William J. Hallan is President & Chief Executive Officer of Michigan Retailers Association and Retailers Insurance Company.

He joined Michigan Retailers in August 2011 as vice president and general counsel. He expanded his responsibilities to include oversight of the Association’s legislative advocacy program in February 2012 and overall operations in September 2013. His legislative accomplishments include playing a key role in passage of the Organized Retail Crime Act (Public Act 455 of 2012), and he was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to the Organized Retail Crime Advisory Board.

Mr. Hallan is also a current board member of the Council of State Retail Associations, serving as Secretary and Treasurer.

Prior to joining Michigan Retailers, he was a litigator in the Dykema Gossett law firm’s Bloomfield Hills office. He is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Toledo School of Law, where he was Articles Editor for the Law Review, and a graduate of Denison University, where he played four years on the men’s golf team.

Joined MRA in: August 2011

Retailer Persona: A golf shop owner with a dog named Caddie.

Tom Clement is Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel to the Michigan Retailers Association and Retailers Insurance Company, along with serving as a Director on the Michigan Retailers Services, Inc. Board. Prior to joining Michigan Retailers, he was General Counsel for the Michigan Supreme Court, where he managed litigation matters involving the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the State Court Administrative Office. He also served as the legislative liaison to the executive and legislative branches, representing the Court on policy and legislative issues.

Clement has practiced law since 2002 and joined MRA in 2019. Prior to that, he joined the Supreme Court in 2016 after leaving the Michigan Attorney General’s Office as a Division Chief, where he supervised a team of 12 attorneys specializing in licensing and regulatory issues. He also played a key role in working with the Legislature and Governor’s Office to address the epidemic of prescription drug and opioid abuse.

Previously, he worked in private practice, primarily concentrating on state and federal criminal law and general civil litigation, after starting out as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Eaton County Prosecutors Office.

Clement currently serves on the Michigan Crime Victim Services Commission as an appointee of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. He formerly served on the State Bar of Michigan’s Board of Commissioners as an appointee of the Michigan Supreme Court, in addition to the State Bar of Michigan’s Criminal Jurisprudence and Practice Committee, the Michigan Community Corrections Board, and the Supreme Court and Attorney General joint task force on elder abuse.

Clement received a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University and a Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University College of Law. He lives in East Lansing, Michigan with his wife, Beth, their children, and their dog Midge.

Joined MRA in: September 2019

Retailer Persona: LA golf course pro shop and sports bar with an attached hot yoga studio.

Cheryl Medler is Senior Vice President, Finance and oversees all financial reporting for Michigan Retailers Association, Michigan Retailers Services, the Michigan Retailers Foundations, Retailers Stock Company, and the PAC. She also oversees MRA’s merchant processing program.

Medler attended Michigan State University and joined MRA in 2014 as a staff accountant and was promoted to controller in 2015. Before joining the organization, she worked as a public accountant for five years.

Joined MRA in: January 2014

Retailer Persona: An event planner for birthdays or holidays with a specialty in goody bags!

Laura Schilling is Vice President, Underwriting at Michigan Retailers Association. Schilling started at MRA in 2006. She worked in data entry and communications before being promoted to associate underwriter for Retailers Insurance in December 2012. She became director of underwriting in January 2017. Laura enjoys working with the RIC policyholders and independent agents. A Michigan State University graduate, she is a licensed agent in Property & Casualty. 

Joined MRA in: May 2006

Retailer Persona: A pet-friendly bookstore with a sports bar attached.

Joined MRA in: November 1993

Retailer Persona: If I wasn’t doing what I am now, I would either be a greeter at a store or a golf ranger. Somewhere to interact with people.

Joined MRA in: October 2013

Retailer Persona: A charter boat captain.

Joined MRA in: February 1998

Retailer Persona: A book store and coffee shop.

Drew Beardslee is the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Michigan Retailers Association, responsible for representing Michigan’s retail industry before the state legislature and advancing the industry’s public policy priorities.

Drew has over a decade of experience in state government, serving in policy roles with the Michigan House Republican Policy Office, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, the Michigan Department of Transportation, and member offices in the Michigan Senate and Michigan House of Representatives.

Most recently, Drew served as the Director of State Policy for the National Pork Producers Council, managing state-level lobbying activities and political efforts in multiple states. Drew is a graduate of Grand Valley State University. He lives in Grand Ledge, MI, with his wife and three children.

Joined MRA in: February 2025

Retailer Persona: A used book store inside a coffee shop.

Victoria Veda joined MRA in 2024, bringing with her an extensive background supporting Michigan’s retailers and small businesses through work in marketing and brand consulting. Raised in an entrepreneurial, small-town Michigan household, Vic has deep roots in business, growth strategy, and community engagement. Having worked at a variety of consulting agencies servicing local, regional, national, and global organizations with marketing, communications, and brand strategy, she’s found that her passion lies most with the retailers and small businesses of the Great Lakes State.

She first worked with MRA in 2019 as a contractor, supporting a campaign for MRA’s credit card processing services, and again later on developing additional campaigns for contactless pay and the Buy Nearby program.

Joined MRA in: September 2024

Retailer Persona: A dog-friendly yoga studio full of plants, overlooking the water, with a little cafe attached that serves gluten-free and specialty baked goods.

Joined MRA in: March 2016

Retailer Persona: A cozy café-meets-outfitter that fuels nature lovers with hearty meals, local produce, and essential gear for spontaneous road trips, hikes, and backyard bonfires.

Joined MRA in: April 1998

Retailer Persona: MaMamá Sanctuary" – A Self-Care Spa with Daycare

Joined MRA in: July 2016

Retailer Persona: A quaint old-town/shop-around-the-corner, and don't forget the coffee shop.

Joined MRA in: October 2024

Retailer Persona: Paddle board fly fishing outfitter.

Joined MRA in: September 1981

Retailer Persona: Arts and Crafts store.

Joined MRA in: March 2014

Retailer Persona: A baking studio where ordinary people get to put their baking stills to the test. Sort of like a nailed it or failed it studio, "Baking with a Twist".

Joined MRA in: February 2022

Retailer Persona: A multi-venue entertainment complex featuring movie theaters, a bookstore, a record shop, and a live performance stage.

Joined MRA in: May 2019

Retailer Persona: A local multi-functional sports hub uniting neighbors through play.

Joined MRA in: January 2002

Retailer Persona: A fitness, health and wellness spa.

Joined MRA in: August 2017

Retailer Persona: A corner store that looks ordinary at first glance—quietly wishing for an invisible force field that activates the moment someone wheels in dripping, sticky half-crushed bottle returns through the main entrance—but regulars know that behind the scenes there is a staircase in back leading upstairs to brisket, maybe a splash of bourbon, and everything locally sourced down to the mustard.

Joined MRA in: Feb 2017

Retailer Persona: A boutique shop with soft dresses and handbags.

Joined MRA in: January 1997

Retailer Persona: A bookstore that also serves warm bagels and flavored coffee.

Joined MRA in: January 2015

Retailer Persona: Toy store focusing on building bricks/Lego.

Joined MRA in: November 2014

Retailer Persona: Home Decor & Fabric Shop.

Joined MRA in: April 2019

Retailer Persona: A dog-friendly boutique with a full bar and arcade!

Joined MRA in: July 2000

Retailer Persona: Homemade ice cream shop where customers could create their own flavors.

Joined MRA in: Nov. 2015

Retailer Persona: A sports-focused and kid-friendly brewery with an ever-changing food truck rotation.

Joined MRA in: May 2001

Retailer Persona: A pet-friendly floral shop.

Joined MRA in: December 1984

Retailer Persona:  A sunfield smoked meat shop.

Joined MRA in: January 1986

Retailer Persona: Graceful Campers - A christian campground that combines the elements of faith, family, community, and the camping experience.

Joined MRA in: June, 2000

Retailer Persona: Sporting goods store - team sales.

Joined MRA in: February 2019

Retailer Persona: A specialty cookware store where you can also take classes.

Joined MRA in: January 2024

Retailer Persona: Funky interior design studio that specializes in run down houses! Improving neighborhoods one at a time!

Joined MRA in: February 1986

Retailer Persona: East & West Foods.