An interview between Supervisor Mike McCready and Treasurer Michael Schostak will be added soon.
While fall means back-to-school for the kids, this summer it was my turn to hit the books. I was honored to be selected by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) as a 2025 Taubman Fellow. Each year, SEMCOG sponsors and pays for two local elected officials to attend the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
This three-week program in Boston brings together public officials from across the United States and around the world—including Brazil, Ireland, and Australia. The pace was intense: mornings began with study groups at 7:30 a.m., followed by six hours of class, working lunches, and often evening sessions. Each night included readings and assignments to prepare for the next day’s discussions. Far from a summer break, it was an immersive experience in problem-solving and leadership.
The coursework was wide-ranging, covering topics such as policy development, public safety, negotiation, economic development, artificial intelligence, disaster preparedness, and municipal finance. A highlight was a day on an island in Boston Harbor, where we worked through physical and mental challenges designed to test teamwork and decision-making under pressure.
The program culminated in final projects built around real-world issues brought forward by our classmates. My group advised the City Manager of Upper Arlington, Ohio, on how to respond after a major commercial development failed. Drawing on Bloomfield Township’s experience with the Bloomfield Park project, I helped frame strategies to rebuild trust, set clear redevelopment goals, and prepare alternative land-use options.
I returned home with new skills, practical strategies, and a strong network of peers across the globe. Most importantly, I came back with ideas directly relevant to Bloomfield Township—tools to strengthen our approach to development, finance, and public service as we look to the future.
As appeared in the Summer/Fall 2025 Newsletter.