Areas of Expertise
- Estate Planning
- Probate and Trust Administration
- Medicaid and Elder Law
Education
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1991
- Michigan State University; B.A., Economics, 1968; Masters of Labor and Industrial Relations, 1970
Prior Professional Experience
- Director, Bureau of Local Development Services, State of Michigan, Department of Commerce
- Executive Director, Grand Rapids Area Employment and Training Counsel (GRAETC)
- City of Grand Rapids, Human Resources Department • Chief Planning Officer
Community Service
- Michigan State University Alumni Association
Board of Directors, Mid-Michigan Chapter, 2004-06, President 2006, 2012; Registration Coordinator, Steve Smith Alumni Golf Outing - Rotary Club of Lansing 2003—present • Board of Directors, Rotary Foundation, 2011-present
Catholic Social Services/St. Vincent Home • Board of Directors, 1993-2000; Chair, 1998-2000
LRC-PAC - Board of Directors and Legal Counsel, 1992-1999
The Governor’s Rural Advocate, 1989-1991
Michigan Enterprise Zone Authority - Chairperson, 1986-1991
Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
Professional Honors & Associations
- American Bar Association Member
- Federal Bar Association Member
- State Bar of Michigan Member
- Probate and Estate Planning Section
- Ingham County Bar Association
- Member of Board of Directors 2006-2009
- Vice Chair, Board of Directors 2008-2009
- Co-Chair Probate and Estate Planning Law Section 2005-2011
- Co-Chair Bankruptcy Law Section 2002-2005
- Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council
- Past Member of the Board of Directors
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Elder Law
- Named by The Best Lawyers in America as Elder Law Attorney of the Year (2012-2013)
- Listed in Michigan Super Lawyers in the area of Elder Law, Estate Planning and Probate, and Business/Corporate Law
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
- Vice-President, Foster Zack Little Pasteur & Manning, P.C. 2001-2008
- AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale Hubbell
- Publications & Speaking Experience
- Estate Recovery is Now in Play, Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Journal, Volume 31, Winter 2011, No. 1
- Michigan’s Estate Recovery Law, co-author, Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Journal, Volume 27, Summer 2008, No. 3
- Medicaid Update: The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and Michigan’s Response, Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Journal, Volume 21, Winter 2007, No. 1
- Common Myths About Medicaid Eligibility – Part II, Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Journal, Volume 22, Spring 2003, No. 3