Contact:
Matt Bach
Michigan Municipal League
c: (810) 874-1073; [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2021

Women’s Municipal Leadership Program Graduates Honored

32 Future Leaders Across Michigan Complete Training

ANN ARBOR, Michigan – Thirty-two future women leaders from throughout Michigan were recently honored for successfully completing the Women’s Municipal Leadership Program presented by the 16/50 Project.

Women continue to be under-represented in the municipal governance profession, making up just 16 percent of Michigan’s local chief administrative officers. The 16/50 Project seeks to empower women leaders with access to vital education and executive development through this transformative training opportunity—the Women’s Municipal Leadership Program.

The 2020 graduating class, honored recently by the Michigan Municipal League, includes future leaders from throughout the state—spanning from suburbs of Detroit to Newberry in the Upper Peninsula.

The Women’s Municipal Leadership Program is a five-part training initiative that gives aspiring women community leaders an opportunity to advance their skills and leadership abilities on the path to becoming strong local government managers. The 2020 graduating class began the program in the fall of 2020 and concluded in December.

“Now completing its third year, graduates of the Women’s Municipal Leadership Program have been able to advance their careers into municipal executive roles,” said Emily Kieliszewski, member programs lead for the Michigan Municipal League. “This program is actively eliminating barriers and increasing the number of woman candidates ready to lead Michigan communities. The 2020 class was exceptional, and we’re excited to see how they help their communities achieve their goals.”

This year’s graduating class are:

• Enna Bachelor, Purchasing Manager, City of Livonia
• Christine Bedford, City Clerk, City of Rockford
• Kathryn Beemer, MPA student, Grand Valley State University
• Aubrey Berman, Economic Development Director, City of Westland
• Barb Brooks, Executive Assistant, City of Boyne City
• Ginger Burke-Miller, Finance Director/Treasurer, City of Dearborn
• Jennifer Capling, Finance Director/Treasurer, City of Harbor Beach
• Cynthia Cutright, DDA Director, City of Port Huron
• Natalie Davenport, Code Enforcement Officer/MPA Student, Village of Sparta / Grand Valley State University
• Jane Dixon, Public Relations Specialist, City of Rochester
• Tamaris Henagan, City Attorney, City of Adrian
• Kate Hosier, City Manager, City of South Haven
• Brandie Isaacson, Executive Director, Livonia Housing Commission, City of Livonia
• Hana Jaquays, Confidential Assistant to the City Manager, City of Walled Lake
• Tracy-Ann Jennings, Director of Special Projects, City of Inkster
• Kristina Kinde, Treasurer/Finance Director, City of St. Johns
• Ashley Latsch, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Grand Haven
• Tamar Lewis, Consultant, Woodhill Group, LLC
• Kelli Martin, Treasurer/Finance Director, Traverse City
• Torri Mathes, Community Engagement Officer, City of Berkley
• Amanda Opalewski, Management Services Specialist, City of Sterling Heights
• Erin Quetell, Environmental Sustainability Planner, City of Ferndale
• Kristin Rutkowski, Assistant Manager/Village Clerk, Village of Beverly Hills
• Felicia Rutledge, City Clerk, City of Inkster
• Tessa Sweeney, City Clerk, City of Linden
• Pearl Tidwell, Clerk/Treasurer, City of Charlotte
• Melinda Tolan, Finance Officer/Treasurer, City of Portland
• Mariah Walton, Assistant City Manager, City of Eastpointe
• Allison Watkins, Village Manager, Village of Newberry
• Danicea Woods-McSwain, Management Assistant, City of Ferndale
• Lindsey Zeller, Quality of Life Director, City of Eaton Rapids
• Christine Zuzga, Transportation Economic Development Fund Manager, Michigan Department of Transportation

The training brings together lectures, panels, and interactive experiences. Participants explore multiple topics, including municipal budgeting and finance, economic development, council-manager relations, and interviewing and negotiating. The training also involves dialogue with experts and veterans in the field of municipal management; executive coaching; and participating in a mock interview experience with immediate feedback from seasoned managers. Due to COVID-19, all training sessions were done for the first time virtually. The training was conducted in a way that participants could still experience it all in the company of other dedicated women as they create a personal and professional network.

This complimentary program is open to Michigan women with a demonstrated interest in serving as local government chief executives. To learn more, including about upcoming trainings, go to http://1650project.org/ and http://1650project.org/womens-municipal-leadership-program/.

For additional information contact the League’s Matt Bach, assistant director of strategic communications, at (810) 874-1073 (cell) and [email protected].