Southeast Michigan Council of Government (SEMCOG)

Michael began his career in 2005, working in a public relations capacity for the Michigan Oil and Gas Association while still a student at Central Michigan University. In 2008, Michael accepted a communications position at the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, helping connect communities with the services and resources available to them as they dealt with the impacts of the Great Recession.
From 2012-2015, he was Assistant Manager at the Village of Elk Rapids, a small waterfront community on the East Grand Traverse Bay. There, he worked to enhance Village services while maintaining or reducing millage rates; staffed the Downtown Development Authority; managed human resources and succession planning efforts; developed an asset management process for the village; and administered grants. During this time, Michael successfully brought groups with longstanding divergent interests to the table to discuss future planning for the Elk Rapids community.
Michael rejoined SEMCOG in 2015 to work on legislative issues important to local communities; assist local governments with operational assessments and strategic planning; and ensure that SEMCOG’s governance processes are transparent and effective.  Michael lives in Grosse Pointe Park with his wife Annie – a librarian at GPPL – and their sons Walden and Isaac. He has a B.A. in Political Science and Journalism, and a Master’s in Public Administration, both from Central Michigan University.