2004 MPLP Fellows

Paul Bigford, Branch: Paul is Supervisor of Sweetwater Township. He previously worked as Director of General Education with the Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District. He serves as Chairman of the Pere Marquette Natural Rivers Zoning Review Board, President of Lake County Township Officers Association, Member of the Board of Directors of the Pere Marquette Watershed Council, and Director of the Mecosta-Osceola Math/Science Center, which he helped found. Paul is a candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives, District 100 (Lake, Newaygo and Oceana Counties). His campaign web site is at www.paulbigford.com.

Thomas Brenner, Farmington Hills: Thomas works as a social studies Instructor with the Novi Community School District teaching Advanced Placement US Government & Politics and European History and International Relations. He is also owner of Brenner Landscaping. He is both PAC Chair and NEA-MEA Delegate of the Novi Education Association. He is an active member of the Drayton Avenue Presbyterian Church, the American Political Science Association, the Foreign Policy Association, and the Michigan Green Industry Association.

Lori Brist, Westland: Lori is the President and CEO of the Westland Chamber of Commerce. She has served as the Marketing Director for American House and the City of Westland’s Director of Senior Resources, a board member of the City of Westland DDA and TIFC/EDC Board, and the Westland Youth Assistance Program Advisory Board.

Karen Buie, Muskegon: Karen is the Muskegon County Clerk and previously served as Vice-Mayor for the City of Muskegon. She previously worked for the Michigan Department of Corrections and the Michigan Family Independence Agency. She is a member executive committees of the Muskegon County Republican Party, the Community Action Against Poverty board, and the Muskegon Rescue Mission.

Jamie Clover-Adams, Lansing: Jamie is the Policy Advisor for the Michigan Senate Majority Policy Office. She was Secretary of Agriculture, and Legislative Liaison under Kansas Governor Bill Graves.

Michael Ezzo, Lansing: Michael is the Chief Deputy Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health. Previously he worked as Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Department of Community Health. He is President of the Michigan Public Health Institute and has been actively involved in local political campaigns

Marty Jo Fleser, Wayland: Marty Jo is currently a Real Estate Agent with KJR & Associates. She has previously been an Administrative Aide and Manager for Project Hope Annetta Jansen Ministries. She is the Chair of the Allegan County Democratic Party, a member of the Allegan County Community Mental Health Board, and serves on the Legislative Committee of the Michigan Community Mental Health Boards.

John Helmholdt, Grand Rapids: John is a partner and senior consultant with the Grand Rapids-based public affairs firms, Jones & Gavin, LLC. He specializes in public policy and government affairs, fund development, non-profit development, and political consulting. He also served as a lobbyist and political affairs manager for the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.

Rudolph Hobbs, Lathrup Village: Rudy works as the community liaison for Congressman Sander Levin. He is a member of the Oakland County Democratic Party, serves on the Board of Trustees for the Southfield/Lathrup Village Democratic Club, and as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. He also serves on the Board of Reviews for Lathrup Village.

Veronica Horn, Frankenmuth: Veronica is the Vice President of the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce. She is a commissioned Lay Preacher/Minister for the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, a Co-Chair Liaison for Saginaw County Vision 2020, and she helped charter the Saginaw County Women in Leadership group in 2001.

Lindsay Huddleston, Lansing: Lindsay works as an assistant to Governor Jennifer Granholm responsible for her political advance, Cool Cities outreach, and serves as her representative in northwest Detroit. He is a member of Third Eye, Inc., a mentoring group; the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; and is the founder of Coalition 3000, a youth based movement focused on community service, political action and spiritual awareness.

Katherine Kakish, Dearborn: Katherine has spent her last several years working for the Michigan Court of Appeals, both as a Pre-hearing Attorney, and recently as a law clerk to Judge Michael Talbot. She served as Assistant to the Director of the Arab-American and Chaldean Council. She is a member of the Representative Assembly of the State Bar of Michigan, the Sacred Heart Parish in Dearborn, and the Association of Retarded Citizens of Dearborn.

John Kerr, Royal Oak: John works as an Economic Development Specialist for the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority. Previously he worked for the Michigan Democratic Party and the Vanguard Community Development Corporation. He is currently a member of the Economic Club of Detroit, the American Planning Association, and the Michigan Economic Developers Association.

Mary Kerr, Livonia: Mary is the Director of Business Analysis and Process Improvement for the Detroit Medical Center. She previously worked as Director of Special Projects for the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office directing the Abandoned Properties Project and Drug House Unit where she lead this team to a top 50 finish for the 2003 "Innovations in Government Award" from Harvard University. Mary is a member of the American Society for Public Administration.

Nadine Klein, Grand Rapids: Nadine is an Attorney with Dykema Law Offices, P.C. She formerly has worked as the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office. She is President of the Republican Women’s Forum, Vice President of the St. Paul the Apostle Women’s Guild, and a committee member of the Kent County Friend of the Court Advisory Board.

Chris Laverty, Lansing: Chris is the UAW Local 652 Training and Technology representative. He is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Lansing Community College, serves as Vice Chair for the Capital Area Workforce Development Board, and is the immediate Past Chair of the Lansing Community College Foundation.

Peter MacGregor, Rockford: Peter is the Vice-President and Co-owner of Air Quality Specialists, a manufacturer rep. company for industrial and commercial air cleaners and ventilation systems. He serves as a Cannon Township Board Trustee and Planning Commission Member. He is also a board member of the North Kent County Sewer Authority.

Ashley Marshall, Flint: Ashley currently works in the Grand Blanc Township Government Center. While studying for her B.A. in political science from the University of Michigan, she interned with Representative Andy Meisner.

Michael Rochholz, Kalamazoo: Michael is a Program Manager/QA Coordinator with Concept Molds, Inc. He is a trustee of the Schoolcraft School Board, member of the MASB Government Relations Committee and Ambassador for Public Education, and Chairman of the Prairie Ronde Township Zoning Board of Appeals. .

Maureen Stapleton, Detroit: Maureen is President of Community Enterprises, L.L.C, a community resource and development firm, and also serves as a Human Resource Specialist for Wayne County. Her public service background includes teaching and supervising programs for the Detroit Public Schools, Administrator of Permits and Code Compliance for the City of Indianapolis, and Administrative Assistant for the City of Detroit Youth and Recreation Department. She is actively involved in the Links, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and a member of the Plymouth United Church of Christ.

Patrick Tiedt, Evart: Patrick is a Personal Banker Associate with Citizens Bank. He serves as an officer with the Evart Masonic Lodge, Treasurer of the Evart Chamber of Commerce, and Vice-Chair of the Osceola County Republican Party. He is also a Republican Precinct Delegate.

Christopher Trebilcock, Royal Oak: Chris is an Attorney with Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone. Previously he worked as a Press Secretary for the Butch Hollowell for Secretary of State/MDP Chair and as a Policy and field director for the Jim Blanchard for Governor Campaign. He is currently a member of the Michigan Democratic Action Network, Royal Oak Main Street Program, and the Royal Oak Optimists.

Bree Woodruff, Howell: Bree is a law clerk for Michigan Supreme Court Justice Michael Cavanagh. She has previous worked for Miller, Canfield, Paddock, & Stone as a contract attorney, and Guild Law Center for Economic and Social Justice. She is involved in coordinating a waste disposal system and recycling program for residents in Livingston County, and is assisting the administration in the reorganization of several departments within the Michigan State University College of Agriculture, of which she is an alumna.

Evelyn Zois, Lansing: Evelyn is a Legislative Aide to Senator Shirley Johnson. She has served as a student assistant to the Michigan State Republican Party and the Michigan Women’s Commission. Evelyn also served as an anthropology research assistant at Oxford University in England. She is member of St. John Greek Orthodox Church. In her free time, she volunteers with various fundraisers for local charities.