Leadership

Gwen Markham
Chairperson
Commissioner, Oakland County

Gwen Markham is Oakland County Commissioner for District 15, which includes Novi Township, the entire portion of the City of Northville within Oakland County, and portions of the cities of Farmington Hills and Novi. She was first elected to serve on the Board in November 2018. Prior to that, she was a member of the Novi City Council from 2013 to 2018. A former automotive/aerospace manufacturing executive, she has served as an advocate for women, public transit, and preservation of the natural environment. She is the chair of the county’s Finance Committee, and she serves as a member on the Economic Development & Infrastructure Committee. In addition, she serves as a member on Oakland County’s Airport Committee, and Claims Review Committee. A resident of Novi, she is married with two adult children.

Laura Kropp
First Vice Chairperson
Mayor, Mount Clemens

Laura Kropp is the 41st Mayor of Mount Clemens since it was incorporated in 1879. She is the youngest mayor to date and only the fourth female mayor in the city’s history. Laura Kropp has been a resident of Mount Clemens since 2001. She began her public service career in 2009 as a School Board Trustee for Mount Clemens Community Schools. Her public service career as an elected official has also included serving as the City Commissioner from 2015-2019. Mayor Kropp is a supporter of many organizations within Mount Clemens such as The Anton Art Center, The Crocker House, and Turning Point.Laura and her husband Paul own a local cabinetry business in Mt. Clemens. They have two sons, Jack and Miles. In her spare time away from the office, Laura is an avid cook and loves to spend time with her family, entertaining and boating at their cottage on Lake St. Clair.

Anne Marie Graham-Hudak
Vice Chairperson
Supervisor, Canton Township

Anne Marie was elected as Supervisor in 2020. She was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2016 where she served on the Planning Commission and chaired the Technology Committee, which focuses on ensuring Canton and Southeast Michigan is the center of tomorrow’s automotive advancement. Anne Marie served as a Vice-President of the local branch of the League of Women Voters and Director on Board of the Regional LWV and fought for juvenile justice in Wayne County. Anne Marie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Boston University and finished her MBA at Lawrence Technological University. She began her career in engineering with the Federal Aviation Administration leading construction and replacement of high-tech equipment while removing contaminated fuel tanks and working in brownfields. She worked as an automotive engineer in connected and electric vehicles at Ford, Chrysler, and Visteon for over 25 years. She has lived in Canton for over 25 years, where she and her husband Hadley raised their four children.

Joe LaRussa
Vice Chairperson
Mayor, Farmington

Joe LaRussa was first elected to Farmington City Council in 2017 and appointed as Mayor in 2023 after being Mayor Pro Tem from November 2019-2023. His board service also includes: Farmington Master Plan Committee; Farmington Downtown Development Authority Design Committee; Michigan Municipal League, City of Farmington Brownfield Redevelopment Authority since 2017, including as Chairperson from June 2020 – Present. LaRussa also served on the Broadband Task Force which ended in 2021. LaRussa’s public service is largely focused on maintaining quality neighborhoods and he credits his passion for a local park for kicking off his career in office.

Diana McKnight-Morton
Vice Chairperson
Trustee, Washtenaw Community College (WCC)

Ms. McKnight-Morton was first elected to the WCC Board of Trustees in November 1994. She has served as Secretary of the Board, Vice Chair, and Chairperson. She has represented the college in many roles at SEMCOG. She promotes the needs of education at SEMCOG by serving as a member of the General Assembly, Executive Committee, and as Vice Chair of the Education Bloc. She serves as delegate to the Regional Review Committee, which reviews projects funded by the Transportation Alternatives Program and other special projects. She also serves on the Taubman Fellowship Selection Committee and has served on the Transportation Coordinating Council.

Frank Viviano
Vice Chairperson
Supervisor, Macomb Township

Frank Viviano was first elected Macomb Township Supervisor in 2020.   In his career, he developed a diverse range of skills as a small business owner and Vice President of Viviano Flower Shop, Inc. He also served as Chief Operating Officer, Holsbeke Construction, Inc. and Accountant, Follmer Rudzewicz (now known as UHY, LLC). As Township Supervisor, Viviano has led significant investment in roads and sidewalks as well as parks and recreation while working with the Board to reduce taxes. He attended University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, earning his Juris Doctorate and admission to the Michigan Bar. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and a Minor in English at Hillsdale College. Supervisor Viviano has been an active SEMCOG member since 2021, providing a strong voice of leadership throughout this time, including in his role as Chairperson of SEMCOG’s Legislative Policy Platform Task Force.

Amy O’Leary
SEMCOG Executive Director

Amy O’Leary has been employed at SEMCOG since 1994. She became Deputy Executive Director in 2017 and Executive Director in 2020. She attended Harvard University’s Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government as well as other specialized training. She holds leadership positions at Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy, the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, and the Executive Directors Council of the National Association of Regional Councils.