Leadership – Michigan Townships Association

MTA is governed by a Board of Directors, comprised of elected township officials who are elected every four years at district caucus meetings held at the Annual Educational Conference. A dedicated group of leaders, MTA Board members hail from all corners of the state, leading the Association through policy governance, overseeing Association services and finances, adopting MTA legislative policy, and hiring the executive director. The MTA Board is comprised of 25 directors serving MTA districts throughout the state, as well as the MTA president and past presidents. For contact information to reach your MTA district director, please use the Find a Township page, or the Find a Township Official page (the Find a Township Official page requires log in to the members-only portion of this site).

MTA Districts (Map) Ι MTA Staff

A Visit with 2023 President Pauline Bennett

We’re excited to share “A Visit with 2023 President Pauline Bennett,” the first of several video messages from Pauline planned for this year. Learn a little more about Pauline, and her hopes for townships over the next year. “As your 2023 MTA president, I am honored to serve you and I will stand with you. Let’s work together as one team for townships and a better Michigan.”

Executive Director

Neil Sheridan

Became MTA’s fifth executive director in July 2019
Member of the Groveland Township (Oakland Co.) Planning Commission and its Board of Review for 12 years
Has helped lead numerous Michigan efforts focused on regional economic development. Sheridan co-authored an economic strategy with Public Sector Consultants for the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) called “Accelerating Growth”
Led a group of 80 townships, cities, nonprofits, businesses and governments to produce a comprehensive economic development game plan for coordination with the state and federal governments.
Former president of SVPI, an advisory and management services corporation active internationally.
Past member of the SBAM board of directors and previously led an SBAM Legislative Action Committee task force

2023 MTA Officers

Pauline Bennett
President

Clerk, Addison Township (Oakland Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2009
Elected clerk in 1996; planning commissioner, 1992-1996
Oakland County MTA Chapter member, 2005-present
Past Oxford Addison Youth Assistance board member
Certified Municipal Clerk, 2003
Master citizen planner, 2007; zoning administrator certificate, 2012

Connie Cargill
1st Vice President

District 11 Director
(Lake, Mason and Oceana Counties)
Treasurer, Golden Township (Oceana Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2012
Appointed treasurer in 1995; former deputy treasurer
Oceana County MTA Chapter treasurer
Oceana County Land Bank Authority Board member
Oceana Agricultural Society Board member
Oceana County Fair light horse superintendent

Harold Koviak
2nd Vice President

District 5 Director
(Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Emmet Counties)
Supervisor, Burt Township (Cheboygan Co.)

Supervisor, Burt Township (Cheboygan Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2013
Elected supervisor in 2002; trustee, 2000-2002; township zoning administrator, 1992-2000
Michigan High School Athletic Association basketball referee for nearly 40 years

Kevin Beeson
Treasurer

District 16 Director
(Gratiot, Ionia and Montcalm Counties)
Supervisor, Pine River Township (Gratiot Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2014
Elected supervisor in 2004; trustee 2003-2004; planning commission chair, 1994-2003
Past chair of Gratiot County MTA Chapter

Malinda Cole-Crocker
Secretary

District 22 Director
(Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties)
Supervisor, Buchanan Charter Township (Berrien Co.)

Supervisor, Buchanan Township (Berrien Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2017
Appointed supervisor in 2014
2016 Township Governance Academy graduate
Michigan advanced assessing officer
Board member and finance committee chair of Southeast Berrien County Landfill Authority
Country Heritage Credit Union board member

Immediate Past President

Bill Deater

Supervisor, Grant Township
(St. Clair Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2011
Elected supervisor in 2004; previously served on township board of review and planning commission
Grant Township Volunteer Fire Department officer and member for 44 years
St. Clair County MTA Chapter member and past president
Member and past president of the St. Clair County Supervisors Association
St. Clair County Road and Bridges Board chair
Member of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Board of St. Clair County
Former St. Clair County Central Dispatch Board member

Past Presidents

Peter Kleiman

Supervisor, Harris Township (Menominee Co.)

• 2021 MTA president
• Elected to MTA Board in 2011
• Elected supervisor in 1998; township assessor for 20 years
• Past secretary of Menominee County MTA Chapter
• 2015 president and current member of Menominee County Farm Bureau
• Past vice president and president of FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative

Jeff Sorensen

Supervisor, Cooper Charter Township (Kalamazoo Co.)

2019-2020 MTA president
Elected to MTA Board in 2008
Elected supervisor in 2000
Cooper Charter Township fire department for 20 years; assistant fire chief, 1988-2000
Kalamazoo County Council of Governments president, 2006-2007
Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study member, 2000-present
Kalamazoo Regional Water and Wastewater Commission vice chair, 2000-present

Ken Gauthier

Supervisor, Sanborn Township (Alpena Co.)

2018 MTA president
Elected to MTA Board in 2005
Elected supervisor in 1986; assessor, 2003-present; zoning board of appeals member, 1976-1986
Alpena County MTA Chapter past secretary-treasurer, vice president and president
Negwegon-Rockport and Thompson Harbor State Park Advisory Committee member
Alpena County Intergovernmental Council member

2023 MTA District Directors

Mary Segalin

District 1 Director
(Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon Counties)

Clerk, Ironwood Charter Township (Gogebic Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2019
Elected clerk in 2015; treasurer, 1992-1997
Deputy treasurer/secretary, 1987-1992
Gogebic Iron Wastewater Facility vice chair

Jim Nankervis

District 2 Director
(Baraga, Dickinson, Iron and Marquette Counties)

Supervisor, Ishpeming Township (Marquette Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2015
Elected supervisor in 1988; sewer authority member 1982-1988; planning commissioner, 1975-1982
Marquette County MTA Chapter president, past vice president
Marquette County Transit Authority Board of Directors chair
Marquette County Building Code Board of Appeals chair
2005 Teaching Family Homes Volunteer of the Year
Involved with Bay Cliff Health Camp for 15 years

Warren Suchovsky

District 3 Director
(Alger, Delta and Menominee Counties)

Trustee, Lake Township
Menominee Co.

Appointed to MTA Board in 2021
Elected trustee in 2010
Previously served on Menominee County Board of Commissioners, Planning Commission and Conservation Board
Former member of Stephenson Area Public Schools Board
Michigan Forest Biomaterials Institute treasurer
Former Michigan Association of Timbermen officer and board member
Past chair, Michigan Farm Bureau Forestry Advisory Committee

Marilyn Strickland

District 4 Director
(Chippewa, Luce, Mackinac and Schoolcraft Counties)

Treasurer, Newton Township (Mackinac Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2009
Elected treasurer in 1984; township firefighter, 1982-1988; township building inspector, 1979-1984; board of review member, 1982-1984
Garfield Township Ambulance Corps member, 1983-1997
Former emergency medical technician for Newton, Garfield, Hendricks and Hudson Townships

Harold Koviak

2023 MTA 2nd Vice President
District 5 Director
(Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Emmet Counties)

Elected to MTA Board in 2013
Elected supervisor in 2002, trustee in 2000-2002
Burt Township zoning administrator, 1992-2000
Michigan High School Athletic Association basketball referee for nearly 40 years

Sharon Schultz

District 6 Director
(Antrim, Crawford, Kalkaska and Otsego Counties)

Treasurer, Torch Lake Township (Antrim Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2017
Elected treasurer in 2000
Michigan certified assessing officer
Antrim County MTA Chapter secretary
Served emergency medical services field for more than 30 years, including 16 years for Torch Bay Ambulance and 15 years as a Torch Lake Township EMT
Antrim County Sheriff’s Department Victims Services Unit volunteer

Kenneth Lobert

District 7 Director
(Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle Counties)

Supervisor, Ossineke Township (Alpena Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2018
Elected supervisor in 1984
Has held multiple offices in the Alpena County MTA Chapter

Marvin Radtke

MTA Executive Committee member-at-large
District 8 Director
(Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Manistee Counties)

Supervisor, Green Lake Township (Grand Traverse Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2017
Elected supervisor in 2016; trustee, 2000-2016; township zoning and planning administrator, 1992-2016
Grand Traverse County Brownfield Redevelopment Board member
Served on Grand Traverse County Land Development Review, Planning Commission and Board of Public Works

Matthew Beattie

District 9 Director
(Clare, Missaukee, Osceola and Wexford Counties)

Supervisor, Boon Township (Wexford Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2022
Elected supervisor in 2020

Kimberly Anderson

District 10 Director
(Arenac, Iosco, Ogemaw and Roscommon Counties)

Clerk, Whitney Township (Arenac Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2017
Elected clerk in 2012

Connie Cargill

2023 MTA 1st Vice President
District 11 Director
(Lake, Mason and Oceana Counties)

Treasurer, Golden Township (Oceana Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2012
Appointed treasurer in 1995; former deputy treasurer
Oceana County MTA Chapter treasurer
Oceana County Land Bank Authority Board member
Oceana Agricultural Society Board member
Oceana County Fair light horse superintendent

Yulanda "Yo" Bellingar

District 12 Director
(Isabella, Mecosta and Newaygo Counties)

Trustee, Morton Township (Mecosta Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2009
Elected trustee in 2016; clerk, 2008-2016
2011 Township Governance Academy graduate
Mecosta County Economic Development Corporation Executive Board past treasurer
Former Mecosta County Chamber of Commerce Executive Board member
Mecosta County Community Foundation past board member

Glenn Rowley

District 13 Director
(Bay, Gladwin and Midland Counties)

Supervisor, Bangor Charter Township (Bay Co.)

Appointed to MTA Board in 2020
Elected supervisor in 2016; township downtown development authority member; former member, zoning board of appeals
Past vice president of Bay County Township Officers Association and secretary to its roads committee
Previous vice president, Bay County Water System Advisory Council and vice chair of the Lead & Copper Testing Advisory Committee
Former member of Bay County Chamber of Commerce Gateway Corridor Beautification Committee, vice chair of Bay Area Water Transmission System, treasurer of Bay Area Storm Water Authority, and vice chair of Bay City Area Transportation Study Commission

Nancy Heck

District 14 Director
(Huron and Tuscola Counties)

Treasurer, Winsor Township (Huron Co.)

Appointed to MTA Board in 2020
Elected treasurer in 2000; township assessor, 2005-2020; deputy supervisor, 1975-1985
Huron County MTA Chapter secretary
Pigeon District Library Board member since 1999; former board president, vice president and secretary

Greg Golembiewski

District 15 Director
(Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa Counties)

Treasurer, Blendon Township (Ottawa Co.)

Appointed to MTA Board in 2021
Appointed treasurer in 2018; former interim township clerk
Ottawa County Treasurers Association vice chair
Rivertown Community Federal Credit Union board chair since 2008
United Auto Workers Local 730 “Spirit of Solidarity” award recipient, 2010

Kevin Beeson

2023 MTA Treasurer
District 16 Director
(Gratiot, Ionia and Montcalm Counties)

Supervisor, Pine River Township (Gratiot Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2014
Elected supervisor in 2004; trustee 2003-2004; planning commission chair, 1994-2003
Past chair of Gratiot County MTA Chapter

Joanne Boehler

District 17 Director
(Genesee, Saginaw and Shiawassee Counties)

Treasurer, James Township (Saginaw Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2005
Elected treasurer in 1996; deputy treasurer, 1976-1996
Saginaw County Township Officers Association president, 2008-2009
Saginaw Area Local Treasurers Association co-founder and member

Robert Lewandowski

District 18 Director
(Sanilac and St. Clair Counties)

Supervisor, Port Huron Charter Township (St. Clair Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2022
Elected supervisor in 2008; constable, 1998-2008; township downtown development authority member, 1999-present, former secretary
Past chair and vice chair of St. Clair County Supervisors Association
Past president and vice president of Michigan Association of Township Supervisors
Flagship Credit Union Board of Directors, 2017-present
St. Clair County Farm Museum, 2006-present
South Park Lions Club, 2010-present

Bret Padgett

District 19 Director
(Allegan, Barry and Kalamazoo Counties)

Treasurer, Comstock Charter Township (Kalamazoo Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2019
Elected treasurer in 2012
Past Kalamazoo County MTA Chapter treasurer and trustee
Michigan Municipal Treasurers Association board member, 2019-present
Public Media Network board member, 2012-present

Patti Jo Schafer

District 20 Director
(Clinton, Eaton and Ingham Counties)

Supervisor, Eagle Township (Clinton Co.)

Elected to MTA Board in 2013
Elected supervisor in 2008; treasurer, 1996-2008
President, past vice president and past trustee of Clinton County MTA Chapter
Grand Ledge Bullpen Association, 2009-current

Ken Verkest

District 21 Director
(Lapeer, Macomb and Oakland Counties)

Supervisor, Harrison Charter Township (Macomb Co.)

Elected to the MTA Board in 2023
Elected supervisor in 2011; trustee from 2008-2011
Zoning board of appeals member, 2006-2011
Knights of Columbus member since 1997
Macomb County YMCA Advisory Board member
Friendship Clubhouse Advisory Board member

Malinda Cole-Crocker

2023 MTA Secretary District 22 Director (Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties)