President

Joshua Atwood serves as a commissioner in the City of Lapeer and was the youngest commissioner elected since Lapeer was established as a city in 1869. Atwood co-established the cities first-ever Youth Council. Under his leadership, the Youth Council established the cities first volunteer group, Lapeer City Superheroes. The volunteer group is very proactive in doing city cleanups, planting flowers, and lending a helping hand whenever possible. As a public servant, Atwood is not afraid to get dirty as he leads from the front. He can be seen planting city flowers one day, picking up garbage and sweeping up cigarette butts downtown the next day. Atwood holds a monthly event, “coffee with a commish” that has been very instrumental for public engagement. He has even hosted, “coffee with a commish teen edition” targeting the next generation of leaders, business owners, and residents. He has been a leader in the growth of ecotourism in the city and an important part of the growth and success of downtown Lapeer. His term expires in 2026.

Vice President

Jennifer Antel serves as the first female mayor for the City of Wayland where she has served on the council since 2005. She is dedicated to local government, having served over three decades in public service both in appointed and elected positions. After receiving her master’s degree in public administration from Grand Valley State University, she started her career as the Otsego DDA Director. She was the administrative assistant and then the assistant to the city manager in Kalamazoo. Antel currently works as the program manager for West Michigan Trails. She has served the city on various boards and committees including the Planning Commission, DDA, Ambulance Board, Parks Committee, and Budget Committee. An active community member, Antel serves as a Wayland Union Schools Key Communicator, a Chamber Ambassador for the Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce, and she serves on the League’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Antel is a strong advocate for youth and has stepped into various roles including Cubmaster, Girl Scout Leader, and founder of a youth swim club. She is an avid runner and is co-founder of Wayland Road Runners, and currently coaches varsity cross country and middle school track. Her term expires in 2027.

George M. Bosanic serves as the city manager for the City of Greenville. He has thirty-five years of experience in city management with thirty years in his current position. In his career, he has served on and chaired numerous local boards and commissions including, but not limited to, the Montcalm Brownfield Authority, Montcalm Area Dispatch Authority, Montcalm Economic Alliance, Montcalm/Mecosta Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce. Bosanic has served on the Michigan Municipal League Workers’ Compensation Board of Trustees and currently serves on the Michigan Municipal League Property and Liability Pool Board. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association and a member of the Michigan Municipal Executives. Bosanic is a graduate of Manistique High School, has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Grand Valley State College, and a master’s degree in public administration from Grand Valley State University. His term expires in 2027.

Fonda J. Brewer serves as supervisor for Delta Township. In 2018, Brewer was appointed a trustee of the Delta Township Board and was later elected to a four-year term in 2020. In 2025, she was appointed supervisor by the Delta Township Board. Brewer’s professional journey includes leadership roles in human resources at Hanna Barbera Productions, Turner Broadcasting, and Columbia Pictures. After returning to her home state of Michigan, she served as a manager in the field services department at the Michigan Education Special Services Association (MESSA) until her retirement in 2015. She also dedicated four years of service as an elected member of the Waverly Community Schools Board of Education. A committed leader in civic and community life, Brewer serves on the League’s MBC-LEO as 2nd vice president; Michigan Board of Dentistry, appointed by Governor Whitmer, chair of the Disciplinary Subcommittee; NAACP Michigan State Conference, chair of Women in NAACP (WIN); NAACP Lansing Branch, executive committee member at large; Transcendence Performing Arts Center, president, board of directors; and the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) Poet Laureate Committee. Brewer is also a valued influencer for the MSU Wharton Center. A lifelong learner, she is completing her undergraduate studies at Southern New Hampshire University. Her career and service reflect her guiding principle: leading with heart and serving with purpose. Her term expires in 2029.

Alexander Clos serves as a councilmember for the City of Howell. Clos is a dedicated public servant, small business owner, and seasoned insurance professional with a deep commitment to community development and civic leadership. As an elected councilman he brings a strategic, solutions-oriented mindset to local governance, championing infrastructure improvements, leadership diversity, and constructive media representation. With over eight years of experience in the insurance industry, Clos has built a reputation for integrity, client advocacy, and operational excellence. His entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in his success as a small business owner, where he combines practical problem-solving with a passion for service. Clos’s leadership extends beyond elected office. He has served on multiple boards and collaborates regularly with state representatives and city officials to advance initiatives that strengthen Michigan’s municipalities. His approach balances diplomacy with firm advocacy, always prioritizing unity and progress. His term expires in 2029.

Leann Davis serves on the L’Anse Village Council, a position she has held since 1988.  Davis was born and raised in Three Rivers, MI and attended Ferris State University.  Following her husband’s dream to live in the U.P., they moved to L’Anse in 1971. She worked for Baraga County for 25 years. Once she joined the L’Anse Village Council, Davis got involved with other community boards and institutions. She was appointed to the Baraga County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau board and became the president.  Davis was also appointed to the Green Hill Manor board of the L’Anse Housing Commission and later became president of that board as well. While on the village council, Davis has seen the construction of the water plant, a new fire hall and village office, the development of the Lambert Road Industrial Park, the downtown splash pad, the development of the Community Solar Garden erected for residents to own, and the first two phases of the L’Anse marina. An active member of her church, Davis said that service has been a calling all her life, and she looks forward to doing so in the future to the best of her ability. Her term expires in 2029.

Juan Ganum serves as director of community and neighborhood services and economic development for the City of Holland. He has over twenty-five years of experience in local government, having started his career as the community development director for the City of Niles in 1998. Ganum has a bachelor of science in urban and regional planning from Michigan State University and earned his master of public administration from Western Michigan University. He currently serves as the chair of the Michigan Municipal Executives Ethics Committee, is a board member of Michigan Municipal League’s Workers’ Compensation Fund, and is engaged in community building through service on a variety of committees and boards within Berrien County. Ganum believes that engaged residents hold the keys to meaningful and lasting change in Michigan’s cities, townships, and villages. His term expires in 2028.

Dennis Hennen serves as a councilmember for the City of Berkley. His focus includes protecting the vulnerable and ensuring that constituents are kept informed and that their voices are heard. Hennen is the liaison to the Tree Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals and has received his Master Citizen Planner Certification from Michigan State University. Additionally, he serves on the Michigan Municipal League’s Municipal Services Committee, the Elections Subcommittee, and is vice president of the Elected Officials Academy, where he is a recipient of the Academy’s Education and Leadership Award, as well as the Ambassador Award, the highest honor they bestow. Hennen is a senior software engineer for Mercury Banking and holds a bachelor of science in mathematics and computer science from Lipscomb University, as well as a master of science in computer science from The Ohio State University. His term expires in 2028.

Stephen Kepley serves as mayor for the City of Kentwood. He gained much of his valuable experience while working for Kentwood as the director of engineering and inspections/city engineer for eleven years, along with an additional fifteen years in the private manufacturing design and construction sector. Kepley serves on various boards including The RAPID (former chair and vice-chair), Grand Valley Metro Council’s executive board, and the Kentwood Community Foundation (president). He holds a bachelor of science in engineering from Virginia Tech and is certified by the State of Michigan in multiple vocations. Kepley has always loved working with people to solve problems, encourage growth, and serve the common good of those around him. His term expires in 2026.

Karen Kovacs serves as city manager for the City of Marquette and has over fifteen years of municipal government experience. She began her career as an auditor before joining Plante Moran’s Governmental Accounting Professional consulting team where she worked with both large and small municipalities across Wayne, Oakland, and Washtenaw counties. Kovacs left her consulting role to become the finance director and eventually city administrator for the charming city of Milan. She is grateful to have been part of the team in Milan that accomplished many community initiatives including the revitalization of the downtown area and construction of an award-winning boardwalk along the lake. In 2021, Kovacs moved across the Mighty Mac to Marquette. She is far from earning “Yooper” status, but she has quickly embraced the occasional bear sighting, surprise blizzard, and tourist craze of the U.P. Kovacs is heavily involved with the Marquette County Ambassadors, a group of community leaders dedicated to promoting economic vitality in the Upper Peninsula region. She serves on several boards and committees including the Marquette Downtown Development Authority, Innovate Marquette SmartZone (chair), and Community Action Alger-Marquette (chair). Her term expires in 2028.

Joe LaRussa serves as mayor for the City of Farmington. He is a registered professional engineer and a veteran automotive industry leader. First elected to city council in 2017, LaRussa’s public policy interests include technology and infrastructure, data-driven government, and transportation. He’s been active in the League, obtaining a Level 2 Certification from the Elected Officials Academy and serving on the League’s Transportation, Infrastructure, and Technology Policy Committee. He is currently a plant manager at Avancez Assembly, a supplier of various complex modules for the automotive industry. He holds a master’s in engineering management, a master’s in automotive systems engineering, and a bachelor’s in electrical engineering, all from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. His term expires in 2027.

Raylon Leaks-May serves as mayor for the City of Ferndale where she has been a resident for over 30 years. She has been a member of the Ferndale City Council since 2015 and served as mayor pro tem from 2019 through 2021. She serves on the Ferndale Board of Zoning and Appeals, as well as the Ferndale Accessibility and Inclusion Commission. She is an active volunteer in the community and is a proud mother of five beautiful children. She is an information and referral specialist by profession, at the Area Agency on Aging 1-B and serves as board president for the Michigan Municipal League Elected Officials Academy. She holds a BA through Madonna University and has an (AA) and (AS) from Oakland Community College. Her term expires in 2028.

Scott McLennan serves as mayor for the City of Rogers City. A retired RN and healthcare administrator, he served as a councilmember prior to becoming mayor in 2018. McLennan previously served six years as a local school board member and chair. He is currently a board member of the Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan, the Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union, and the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments. McLennan was instrumental in Rogers City being recently designated as a Main Street and Redevelopment Ready Community. His passion is focused on building a more vibrant community through positive communication along with the networking of businesses, government and citizens. His term expires in 2027.

Nicole Miller serves on the Portage City Council. A lifelong resident of Portage, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education from Western Michigan University and an associate degree in Physical Therapist Assisting from Kellogg Community College. Miller has run her travel agency Travel With Nikki, for over 16 years. She currently serves on the Kalamazoo County Aeronautics Board of Trustees where she works to advance regional air service and community outreach. As a member of the Portage City Council since 2023, Miller has been a strong advocate for small businesses and equitable economic development. She played a leading role in the creation of Portage Pocket Pay, an e-gift card program designed to support local merchants, and was instrumental in launching the Façade Improvement Grant Program. Miller serves on the Discover Kalamazoo Advisory Council where her extensive travel-industry background uniquely positions her to promote regional tourism and economic growth. Her term expires in 2029.

Tim Morales serves as the city manager for the City of Saginaw, where he is dedicated to delivering high-quality services that foster an inclusive, safe, and vibrant community in which to live, work, learn, and play. As city manager since 2013, Morales brings more than two decades of experience in local government at both the city and county levels. Before entering public service, he worked with a public sector consulting firm on state and local projects. Actively engaged in the Great Lakes Bay Region, Morales serves on several boards and commissions, including the Saginaw-Midland Water Supply Corporation Board, the MBS International Airport Board, the Saginaw Future Board of Directors, and the Saginaw Promise Board of Directors. He is also a member of the International City/County Management Association and the Government Finance Officers Association. Morales earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University. His term expires in 2029.

Khalfani Stephens currently serves as senior project leader in the City of Pontiac’s Department of Strategic Partnerships. With over 15 years of experience across local, county, and state government, he is known for strategically aligning public policy, communications, finance, and stakeholder engagement to advance organizational goals and strengthen communities. Stephens has held senior leadership roles in Pontiac, Flint, and Farmington Hills, Michigan, as well as Clayton County, Georgia, where he has rebuilt economic development organizations, rebranded communities, and developed business retention and attraction strategies. Most recently, as deputy mayor of Pontiac, he led organizational restructurings to improve efficiency and service delivery, resulting in the city’s best financial position in over half a century. In addition to his executive work, Stephens is an adjunct professor at the University of Michigan–Flint where he teaches graduate-level governmental budgeting. Active in civic leadership, Stephens serves as chair of the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency and is a board member of the Pontiac Kappa Foundation. He holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from Wayne State University and a BA in Linguistics and History from the University of Michigan. His credentials include Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP), and Michigan Master Citizen Planner. Fluent in French and conversational in Spanish, Khalfani brings a global perspective to public leadership. His term expires in 2026.

David J. Tossava serves as mayor of the City of Hastings. He began his career working for the department of public works for the City of Hastings as a mechanic in 1978. Tossava served as a mechanic for twenty-two years before being promoted to street superintendent, the position he held until his retirement in 2006 after twenty-eight years. Tossava was first elected to the city council in 2008 and served two consecutive four-year terms before being elected mayor. As mayor, he serves on the Planning Commission, DDA Board, Local Development Finance Authority and Brownfield Re-Development Authority, Airport Board, Cemetery Board, Commission on Aging for Barry County, Michigan Association of Mayors as the 2023 president, the Michigan Municipal League’s Workers’ Compensation Board, and the League’s Finance Committee. His term expires in 2027.

Mark Washington serves as city manager for the City of Grand Rapids. He is committed to making Grand Rapids a city that is nationally recognized for being equitable, welcoming, innovative, and collaborative with a robust economy, safe, and healthy community, and the opportunity for a high quality of life for all. Washington has worked in local government for nearly twenty-four years—in Austin, TX as assistant city manager and as director of human resources and civil service, and in Fort Worth, TX, as assistant director of human resources, and street services operations program manager. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Tarleton State University, a master’s degree in business administration from Amberton University, a master of arts degree and doctorate degree in education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and holds several certifications. Washington is a member of the International City/County Management Association, Grand Valley Metropolitan Council, and serves on the Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. Spectrum Health Community Commitment, National Forum for Black Public Administrators, Tarleton State University College of Business advisory boards, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and is a Trustee of Paul Quinn College. His term expires in 2026.

Dan Gilmartin became the League’s seventh executive director in 2005 and its youngest leader in the organization’s long history. Through his work with communities, Dan is recognized as a national leader in urban policy and revitalization. He holds leadership roles with the National League of Cities and the International Placemaking Council. Dan is a co-author of two books on the economic importance of place and is frequently quoted in state and national publications. Dan received the Diamond Award from his association peers in Michigan for his work as a strategic leader, and under his direction, the League is designated as a Top Workplace by the Detroit Free Press and as Most Effective Lobbying Organization in the state by a MIRS/EPIC-MRA Insider Survey. Dan is a lifelong Michigander and a Detroit native (and booster), and currently resides in the historic downtown of Northville, Michigan, with his wife, Lori, and two sons.