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About the Clerk-Treasurer Michael W. Griffin, IAMC/MMC/CPFAMichael Griffin was first elected to the position of clerk-treasurer in November of 1991 taking office, noon, January 1, 1992, becoming Highland’s seventh clerk-treasurer. In November 2007, he was re-elected to a fifth term. He and his wife, Christy, welcomed their first child, a daughter Abigail Christina, in June of 2009. Education Michael is a graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington possessing academic honors earning an undergraduate degree B.A. with a double major in religious studies and political science. Michael also graduated from the Graduate School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Northwest earning a Masters of Public (Administration) Affairs (M.P.A.) with a concentration in public management with work in finance. |
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Experiences Career & Related Activities While he is a full-time clerk-treasurer, Michael Griffin is also an Adjunct University Instructor, Indiana University Northwest where he teaches an undergraduate course on Urban Policy and Local Government and has taught the Graduate course on Public Finance and Budgeting. Prior to his election as Clerk-Treasurer of Highland, Indiana, Michael served as a Staff Aide to United States Congressman Pete Visclosky, who represents Indiana’s First District. 1990-1991. Former Director of Youth Ministry, Munster First Church of God (Anderson, Indiana Affiliated) 1983 to 1988. Here Michael developed a special teen curriculum of study called A.C.E., an acrostic which stood for Augmenting Christian Education. Former Intern Legislative Assistant to Late Congressman Adam Benjamin, United States House of Representatives, Indiana First District (Summer 1979). Public Service Activities Regional Initiatives In June 2006, Michael was his party’s nominee for Indiana Treasurer of State. While not elected, his candidacy was endorsed by the Indianapolis Star and the South Bend Tribune. The Hon. Richard Mourdock, the elected treasurer, appointed him to served on the Treasurer of State’s Local Government Investment Pool Advisory Committee, which assisted with the implementation of the newly authorized Indiana LGIP. Michael serves on the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission. (July 2003 to present). The Regional council serves as a “council of governments” for Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties, with responsibilities for transportation, economic development and land use planning for the region. Michael was previously appointed by the Indiana Auditor of State to serve on the bi-partisan, Statewide Auditor Advisory Council, an initiative of the Auditor of State to develop a liaison with local officials and promote best practices for public fiscal officers, comprised of County Auditors, County Treasurers and clerk-treasurers, serving from 1999 to May 2006. Michael serves as Chair of the 16 Plus Group, an informal association of the sixteen smaller cities and towns in Lake County. The group meets to discuss and promote consensus on issues of government effectiveness and efficiency. Service and Faith Passions, Activities initiatives Michael is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Ministries of the Church of God, the State governing or Judicature Board overseeing the Churches of God in Indiana (Anderson, IN Affiliated). He has served on the Executive Board of Directors since October of 1998. Michael is presently First vice president of the Board. He is a past member of Board of Elders, past treasurer and former Sunday School Teacher at his home congregation, First Church of God in Munster. Distinctions Professional Certifications Michael was awarded the professional designation of Certified Public Finance Administrator (CPFA) in September of 2000, by the Association of Public Treasurers’ of the United States and Canada. Michael was the second person to receive this designation in Indiana, the first ever in Highland. He recertified in 2005. Michael is also an Indiana Accredited Municipal Clerk (IAMC) designation, conferred by the Indiana League of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers. In July 2008, Michael attained the designation of Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC). This is the highest professional distinction conferred by the IIMC. He is the only Highland Clerk-Treasurer to have earned this distinction. This professional award recognizes practicing municipal clerks throughout the United States, and internationally in an effort to encourage professionalization, and the implementation of modern practices in the position of municipal clerk. Members of the International Institute must demonstrate or complete a specified level of education or training and must practice and profess a commitment to the code of professional ethics of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. He first earned designation as a Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC), in October 1994. Distinctions Awards, Honors Leadership Northwest Indiana Board of Directors conferred the Outstanding Presenter and Leader Award, Dec. 2008, for work with LNI as a presenter. The Lake County Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, a National Music and Arts Fraternity, conferred the honor of Distinguished Membership, for Michael’s role in establishing Highland’s Community Band. Michael received the outstanding Part-Time Instructor Award at Indiana University Northwest in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. (2005-2006) October 1998, Michael was presented with the Financial Management Award for Excellence in Municipal Finance from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT). This is the highest award conferred by that Association in recognition of performance and competency as a public finance officer. Michael prepared Highland’s first ever Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) covering its fiscal year 1995. The report earned the prestigious Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) the first time it was filed. This distinction is currently only enjoyed by only one other Town Government in Indiana and only twenty six other governmental units out of a possible 1,665 units in the state -- including the State of Indiana itself. The annual report has earned the certificate of excellence each year it has been prepared and filed, (thirteen consecutive times) 1995 through 2008. The 2009 report is being prepared and will be filed awaiting its review by GFOA. In July of 2000 the Indiana State Board of Accounts named Michael an Honorary Field Examiner, a special honor in recognition of his work as a Public Finance Officer and his several presentations he was invited to offer to Indiana’s public audit agency. Inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha National Academic Honors Fraternity recognizing outstanding Students in Schools of Public Administration and Public Affairs. Named as a Sterling Who’s Who Executive, which recognizes persons for their achievements in fields of business and government. In May of 1998, Michael graduated from the Leadership Northwest Indiana Institute a Year long program which provides further development for leaders in Northwest Indiana. Honorary Key to the City of Aurora, Indiana conferred by Mayor Richard Ullrich, July 2003, given for presentations made by Michael to the Southwestern group of cities and towns regarding various subjects related to the public finance and municipal clerk profession. Recipient of the Rose Marie Cruzan Unit Award of the Indianapolis Chapter of the National Association of Parliamentarians 1998 presented to persons in Indiana for outstanding service in Parliamentary Study and Law. Enrichment Professional Development, Publications and Presentations Published. Michael composed the chapter dealing with Local government in Indiana in a published anthology of politics and public policy, edited by Maurice Eisenstein, Ph.D. entitled Indiana Politics and Public Policy, first published by Simon & Schuster (1999) 1st Printing. ISBN 0536021198 Michael serves as a member of the Board of Economists of the Times, the local news daily published by Lee Publishing. This appointment is based upon special knowledge of public finance and economic issues for local government. Michael served from 1999 to 2006 as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Times, where he has written frequently on topics of government, governance, public finance and public service. In addition, he is a frequent presenter on topics related to public service, good government, public finance and the municipal clerk’s profession around the state, speaking to the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, the Indiana League of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers, the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, and the Indiana State Association of Parliamentarians. Enrichment Professional Memberships and Societies Michael is active in the Indiana League of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers. He is a past State President, past Vice-President, past Treasurer, past Secretary, past Executive Director, and current Parliamentarian. He continues to serve as a member of its Executive, Education & Professional Development and Legislative Committees. Michael has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) since September 1999. He has previously served on IACT’s Personnel Committee. In 1999 he served as vice-chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. In 2001-2002, he also served on the Search Committee to find a successor executive director for the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. Beginning in 2003, he began service on the Legislative Committee and serves on the Municipal Finance and the Telecommunications, Utility and Administration subcommittees. In 2001-2004, Michael served on the Program Review and Certification Committee of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC). The Committee implements policies related to the professional certification program of the IIMC. Michael served as its Vice Chair 2004-2005 and its Chair in 2005-2006. He is past vice chair of the former Resource Committee. He recently concluded service as chair of the Research and Resource Committee of the IIMC (2007-2008). Michael is past president of the Calumet Parliamentary Unit, a local study group affiliated with the National Association of Parliamentarians, where members meet to study parliamentary procedure, parliamentary forms including draftsmanship, and the rules of order, toward the eventual goal of successfully completing the registration exam. A test on parliamentary forms and Robert’s Rule of Order is necessary for regular membership. Michael is past president of the local chapter of ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, a society committed to the pursuit of excellence in public service. Enrichment Community Organizations and Societies Michael serves on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana. (2003-present) Finance and Budget Subcommittee, Chair (2009-2010) Finance and Budget Subcommittee, member Bylaws Task Force, Chair Michael serves on the Board of Directors of the Leadership Northwest Indiana of Northwest Indiana. (2004-present) Alumni of the program (LNI 11 • 1998) Michael is a member of the Quality of Life Council of Northwest Indiana an initiative of the several Universities and Colleges in Northwest Indiana, serving since 2002. Michael served on its Executive Board, 2005-2006. • Serves on the Local Government Academy Advisory Board, an initiative of the several area Universities and Colleges. • Michael also served on the Highland School Town Broad Based Planning Committee for its Academically Talented and Gifted Program. • Michael is a member of the Highland Chapter of Lion’s Club International. • Michael had an early start for his current interests, as he is a Past-President and past member of the Highland Youth Commission, 1977-81. • In the summer of 1995, Michael portrayed Edward Rutledge of South Carolina in the local community theater production of ‘1776’ a musical depicting the events surrounding the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Michael participated in the first community musical production of Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man”, portraying Professor Harold Hill, in the summer of 1981. When working in parks and recreation, Michael worked to establish the first Highland Community Band. At it inception, Michael participated in the community band. Further, during parades and occasionally at Christmas for the Salvation Army Kettle Drive, Michael regularly plays the Baritone (Euphonium) Horn. |
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