Contact:
Matt Bach
Michigan Municipal League
[email protected], 734.669.6317
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 27, 2023
Khalfani Stephens Appointed to Michigan Municipal League Board
Ann Arbor, Mich. – Pontiac Deputy Mayor Khalfani Stephens was recently appointed to the Michigan Municipal League Board of Trustees.
Stephens will join a diverse group of community leaders representing communities of all shapes and sizes.
“We are extremely pleased to have Khalfani join us as we work to help our communities thrive and make crucial investments with the help of historic funding from both the state and federal level,” said League Board President Barbara Ziarko, councilmember of Sterling Heights. “With Khalfani’s appointment, our board will continue to have representatives from our largest cities to our smallest communities around the state working side-by-side. This diversity of thought and representation is a key tenant of our organization.”
Khalfani Stephens is a seasoned government administration professional with direct experience at the local, county, and state levels. He is a strong supporter of community service, a member of the League’s Municipal Finance Committee, and is an active participant in the Urban Core Mayors in both his roles in Flint and Pontiac.
“I am honored to be joining the League’s Board of Trustees,” Stephens said. “I am proud to continue my service to Michigan’s communities through this opportunity as a member of this board. I look forward to contributing to our common goal of improving our entire state.”
Khalfani Stephens serves as deputy mayor for the City of Pontiac. In this position, he operates as the chief operating officer and advisor to the mayor. He has assisted in lowering the city’s operating deficit, restructuring the city’s departments to increase service delivery, and introducing new programs to increase employee morale.
Stephens previously served as the director of economic development and assistant city administrator with the City of Flint. He has held positions with the City of Farmington Hills, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the City of Pontiac Downtown Development Authority, as the Pontiac Growth Group Director, and also with the Pontiac School District.
Stephens has a Post Master’s Certificate in Economic Development, an MBA in marketing and finance from Wayne State University, and is an honors graduate with a B.A. in Linguistics and History from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. He is a licensed State of Michigan real estate person, a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP), and Michigan Master Citizen Planner.
The League Board is a critical part of the League’s organizational structure by guiding internal workings and helping set public policy with support from the League’s legislative committees. Joining Stephens and League President Ziarko on the board are Vice President Robert Clark, Mayor, Monroe; and Trustees Joshua Atwood, Commissioner, Lapeer; Rebecca Chamberlain-Creanga, Councilmember, Troy; Peter Dame, Chief Development Officer, Portage; Carla Filkins, Mayor, Cadillac; Don Gerrie, Mayor, Sault Ste. Marie; Stephen Kepley, Mayor, Kentwood; Valerie Kindle, Mayor, Harper Woods; Robert La Fave, Village Manager, L’Anse; Raylon Leaks-May, Councilmember, Ferndale; Joshua Meringa, Councilmember, Grandville; Deborah Stuart, City Manager, Mason; Keith Van Beek, City Manager, Holland; Mark Washington, City Manager, Grand Rapids; Stephanie Grimes Washington, Director of Government Affairs, Detroit; and Tim Wolff, Village Manager, Lake Isabella.
For additional information, contact the League’s Matt Bach, assistant director of communications and media, at (810) 874-1073 (cell) and [email protected].
Michigan Municipal League is dedicated to making Michigan’s communities better by thoughtfully innovating programs, energetically connecting ideas and people, actively serving members with resources and services, and passionately inspiring positive change for Michigan’s greatest centers of potential: its communities. The League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington, D.C., and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services. Learn more at mml.org.
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