WIXOM — Creative Many Michigan (formerly ArtServe Michigan), a statewide economic development organization for the arts, culture, and creative and design industries, has elected new members to its board of directors.
They are:
John Willems, a labor and employment lawyer in the Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone law firm in Detroit, as its chair. As part of his commitment to supporting the arts in Michigan, Willems has frequently advised and represented, often pro bono or for minimal fees, local recording artists and record labels, musicians, producers, filmmakers, visual artists, and dancers on career and legal issues. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University and his bachelor’s degree from Portland State University in Portland, Ore.
Joseph L. Voss, senior counsel for Clark Hill law firm in Grand Rapids, as first vice chair. Voss represents financing and producing parties for film, television and online media productions. He provides production legal services to independent producers, as well as general corporate representation to companies in the film, television, digital media, and music industries. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University in Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts from the City University of New York-Brooklyn College.
George K. Heartwell, mayor of Grand Rapids, was elected as a board member. Now serving his third term as mayor, the city of Grand Rapids has has been widely recognized as one of the most sustainable cities in the country, earning the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Nation’s Most Sustainable City” award in 2010 and a first place Climate Protection Award by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 2012. Heartwell’s leadership in ensuring the growth and prosperity of Grand Rapids’ diverse arts and cultural community and community-wide initiatives such as ArtPrize.
Heartwell earned his bachelor’s degree from Albion College and masters of divinity from Western Theological Seminary.
