Change is perhaps the only constant in life. And, while it isn’t always easy, it often provides opportunities.

MMA has experienced a tremendous amount of change and growth in the last two and a half years. I’m proud to say that our team has responded to and overcome the challenges to provide our members with outstanding service and support. The manufacturing community that we represent is growing and thriving. We too, as an organization, are growing and thriving. Much of that is thanks to our strong triad of executives leading the MMA team.

Larry Janicki, President of the MMA Service Corporation, has announced his retirement, effective 6/30/22. For 26 years, Larry has been a solid member of our staff, bringing knowledge, stability and a great sense of humor to our daily lives at MMA. We are grateful for his service, which has brought MMA members an industry-leading platform of cost-effective insurance programs and discounted services to support their operations.

We wish him all the best as he looks forward to spending more time with his family on the shores of Lake Michigan. But Larry won’t be far and has generously offered to stay on through the rest of the year in a consulting capacity to ensure a smooth transition for our members, our valued partners and our staff.

To fill Larry’s considerable role, we have primarily looked to our existing team and, today, I am pleased to announce an internal re-organization that will position MMA for continued growth and expanded value for Michigan’s manufacturing industry.

Effective 7/1/22, Delaney McKinley will be named Executive Vice President of Operations, taking on the responsibility of leading MMA’s Insurance Department as well as the Membership, Marketing and Events team. This new position continues her growth trajectory over the last decade in multiple departments across the organization. Delaney first joined MMA in 2011 as part of our Government Affairs team, later taking on responsibility for membership and in 2022 becoming an officer of the association and aligning our marketing, communications, membership and events teams under a unified and efficient umbrella.

Mike Johnston, the leader of MMA’s powerful and effective Government Affairs team, will be named Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and Workforce Development. With more than 20 years at our organization and being twice recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business for his lobbying prowess, this new position recognizes Mike’s long-term leadership in manufacturing advocacy and his role in delivering solutions to our industry’s persistent talent challenge.

To complete the transition and support our mission to secure a prosperous future for Michigan manufacturers through effective advocacy, meaningful education and strategic business services, additional team members will be promoted:

• MMA’s longest serving employee, Brenda Nalett, will be promoted to Director of Member Services. She will be expanding her leadership over the exclusive insurance, services and benefits MMA offers to members.
• Ashley Wakefield, who joined MMA’s Government Affairs team last year, is being named Director of Membership, Marketing and Events to continue and expand the organization’s efforts to engage members on all levels.
• Dane Cooke, who has served members across several departments over 15 years, is being promoted to Information Technology and Facilities Manager.

Our team will also be expanding soon to better serve you. Watch for announcements in short order about additional membership and insurance processors.

Please join me in congratulating these outstanding professionals! And to ensure that we are constantly evolving to serve your needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with your thoughts, concerns and suggestions.

Contact John J. Walsh

MMA President & CEO
Call 517-487-8550
E-mail walsh@mimfg.org