By Pat McGinnis
The following Advocacy Committee members attended an introductory meeting on February 2 at the Winter Institute:
- Mitch Foster, Ludington
- Jared Olson, Roosevelt Park
- Jeremy Howard, Clare
- Julius Suchy, Ada Township
- Troy Bell, In Transition
- Rachel Smolenski, Alpena
- Jason Smith, Litchfield
- Robert Brown, Wakefield
- Heather Carmona, The Non-Profit Spot
We will be following the 2021-2024 strategic plan and will focus on the three central missions for our committee:
- Expand social media footprint
- Meaningfully and permanently connect with Michigan peer organizations
- Prepare materials to assist our members in helping us advocate for the council manager form (when it is at risk and routinely)
Members poured out plenty of fresh ideas, so we decided to meet every month this year to establish and maintain momentum. Expect to hear much more from the Advocacy Committee this year, and please help us with follow-up and ideas when you see our messages in your in-box.
Pat McGinnis
Chair, Advocacy Committee
City Manager, Portage
Pat McGinnis has been active in the MCMA/MLGMA/MME since 1987, when he first worked in a manager’s office in the City of Farmington Hills. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration from Michigan State University and has served as city manager in the Michigan municipalities of West Branch, Grand Haven, and Portage. He served a term on the MLGMA Board of Trustees and received the Excellence Award in 2012 and an Innovation Award in 2020. He and his wife Tina live in Portage, Michigan with their bunny, cat, and puppy. He can be reached at mcginnip@portagemi.gov.