March and its official observance of Women’s History Month comes along every year, but the women serving on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners deserve celebration every day. The 10 women elected to the Board, representing 53% of the overall membership, stand out as leaders in their work for the Board, volunteerism and in their professional journeys. So, during March (and beyond), let’s hear it for the ladies!
Commissioner Ann Erickson Gault – vice chair of the Legislative Affairs and Government Operations Committee; practicing attorney; member of the Oakland County Parks Commission
Vice Chair Marcia Gershenson – Board vice chair since 2019; chair of the Oakland County Safer Communities Ad Hoc Committee; co-founder of Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit
Commissioner Karen Joliat – minority caucus vice chair; former pharmaceutical sales professional
Commissioner Christine Long – dean of the Board as the longest serving member (since 2002); former small business owner and registered nurse
Commissioner Penny Luebs – chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee; dedicated social worker
Commissioner Gwen Markham – chair of the Finance Committee; current chair of SEMCOG (Southeast Michigan Council of Governments); retired engineer
Commissioner Kristen Nelson – behavior analyst specializing in working with those on the autism spectrum; founder of the Board’s Native Plants Initiative and the Clean, Drain, Dry and Dispose program
Commissioner Angela Powell – majority caucus chair; tax professional
Commissioner Yolanda Smith Charles – chair of the Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee; vice chair of the Oakland County Parks Commission; real estate professional
Commissioner Linnie Taylor – majority caucus vice chair; member of all standing committees; vice chair of the Oakland County Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force; retired corporate payroll/human resources professional
To learn more about the history of women serving on the Board and today’s leaders, listen to the latest episode of The Sounding Board, the Board of Commissioners audio story series, featuring Oakland County Parks Historian Carol Bacak-Egbo.
To learn more about the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, follow along on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn, or visit their website.
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