Brief Biography
Michigan Court of Appeal Judge District Court Judge Phone: 313-949-0197 Brief Biography
Erin Gianopoulos recently began her legal career as a tax attorney in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel through the federal Honors Program. She is a proud Wayne Law grad, where she led the Jessup international law moot court team and served on the Wayne Law Review. While at Wayne she worked for the City of Detroit Law Department, the U.S. Attorney's Detroit Office, and as a judicial intern in the Eastern District of Michigan. Prior to law school, Erin served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring from the reserve forces in 2018. She earned her BA in History from the University of Michigan in 1998 and will complete an MA in American Legal History at Wayne State in 2022. Erin serves on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity Detroit where she leads veteran service initiatives. Erin is active in the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan and was a Michigan Political Leadership Program Fellow in 2020. She lives in Detroit with her husband and their two boys. LinkedIn: egianopoulos Twitter: @ecgianopoulos Instagram: egianopoulos |
Phone: 248-302-0336 Brief Biography
Ms. Garrett currently serves as Mayor of Lathrup Village; the first African American to hold this role. Prior to her ascension to Mayor, Ms. Garrett was Mayor Pro Tem from 2013 to 2017. Along with her work as a public servant, Ms. Garrett is passionate about serving the community through charitable service. Her past board leadership has included Chair/President of the Southfield Lathrup Democratic Club, and the Family-Centered Care Advisory Council at Children's Hospital of Michigan. She presently serves on the Board of the national non-profit Mothering Justice (positions held: Board President and Board Secretary) and Subsidiary Advisory Board Member for Community Health at St. John/Ascension Hospital. Ms. Garrett has dedicated herself to the professional and educational development of youth in and around her community. She has given a multitude of motivational addresses at various educational establishments. Ms. Garrett delivered the keynote address at Wayne State University for The Golden Key International Honour Society Induction ceremony; while also becoming an honorary inductee based on her leadership and service in the community. Ms. Garrett holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Rochester University and a Master of Information Systems from University of Phoenix. Phone: 313-617-3033 Brief Biography
Joan retired as a paralegal from a major law firm in Detroit. Her prior positions were with WCCCD, City of Detroit Civilian Police and currently is managing member of the Gist Group LLC. Joan attended CPL and later ran for Detroit City Council. She has served on the board of Franklin Wright Settlements, Girl Scouts of Metro Detroit, and Divine Intervention Ministries. She currently sits as Board President of SHAR, Inc and SHAR Foundation. As a part of her continual civic duty she works as a elections worker. |
Phone: 248-808-1032 Chris was elected in 2014 to serve as State Representative for Farmington and Farmington Hills and served as the Democratic Floor Leader from 2017-2018 and the Democratic Leader from 2019-2020. During her time as leader, gender parity was achieved in the Democratic caucus. As a lawmaker, she championed legislation on economic development, public education and reproductive rights. She was a 2015 Fellow for the Council of State Government (CSG) Midwests Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development Program. Post-Lansing, Chris served as Senior Advisor to The Lawmaker Network, a nonprofit organization supporting state lawmakers across the country. She retired in January 2023 but continues to mentor aspiring candidates and community advocates. She continues to serve as the senior advisor to MiList, a state PAC dedicated to supporting women running for office and as a board member of the Michigan Civic Education Fund. Prior to serving in the legislature, Chris worked for Andersen Consulting (Accenture) as a business software expert and project manager in payroll, human resources, and benefits administration. In 1994, Chris became co-owner and lead consultant for Fulcrum Computer Services, a small business based in Farmington Hills; she also worked in non-profit management, including launching and leading the Farmington/Farmington Hills Education Foundation. She earned her Bachelors Degree from the University of Notre Dame, majoring in American Studies and Computer Applications. She has resided in Farmington Hills for more than 30 years. |
Phone: Phone: 248-909-1624 (c) Brief Biography
Judge Hartig is a graduate of Traverse City Senior High School and Michigan State University (James Madison Honors College). Judge Hartig was one of six students nationally to be selected to intern at the White House during the tenure of President Ronald Reagan. Judge Hartig received her law degree from the Washington College of Law at the American University and graduated in the top 5% of her law school class. Judge Hartig served as an Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor for six years prosecuting misdemeanors and felonies. Judge Hartig co-founded the Domestic Violence Assault Unit and specialized in prosecuting serious domestic physical and sexual abuse. After leaving the prosecutor’s office, Judge Hartig was in private practice for 14 years, specializing in criminal and traffic law. She was elected to the bench as a District Court Judge in 2010 and named Presiding Judge of the 52-4 District Court in January 2018. Judge Hartig was honored as a Michigan Super Lawyer in 2009 and 2010, designating her as among the top 5% of all attorneys in Michigan who practice criminal law. In November 2017, Judge Hartig was presented a certificate of special senatorial recognition from Senator Gary Peters and the first Legacy Prevention Advocate Award by the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities. Judge Hartig is currently a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Oakland County Bar Association, the Oakland County District Judges Association, and the Michigan District Judges Association. Judge Hartig is a frequent volunteer at various Troy Public Schools, has donated her hair to Locks of Love, a charity providing free hair pieces to children with cancer, is an active member and the immediate past President of the Kiwanis Club of Troy, member of the Troy Community Coalition, Troy Community Foundation, and Board Member of the North Woodward Community Foundation. Judge Hartig was born in Clawson, Michigan and is a longtime resident of Troy. |
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Phone: 248-891-8557 Brief Biography
Ruth Holmes, CDE, is a professional handwriting & document examiner whose forensic, personnel and jury consulting firm, Pentec in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, advises individual, legal and corporate clients in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Pentec often works for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department and Office of the Prosecutor serving as an expert witness in major trials. She recently taped a segment for Forensic Files. Ruth, who lived eleven years in Brussels, Belgium and in Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, West Africa is former President of the International Women's Forum – Michigan. Ruth was named one of Michigan’s Top 10 Women Business Owners. Corp! magazine listed her among “Michigan’s 95 Most Powerful Women.” Formerly she served on the Board of Directors for the Women Officials Network. She was also named a 2018 Diversity Champion by the Race Relations & Diversity Task Force. Profession: Handwriting & Document Examiner Award(s) / Recognition(s): WONder Woman Award, 2018 Diversity Champion |
Brief Biography
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Phone: 313-333-9575 Brief Biography
I am a math teacher and coach for Detroit Public Schools Community District. I have been in the field of education for 24 years and have served in several leadership roles. I enjoy participating in Outreach and Community projects that involve connecting with the youth. |
Pamela Jackson
Board of Trustees, Oakland Community College, (former Pres. of the Board) [email protected] Brief Biography
Currently Chair of the Oakland Community College Board of Trustees |
Gilda Jacob
Retired CEO, Michigan League for Public Policy Former State Representative and State Senator [email protected] Brief Biography
Gilda Z. Jacobs has served as president & CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy since 2011, following a 30-year career in public service at the local, county and state levels. Gilda has won numerous awards for her work, including being named as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Michigan by Crain’s Detroit Business in 2016 and receiving the Michigan Food Bank Council’s Hunger-Free Award in 2015. In 2012, she participated in the Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in the Nonprofit Leadership Program. She was also named a WONder Woman by the WON Foundation for her steadfast service to community and positive impact to life in Oakland County. Gilda served in the state Senate for eight years after serving two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives where she made history as the first woman floor leader in either chamber of the Legislature. Prior to serving in the Legislature, she served as an Oakland County Commissioner and a Huntington Woods City Commissioner. In addition to her civic leadership, Jacobs served as Development Director for JARC, a Jewish association providing residential care for persons with developmental disabilities. She also worked as a special education teacher in the Madison School District. Jacobs received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan. |
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Brief Biography
Latanya Gater is a proud Detroit native, mother, and graduate of Tennessee State University (undergraduate) and University of Detroit Mercy (graduate degree). She is a Master's Level Limited Licensed Psychologist in the State of MI who specializes in providing Psychotherapy, Psychological Assessments, and Case Management Support to children, youth, and families in both public and private sectors. She has nearly 10 years of experience working with specialized populations (LGBTQ, Women, Children, Families, Adults, PTSD/Trauma, and Substance Abuse). She is the CEO of Gater's Got You, LLC created in 2022 to provide supportive services to organizations and individuals who are looking to strengthen DEI practices for the advancement of safety and full inclusion, mental health wellbeing, and educational growth. She formerly served as the Union Chairperson of AFSCME Council 25/Local 1640-Sub Unit 25. She is the first African American woman to be elected to the Dearborn Heights #D7 School Board of Education and was elected Vice Chairperson in 2022. She's been Chairperson of the Dearborn Heights Community and Cultural Relations Commission since 2020 and on the Wayne County Women’s Commission appointed by Wayne County Commissioner David Knezek. She's a member of the Women's Officials Network (WON) and a 2022 Michigan Chronicle 40 under 40 Honoree. She worked as an Instructional Assistant at Wolverine Pathways |University of Michigan where she educated and prepared youth for college. Public servitude will continue to be a part of all Latanya's personal and professional life goals. |
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