2023 Clerks Professional Development Retreat

As a township clerk, you are expected to have solutions for a wide variety of challenges. How do you ensure you’re equipped to anticipate and develop strategies to overcome virtually any situation that arises in your community? MTA can help! Get the education you need, in a convenient and affordable online format with our on-demand Clerks' Professional Development Retreat package! Topics included are:

  • Update from the Michigan Bureau of Elections
  • Practical Payroll Procedures
  • Insights into Internal Controls
  • Gotcha! Don’t Take the Bait
  • Out of Order! Managing Meeting Hot Potatoes
  • Who's the Boss? 
  • Why Isn’t THAT on Your Website?

Note that due to audio issues during recording, we've replaced some sessions on the original program with recordings from other retreats, or with alternate sessions on similar topics. In addition to the topics above, registrants for the virtual Clerks' Retreat also get access to: 

  • MTA Election Update (recorded 10/18/23)
  • Financial Reporting: From Revenue to Red Flags (recorded version coming soon)
  • 2023 MTA Legislative Wrap-up (join live on Dec. 1 or watch a recorded version later)

Sarah Jennings

Principa,l Director

Maner Costerisan, PC

Cindy Dodge

MTA Member Information Liaison

Michigan Townships Association

MTA Member Information Liaison Cindy Dodge joined MTA in 2006 from Williamstown Township in Ingham County where she served as Clerk since 2005. She has been involved with the township since 2003 as assistant to the supervisor, planning commissioner, and assistant to the planning commission. She is currently a Michigan Certified Assessing Officer. Via phone, fax and e-mail, Cindy provides township officials and employees with information and resources regarding the day-to-day functions of township government. She is also the Association liaison for MTA county chapters, develops MIS Department resource materials, and presents workshop and Conference sessions as well as teaching live and recorded webinar courses.

Seth Koches

Attorney/Partner

Bauckham, Thall, Seeber, Kaufman & Koches, PC

Seth Koches is an attorney and Partner at Bauckham, Thall, Seeber, Kaufman & Koches, P.C. Prior to joining the firm, Seth worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney for 7 years in the Oakland County and Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s office prosecuting cases from simple retail fraud to criminal sexual conduct and assault with intent to murder. Seth’s primary practice encompasses nearly every aspect of municipal law including annexation, ordinance enforcement, planning and zoning, and amicus writing. 

Steven Joppich

Attorney

Rosati, Schultz, Joppich, & Amtsbuechler PC

Judy Allen

Director of Government Relations

MTA

As director, Judy oversees MTA’s legislative efforts to advocate on legislation impacting township government. She represents the interests of MTA members before the Legislature and the administration.  

Judy began working for MTA in 2012 and has previous experience working with state and local governments. Prior to coming to MTA, Judy served as Director of Government and Community Services of Oakland Schools, where she advocated on behalf of 28 districts in Lansing and Washington, D.C. Judy has also served as Chief of Staff to the Senate Majority Leader and was later appointed by then Gov. John Engler to serve as Chairperson of the Michigan State Liquor Control Commission.

Components visible upon registration.