Kelsey Adkins currently serves as the project manager for Saginaw Charter Township, focusing on policy, economic, and community development. Originally a graduate of Michigan State, Kelsey received bachelor’s degrees in political theory and social relations, then going on to receive her Master of Public Administration Degree from University of Colorado-Denver. Her work in municipal government began in the Clerk’s office, focused primarily on election administration, but she recently transitioned into a role within the Township Manager’s office. Outside of work, she serves on the YWCA Board of Directors for the Great Lakes Bay Region and is a member of the organization’s advocacy committee. Her goal is always to foster local growth while cultivating and sustaining genuine connections with the community.

Isabel Allaway is the Interim Community and Economic Development Director for the City of Hamtramck, MI. She began her role at the city after completing her Masters in Public Administration and Economic Development certification from Wayne State University. At WSU, she was a founding board member of the University’s student chapter of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), bringing industry professionals and students together to discuss leadership in public service. Isabel began her career in local government and community development while a student at Albion College, during a long term internship in the City Manager’s office in Albion, MI. Ever since, she has been passionate about equitable development, community engagement, and effective public sector leadership.

Lori is an accomplished Human Resources Director with over a decade of experience in HR management, recruitment, staff development, and compliance. Currently leading the HR department for the City of Farmington Hills, Lori has successfully overseen the hiring and onboarding of numerous employees, driving significant improvements in staffing efficiency and effectiveness. Lori’s expertise in building trusted partnerships and fostering an inclusive organizational culture has been instrumental in enhancing team performance and employee satisfaction. She holds a Master of Arts in Human Resources Management from Marygrove College and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University. Lori is committed to advancing her leadership skills and contributing to the growth and success of the City.

Anne Brown has over 20 years of public service experience, dedicated to building community capacity and promoting equal justice. As a Michigan native raised in a working-class community, she learned the value of hard work and service from her parents. Her career began with the City of Detroit, where she advanced from Assistant to Executive Director for the Detroit Primary Care Network to securing the largest private foundation grant in the program’s history. That grant enabled an expansion of services to homeless, runaway, and street-involved youth and supported the adoption of a legislative platform for improving minority health. Her commitment to social justice was recognized when she participated in a Detroit case study by the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations. Anne now serves as a Senior Field Representative and is a former City of Ypsilanti Councilwoman, having also chaired the City Parks and Rec Commission. She is married and a mother of two adult children.

Amy is the Assistant City Manager / City Clerk for the City of Bloomfield Hills. She has served in various roles over her 23 years with Bloomfield Hills, the last 19 years as City Clerk. In 2022, she was promoted to Assistant City Manager / City Clerk. Amy earned her BA from Michigan State University and is a member of the Oakland County Clerk’s Association, having served as a Past President and a member of the Executive Board. She has earned the designation of Certified Municipal Clerk with the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and is a certified Michigan Professional Municipal Clerk. Amy values connecting with others by prioritizing the art of listening in relationships.

Bhama is currently a Local Government Finance Professional at Veerakone PLLC. Previously, she served as the Deputy Finance Director for the City of Kentwood, where she managed a range of functions including accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, budgeting, payroll, purchasing, risk management, and grant management. Her role also involved assisting in the annual preparation of 5-year financial forecasts and the development of 6-year capital improvement plans. With over 30 years of accounting experience in various industries—including 18 years in local government where she held positions such as Finance Director, Treasurer, City Controller, and Deputy City Manager—she brings a wealth of expertise to her current position. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Calvin College, as well as a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Western Michigan University. She is both a Certified Public Accountant (Michigan) and a Chartered Management Accountant (United Kingdom). In addition to her professional work, she serves as a volunteer Board Member of GRACE (Grand Rapids Alternative Correctional Experience), an organization dedicated to keeping teens out of the criminal justice system and guiding them toward better lives in Kent County, and she enjoys volunteering as a pianist at community events and nursing homes.

Susan is the Assistant City Administrator for the City of Grosse Pointe Woods, a role she has held since December 2021. With over 24 years of dedicated service to the city, Susan has risen through the ranks from her start as a permanent part-time Confidential Administrative Assistant to Executive Assistant before achieving her current position. Her passion for civic engagement and public service has guided her to serve in a lead role for the reorganization of the Pointe Area Assisted Transportation Service that serves six communities; establish a Farmers’ Market and other community events; and write the city’s Title VI Plan. Currently she is working towards finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Community Development with a concentration in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. A long-time resident of the eastside of Michigan, Susan shares her life with her husband, Mario, to whom she has been married for 30 years. She enjoys spending time with their three beloved cats, is an avid reader, enthusiastic gardener, and passionate traveler.

Tiffany has been the Finance Director in Midland County, Michigan since May 2023. Tiffany graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelor’s of Professional Accountancy and went on to obtain her CPA license shortly after. Her experience as an auditor for primarily governmental clients helped shape her choice for a career in government. She previously worked for the City of Midland as Senior Procurement Accountant before promoting to Assistant Controller shortly after and remained there for five years. Tiffany enjoys networking and collaborating with others, creating efficiencies, and streamlining processes. She is happily married, is the proud mother of three, and lives by Calamity Jane’s saying: “If a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one.”

Dr. Julie Everly is a dedicated public servant with a distinguished career marked by an exceptional commitment to community and public service. Prior to her retirement from public education, she served as the Superintendent of Monroe Public Schools. In 2022 she transitioned to her current role as the Director of Human Resources in the City of Monroe. Dr. Everly has a wealth of experience in various leadership roles and has been actively involved in numerous community boards and groups, demonstrating her ability to effect positive change and drive impactful initiatives. She has a passion for organizational and talent development, consistently striving to build stronger, more effective teams. Her passion for public service is not only a professional calling but also a family tradition, as she is the proud mother of two children who are building careers in which they will serve their communities. Alongside her professional and familial responsibilities, Dr. Everly treasures traveling, gardening, a great DIY project, and her energetic labradoodle. Fueled by a mindset of systems thinking and capacity building, Dr. Everly’s leadership is characterized by a blend of strategic vision, empathy, and a relentless drive to improve the lives of those she serves.

Kelly now serves as the Development Director for the City of St. Joseph. Previously, she was the Community Coordinator for the Village of Berrien Springs, where she managed communications and facilitated numerous community projects and events, collaborating closely with local businesses and residents. With an undergraduate degree in agriculture from Michigan State University, she discovered her passion for municipal management and later earned an MPA from Murray State University in 2023. Deeply community-minded, Kelly also serves on the Board of Directors for the local youth fair and volunteers with several local organizations.

Esther Fifelski is the Human Relations Director at the City of Holland.She has been at the city of Holland for about 10 years. Her team supports the human relations commission, international relations commission. the Holland Youth Advisory Council and Youth on Boards. She also works with the city’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility team and is often mediating situations between tenants and landlords, among many other responsibilities.She loves serving the residents of Holland. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan where she studied Eastern European Studies and Journalism with a minor in Economics. She received her Masters in Leadership Degree from Aquinas College where she focused on Business and Marketing Management. She is married to Mark and has a son, Isaac, her best product development endeavor. She loves to learn, read, sing, and swim in her spare time.

Jocelyn Hines, hailing from Muskegon Heights, is a passionate advocate for equity and community empowerment. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Social Relations and Policy and a minor in Public Relations. Jocelyn’s political campaign work honed her civic engagement skills. Dedicated to service, she founded Muskegon Young Black Professionals, serves on the United Way board, and contributes to the Health Equity Council. Recognized for her efforts, she received the 2022 Grand Rapids Business Journal 40 under 40 and the 2022 West MI Works 20 under 30 awards. Jocelyn’s commitment to diversity is evident in her involvement in DEI committees. Holding a master’s in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University, she now works as a Development Analyst for the City of Muskegon. Jocelyn’s enduring goal is to foster inclusive spaces and amplify underrepresented voices in her community.

Ashley Huey is currently an Office Administrator for Kent County’s Community Action department, where she leverages her expertise in public administration to drive impactful community initiatives. With a Master’s in Public Administration and experience across township, city, and county levels of government, she excels in operations management and fostering community collaboration. Ashley is deeply committed to developing women as future leaders, as demonstrated by her role as a government advisor for the Girls State program through the American Legion. Residing in Grand Rapids, she is passionate about her community and dedicated to making a positive difference locally.

Priya began her municipal career as the Assistant Treasurer at Barton Hills Village. She is the current Finance Director/Treasurer for the City of Chelsea. In between the two municipal roles, she branched out to clinical trials management at the University of Michigan. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Michigan and Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from University of Michigan-Flint. Priya enjoys being part of the infrastructure of municipal finance. Outside of her role at the City of Chelsea, she enjoys helping her three kids become kind and capable human beings. She is married to the love of her life. She enjoys taking walks with her dog. Lastly, she finds peace and joy creating and cooking fusion food.

Kate Litwin is a dynamic leader in her role as Director of the Downtown Development Authority and C.O.O. of Howell Main Street Inc. for the past five years. She plays a pivotal role in revitalizing Howell’s downtown, focusing on community engagement and economic development. A graduate of The Savannah College of Art & Design, Kate has a background in historic preservation, place management, and community development. Under her leadership, Howell Main Street Inc. was recognized as the “Best Main Street” in the country by USA Today. Kate is committed to creating sustainable environments that enrich residents’ lives and attract visitors. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, supporting local arts, and spending time with her family, friends, and menagerie of pets.

Danielle currently serves as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Novi, MI, a position she has held since November 2023. A new Michigander, Mahoney hails from North Carolina, born and raised in Charlotte. She has a passion for public service and has dedicated her career to working in local government. Prior to joining Novi, Danielle served as the Assistant Director of Research and Development in Cary, North Carolina, where she led a team of change agents to orchestrate innovations that increased citizen engagement and optimized business processes. She has a proven track record of success in developing and implementing innovative solutions to complex problems. Danielle is passionate about innovation, change management, technology implementation, and organizational development. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, as well as a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina State University. She also holds certificates from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management.