Township board interviewing 4 for manager post

The four candidates for manager in Laketown Township include the current Park Township manager, a Graafschap Fire Department captain, a current executive assistant to a city’s mayor and a former town manager.

Candidates, in alphabetical order, are Howard Fink, Stephanie Fox, David Grumney and Lynne Ladner.

The Laketown Township Board of Trustees originally asked five candidates to be interviewed, but one dropped out.

Public interviews start at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 14, 2025, at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

Requirements

In June, the board set out its requirements for the candidates. Read more here.

The successful candidate is required to have:

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

Experience: At least five years of administrative/supervisory experience in local government with responsibility for budgeting, personnel, purchasing, and human resources.

Knowledge of: Principles and practices of public finance, including principles of fund accounting; Principles and practices of budget development and control; Principles and practices of public administration; Management and supervisory principles and practices; Principles and practices of media relations and presentation skills; Grant application and administration experience.

Professional experience working with a policymaking board; Demonstrated commitment to quality improvement and consensus building; Ability to strategically plan and implement complex and creative operational programs; Ability to manage and/or oversee township infrastructure projects; Demonstrated integrity of, and accountability for, services provided by the township; Supervisory experience using collaborative management principles.

Preferences: Preference to candidates with experience as a Township Manager, Deputy Township Manager, City Manager, or an Assistant City Manager in a comparably sized or larger organization; Graduate degree in Business, Public Administration, Finance, Law, or a related field preferred; Residency is not required.

More on the candidates

The schedule for the interviews on July 14 is:

5 p.m. Stephanie Fox
6 p.m. Howard Fink
7 p.m. David Grumney
8 p.m. Lynne Ladner (via zoom)

Cover letters and resumes are available here.

Fink is the current Park Township manager where he has served since 2017. He served as township manager for Northfield Township from 2013 to 2017.

“With over two decades of experience in municipal management and the last nine years in Ottawa County, I bring a deep understanding of the local issues, institutions, and challenges facing Laketown Township,” he wrote in his cover letter.  Fink has a B.A. degree from DePaul University and a Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Fox is currently an executive assistant in the City of Kentwood where she has served since 2023. She was county administrator in Ionia County from 2011-2022.

“With over a decade of experience as the former Ionia County Administrator, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise that I believe align well with this position,” she wrote in her cover letter.  Fox is a graduate of Iona High School and attended Montcalm Community College.

Grumney is full-time administrative captain on training and health/safety at Graafschap Fire Department. Before that, he was an independent emergency management consultant.

“It has been my good fortune to work as a fire officer in the township for the past several years. This experience has allowed me to see the work done in the township and its effect on the residents and their concerns,” he wrote in his cover letter.  Grumney has a B.S. degree from Barry University.

Ladner was town manager of the Town of Ocean Ridge, Florida, from 2022-2025. Before that, she was the city manager of Hart, Michigan, from 2018-2021.

“Having lived in Michigan the majority of my life and being an experienced local government executive with over two decades of service, including leadership roles in Hart and South Lyon, I bring a deep understanding of the values, challenges, and opportunities unique to West Michigan communities,” she wrote in her cover letter.  Ladner has a B.S. degree and a Master’s in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University.

The board held two closed sessions in accordance with the Open Meetings Act to narrow the 45 candidates to five for interviews.

Past and future

Longtime Manager Al Meshkin retired earlier this year. After finalists for the manager position declined offers in January, the board put the search on hold while members received training on the manager-council form of government from an outside firm and learned to better work together.

On June 11, the board unanimously agreed to begin advertising the full-time manager position with a salary and incentive compensation range of $115,000 to $135,000 not including benefits.

After the July 14 interviews, final candidates will attend a meet-and-greet at Graafschap Fire Department, 4534 60th St., at 11 a.m. July 21. At 6 p.m. that day, final interviews will be held with the board at the township hall.