Morden Earns Industry Credential
Choose Lansing Convention Sales and Services Manager Jenn Morden earned a Certificate in Meeting Management, a globally recognized credential for experienced leaders in the meetings and events industry. Approximately 1,700 professionals worldwide currently hold a certificate.
The program is a graduate-level executive education program administered through the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and the Department of Tourism, Conventions and Event Management and in partnership with Meeting Professionals International. It combines leadership training, advanced coursework and a capstone project focused on solving a real-world business challenge.
For her capstone project, Morden developed an integrated servicing model for Choose Lansing that includes a new standard operating procedure for the transition between the organization’s sales and services teams. The process is designed to improve internal communication, streamline planning logistics and enhance the overall planner experience.
MSUFCU Promotes Staff
Michigan State University Federal Credit Union recently announced several promotions.
Amy Coe
Amy Coe was named senior vice president of operations. Coe began her career with the credit union in 1997 and has held a variety of roles and leadership positions throughout the organization.
Colleen Cole
Colleen Cole is now senior vice president of member service and lending. In her new role, Cole is responsible for leading the credit union’s member-facing service and lending operations.
Jason Crandall
Jason Crandall was promoted to assistant vice president of home loan origination. Crandall joined the credit union in 2015 and is an accredited mortgage professional, bringing more than 25 years of leadership experience in a variety of service roles.
Nicole Dilts
Nicole Dilts is senior vice president of commercial solutions. Dilts began her career with MSUFCU in 2009 and has held roles across member services, payment systems, accounting and finance, and commercial solutions.
Max Hutchison
Max Hutchison is now compliance manager. Hutchison joined the credit union in 2023 as compliance counsel. He now leads a team of attorneys and a compliance analyst.
Jean Theis
Jean Theis was promoted to senior vice president of branches. She has been in banking for more than 25 years, leading teams from marketing and community engagement to lending, branch operations and the call center.
Sparrow Receives Spirit of Children Grant
Spirit of Children delivered a $99,100 grant to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at University of Michigan Health-Sparrow for young patients. The community played a major role in this grant.
Shoppers who presented a digital coupon or promo code last fall at any Spirit Halloween store triggered a 10% donation to the hospital. Spirit Halloween’s Spirit of Children program is dedicated to making hospitals less scary for kids and their families by donating cash, costumes and activities to help children celebrate Halloween. The program supports more than 150 pediatric hospitals across North America through customer donations and sales proceeds.
Since 2007, the program has donated more than $1 million to support C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at UM Health-Sparrow.
Foster Swift Announces Changes
Foster Swift Collins and Smith named two attorneys as practice leaders: Alaina M. Nelson for the trusts and estates practice group and Michael C. Zahrt as co-leader of the business and tax practice group.
Alaina M. Nelson
Nelson joined Foster Swift in 2018, participating in the firm’s summer associate program and returned in 2019 after graduating from Michigan State University’s College of Law.
Michael C. Zahrt
Zahrt is former leader of the firm’s agribusiness subpractice group and was also in the firm’s summer associate program prior to graduating summa cum laude from Michigan State University’s College of Law.
In addition, the firm announced its executive committee officers for 2026: Andrew C. Vredenburg, president; Laura J. Genovich, vice president, Grand Rapids; Warren H. Krueger, vice president, Lansing; Ray H. Littleton, vice president, Southfield; Anna K. Gibson, secretary; and Nicholas M. Oertel, treasurer.
Dittenber Honored for Distinguished Service
The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association presented David Dittenber, founder and CEO of Downtown Restaurant Investments, with the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor awarded by the association at the annual Chairman’s Dinner.
The award recognizes individuals who have provided exceptional and continuing leadership, vision and commitment to the Michigan hospitality industry. Honorees are selected by a committee comprised of previous honorees.
Dittenber’s hospitality career began at age 12, washing dishes in a bakery. After graduating from Aquinas College in 1997 with a double major in biology and chemistry, he purchased Bay City’s former City Hall building at age 22 and opened his first restaurant, Old City Hall.
