Steering Team
Debbie L. Briguglio
Steering Team At-Large Member
VP/Senior Relationship Manager
Tri-Star Trust
Debbie has been part of Tri-Star Trust for 24 years and is passionate about giving back to the region. Prior to joining Tri-Star, she worked as a paralegal with a focus on estate planning. She graduated from Cannon Trust School and 1000 Leaders Initiative and has contributed her time to various boards and sub-committees in the Great Lakes Bay Region. A resident of Bay County, she has two adult sons. Debbie is currently a member of the Midland 100 Club, American Bankers Association and the Great Lakes Bay Estate Planning Council.
Dr. Kathy Dollard
Steering Team At-Large Member
Director, Behavioral Health Service Line, MyMichigan Health
Kathy joined MidMichigan Health in 2017 as the Service Line Director for Behavioral Health. In her role, she has written and implemented behavioral health strategic plans and has developed new behavioral health services. Kathy has been instrumental in launching integrated behavioral health in several primary care offices, a program in Applied Behavior Analysis for children with autism, a behavioral health telehub to assist people in crisis and promote suicide prevention, programs to address substance use disorder, a partial hospitalization program in Midland, intensive outpatient services for older adults, and programs to address loneliness.
She has served on and chaired several collaborative committees and boards, and currently serves on the Board of Midland Kid’s First and The ROCK Center for Youth Development. Kathy has a bachelor degree in psychology and Spanish from Alma College and doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Central Michigan University. She is also a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor and certified in Applied Positive Psychology. Kathy is a Michigan native, having grown up in Charlevoix, and has lived in Midland since 1992.
James W. Fisher, P.E.
Steering Team Chair
President
Fisher Contracting Company
J. W. has worked for the Fisher family businesses throughout his life and for Fisher Contracting since 1979, becoming president, and serving in that role since 1996. He also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for all of the Fisher Companies. J. W. has a B. S. in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University and is a registered professional engineer in the State of Michigan. J. W. has been married to Yvonne for 33-years and they have four children. Together J. W. and Yvonne serve on several boards for local for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
Dr. Furhut Janssen
Steering Team Standing Member
Medical Director, Community Mental Health for Central Michigan
Dr. Janssen earned her medical degree from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Janssen serves nationally in setting and maintaining high standards for board certification as the child psychiatry representative to the American Board of Osteopathic Neurology and Psychiatry. She is currently Vice Chair of the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists. She is a board member of the Saginaw County Medical Society. Dr. Janssen is the medical director for Community Mental Health for Central Michigan. She has served as a psychiatry residency program director at CMU Medical Education Partners and is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry for CMU College of Medicine.
Mary Laffey
Steering Team At-Large Member
Owner and President
MultiMedia Communications Consulting
Mary was born and raised in Midland and has a strong commitment to the Great Lakes Bay Region. She started her communications business more than 30 years ago and has especially enjoyed advocating for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities – elderly citizens, low-income families, and those struggling with mental illness. Mary has a B.S. in Hospital Management from Ferris State University.
She has served on a number of community boards and committees and has worked with the Great Lakes Bay Mental Health Partnership since its inception.
Jennifer Whyte
Steering Team At-Large Member
Vice President Business Development, Serenity Bay Health
Jennifer is a master’s prepared Registered Nurse with 12 years of nursing leadership experience. Before starting in her role at Serenity Bay Health, she worked as the Director of Behavioral Health Services for McLaren Bay Region. While at McLaren, Jennifer served in various roles as a Staff Nurse, Nursing Coordinator, Behavioral Health Manager and Nursing Director. While serving as the manager of Behavioral Health Services Jennifer lead the development and implementation of a new Geriatric Psychiatric Unit and Partial Hospital Program. Jennifer had a special focus on improving care for patients suffering with treatment resistant depression.
She has a strong commitment to the Great Lakes Bay Region and enjoys networking and collaborating with others in the community.
Ad Hoc Steering Team
Matt Felan
President & CEO
Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance
Staff
Dallas Rau
Executive Director
Great Lakes Bay Region
Mental Health Partnership
Prior to this role, Dallas was previously the Director for Program Development of Community Impact and Partnership Engagement at the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance (MiHIA) which aims to bring high-value health and economic impact to our community citizens, and other regional organizations and institutions. Dallas graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northwood University with her BBA in Business Management.
She is a 2020 graduate of the GLBRA Institute for Leaders, a member of the Midland 100 Club, 2022 graduate of Leadership Midland, a member of the Rotary Club of Midland where she also serves on the board as Immediate-Past President. Currently, Dallas serves as Board President for The Arc of Midland and was recently recognized by the Midland Daily News as the inaugural “Citizen of the Year” for 2022.
Dallas resides in Freeland with her husband, Jeremy and son, Haven. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, cheering for her son in all his sports activities, volunteering, and taking walks with the family dog, Zion.
Tera Szeliga
Director of Marketing, Communications and Institute for Leaders
Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance
If you or someone else has a medical or mental health emergency or requires immediate assistance dial 911.
If you are experiencing a suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress, or if you are worried about someone who may need crisis support dial 988.
To connect or to ask questions, contact us at: drau@greatlakesbay.org
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