Michigan Leadership Institute services are provided by the following outstanding and successful leader-practitioners:
Michael Wilmot, Ed.D.
President/CEO and Southeast Michigan Regional President
P.O. Box 62, Ossineke MI 49766
Phone: 989-471-2686 | Fax: 989-471-2690 | wilmotmli@hotmail.com
Dr. Wilmot’s 42 year career in public education includes serving as a teacher, high school principal, executive director of business services and superintendent. He served as superintendent of Garden City Public Schools from 1981 through 2001. He has also served as chairman of a North Central Association visiting accreditation team, president of the Metropolitan Detroit Bureau of School Studies, and Chairman of the Education Commission of the Michigan PTA Board of Managers. In addition, Dr. Wilmot was president of the Michigan Education Commission as well as president of the Metropolitan Association for Improve School Legislation (MAISL). He has served on the executive boards of hospital and health organizations and on the Garden City Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Wilmot received a Doctor of Education degree, an Education Specialist degree, Master of Education degree and Bachelor of Arts in Education from Wayne State University.
E. Kathleen Booher, Ed.D.
Regional President for South Central Michigan
Office/Fax: 517-639-8579 | Cell: 734-476-5424
kboohermli@gmail.com
In her thirty-six year career in education, Dr. Booher has served as a middle and high school classroom teacher, staff developer, assistant superintendent and superintendent. She has also worked as a university professor in teacher education and as a private consultant to corporations on writing and speaking skills. She has been active in professional service roles including the Michigan Association of School Administrators and the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges. Dr. Booher was a contributing leader in both the Oakland County and Wayne County Superintendent Associations. In addition, she was a founding board member of the Tri-County Alliance for Public Education, the organization representing the school superintendents of southeast Michigan, which she later served as its first executive director. Dr. Booher earned a Doctor of Education degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey and Master of Arts in Education and Bachelor of Science degrees from Western Michigan University.
Mark Eckhardt
Regional President for North Michigan
Phone: 231-590-4920 | eckhardm@hotmail.com
Mr. Eckhardt retired in 2010 from his position as Superintendent of Schools for Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District, a position he held since 1993. His thirty-two year career in education includes teaching at the elementary, middle and high school levels; elementary and high school principalships; and four years as superintendent at Mason County Eastern Schools. He has served in numerous leadership roles for professional associations including: Executive Board, Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators; Chairman, SET/SEG School Insurance; and Secretary/Treasurer, SET/SET Insurance Services Agency, Inc. He has also served on the Charlevoix Area Hospital Board of Trustees. Mr. Eckhardt’s educational credentials include a Master’s degree and a Bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University.
Timothy Edwards, Ph.D.
Regional President for East Central Michigan
Phone: 810-441-4367 | Fax: 810-724-8289 | tedwardsmli@gmail.com
Dr. Timothy Edwards’ distinguished 38-year career in public education includes teaching at the elementary level, administration of elementary and middle school buildings, and eighteen years as a superintendent in the Deckerville Community Schools, the Imlay City Community Schools, and the Sanilac Intermediate School District. He has been an assessor for the Michigan Assessment Center, and NCA team member, and Chair of two NCA teams. He has also taught graduate level courses for Saginaw Valley State University. Dr. Edwards has held regional and state offices in MASA, MEMSPA and MASSP. In addition, he has served as an officer or board member of numerous community organizations. He earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Oakland University. His doctoral dissertation focused on a board of education’s capacity to select a superintendent of schools.
James Geisler, Ph.D.
Regional President for West Central Michigan
Phone: 248-549-1273 | suptedu@yahoo.com
Dr. Geisler began his educational career in the Chicago area teaching and later serving as an assistant high school principal. He moved to Michigan to accept a principalship and subsequently served as assistant superintendent of Royal Oak Schools and then Superintendent of the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools. He was Superintendent of Walled Lake Consolidated Schools from 1988 until his retirement in 2006. Dr. Geisler was named MASA’s “Michigan Superintendent of the Year” in 1991. He has been active in many professional and community endeavors. He served as Chair of the Metropolitan Bureau of School Studies, the Oakland County Superintendents’ Association, the Galileo Teacher Leadership Program, and the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges Michigan State Committee. In addition, he is a member of the Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital Board of Directors. He received his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Chicago, a Master’s degree in education from Loyola University in Chicago, and a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Mary of the Lake (now Niles College of Loyola University).
Gary Rider
Regional President for Southwest Michigan
Phone: 269-945-2892 | Cell: 616-901-3738 | gridermli@gmail.com
Mr. Rider will retire from his position as Superintendent of Thornapple Kellogg Schools in June of 2012 after six years of service there. Prior to his work in Thornapple Kellogg, he was superintendent of Brandywine Community Schools for 2 years. In his 36-year career in education, Mr. Rider has worked in eight school districts and in addition to superintendent; he has held the positions of high school principal, assistant principal, athletic director and teacher/coach. He has been active professionally as a NCA Site Visitation Chair, a member of the MASA Council, and a member of the MASSP Political Action Committee. Mr. Rider has also been active in a number of community service organizations including: the Barry County United Way Board of Directors, the Thornapple Area Enrichment Foundation, the Lake Michigan College-Bertrand Crossing Advisory Board, the Four Flags Chamber of Commerce Executive Board, the Brandywine Education Foundation and the Niles Area United Way Executive Board. He has a master’s degree from Central Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.
W. Craig Misner, Ed.D.
Regional President for Southwest Michigan Emeritus
Phone: 269-649-5804 | Cell: 269-491-0922
w.craigmisner@comcast.net
Dr. Misner has enjoyed a distinguished 39-year career in the field of education. He retired as Superintendent of the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency after 8 years of service there. He also served as Superintendent of the Hopkins Public Schools for 4 years and as Superintendent of the Parchment School District for ten years. He was a teacher and a building administrator in the Kalamazoo School District for seventeen years, and he has taught as an Adjunct Professor at Western Michigan University in the College of Education since 1987. Dr. Misner has served as chairman for the education subcommittee of the Community Response to the Kalamazoo Promise, as well as chairman for both the Kalamazoo County Superintendents’ Council and the Kalamazoo Nature Center Board of Directors. He has been active in MASA, MAISA and AASA. He received and Ed.D. and M.A. in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Western Michigan.
Gary Faber, Ed.D.
Associate Regional President for Southeast Michigan
Phone: 248-941-7744 | FAX: 248-779-7660 | garyfaber@usa.net
Dr. Gary Faber retired from his position as Superintendent of West Bloomfield Schools after six years in that role. In his 38 year career in education he also served as Deputy Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent in West Bloomfield, Principal of West Bloomfield High School, Middle School Principal in Lowell, Administrative Area Coordinator in Plymouth Canton, and Director of Community/School Relations and classroom teacher in Garden City Schools. Dr. Faber has been the recipient of many recognitions and awards for his educational leadership including MASA Hall of Fame induction, MASA Regional Superintendent of the Year and MASSP State of Michigan High School Principal of the Year. He has been a member of the West Bloomfield School District Educational Foundation, a member of the West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, a member of the Henry Ford Hospital System Advisory Committee and a member of the West Bloomfield Township Citizens Advisory Committee. Dr. Faber has earned Ed.D., Ed Specialist, M.S., and B.S. degrees from Wayne State University.
William Weber
Associate Regional President for Southeast Michigan
Phone/FAX: 734-455-7163 | Cell: 313-418-0775
jbweber927@sbcglobal.net
During his forty-three year career in education Dr. Weber served as a teacher, assistant principal, athletic director, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent of Schools. His entire career was spent in the South Redford School District. He also served as an Adjunct Instructor at The University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University and Madonna University. Dr. Weber has made presentations in numerous states on topics relating to Human Resources and Labor Relations, chaired many North Central Association Accreditation visits, and piloted a number of unique approaches to accreditation. He has been involved professionally at the local, state and national levels. Dr. Weber served as President of the American Association of School Personnel Administrators, President of the Michigan Association of School Personnel Administrators and as an Executive Board Member of the Michigan Negotiators Association. He has also received extensive training in The Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. Dr. Weber has worked as a consultant to other Districts in areas including personnel, labor relations and organizational studies and has also served as an interim superintendent. He received his Ph.D. and M.A. degree in Administration from the University of Michigan and his B.S. degree from Michigan State University.
Kathleen Eiler
Vice-President/Chief Operating Officer
Phone: 989-354-6071 | Cell: 255-2793 | kathy_eiler@hotmail.com
Ms. Eiler has had an extensive career in education, administration and private business. Her K-12 experience includes ten years of elementary teaching and six years as an elementary principal. Her university teaching experience includes work as an adjunct instructor for the University of Michigan Business School, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids Junior College and Grand Valley State University. At the university level, Ms. Eiler was assistant dean of admissions and associate director of financial aids at EMU. In the private sector, Ms. Eiler was co-owner of Miller & Eiler Associates, a communications consulting company. Ms. Eiler’s responsibilities with the Michigan Leadership Institute include: support to regional presidents in the preparation of proposal materials; writing the MLI Leaders’ Almanac, a monthly electronic newsletter; assisting with program development and program review; site and facility arrangements; updating business metrics; the MLI web site; the Applitrack application system; preparing monthly business reports; and training. She has a B.A. from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from Wayne State University.
Corporate Staff
Suzanne Wilmot
Vice-President/Chief Financial Officer
Phone: 989-471-2686 | Fax: 989-471-2690 | suewilmot@mileader.com
Ms. Wilmot has the full financial operations and reporting responsibilities for Michigan Leadership Institute. She manages both accounts receivable and accounts payable. She prepares all invoices and executes all payments. In addition, Ms. Wilmot retains the documentation of all service agreements, receives incoming calls, makes follow-up calls to client districts, and maintains Dr. Wilmot’s calendar.
Kristen Blankenship
Support Staff
Phone: 989-471-2686
Ms. Blankenship, a trained paralegal, assists with search activities in southeast Michigan by facilitating community input, supporting boards during interviews, and by contributing to candidate background checks. Ms. Blankenship also periodically works on other MLI projects and assists with technology support.