Board of Directors

Board Member Since '23

A lifelong resident of Curran, Alcona County, Terry Small grew up on a farm and built a career in law enforcement after earning his degree from Kirtland Community College. He served 16 years in Alcona and 10 years in Alpena, and volunteered as a firefighter for 30 years. Since 2020, he has been an Alcona County Commissioner and has represented the county on the NEMCSA Board for three years. Terry is especially passionate about Head Start and looks forward to serving on the agency's Finance Committee.

Dan Ludlow has been married to his wife, Kim, for 47 years, and together they have four children and five grandchildren. They fostered children for six years and ultimately adopted two. Dan built Hillman Tire from the ground up and enjoys spending his free time with his grandchildren and at his cabin in Canada, where he likes to fish and four-wheel. He joined the NEMCSA Board as an Alpena County Commissioner and chose to stay after seeing the organization’s impact and the important role it plays in the community.

Board Member Since '17

Career:
Hair Salon Owner & County Commissioner

Hobbies:
Spending time with grandkids and traveling!

Lisa Salgat joined the NEMCSA Board as a County Commissioner in 2017 and is committed to continuing her service in support of the Agency's mission. She takes great pride in the impactful work the organization does and looks forward to contributing to its success for many years to come.

Board Member Since '17

Career:
Owner-operator of multiple small businesses and serves as Vice-Chair for the Cheboygan County Commission.

Fun Fact:
Rich raised buffalo for 26 years and had a pet buffalo named Rocky that he used to ride.

Richard believes early childhood education is critical to the next generati to the next generation. Serving on the NEMSCA board has allowed Sangster to learn more about the services our counties need across many different demographics.

Board Member Since '23

Career:
County Commissioner in Crawford County after a long career as an X-Ray Tech

Hobbies:
Spending time outdoors - hiking, gardening, horseback riding, and traveling.

Originally from Alcona County, Dorothy attended college in Lansing and spent time living in Texas as a military wife. She values being on the board for the opportunity to learn, grow, and feel empowered. Among the many impactful programs NEMCSA offers, she especially appreciates those that help older adults remain in their homes longer.

Board Member Since '22

Career:
Retired from the Military & now a CountyCommissioner

Hobbies:
Hunting, fishing, and caring for his fruit trees!

After many years of dedicated service in the military, Lloyd is proud to continue serving as a Montmorency County Commissioner. In this role, he also serves on the NEMCSA Board, where he is deeply passionate about the organization's programs, particularly those supporting seniors. Lloyd takes great joy in helping others and is committed to making a positive impact through his work with NEMCSA.

Board Member Since '25

Career:
Retired from the Ogemaw County Sherriff's Office

Mark Surbrook brings more than 35 years of public service experience to the NEMCSA Board. He spent his career with the Ogemaw County Sheriff's Office and continues to serve his community as a volunteer driver for MDHHS. Mark is actively involved on several local boards, including the Health Department and Wellvance, and is proud to also serve on the NEMCSA Board, reflecting his ongoing commitment to community health, safety, and service.

Board Member Since '19

Career:
Retired Law Enforcement Officer

Hobbies:
Camping, spending time with grandkids, and making maple syrup!

Chuck Varner has been a part of NEMCSA for quite some time. As a law enforcement officer, Varner often visited Head Start classrooms to discuss safety with the children. Then in 2019, he was elected as a county commissioner and asked to fill a seat on the NEMCSA Board! Prior to joining the Board, Chuck had no idea how large of a geographical area NEMCSA covered!

As a proud Rogers City native, Robin returned home after spending time living in Minnesota and southern Michigan. She retired in 2025 after a career in accounting and business management and currently serves as a Presque Isle County Commissioner. Robin joined the NEMCSA Board to support an organization that makes meaningful difference in the community she cares deeply about. Through her board service, she has gained a greater appreciation for the agency’s wide-ranging impact, serving individuals and families of all ages throughout Northeast Michigan. In her free time, she enjoys home renovation projects and spending time with her two cats.

Board Member Since '15

Career:
Nurse Practitioner & Full-Time Faculty at UofM- Flint

Hobbies:
Playing the saxophone

Lyn feels her role as a board member is important because the board acts as the voice of the underrepresented. She believes in NEMCSA's mission and supporting the community in this way. "It's a great organization, and I love being a part of it!"

Board Member Since '19

Career:
Retired AAA Insurance Salesman and Presque Isle County Commissioner

Hobbies:
Farming, reading, and traveling. John has been to 40 countries and all 50 states except Alaska!

John continues as a board member because he is proud of the work NEMCSA does for the communities.

Board Member Since '18

Career:
Northern Michigan Market President & Commercial Banking Division Director at Huntington Bank

Hobbies:
Hunting, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors!

Nick is a strong advocate for empowering individuals to achieve their best quality of life. Through his work at the Bank and his involvement on the NEMCSA Board, he is dedicated to strengthening communities. Nick is especially passionate about NEMCSA's programs supporting youth and the homeless, and he is committed to making a positive impact in these areas.

Board Member Since '21

Career:
Licensed Community Health Worker

Hobbies:
Boating, kayaking, fishing, golfing, gardening & reading.

Fun Fact:
Tammy studied Opera for six years!

Tammy is strongly motivated to educate her community with the resources and expertise NEMCSA has to offer. Some programs Tammy is especially passionate about are: Housing & Homeless Prevention, Area Agency on Aging, and Head Start.

Board Member Since '21

Career:
Retired from the manufacturing field

Fun Fact:
Hockey Goalie since the age of 5!

Duncan describes being on the board as a true pleasure. Some programs Duncan is especially passionate about are: Head Start & Bridges of Self-Sufficiency. He believes a strong community is built by giving the kids tools to be successful which includes giving parents a hand to build a stable foundations. Duncan worked hard on his career and now is able to give back to his community.

Board Member Since '24

Career:
Maintenance Worker at SVSU Housing

Fun Fact:
Enjoys pinball and camping!

Justin is honored to serve on the NEMCSA Board, building on four years of dedicated involvement with the Policy Council. He is passionate about advocating for individuals who may not have a voice. Justin thoughtfully manages the demands of his career and family while remaining deeply committed to his roles on both the Policy Council and the Board.

Board Member Since '05

Career:
Residential Builder

Hobbies:
Enjoys being a dad, attending his kids races, and football.

As a member of the Board since 2005, President Pete Hennard is a proud NEMCSA Board Member. Two of Pete's favorite NEMCSA programs are Weatherization and the Area Agency on Aging. Pete hears and sees how the Agency's programs impact individuals in his own community and sees the 'big picture'.

Board Member Since '23

Career:
Retired from the Education World, where she served as a teacher and principal for many years.

Hobbies:
Enjoys volunteering and loving on her grandkids!

Lisa values her role on the NEMCSA Board for many reasons. She is particularly passionate about the School Success Program, Foster Grandparents/RSVP, and Head Start. Additionally, she is eager to expand her knowledge of the other impactful programs NEMCSA offers.

Board Member Since '15

First Job:
Age 11 delivering paper for the Bay City Times

Hometown:
Grew up in Rogers City and continues to live there today

Hobbies:
Gardening, needlework, walking & swimming

Community Involvement:
Ocqueoc Outdoor Center board member, local Kiwanis member & Rogers City Parks and Recs Commission and the Main Street Initiative

Board Member Since '20

Career:
Financial Advisor at Edward Jones

Hobbies:
Singing, coaching, and spending time with her family

Sheila joined the Board because of her deep passion for helping others, which is ingrained in her nature. Everything NEMCSA stands for resonates with her on a profound level. If she had to choose one program that holds special meaning to her, it would be Head Start. The impact of guiding a child through the program is truly powerful - it transforms the child and their family in ways that last a lifetime.

Board Member Since '18

Career:
Alcona St. Vincent de Paul

Hobbies:
Gardening, cooking & sewing are a few of the many things Leo enjoys doing in his free time.

Leo Marciniak finds it incredibly important to help those in need and that is why he chooses to be apart of the NEMCSA Board. He never realized how much of a positive impact NEMCSA programs have on children's lives. Leo also is proud of the NEMCSA senior services programs that help care for the eldery in their homes.

John Morrison became a member of the NEMCSA Board of Directors after answering an ad in his local newspaper. He was selected as a private sector member in 2013. “Since NEMCSA is all about helping people, and most of my life has been committed to helping people, I thought it would be a good fit,” says John.

What interested Mr. Morrison most about becoming a NEMCSA Board member was joining a group of people from varied backgrounds who shared a common goal of reaching out to our area to make life better for as many people as possible.

John enjoys being an integral part of each board meeting and hearing the various NEMCSA staff members share what they do on a regular basis to help people enhance their daily lives. “Because I am an active board member I have a sense that part of their joy of serving is mine, because I help in some small way to make it possible,” John stated.

“No matter how much good you think you are doing if you diminish a fellow human being in any way, what good you think you have done is greatly diminished,” John says.

Mr. Morrison serves as chairperson of the membership committee. He is presently working closely with The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) local distribution in Cheboygan County through the local Salvation Army Emergency Food Pantry. Both John and his wife feel “gratified and blessed” to be volunteer Ombudsmen for NEMCSA. He said they are honored “to be able to directly work with Nursing Home residents to solve, usually, very minor concerns and occasionally life changing ones.” They chat with well over 100 senior residents a month. John notes that his 12 year old Bichon is also a volunteer and has her own official Ombudsman laminated picture ID. “I am fairly convinced that the residents enjoy her visit as much or more than ours.” They visit a total of four nursing homes every month for NEMCSA headquartered in Alpena and four more for Northwest Michigan Community Services Agency headquartered in Traverse City. They were “loaned” to the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan as volunteer Ombudsmen when they were in need of volunteers.

John and his wife recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. “I definitely married up and have been blessed as a result,” states John. They have two children, daughter Major Prezza Morrison and son Shaun. They enjoy eight grandchildren and are blessed with three great grandchildren. He and Juanita have been Salvation Army officers/pastors and administrators for forty years, the last seven as retired officers. John still works part time for a Salvation Army unit in Cheboygan County. “I have learned a valuable life lesson that we are never lesser for sharing our lives. The more we share the more we are blessed and enriched. One never loses by giving. It is a win-win situation that enhances my life and the life of each person I am privileged to share with, even in a small way.” “Of course as a Salvation Army officer and pastor I am compelled to share that Jesus Christ is at the center, the core of my life. Whatever of value I have accomplished in my life is out of gratitude for what God has done for me. I could never earn or deserve what God has done in my life. My only appropriate response is to express my gratitude in giving service to people daily in His name. That I seek to do the best of my ability with the help of His Spirit.”

Nikki Sprague joined the Board in May 2026 and currently serves as Chair of the Policy Council. A passionate advocate for children and families, Nikki's commitment to early childhood education is rooted in her family's experience with Early Head Start and Head Start programs, which played a transformative role in her son's development and success. As a wife, mother of four boys, and Family Liaison, she is dedicated to helping families access resources, find their voice, and thrive. Nikki brings years of experience and a deep commitment to ensuring parents have a meaningful role in shaping programs that impact their communities.

Board Member Since '25

Career:
CEO of Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium

Hobbies:
Gardening & taking care of her chickens!

Jessica is a devoted wife and mother of two young children, and a passionate advocate for rural Northeast Michigan. Through her professional role, she is committed to expanding opportunities that help families achieve self-sufficiency and strengthen the regional economy. Her involvement on the board not only brings valuable leadership, but also helps form a stronger partnership between our organization and hers.