CRA Standing Committees

The CRA depends on its member volunteers to drive the organization in many ways, including the committees listed below. These committees provide specialized guidance to the CRA board of directors, plan conferences and events, and provide regional perspectives on a number of issues. Committees are composed of members from the nine CRA District Councils to achieve a geographically diverse vision and support the CRA in its mission to represent the interests of all 83 county road agencies.

Want to get involved? Contact CRA for information about joining the below committees.


Canvassing Committee


The Canvassing Committee is charged annually with the responsibility of tallying votes for positions on the Association’s board of directors. In addition, from time to time, there will be ballots for amendments to the Association’s Constitution and Bylaws.

Chair: Craig Atwood, PE, Allegan

Vice Chair: Jean Vanderville, Schoolcraft

Mary Gillis, Oakland

Kirk Harrier, Otsego


Commissioners Committee


The Commissioners Committee shall review questions and policies specifically related to powers and duties of road commissioners, and shall organize seminars, prepare instructional material, supervise the composition of a Commissioners Handbook and engage in such other activities to encourage greater development of the commissioners’ role in road commission matters.

Chair: Ray Roberts, Marquette

Vice Chair: Frank Fiala, Barry

Thom Brennan, Kalamazoo

Tom Doty, Mackinac

Ronald Gerstenberger,  Sanilac

Jim Bowers, Benzie

Andrea LaLonde, Oakland

David Medema, Kent

William Schumacher, Bay

Michael Scott, Montcalm

Russell Williams, Marquette

Jo Ann McCollum, Washtenaw


Education Committee


The Education Committee shall focus on developing comprehensive, curated educational programming for various levels of staff in road agencies, possibly extending to stakeholder organizations.

Chair: Dirk Heckman, PE, Mackinac

Alex Doty, Ottawa

Ron Gerstenberger, Sanilac, representing Commisioners

Bob Griffis, Jackson, representing SAM

Angela Kline, PE, Jackson

Bobbie Livermore, Chippewa


Engineering Committee


The Engineering Committee shall review and comment on legislation, rules, regulations and criteria promulgated by the federal government or the state which in any way affects engineering principles in the design, construction, maintenance or safety of county roads. It may also make studies and recommendations to establish uniformity of engineering rules, regulations and criteria for the various road commissions.

Chair: Craig Atwood, PE, Allegan

Vice Chair: Stephanie Boileau, PE, Chippewa

Mathew Hannahs, PE, Eaton

Karl Hanson, PE, Wexford

Eric Johnston, PE, Genesee

Ian Stampfly, PE, Schoolcraft

William Hazelton, PE, St. Clair

Angela Kline, PE, Jackson

Brett Laughlin, PE, Ottawa

Lance Malburg, PE, Dickinson

Kristine Parsons, PE, Calhoun

David Pettersch, Gladwin


Finance and Human Resources Committee


The Finance and Human Resource Committee shall review and comment on legislation, rules, regulations and criteria promulgated which may in any way affect accounting principles, auditing requirements or business administration of road commissions. It shall assist the Negotiating Committee if requested.

Chair: Macy Barcheski, Kent

Vice Chair: Linnea Rader, Van Buren

Louanna Lawson, Eaton

Beth Hunt, Lenawee

Bobbie Livermore, Chippewa

Christine Matthews, Oscoda

Julie Mayuiers, St. Joseph

Jerry Heim, Kalkaska

Dawn Solka, Marquette

Terri Taylor, Sanilac

Melissa Williams, Oakland

Anne Wirgau, Presque Isle


General Policy Committee


The General Policy Committee shall concern itself with significant relationships of the Association with one or more county road commissions or between road commissions and relationships with any person or organization outside the Association, and shall set policy on all detail matters not specifically reserved to the Board including but not limited to legislation affecting road commissions and the review and approval or disapproval of recommendations of any other standing committee with all actions of the committee subject to Board review. The Board shall, with a vote with at least eleven (11) members elected and serving, approve any General Policy Committee recommendation which would affect county home rule or county executive legislation and distribution of fuel and vehicular tax monies either through the internal or external formula. (b) The General Policy Committee may develop legislative priorities subject to Board review. The General Policy Committee will conduct an annual review of the legislative priorities, including recommendations from regional councils or individual members. Once the General Policy Committee completes its review, including recommended amendments, the legislative priorities will be forwarded to all member county road commissions for review and debate at the Association’s annual business meeting. To be approved, the legislative priorities require adoption by a majority of member county road commissions in attendance at the Association’s annual business meeting. (c) The General Policy Committee shall meet at least two (2) times each year, once in February and once in October.

Chair: Scott Merillat, PE, Lenawee

Vice Chair: Ray Roberts, Marquette

Mark Craft, PE, Gratiot

Jean Vanderville, Schoolcraft

Alan Ko, PE, Wayne

Stuart McTiver, PE, Luce

John Midgley, PE, Calhoun

John Rogers, Kalkaska

Bryan Santo, PE, Macomb

Ken Hulka, Muskegon

Kevin Shark, Bay

Bob Thompson, Cass

Kevin Harju, PE, Houghton

William Green, Tuscola


Legislative Review Committee


The Legislative Review Committee shall provide direction on legislative matters to the Director in the intervals between the Board of Directors meetings.

Chair: Dennis Kolar, PE, Oakland

Vice Chair: Douglas Mills, PE, Baraga

Dennis Borchard, Saginaw

Dave Pettersch, Gladwin


Negotiating Committee


The Negotiating Committee shall carry on negotiations for the Association with agencies and departments of the state and other organizations and agencies which may culminate in an agreement with the Association, and shall make recommendations regarding such agreements.

ChairDarryl Heid, PE, Oakland

Vice Chair: Jean Vanderville, Schoolcraft

Bruce Bolen, PE, Iosco

Gerald Byrne, Kent

Mark Christensen, Montcalm

Neal Hentschl, Huron

Brett Laughlin, PE, Ottawa

Robert Laitinen, PS, Chippewa

Matt Skeels, Benzie

Rodrick Green, Washtenaw

Ryan DeHut, Ontonagon

Melissa Williams, Macomb


Nominating Committee


The Nominating Committee shall annually prepare a list of nominees for the director from each of the four (4) sectional associations as identified in Article VII of this constitution and bylaws. Unless a sectional association, by resolution of its Board of Directors adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of its members-elect, or by its bylaws, timely advises the Nominating Committee otherwise, the list of nominees shall include not less than two (2) nominees from each of the sectional associations. Nominations shall be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer at least sixty (60) days before the annual meeting and ballots shall be mailed to each member at least thirty (30) days before the annual meeting. (b) The Nominating Committee shall meet no later than January 7 of each year at the call of the Chairman.

Chair: Sheryl Siddall, PE, Washtenaw

Vice Chair: Stuart McTiver, PE, Luce

Bruce Bolen, PE, Iosco

Randall Dellaposta, Genesee


Public Relations Committee


The Public Relations Committee shall promote Association public relations strategies, at both the Association level and the county road agency level, to educate Michigan residents on the issues relevant to county road agencies.

Chair: Craig Bryson, APR, Oakland

Vice Chair: Alex Doty, Ottawa

Tony Casali, Isabella

Eric Dimoff, Macomb

Steve Gradowski, Saginaw

Maura Lamoreaux, Kent

Bill Luetzow, Marquette

Doug Steffen, Clinton

Mark Timmer, Oceana

Jake Welch, SWO, Barry

Tiffany Oliphant, Washtenaw

Lester Livermore, Mackinac