Boards of Directors

Bill Golden

Bill Golden

Chair

Bill Golden is president of Golden Shoes, a family owned and operated shoe store in downtown Traverse City since 1954 and which succeeded a shoe retailer dating back to 1883.

Bill Hallan headshot

William J. Hallan

President and Chief Executive Officer

William J. Hallan is MRA president and chief executive officer and serves in the same capacity for Michigan Retailers Services and Retailers Insurance Company. The Michigan Society of Association Executives named him a “Rising Leader” among state associations.

Bryan Neiman

Bryan Neiman

Vice Chair

Bryan Neiman is President and CEO of Neiman’s Family Market, with four locations in Tawas, St. Clair, Clarkston, and Mayville. His parents, Hal and Jean Neiman, founded the company in 1983 by opening an Alpena IGA store,

Peter Sobelton

Peter R. Sobelton

Treasurer, Michigan Retailers Association Board of Directors | Director, Retailers Insurance Company Board of Directors

Peter Sobelton is owner-partner in several retail property companies and the former owner of two retail businesses, Sundries Plus and Churchill’s Ltd. tobacco and gift stores in Birmingham. He is a past board chair of MRA and Retailers Insurance and past president of the Tobacconists Association of America.

Bo Brines

Bo Brines

Past Chair

Bo Brines is owner and president of Little Forks Outfitters, an Orvis shop and retailer of quality fly fishing equipment and outdoor clothing, located in downtown Midland. A Midland native,

Kim Edsenga headshot

Kim Edsenga

Director

Kim Edsenga is Managing Counsel and Director, Compliance with Meijer. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and Michigan Law School. Before joining Meijer in 2014,

Becky Beauchine Kulka

Becky Beauchine Kulka

Director

Becky Beauchine Kulka is founder and CEO of Becky Beauchine Kulka Diamonds and Fine Jewelry located in Okemos. Her community-focused store was selected Michigan Retailer of the Year in 2006 and named one of the “coolest” jewelry stores in the nation by Instore magazine in 2005.

Dan Marshall

Dan Marshall

Director, Michigan Retailers Association Board of Directors | Director, Retailers Insurance Company Board of Directors

Dan Marshall is president of Marshall Music Company, one of the largest full-line music retailers in the country. The Lansing-based, family owned company was established in 1948 and operates stores in Lansing,

Orin Mazzoni

Orin Mazzoni Jr.

Director

Orin Mazzoni, Jr. is president of Orin Jewelers, Inc., a family owned business in Northville. He is past president and current member of the Michigan Jewelers Association board, a member of the Garden City Downtown Development Authority and past Garden City Chamber of Commerce president and “Member of the Year.” Mazzoni is a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

Joe McCurry

Joseph McCurry

Director

Joe McCurry is an executive with Credit Card Group and is based in Georgia. He previously was an executive with the furniture industry’s Dovetail Alliance and The High Point Group and is a retired Detroit district general manager for Sears,

Raeann Rouse

Raeann Rouse

Director

Raeann Rouse is owner of Bridge Street Baby, a newborn to 24-month clothing, gifts, accessories and decor store, located in Rockford. Rouse grew up in the retail world; her parents both owned retail stores in Rockford.

Tom Ungrodt

Thomas Ungrodt

Director

Thomas Ungrodt is president of TDU Consulting, LLC. A graduate of Northern Michigan University, he serves on the board of the Northern Michigan University Foundation. He also is a former chair of both the MRA and Retailers Insurance boards.

Larry Meyer

Larry Meyer

Board Member Emeritus

Larry Meyer is retired chairman and CEO of MRA. The former U.S. Navy officer has received appointments from three Michigan governors, including director of the Michigan Department of Commerce. He served two terms on the Lansing City Council and was elected in 2009 to the Lansing Community College Board of Trustees.

D. Larry Sherman

Board Member Emeritus

D. Larry Sherman is retired president of the former Sherman Shoes, Inc., Birmingham. He is a former chairman of MRA, the former Retailers Fund and the National Shoe Retailers Association.

Bill Hallan headshot

William J. Hallan

President and Chief Executive Officer

William J. Hallan is MRA president and chief executive officer and serves in the same capacity for Michigan Retailers Services and Retailers Insurance Company. The Michigan Society of Association Executives named him a “Rising Leader” among state associations.

Tom Clement

Thomas P. Clement

Director

Thomas P. Clement is Vice President, Operations and General Counsel. Before coming to Michigan Retailers, he was General Counsel for the Michigan Supreme Court, where he managed litigation matters involving the Supreme Court,

John Leppink headshot

John Leppink

Director

John Leppink is president of Leppink’s Incorporated, where he oversees the total store operations of four of the seven Leppink’s Food Centers, seven Save A Lot food stores, and one True Value Hardware.

Kendra Patterson

Kendra Patterson

Director

Kendra Patterson owns Michigan Barn Wood and Salvage, along with her husband. The business began in 2015 and re-located to a historic lumberyard in Mason in 2017. Patterson was first elected to the MRS board in 2022.

Joe Swanson

Joe Swanson

Director

Joe Swanson is a consultant with Big Springs Enterprises in Naubinway, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He is a retired District Team Leader for Target Corp. Over the years, he played leadership roles for Target stores in the Indianapolis region,

Jean Sarasin headshot

Jean Sarasin

Chair

Jean Sarasin is retired executive vice president and chief operating officer of Michigan Retailers Association and Retailers Insurance. She was first elected to the Retailers Insurance board in 1997.

Bill Hallan headshot

William J. Hallan

President and Chief Executive Officer

William J. Hallan is MRA president and chief executive officer and serves in the same capacity for Michigan Retailers Services and Retailers Insurance Company. The Michigan Society of Association Executives named him a “Rising Leader” among state associations.

Peter Sobelton

Peter R. Sobelton

Treasurer, Michigan Retailers Association Board of Directors | Director, Retailers Insurance Company Board of Directors

Peter Sobelton is owner-partner in several retail property companies and the former owner of two retail businesses, Sundries Plus and Churchill’s Ltd. tobacco and gift stores in Birmingham. He is a past board chair of MRA and Retailers Insurance and past president of the Tobacconists Association of America.

Jeff Joyce

Jeff Joyce

Past Chair, Retailers Insurance Company Board of Directors

Jeff Joyce is president and co-owner of Mieras Family Shoes, Grand Rapids. The fourth-generation, family owned company founded in 1922 has three stores, four mobile sales vans and a sales unit inside a major manufacturer.

David Ford

David Ford

Director

David Ford has been with the Ford Insurance Agency since 1985, first joining the company as a licensed insurance agent. In 2001, he took over as the Agency’s president, and has served in that capacity ever since.

Andrew Gemmen

Andrew Gemmen

Director

Andrew Gemmen is president and co-owner of Gemmen’s Home and Hardware in Hudsonville. The business was founded by his grandfather, Al Gemmen, in 1955 and is part of Ace Hardware Corp.,

James Hallan

James P. Hallan

Director

James P. Hallan is retired president and CEO of Michigan Retailers Association. He joined Michigan Retailers as general counsel in 1985. He is a past chair of the board of Delta Dental of Michigan,

Dan Marshall

Dan Marshall

Director, Michigan Retailers Association Board of Directors | Director, Retailers Insurance Company Board of Directors

Dan Marshall is president of Marshall Music Company, one of the largest full-line music retailers in the country. The Lansing-based, family owned company was established in 1948 and operates stores in Lansing,

Rod Phillips headshot

Rod Phillips

Director

Rod Phillips is owner of Country Casuals, Petoskey, a small chain of year-round and seasonal ladies’ apparel stores located throughout northwest Michigan. He attended Michigan State University and worked as a commercial pilot before starting the retail business with his wife,

Tom Ungrodt

Thomas Ungrodt

Director

Thomas Ungrodt is president of TDU Consulting, LLC. A graduate of Northern Michigan University, he serves on the board of the Northern Michigan University Foundation. He also is a former chair of both the MRA and Retailers Insurance boards.