Steering Team
Dr. Ann Date
Steering Team At-Large Member
Co-Owner and CEO
Partners in Change: Psychological & Community Services, PLC
Ann and her husband, Dr. Tom Olson, also a clinical psychologist, started Partners in Change: Psychological & Community Services, PLC in 2000. Partners provides psychological assessment, treatments, consultations, and trainings. The practice has grown to over 35 clinicians who provide psychological treatment to approximately 600 clients a week in their outpatient practice and about 290 male inmates in 2 local prisons. Partners is located in Midland, Mt. Pleasant, and West Branch.
Ann has provided consultations and training to corrections, mental health agencies, and businesses. She has written treatment protocols that have been used in correctional facilities statewide, and has evaluated treatment and education programs for substance abusing adult offenders. Ann is adjunct faculty at Central Michigan University and Michigan State University. She has conducted research and written publications in the area of substance abuse, violence, problem solving, and self-control. She supervises and trains clinicians, CMU clinical psychology doctoral students and MSU medical students. She is actively involved in community projects to increase the efficacy and availability of mental health services.
Ann enjoys playing classical guitar and piano, taking long walks with her husband and dog, and mainly losing at tennis.
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
Director, Psychiatry Residency Program and Assistant Professor, Psychiatry
CMU College of Medicine
Dr. Janssen is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry. She earned her medical degree from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Janssen is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Covenant HealthCare and Genesys Regional Medical Center. 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, as well as to the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists. Dr. Janssen is the psychiatry residency program director at CMU Medical Education Partners.
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.
Rob Vallentine
Steering Team At-Large Member
Mental Health Advocate, MHFA Trainer
Rob recently served as an executive in residence for Saginaw Valley State University. In this role, he worked closely with various departments and student organizations in an effort to reduce the stigma of mental health and strengthen access to resources within the university and the community. Rob also worked closely with the President’s staff, University Communications, SVSU Foundation and Alumni Relations to further advance the SVSU experience on campus and in the community.
He served as president of the Dow Company Foundation, providing strategic direction for Dow's philanthropic priorities around the world. He managed implementation of the Foundation’s $40 million annual charitable contributions, with a keen commitment to education, sustainability and community development.
Over the last several years, Rob has become a community advocate, working tirelessly to break the stigma of mental health by sharing his own story of hope, healing and growth with thousands of people. He is a certified trainer for the SafeTALK Suicide Prevention Program and Mental Health First Aid. He serves on the National Advisory Board for the University of Michigan Depression Center and the National Advisory Council for the National Network of Depression Centers. Rob also serves on the Shelterhouse Board of Directors and is a Community Director for TCF Bank.
Rob earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and a master’s degree in business administration from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
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.
Courtney Soule
Director of Communications
Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance
Prior to joining the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, Courtney served as the Managing Editor of Catalyst Midland and development manager of Issue Media Group, Catalyst’s parent company. She also brings over 15 years of experience working in public affairs, government affairs and public policy and corporate strategic development for Dow. She is a graduate of Northwood University, Summa Cum Laude and holds a BBA in Marketing and Business Management.
Soule is a passionate community supporter, volunteer and advocate. A lifelong resident of the Great Lakes Bay Region, she lives in Midland with her two dogs and recently started a public effort sharing her journey managing multiple sclerosis (MS) through diet and lifestyle.
Tera Szeliga
Director of Business Attraction 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
Subscribe to our email list here
