Professional Highlights from the 517 Region – May 2023

Reseda Group Named New CUSO of the Year 

Reseda Group, a wholly owned credit union service organization of Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, received the 2023 New CUSO of the Year Award by the National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations. The recognition, along with other CUSO of the Year Awards, was announced during a presentation at the NACUSO Network Conference in Las Vegas. 

Each year, NACUSO celebrates CUSOs striving to make a difference within the credit union industry through its CUSO of the Year Awards. The New CUSO of the Year category recognizes organizations established in the last five years. 

MSU Health Care Names Human Resources Director 

Michigan State University Health Care selected Kathleen Fox as director of human resources. 

Fox’s professional experiences include executive-level management, strategic program management, benefit and budget forecasting, training and employee development, and employee relations. 

Before joining MSU, Fox served as the vice president of human resources for Midwest Vision Partners. 

Gossen Joins Spave as Junior Partner Ambassador 

Spave, a fintech company and credit union service organization, announced Melissa Gossen as its new junior partner ambassador. 

Gossen joins Spave with more than 10 years of experience in financial education, sales and customer relations. As junior partner ambassador, she will play a role onboarding and assisting new and existing credit union and nonprofit organizations partnering with Spave. 

McCarty Named President at Sparrow Clinton 

Kris McCarty has been named president of Sparrow Clinton Hospital. McCarty has served as interim leader of the hospital since June and was given the permanent position after a nationwide search. She succeeds Beth Daugherty, who retired last year. 

McCarty has been with Sparrow for 17 years, having previously served as vice president of patient experience for Sparrow Health System, director of the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital at Sparrow and director of rehabilitation services. 

Matelonek Hired as Chamber Multimedia Specialist 

The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce announced the hiring of Amanda Matelonek as multimedia specialist. 

In her role, Matelonek will be responsible for managing and updating website content, creating graphics, and assisting with executing marketing and communication strategies. 

Before joining the chamber, Matelonek worked at the Michigan House of Representatives for five years. 

AARP Michigan Announces New State President 

AARP Michigan announced the appointment of Lorri Rishar as its new state president, the top state volunteer post within the organization’s network of volunteers. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Lorri on board as AARP continues its important work to empower people 50 and older and advocate for what matters most to Michiganders as they age,” said AARP Michigan State Director Paula D. Cunningham. 

Okemos Business Owner Wins National Award 

Denise McGinn, owner of Association Guidance, has received the 2023 Smart Women in Meetings: Visionary Award presented by Smart Meetings Magazine. 

McGinn and her business provide management expertise and specialized administrative services to nonprofit organizations in a professional cost- effective manner. The business specializes in event management. 

The company celebrated 30 years in business in January. 

GLCVB Celebrates Hospitality Heroes 

The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau held its annual meeting on March 2 and celebrated the CTA Star of the Year and recognized six area tourism-related businesses as Hospitality Heroes for the contributions to the region. 

Heather Cooper Kim was recognized as the CTA Star of the Year. Among the Hospitality Heroes, the Lansing Center, Morton’s Fine Catering, Marriott East Lansing at University Place and Lansing Brewing Co. were recognized for their work to help the Lansing Center serve 1,000-plus guests at the 2023 MLK Day of Celebration. 

Holiday Inn Express in Okemos was celebrated for gathering supplies and housing people affected by the Knob Hill Apartments fire at the end of December 2022. 

The owners of Saddleback BBQ were honored for paying off school lunch debts, helping fellow restaurants in need and donating to those impacted by the Knob Hill Apartments fire. 

Ele’s Place Capital Region Announces Board Chair 

Ele’s Place Capital Region appointed Mike Gilmore, president and CEO of The 4100 Group, as chair of the Ele’s Place Capital Region Community Board. Luke Wilcox, of Sparrow Health System, accepted the role of vice chair.  

“I support Ele’s Place for many reasons, the most compelling of all being love for my community,” Gilmore said. 

Remodeling Company Places in Statewide Pitch Competition 

Megan Dowell, owner of Knowing Your Home, a subsidiary of Do-Well Remodel, placed third in a statewide pitch competition through Michigan Women Forward. 

Knowing Your Home is a class taught by Dowell, a licensed builder, on how to take care of your own home maintenance. 

Projects Recognized at ACEC/Michigan Excellence Awards 

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan recently honored firms for engineering and surveying excellence during the association’s annual Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards Gala. 

The Engineering Eminent Conceptor Award went to Bergmann Associates Inc. of Lansing for the I-69 and I-475 interchange project. 

Engineering Merit Awards were presented to Benesch of East Lansing for the U.S. 31 connector design-build and C2AE of Lansing for off-site infrastructure for McLaren Health Care. 

Field-Foster Named to Lawyers of Color’s 2023 Power List 

Monique C. Field-Foster, executive partner of Warner Norcross+ Judd LLP’s Lansing office, has been named to Lawyers of Color’s 2023 Power List. 

Lawyers of Color is a nonprofit devoted to promoting diversity in the legal profession and advancing democracy and equality in marginalized communities. The Power List is a collection of minority leaders in the legal profession and includes attorneys, law school deans, and legal media and nonprofit leaders. 

So Named to 2023 Hall of Fame 

Dickinson Wright announced that Kester So of Lansing has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2023 Hall of Fame. 

The Hall of Fame recognizes Michigan legal leaders over the age of 60, or who have practiced for 30 years or more, for their careers and contributions to the community. 

Kester specializes in municipal finance, where he has served as bond counsel or underwriter’s counsel on a wide variety of bond issues. 

Sparrow Clinton Honors DAISY Award Recipient 

A Sparrow Clinton Hospital nurse was recently honored with the DAISY Award for compassionate care and dedication to helping patients. 

Nurse Cory Mygrants was named a DAISY honoree based on a letter from a patient’s family member, recognizing his extraordinary bedside manner and identifying him as a “supernurse.”