Ask The Expert
The goal of this program is to provide an opportunity for our members to have direct access to the best and brightest minds in the state in a variety of discipline areas.
Our experts are available to you, at no cost, via email.
Our experts are willing to answer your questions and to provide you with suggestions to help solve challenges you may face. Your conversations with them are confidential and in the case where there may be more than one expert identified, you may contact one or more of them when seeking information. There may or may not come a time where the level of assistance you are requesting exceeds their commitment to us under this program and, at that point, it will be up to the consultant and you to determine if contracted services are warranted. Such contractual relationships will be between you and the consultant under terms agreed to for specified activities.
If for any reason you are not satisfied with any aspect of this program or if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org or (800) 258-1152.
Environmental/Brownfield Issues
Jeff Hawkins is founder and co-owner of Envirologic, a full service environmental consulting and services firm. Jeff and his team have developed significant expertise in all aspects of Brownfield Redevelopment. These efforts include property re-use and risk evaluations; the development of liability protection strategies, BEAs and Due Care Plans, Brownfield Plans, Act 381 Work Plans, grant writing, MDEQ/EPA grant and loan administration and implementation; identification and leveraging of funding resources and community outreach.
Jim Ridgway is vice president for Environmental Consulting & Technology Inc. His recent projects include stormwater management, monitoring and permitting for a variety of industries, computer modeling of chemical spills within the Great Lakes inter-connecting channels, bioremediation at a major automotive parts manufacturer and a major study for combined sewer overflow control and nonpoint source contribution to urban rivers.
Bret Stuntz is vice president of economic development services at AKT Peerless. He has 20 years of consulting experience on economic development projects spanning everything from real estate finance to completing complicated, multifaceted brownfield redevelopment initiatives that often involve multiple properties and stakeholders. He is skilled at evaluating the potential environmental risks associated with commercial, industrial and residential properties.
Health Insurance
Brian Coté is president and CEO of 44North. He has decades of experience in the health field. As a state licensed health care consultant, Coté has become a sought-after benefit consultant and speaker for many businesses and professional organizations and recognized as the top/most relevant educator.
Retirement Issues
Levi Lathen is program director for the Upper Midwest for Nationwide Retirement, an MACSC Sponsored Program.
Telecommunications Issues
Dan Aylward is a senior consultant with Abilita, a MACSC Sponsored Program. As an Abilita consultant, he has assisted multiple organizations in Michigan and the Midwest. Aylward is certified in AOTMP Data Service Analysis, Avaya Traffic Management overview, Definity ECS G3 Administration, Avaya Intuity Messaging Solutions and Avaya Definity ECS World Class Routing.
Workers’ Compensation
Mark Hankerd is senior account executive with CompOne Administrators, which provides third-party administrator services to the Michigan Counties Workers’ Compensation Fund.
