2023 MME Winter Institute

Online registration will close on Friday, January 20th at 5:00 pm

Online registration is currently closed. You will be able to register on-site at the event.

MME Member: $350

MME Consultant Member: $450

First Time Winter Institute Attendee: $250 (for MME members only, consultants noneligible)

Retired Member Winter Institute Attendee: $250

Manager in Transition: $250

Emerging Leader: Complimentary

Guest: $250 (Welcome Reception & Meals)

Tuesday Activities

Pre-Conference Workshop (fee waived; pre-registration required)
Grand Rapids Mobile Tour: $25 (pre-registration required)

Wednesday Activities

Early Career Outreach Dinner: $10 (Pre-registration required)

Thursday Activities

Vendor Reception: (Pre-registration required for members and guests)
Manager’s Activity: $10 (Pre-registration required for members and guests)

Location

L.V. Eberhard Center
301 Fulton St W
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Registration

Online registration is currently closed. You will be able to register on-site at the event.

General Sessions

Vetting Your Police Chief

Tim Bourgeois, the Director of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MICOLES) will be presenting on properly vetting and background checking your prospective Police Chief hire.  This process should be followed even if you promote from within.  Director Bourgeois will dive into the requirements you have as the governing body (and manager) to properly background check and vet your hire.  They will go through the laws and MICOLES requirements that accompany this process. Municipal Attorneys Jeff Sluggett and Andy Gordon from Bloom Sluggett will be assisting in the presentation as it pertains to the liabilities you open yourself up to if you do not follow the process. This discussion will help you decide if your candidate has the proper credentials to be a Police Chief.

Speakers

Tim Bourgeois, Director of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MICOLES)

Jeff Sluggett, Attorney, Bloom Sluggett PC

Andrew Gordon, Attorney, Bloom Sluggett PC

ICMA Core Competencies- Human Resource Management and Workforce Engagement; Staff Effectiveness

Leading Through Crisis

In May of 2020, the County and City of Midland, along with other surrounding communities, faced the unprecedented failure of two upstream dams . As the stored water released from the two dams moved downstream, local officials faced a crisis previously considered but never experienced. This session will look at some of the leadership challenges that took place inside the workings of the Emergency Operations Center, and what steps the Midland community is taking now to minimize future flooding risks.

Speakers

C. Bradley Kaye, ICMA-CM AICP CFM, City Manager, City of Midland

Bridgette Gransden, CPA, CGFM, Administrator/Controller, Midland County

ICMA Core Competencies – Strategic Leadership

ICMA Update

Speakers

Victor Cardenas, Midewest Vice President - ICMA, Assistant City Manager, Novi, MI

EMS – On Life Support

EMS systems across the country are facing unprecedented challenges. Staffing, finances, insurance, collections, and what trends will become the future for EMS will be discussed. The challenges are not limited to fire-based EMS; private providers, public utility models, and volunteers all seem to be in crisis. What should you be doing? Find answers to these questions:

• How did our EMS system originally develop?
• What ways has Coronavirus changed EMS in the US?
• What should city/county managers understand about EMS systems?
• Can EMS be benchmarked?
• What major factors are influencing EMS?
• What does EMS look like in 2030? 2050?
• What should city/county managers consider today?

Speakers

Matt Zavadsky, MS-HSA, NREMT, Chief Strategic Integration Officer, MedStar Mobile Healthcare

Thomas Wieczorek, Retired – CPSM

ICMA Core Competencies - Community and Resident Service; Service Delivery

Lower Grand River Organizations of Watersheds (LGROW)
Wendy Ogilvie, Director of Environmental Programs, and Cara Decker, Storm Water Coordinator, discuss the LGROW's organization’s history, municipalities employee training and strategies for improving stormwater quality.

Speakers

Wendy Ogilvie, Director of Environmental Programs, Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds

Cara Deck, Storm Water Coordinator, Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds

ICMA Core Competencies - Policy Facilitation and Implementation, Service Delivery

Legislative Update

Legislative staff from the Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Association of Counties and Michigan Townships Association will present an update on local government issues being addressed in Lansing.

Speakers

John LaMacchia II, Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal League

Stephan Currie, Executive Director, Michigan Association of Counties

Mike Batterbee, Government Relations, Michigan Townships Association

ICMA Core Competencies: Policy Facilitation and Implementation

How to Prevent Things from Going South

Speakers

Mark Wollenweber, ICMA Senior Advisor, Interim Manager, City of Northville

Gregg Guetschow, ICMA/MME Senior Advisor

Ed Koryzno, MME Senior Advisor

Ray Anderson, MME Senior Advisor

ICMA Core Competencies - Personal and Professional Integrity; Personal Resiliency and Development

Breakout Sessions

Understanding What a Police Chief Should Be Doing (MICOLES)

Tim Bourgeois, the Director of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MICOLES) will be presenting on understanding the required process that Police Departments (Chief's of Police) are required to follow in hiring Police Officers. He will discuss the laws and required steps under MICOLES to hire a police officer.  He will also explain the background process for hiring certified vs. certifiable candidates. Municipal Attorneys Jeff Sluggett and Andy Gordon from Bloom Sluggett will be assisting in the presentation as it pertains to the liabilities you open yourself up to if you do not follow the process.  In today's world it is imperative that we are properly vetting our police officer candidates.

Speakers

Tim Bourgeois, Director of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MICOLES)

Andrew Gordon, Attorney, Bloom Sluggett PC

ICMA Core Competencies - Human Resource Management and Workforce Engagement; Staff Effectiveness

Local Government as a Coxswain: What the Future Holds for Service Delivery

Join a thought-provoking conversation about how local governments can and must shift from “rowing” to “steering” to meet the expectations and aspirations of their residents in a world of labor shortages, recession, political polarization, and artificial intelligence. We will discuss networked management, no-stop services, and breaking out of the hyper-local delivery model.

Speakers

Samantha Harkins, CEO and Founder, Hundred Place Consulting LLC

Andrew Kleine, Senior Director - Government & Public Sector EYP-Strategy & Transactions

ICMA Core Competencies - Strategic Leadership; Strategic Planning

Small Community Round Table

City managers of communities with a population of 7,500 and less or those interested in learning about other sized community issues are encouraged to participate in a round table discussion. Attendees can bring problems forward to “crowd source” answers, gather information on how other communities address problems and deliver services, and network with their peers.

ICMA Core Competencies: Community and Resident Service

Collective Bargaining 101

Maintaining a strong relationship between union employees and the municipal employer is a critical skillset for public managers. Unfortunately, the desire to serve both the needs of your community, and the needs of your coworkers can be stressful. This session will unpack the nuances of collective bargaining and cover strategies to take before, during, and after negotiating. The session is geared towards newer managers who have not gone through the bargaining process.

Speakers

Gregg Guetschow, ICMA/MME Senior Advisor

Warren Rothe, Assistant City Manager, Grosse Pointe Park

ICMA Core Competencies - Human Resource Management and Workforce Engagement; Staff Effectiveness

Future-Proofing Your Planning & Zoning Department

If your planning/zoning staff won the lottery and didn't come back to work, who would know what the development review process is, how uses are permitted and what the ordinance standards are? Learn how to plan for the future when long-time staff or consultants (who know the ordinances and processes - or think they do) are no longer around, ensuring your development review process is clear and consistent, zoning standards are clear and application materials are illustrative and help applicants know what to provide and get the right answers.

Speaker

Joseph Tangari, Prinicpal Planner, Giffels Webster

ICMA Core Competencies - Service Delivery; Strategic Planning

Mid-Sized Community Round Table

City managers of communities with a population of 7,500 to 20,000 or those interested in learning about other sized community issues are encouraged to participate in a round table discussion. Attendees can bring problems forward to “crowd source” answers, gather information on how other communities address problems and deliver services, and network with their peers.

ICMA Core Competencies: Community and Resident Service

Perfect Project, Perfect Storm

Identified in 2013 as high priority to eliminate the concern for redundancy of a pump station, engineering for a sanitary gravity sewer along Nine Mile Road in Novi was approved in 2016 and work started in 2019. What was to be a 1 1/2 year project turned into three years. Construction progress went anything but smooth due to unforeseen obstacles, including underground boulders, lake drainage, community opposition and more. Presenters will highlight how cross departmental efforts, communication and transparency throughout the project kept this project moving forward.

Speakers

Jeff Herczeg, Director of Public Works, City of Novi

Ben Croy, City Engineer, City of Novi

ICMA Core Competencies - Service Delivery

Large Community Round Tables

City managers of communities with a population of 20,000 and more or those interested in learning about other sized community issues are encouraged to participate in a round table discussion. Attendees can bring problems forward to “crowd source” answers, gather information on how other communities address problems and deliver services, and network with their peers.

ICMA Core Competencies: Community and Resident Service

Water/Wastewater, Operator in Charge, EGLE, Liabilities and You as a Manager

One of the major issues facing municipalities today is hiring and retaining an employee to be the OIC (operator in charge) of your water and wastewater systems. This session will discuss the certifications that these employees are required to have and what options are available through subcontracting when they don't.  Liabilities surrounding water and wastewater will be discussed as they pertain to the OIC, you the manager, and your municipality. Mike Sessions who is the manager of Manchester will be sharing a personal experience of what happened to him while he was working for Morenci when the guidelines set forth by EGLE were not followed with regard to your water and wastewater systems.

Speakers

John Holland, Water Quality Action Specialist, Michigan Rural Water Association

Mike Sessions, Manager of Manchester

ICMA Core Competencies - Service Delivery; Human Resource Management

The Live Interview...Avoiding the Pitfalls

This session will focus on properly preparing for the interview and avoiding mistakes on your resume and social media. A live interview with Michigan managers will highlight the session with an interactive role for the audience.

Speakers

Frank Walsh, Meridian Charter Township

Patricia Randall, Mayor, City of Portage

Christine Burns, Village Manager, Village of Spring Lake

Derek Perry, City Manager, City of Marshall

ICMA Core Competencies - Staff Effectiveness; Human Resources Management and Workforce Engagement

Mobility Justice - How On-Demand Transportation Creates Opportunities for Communities

Mobility is a vital consideration of equity. Mobility, in many forms, creates access to employment, education, healthcare, and more. BCGo, a mobility pilot launched by the City of Battle Creek, demonstrates how rural on-demand transportation is shaping mobility justice.

Speakers

Mallory Avis, Battle Creek Transit, City of Battle Creek

Kristy Grestini, Mobility Manager, City of Battle Creek

ICMA Core Competencies - Equity and Inclusion, Community and Resident Service

Land Banks and Brownfields - The Unsung Heroes of Economic Development

Brownfield redevelopment tools and incentives are some of the most powerful economic development resources available in Michigan. This presentation will briefly review brownfield basics, provide insights for collaborating with land bank authorities to support affordable housing and other eligible activities, and provide examples demonstrating the application of these resources.

Speaker

Jeff Hawkins, Vice President/Senior Hydrogeologist, Fishbeck

ICMA Core Competencies - Policy Facilitation and Implementation

 

Advancing Asset Management in Michigan

Speakers

John Weiss, MIC Chairperson, GVMC

Erin Kuhn, MIC Vice-Chairperson, WMSRDC 

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Become a Sponsor

To become an MME Winter Institute Sponsor or Vendor, click here.

For a full listing of MME’s Annual Sponsorship Opportunities, click here.