2025 Conference On-Demand

Andy is a Municipal Advisor with Bendzinski & Company. We work with cities, townships, villages, counties, and authorities in the areas of bond issuance, utility user rates, and asset management. We strive to help communities manage their assets in the most financially responsible way.

I lead our firm’s government practice working with our team of over 200 governmental professionals to serve our clients through compliance requirements, operational best practices, financial forecasts, and strategic initiatives. I also specialize in providing permanent or temporary accounting assistance to all types of government entities in my role in Plante Moran’s Government Accounting Professionals (PMGAP) group. Whether we act as a group’s finance director, budget director, or bookkeeper, our aim is always to restore financial stability to a troubled environment. Our government clients — including cities, counties, townships, villages, authorities, and libraries — appreciate that we deliver solutions on time and under budget.

Catherine P. Kaufman is an attorney and partner at Bauckham, Sparks, Thall, Seeber & Kaufman, PC. Her practice includes all facets of municipal representation, with a concentration on land use, zoning and planning matters. She has served as advisor to municipal planning commissions and zoning boards of appeal, as well as to private citizen and environmental groups. A member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, she has also worked as a land use planner and is active in statewide planning organizations. An honors graduate of James Madison College at Michigan State University, she received a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from Wayne State University.

Chris is responsible for overseeing ongoing planning and economic development services in a number of West Michigan communities. He also has deep experience developing visions for the future for communities large and small in the form of Master Plans, Downtown Plans, Sub-Area Plans, and Corridor Plans, and implementing those visions through zoning.

Christopher holds a Bachelor of Arts from University of Notre Dame and a Master of City Planning from University of Pennsylvania.

Hunter is a Principal Planner who supports projects through various municipalities, including plan reviews, community engagement, data analysis, recreation plans, and zoning ordinances. He applies his public and private sector experience to deliver effective public-private planning practices. Hunter is experienced in writing, implementing, and administering zoning regulations in communities of all sizes. Hunter has experience throughout Michigan and Ohio creating innovative zoning ordinances founded on user-friendly and practical regulations.

Hunter holds a Bachelor of Science in Urban and regional Planning from Michigan State University as well as an Associate’s degree in Environmental Science and Society from Washtenaw Community College.

Kyle is a Principal Planner who provides technical planning, review and analytical support to cities, townships and villages. Kyle has over ten years of experience with municipal operations, multi-jurisdictional cooperation, and inter-departmental coordination for projects big and small, with short and long-term positive impacts on residents and community stakeholders. Planning and zoning topics are such an interest to Kyle that he’s served on local Planning Commission and Downtown Development Authority boards. Further, Kyle also serves on the American Planning Association’s division of the Water Planning Network as a steering committee member.

Kyle holds a Master of Arts in Geography from Western Michigan University and a Bachelors of Science in Social Science from Grand Valley State University.

Experienced Managing Director with a demonstrated history of working in the Government Administration industry. IMSA Michigan Section President. Chairman of WMSRDC Region 14 Rural Taskforce. Skilled in Communication, Morale building, Public Speaking, Management, and Team Leadership. Strong business development professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) at James Madison College, International Relations, Minor in Spanish from Michigan State University.

Ms. Belisle began her legal career in 2001 and practices primarily in civil litigation, employment and labor, civil rights, municipal and immigration law. Ms. Belisle has substantial litigation experience in Michigan's state and federal courts. Her practice is focused on defending employers in employment and labor disputes involving age, sex, religious and race discrimination cases as well as Whistleblower, ADA, FMLA, civil rights, breach of employment contract, and wrongful and constructive discharge claims. She routinely defends employers in charges filed with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Michigan Department of Civil Rights and defends employers in all levels of unemployment appeals. She represents municipalities in litigation involving Michigan's Open Meeting Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

Steve Mann is an attorney with Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC. He practices in the area of municipal finance, including municipal bonds, special assessments, tax increment finance, economic development, Brownfield redevelopment, and intergovernmental transactions.

Steve currently serves his community as a trustee for Plymouth Charter Township in Wayne County and previously served a term as township supervisor.

Kristi Dougan is an election analyst with extensive experience in multiple areas of election administration. She joined the Michigan Bureau of Elections in 2006 and plays a leading role in the Bureau’s clerk training and education programs, including development of clerk accreditation programs. Kristi’s municipal experience is rooted in her service as the Village President of her hometown Sparta in western Michigan from 2014 to 2020 and holds a degree in Political Science from Grand Valley State University.