct, furnish, equip, and renovate buildings and equipment for the use of the state, including public universities and community colleges. The Authority is authorized to issue and sell bonds and notes for acquisition and construction of facilities and state equipment. These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Governor’s Educator Advisory Council Corey Rosser, of Attica, is a social studies teacher, basketball coach, and program coordinator for alternative education programs at Quest High School. Rosser has been recognized as the 2025-26 Michigan Teacher of the Year. Rosser holds a Bachelor of Science in education in secondary education from Central Michigan University and a Master of Art in educational leadership from Marygrove College. Corey Rosser will be appointed as the Michigan Teacher of the Year for a term commencing September 1, 2025, and expiring August 31, 2026. Rosser succeeds Kelley Cusmano, whose term is expiring.
The Governor’s Educator Advisory Council was created by Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order No. 2019-9. The Council will review and make recommendations regarding legislation relevant to this state’s public education system, identify and analyze issues impacting the effectiveness of Michigan’s public education system, identify best practices in public education and recommend corresponding changes and improvements to Michigan’s public education system, and provide other information or advice relevant to public education. This appointment is not subject to advice and consent of the Senate.
State Teacher Tenure Commission Leah Porter, of Lansing, is a third-grade teacher at Wilcox Elementary in Holt Public Schools and has worked as a classroom instructor since 2006. Porter holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and a Master of Arts in literacy and language from Michigan State University. Porter was awarded the Michigan Teacher of the Year for 2021-2022 by the Michigan Department of Education. Porter has served on the Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council and the Governor’s Educator Advisory Council and is also a board member of the Michigan Reading Association. Leah Porter will be reappointed to represent classroom instructors for a term commencing September 1, 2025, and expiring August 31, 2030. |