Melissa Marsh | MME President Elect
As municipal leaders, we understand the importance of staying informed and connected to the ever-changing landscape of local governance. One of the most valuable resources for strengthening our municipalities is the Michigan Municipal Executives (MME) conferences and networking events. These gatherings provide not just educational opportunities, but also crucial moments to engage in dialogue that can shape the future of our communities.
A prime example of this is the discussion led by Mark Vanderpool, city manager of Sterling Heights, at the Winter MME Conference in 2022. During the legislative update part of our conference, Mark raised a critical question regarding Ground Emergency Medical Transport (GEMT) funding. At that moment, many of us, including myself, had not heard much about it. However, the conversation sparked immediate action.
As many of us know, municipalities like Madison Heights, and others throughout Michigan, rely heavily on EMS transport funding to support critical medical services for our residents. Without adequate funding, local governments struggle to keep up with the growing demands of emergency medical services. Following Mark’s prompt at the conference, I made it a point to follow up, seeking information and advocating for the inclusion of this much-needed funding.
What followed was a collective effort. Legislators like Mike McFall, along with several others, recognized the urgency of the issue and pushed for the passage of GEMT funding. This collective action, rooted in the Winter 2022 MME conference, played a pivotal role in securing financial support for EMS services across Michigan.
This is just one example of how attending MME conferences, engaging in discussions, and networking with fellow city leaders can have a direct impact on legislation that benefits our communities. Although we can all find ourselves too busy at times to attend, the MME conferences are not merely events to attend; they are opportunities to collaborate, share concerns, and drive change on critical issues that affect our communities.
As municipal executives, our ability to influence positive outcomes depends on our active participation in these events. By attending MME conferences, we can ensure that our voices are heard, our challenges are addressed, and that we continue to work together toward a stronger, more resilient Michigan.
If you haven’t yet made it to an MME event, I encourage you to do so. The connections made, the issues discussed, and the collective advocacy efforts are all essential to the work we do every day. Together, we can ensure that our communities thrive.
Melissa Marsh
President Elect, Michigan Municipal Executives
City Manager, Madison Heights
Melissa Marsh was hired in April 2005 as the finance director/treasurer for the City of Madison Heights and was promoted to director of administrative services in March 2006. Melissa served as human resource director and webmaster as well as overseeing several other departments such as IT, the city clerk’s office, library, and finance. In July 2009, she returned to the finance director role working in the capacity of director of administrative services while still overseeing the IT, clerk, library, and finance departments. Melissa was promoted to assistant city manager for administrative services in 2012, and to deputy city manager for administrative services in 2013. She was later appointed acting city manager by city council in 2018. Melissa received the Master of Accountancy degree from Walsh College in Troy, Michigan in 2004. She also holds a post graduate certificate in human resources from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in business/finance from Tusculum College, in Tennessee. Melissa is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Michigan Public Employer Labor Relations Association (MPELRA), and the Michigan Government Finance Officers Association (MGFOA). Prior to coming to Madison Heights, she served as the finance/human resource director for Harrison Township, Michigan.