Our 2026 Cohort

Michael Brandow

---

Mike Brandow is a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran (OIF, three deployments) and a Master of Social Work candidate at Saginaw Valley State University. He is the founder and executive director of Camp Valor Adventure Healing, a Michigan-based nonprofit that provides clinician-led, nature based mental health services for veterans, first responders, and their families. Mike works closely with state legislators, university partners, and community leaders to grow innovative therapeutic models and open new pathways to care for military connected families. His leadership blends clinical training with outdoor healing practices, reflecting both his lived experience and his belief in accessible, relationship-driven support systems. He continues to advocate for statewide investment in mental health services that strengthen families and create long-term recovery opportunities. Drawing on his background in community leadership, mental-health practice, and veteran advocacy, Mike brings a grounded, systems-level perspective to public policy. His work combines personal experience with research, hands-on clinical work, and policy engagement, placing him at the intersection of real-world service delivery and statewide reform. Mike is committed to collaborative, bipartisan solutions that strengthen Michigan’s behavioral-health infrastructure, especially in rural and underserved areas. He aims to elevate the voices of veterans, first responders, and their families in policy conversations and to help shape practical, evidence-informed approaches that improve resiliency across the Great Lakes Bay Region. His long-term vision is to align public policy, community partnerships, and clinical innovation to create a more equitable and effective mental-health system in Michigan.

Evan Burdick

---

Evan Burdick is a senior at Saginaw Valley State University majoring in Political Science and Public Administration with a minor in Economics. Evan currently works as an Advancement Intern at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and previously served as a Field Organizer for the Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate campaign and as a Legislative and Campaign Intern for State Representative Bill G. Schuette, both in 2024. He also serves as President of the SVSU College Republicans, was elected as a Republican Precinct Delegate in 2024, and was appointed to the Meridian Public Schools Board of Education in May 2025. Evan’s academic interests center on Public Administration Theory and its practical application, as well as Administrative and Constitutional Law. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, outdoors, bowling, and traveling.

Amy Fisher

---

Amy Fisher serves as the Dean of Business & Professional Studies at Mid-Michigan College, where she provides strategic leadership for academic programs in business, accounting, computer information systems, early childhood education, and criminal justice. In this role, she oversees academic quality, guides program development, supports faculty excellence, and advances initiatives that strengthen student success and ensure alignment with regional workforce needs. Within the College, Fisher chairs the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action (IDEA) Committee and leads Mid Green, the College’s sustainability and recycling initiative. Her leadership has been recognized through multiple honors, including the 2023 Shirley M. Decker Eagle Award for exceptional service, leadership, and community advocacy, and the 2025 Excellence in Community Engagement Award from Mid-Michigan College. Beyond her work in higher education, Fisher is an engaged community leader. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA), and the Zonta Club of Mt. Pleasant. Her community involvement centers on public policy, advocacy, and elevating issues that disproportionately impact women. She has played an integral role in coordinating major community initiatives, including the Human Trafficking Summit, the Poverty Awareness Campaign, and the Women’s Health Summit, to raise awareness and drive action in support of vulnerable populations. She also helped establish Mid Women Lead, a leadership development program that fosters mentorship, book discussions, and training opportunities for emerging leaders across the College. Fisher holds a Master of Science in Administration with a concentration in Leadership and a Graduate Certificate in College Teaching from Central Michigan University. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Saginaw Valley State University and is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Community College Leadership from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Vincent Ford

---

Vince Ford is a Financial Aid Advisor at Saginaw Valley State University, where they help students understand and access the financial and educational resources they need to pursue and complete their education. They are a graduate student in SVSU’s Master of Public Administration program. Their interest in public policy and education is deeply personal, shaped by their experience coming from a lower-income background and being the first in their immediate family to earn a bachelor’s degree. Vince understands how life-changing access to education can be, and they are committed to helping keep these opportunities open for the next generation of students. In the current political climate surrounding education, they believe it is more important than ever to protect and strengthen educational systems. They view community-level student support as the foundation of this work and hope to contribute to policies that help students succeed despite the challenges they face. Vince expects to complete their MPA in May 2027 and plans to pursue a doctorate in educational philosophy in the future. As they continue to develop their career in public administration and policy, their goal remains clear: to help ensure that educational opportunities remain strong, stable, and accessible for those who come after them.

Andy Kenney

---

Andy Kenney is a chemical engineer, having received his degree in chemical engineering from Michigan Tech in 2015. He grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and Chandler, Arizona, but also spent a year as a high school exchange student in former East Germany, where he and his family visit regularly to this day. He started his career at Dow Corning as a process research engineer after completing an internship working in the Business & Technology Incubator group doing front end research on 3D printable silicones. After 7 years in process research and development of silicone elastomers, he moved into a customer-facing research role in Tech Service & Development of engineered silicone materials for Electronics. Since then, he has worked on a variety of projects in automotive, aerospace, and high-performance computing markets. Currently, he leads a team of engineers and technologists serving the Consumer Electronics, Computing and Communications market with engineered material solutions developed and manufactured by Dow. In his spare time, he likes to travel with his family, hunt, work on old cars, study history and practice his German skills. He is looking forward to having the opportunity to have a positive impact in his community through local political engagement.

Rebecca LaLonde

---

Rebecca is a 2012 alumna of Saginaw Valley State University. She holds a bachelor's degree and license in Social Work as well as an associate's degree in general management and is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She has been a licensed practicing social worker for 13 years with a Region VII Area Agency on Aging, primarily working with older adults and people with disabilities throughout Mid-Michigan. Throughout her career, Rebecca has occupied case management, leadership, and advocacy roles. She has been a field instructor for students in the SVSU School of Social Work as they pursue their bachelor's degree. Her passion for social work comes from her desire to lead with love, meet people where they are, and aid others in discovering a path to solve their problems. It is through relationship building, curiosity, human connection, and strong communities that we can solve a great myriad of problems. Rebecca has a special focus on Medicaid policy and access to affordable health care and has worked to connect numerous individuals with support and services to help them to age with dignity in the setting of their choosing. She has been an active participant in the statewide senior advocacy day, "Older Michiganian's Day," including sitting on the event planning committee, sitting on the Advocacy subcommittee which develops the event platform, and coordinating her agency's attendance and participation. Rebecca is originally from Hemlock, Michigan, and now lives in Auburn with her husband and daughter.

Teresa Millar

---

Teresa Millar is an accomplished Digital Transformation Leader with 25 years of experience and is currently exploring her next chapter. Most recently, she served as Global Director of Improve & Scale Digital Solutions within Integrated Supply Chain at Dow Inc., leading an agile team that advanced digital customer experience by breaking down silos, strengthening connectivity, and fast-tracking innovations to scale. She represented Supply Chain on cross-functional leadership teams spanning Finance, Marketing, Procurement, HR, and IT, and was an active member of Employee Resource Groups, mentoring and advocating for inclusion and living the Golden Rules. Over her career, Teresa held diverse roles in Customer Service and Order to Cash, contributing to ERP implementations, mergers, acquisitions, and key digital transformation initiatives. She is a Six Sigma Green Belt Project Leader, PROSCI Change Leader, SAP-certified, and holds a B.S. in Biology and Psychology from Saginaw Valley State University. A lifelong resident, she supports youth sports fundraising and enjoys time “Up North” with her husband and three sons.

Sara Parker

---

Sara Elizabeth Parker is a results driven workforce and talent development leader with more than 17 years of experience helping businesses, educators, and communities grow stronger together. As Director of Workforce Development at the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, she builds and sustains relationships with more than 200 employers, educators, and community partners to create pipelines for internships, job shadows, apprenticeships, and direct career placements. She leads the Chamber’s Business and Education Partnership, aligning classroom learning with industry needs and expanding career exploration opportunities for Bay County students. She also oversees Hey, Bay City, a regional talent attraction and retention initiative that connects local employers with qualified candidates while promoting Bay County as a place to live, work, and thrive. Sara develops and scales hands on career readiness experiences such as mock interviews, job fairs, and workshops that engage more than 800 students each year and directly strengthen the future talent pipeline. Recognized as a trusted collaborator and connector, she is known for turning strategy into sustainable, measurable impact. Sara is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in marketing at Saginaw Valley State University and holds a Business Solutions Professional certification. She and her wonderful husband Justin reside in Bay City with their two beautiful kids, and she is deeply committed to helping her hometown continue to grow and succeed.

Lauren Potvin

---

Lauren is a daughter, sister, and student currently in her junior year at Saginaw Valley State University, where she studies Political Science and Legal Philosophy. She remains actively engaged on campus and serves as President of the College Democrats chapter at SVSU. Outside of school and work, she enjoys spending time with friends at her favorite coffee shop or sharing a home-cooked meal prepared by her sister. She has a strong appreciation for music, arts and crafts, and games or puzzles, but what she values most is the opportunity to help others. Community service has been an important part of her life from a young age, and she is excited to continue this commitment through her involvement with the Henry Marsh Institute for Public Policy.

Luke Premo

---

Luke Premo is currently a student at Saginaw Valley State University, where he is majoring in Economics. He earned his Associate of Arts degree from Delta College and received his high school diploma from Hemlock High School. Luke mentors students on FIRST Robotics Team Hemlock’s Gray Matter by leading the team’s social media efforts and supporting their community outreach program, the Beacon. He is passionate about the Great Lakes Bay Region and, as a proud alumnus of the Saginaw County Youth Ambassador Program, does everything he can to promote the region as a great place to live, work, and play.

Kate Scheid-Weber

---

Kate Scheid-Weber serves as the School Leader of Francis Reh Academy and Superintendent of Francis Reh and Saginaw Preparatory Academies, where she leads with a steadfast belief that every child deserves access to excellent teaching, meaningful relationships, and the opportunity to master their grade-level Crown Standards. Guided by the school’s mission to grow motivated scholars who are confident thinkers and empowered learners, Kate centers her work on building coherent instructional systems, cultivating strong teacher practice, and creating a school culture rooted in belonging, character, and high expectations. Known for her clarity, purpose, and commitment to continuous growth, Kate supports teachers through data-driven coaching, explicit instruction frameworks, and MTSS-aligned systems that help students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Her leadership reflects deep dedication to both equity and excellence, particularly within the vibrant and resilient community Francis Reh serves. Outside of school, Kate’s world revolves around her 12-year-old son, Charlie, whose curiosity, humor, and growing independence remain her greatest source of joy. She loves spending time with family and friends, baking, and reading everything from educational leadership to fiction that fuels her imagination. These hobbies keep her grounded, inspired, and connected, helping her bring her best self to her family, her team, and the scholars she serves.