Board of Directors

The MML Foundation is supported by a strategic and passionate board of directors who understand the importance of a strong civic base and well-prepared local leaders. This board, a mixture of community leaders and community partners, provides leadership to the Foundation in its goal of building community wealth across Michigan.

Board Chair
Retired Regional Manager, DTE Energy

Carla is the former regional manager for DTE Energy. She was responsible for local government and community relations in Northern Michigan and worked with DTE Energy for more than 35 years. Carla has a degree in public administration from Michigan State University and a master of business administration from the University of Detroit Mercy. She is active in many nonprofit and economic development organizations including on the board of Venture North, Northern Lakes Economic Alliance and Otsego County Economic Alliance.

Vice Chair
Director of Governmental Relations, State Bar of Michigan

Nathan Triplett served on the East Lansing City Council from 2007-2015 and as Mayor from 2013-2015. At 30, he was the youngest elected Mayor in East Lansing’s history. Nathan previously served on the Michigan Municipal League’s (MML) Board of Trustees and was elected Vice President and President of the Board. He is a Level 4: Ambassador Award graduate of the MML Elected Officials Academy and a recipient of the MML’s Honorary Life Member Award.

Today, Triplett chairs the Board of Directors of the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA), is President of the ACLU of Michigan, and serves on the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission and Ingham County Parks and Recreation Commission. He is a volunteer with both Rotary and the Boy Scouts of America. Nathan is a recipient of the Governor’s Service Award, the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 10 Over the Next 10 Award, the Michigan State University Distinguished Young Alumni Award, and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing’s inaugural Civic Leadership Award.

Triplett graduated from Michigan State University’s James Madison College in 2006 with degrees in Political Theory/Constitutional Democracy and Social Relations. He holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from the Michigan State University College of Law. Nathan works as Director of Governmental Relations for the State Bar of Michigan, having previously worked as Minority Legal Counsel for the Michigan House of Representatives and as Director of Public Policy and Political Action for Equality Michigan. He lives in Lansing and has two adventurous children.

Secretary
Executive Director, The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation

Jenee began as the first executive director for The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation in October of 2005. She served as chief executive officer of Midland County’s economic development corporation, Midland Tomorrow, beginning in 1999. For two years prior to that, she served as Midland Tomorrow’s manager of economic development services. She was Midland’s first Downtown Development Authority coordinator and served in that capacity for five years. Prior to living in Midland, Jenee worked for the Manhattan, Kansas Convention and Visitors Bureau. She earned a B.S. in business administration from Kansas State University and her M.B.A. from Michigan State University.

Treasurer
Fellow, Urban Institute and Full Frame Initiative

With nearly 40 years of experience in philanthropy, Sandra McAlister Ambrozy is an expert in human services, arts and culture, green buildings, and civil legal justice. She has dedicated her career to accelerating social and economic mobility for people with low income.

Sandra serves as a Senior Fellow at Full Frame Initiative which works to create equitable access to wellbeing that can support durable change for individuals, systems, and communities.  She also serves as a Nonresident Fellow at the Urban Institute where she uses human-centered design to transform the civil justice system by advancing approaches and practices that are informed by data and enhanced by technology. Sandra also serves on the the Advisory Committee for LIFT Wisconsin, as a volunteer navigator for Michigan Legal Help, and as a Trustee at Grosse Pointe Public Library.

Director
Jenifer Acosta Development

Jenifer Acosta specializes in historic preservation and reurbanization. As a real estate developer, consultant, and faculty for the Incremental Development Alliance, Jenifer Acosta works to reimagine historic buildings, create spaces and experiences that bring people back to downtown areas and encourage them to really live there. Jenifer earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Southern Illinois University and a master’s degree in international administration and sustainable development from the University of Miami. She also holds a New York University graduate certificate in real estate development. She has founded the Young Preservationists - Great Lakes Bay; Co-founded Infuse Great Lakes Bay, a local community development nonprofit organization; and serves on a variety of local boards dedicated to creating positive change in their community.

Director

Chief Administrative Officer, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Marlon Brown is a former city councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Mason, Michigan, having served from 2013-2022.  Throughout his tenure in elective office, Marlon was an active member of the Michigan Municipal League (MML) and served on the MML Board of Trustees, the Elected Officials Academy Advisory Board, and several League policy committees.  Marlon presently works for the State of Michigan as chief administrative officer for the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).  As CAO, Marlon oversees LARA’s communications, finance and administration, human resources, legal affairs, policy and legislative affairs, and equity and inclusion initiatives.  His previous roles in state government included working for the Michigan Supreme Court, the Michigan Department of Transportation, and the State Budget Office. Marlon earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from American University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Delaware, and a Doctor of Public Administration from Valdosta State University. He lives in Mason with his wife Margaret and their son Owen.

Director
Retired President/CEO, Council of Michigan Foundations

A volunteer on statewide and national nonprofit boards and committees, including more than 25 years of service on the MML Foundation, Rob concluded his 18 years as president of the Council of Michigan Foundations in 2018. His 40 plus year career in philanthropy included leadership positions with every type of organized foundation from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to the Gannett Foundation to Rotary Charities of Traverse City and as founding director of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation.  Rob also served for Governors Granholm and Snyder on the Michigan Community Service Commission and Executive Committee of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. In the 1980s he was City Administrator of Flint for Mayor James Sharp.

Director
Executive Director & CEO, Michigan Municipal League

Dan Gilmartin is the executive director and CEO of the Michigan Municipal League.  Through his work with communities, Dan is recognized as a national leader in the fields of urban revitalization, placemaking, local government reform, transportation policy, and—more recently—community wealth building.

Under Dan’s leadership, the League has steadily grown to wield increasing influence on matters of civic engagement and equity-based strategies to improve the quality of life for residents in communities large and small. Internationally, Dan has been invited to share his thought leadership in China, Sweden, Australia, and Denmark. Domestically, his imprint can be found across the country from Los Angeles to D.C. to Vermont.

In 2018, Dan testified before a U.S. Senate Committee on state and local transportation infrastructure needs. He is actively engaged in the National League of Cities. His service has included NLC’s board of directors, National Task Force on Housing, and their President Election Task Force. In partnership with NLC, Dan was also instrumental in resourcing the national push to include unprecedented federal investment for all local units of government in the 2021 American Rescue Plan.

Dan is a lifelong Michigander, a Detroit native (and booster), and currently resides in the historic downtown of Northville, Michigan with his wife, Lori, and two young sons.

Director
Chair, The Rapid

Barbara serves as chairwoman of the board of directors of The Rapid, a regional (six city) transportation system in Western Michigan. She previously served as city commissioner and then as mayor for the City of Walker. She recently received her Level 4, Ambassador Award, from the MML’s Elected Officials Academy.

Director
Managing Director, CapVisor Associates, LLC

Debbie has over 25 years of investment management experience.  Known for developing trusting relationships with her clients, Debbie’s expertise is in establishing a clear investment strategy and in working consultatively with clients to implement and adopt those strategies to changing economic and market conditions. Debbie graduated with a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan and has an MBA from Wayne State University.

Director
Mayor Pro Tem, Fenton, MI

Pat currently serves as mayor pro tem for the City of Fenton. Previously, she served as mayor of Fenton for 11 years, followed by State Representative for the 51st District. She served on the MML Board of Trustees and as MML president (1994-1995). She was a National League of Cities board member, past president of Michigan Women in Municipal Government, and former president of Genesee County Cities/Villages Association. She is currently serving on the board of Keep Michigan Beautiful and the Fenton Community Foundation and was awarded an MML Honorary Life Membership in 1999. From 2004 to 2010 she was appointed by then Governor Granholm to the position of policy director for the Emerald Ash Borer Program and she served as the commission advisor for the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Director
Principal and Past CEO, Miller Canfield

As the Miller Canfield CEO, Mike oversees the firm's 16 offices in five countries.

Prior to becoming CEO, Mike was a senior member of Miller Canfield's Public Finance group, with primary responsibility for general obligation and revenue bond issues amounting to more than $3.5 billion. With degrees in economics and public policy in addition to law, he brings a unique perspective to his broad legal experience in structuring transactions. He has served as team leader and responsible principal on a wide range of public finance projects including infrastructure financing and refinancing, restructuring actions, compliance review, intergovernmental agreements and public entity creation, operation, and financing.

Mike also served as a Livonia City Council member from 1992 to 1998 and has been an active lecturer to the MML’s Elected Officials Academy.

Director
Market President, Horizon Bank

Janet Pasco has served the business owners of the Metro Detroit area for over 30 years as a local banker. She has a passion for impacting the local community with redevelopment financing for neighborhood improvement and for helping small businesses grow successfully. Above all, she believes in providing value added advice and great service! She has built a diverse team that shares these corporate values to continue making a difference in the community. Janet graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Michigan State University and is a Certified Wealth Management Advisor and Licensed Commercial Broker.

Outside of serving on the Michigan Municipal League Foundation board, Janet serves on the Program Committee for the Salvation Army Metropolitan Detroit, is a Detroit Blight Busters Volunteer, and a DAC member.

Director
Founder and Executive Director, Detroit Experience Factory & The City Institute

Jeanette Pierce is a social entrepreneur and lifelong city resident who grew up in the Morningside neighborhood on the east side of Detroit. She has a bachelor’s of arts degree in communication from Aquinas College, and has been walking to work since she moved to downtown Detroit in 2003...which is pretty much unheard of in the Motor City.

In 2006, while working at United Way for Southeastern Michigan, she founded a grassroots nonprofit that used tours and experiences to take people beyond the headlines and educate them about Detroit’s history, culture and community. Today, that organization has evolved into the Detroit Experience Factory, which creates eye-opening experiences and innovative resources that connect locals and visitors to Detroit’s people, places and projects. Over 100,000 people have taken a tour in the last 12 years to learn about Detroit’s assets, small businesses, historic neighborhoods, city planning & development policies and innovative solutions to the challenges the city faces.

She has presented at more than 100 events including the Downtown Las Vegas Alliance’s Annual Meeting, The City of Chicago’s Neighborhood Organization Workshop and the International Downtown Associations’ Urban District Forum. She was honored by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of the Top Twenty in their 20’s, has been awarded the Shining Light Future Leader Award from the Detroit Free Press, Shooting Star Award from MichBusiness and the Detroit Young Professionals Vanguard Award.

Jeanette joined the MML Foundation Board in 2019.

Director
City Council member, Ann Arbor

Linh has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years, supporting child advocacy, public schools, anti-trafficking within international adoption, and tech startups. Born and raised in the
Midwest by Vietnamese refugee parents, she is her family’s firstborn American and committed to addressing social, racial, and economic inequities. She serves on Ann Arbor’s City Council, as co-chair for Michigan Reproductive Rights for All, and as a board member for Jewish Family Services Ann Arbor, Michigan Municipal League Foundation, and the Skillman Foundation. Linh holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

MML Board Liason
City Manager, City of Mason

Deborah Stuart has served as the City of Mason City Manager since January 2016.  As the City Manager, she reports directly to the City Council.  She is responsible for maintaining the management functions of city government and administering the day-to-day operations.  She provides oversight of the City Council meeting agenda process, working closely with the City Council to establish long term strategic plans and short term targets to guide the operation of city government.  She is responsible for a total staff of over 50 employees and an annual budget of approximately $15 million which includes both the operating and capital budgets.

Deborah has almost 20 years of local and state experience assisting community and economic development projects come to fruition.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Central Michigan University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Western Michigan University.  She most recently served as the Community Development Incentives Director for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation(MEDC).

Deborah currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Municipal League Foundation.  In addition, she serves as an active contributor to the 16/50 Project in Michigan, focused on increasing the number of women in local government executive positions through training, mentoring, and promotion of the field to undergraduates.  Deborah is a proud resident of the City of Mason with her husband Mike and her two children.