Michigan Municipal League Convention 2023 Program

Michael A. Guido Leadership and Public Service Award Celebrating a chief elected official who personifies professionalism and leadership, is an active League member, is dedicated to the citizens in their community and advocates on their behalf in Lansing and Washington, DC.

Recipient: Melanie Piana

Melanie Piana has served as an elected official representing Ferndale for nearly 14 years. Her commitment to Ferndale includes prioritizing a culture of belonging and well-being. In her professional capacity working across municipal borders with public service, initiatives have included advances in inclusive neighborhood economic development, mobility and non-motorized street transformations, and community engagement advances.

Mayor Piana’s public work has been recognized by: • SEMCOG’s 2018 Taubman Fellowship to Harvard Kennedy School

• Michigan Municipal League, President of the Board of Trustees 2018–2019 • The American Institute of Architects Detroit Honorary Affiliate Award • Oakland County, for serving as Chair of the Oakland County Public Transit Authority • National League of Cities for serving on the Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee • Urban Land Institute for the Larson Leadership Fellow Program. Mayor Piana also has a thriving nonprofit and consulting career. She has held leadership positions in regional and city community and economic development organizations, advancing strategic planning and organizational resilience. Piana consults with mission-driven organizations on strategic planning, communications, and storytelling initiatives. She completed advanced training at the Harvard Kennedy School in Public Narrative and was certified as a Climate Change Practitioner (CC-P) by the Association of Climate Change Officers. Mayor Piana is a graduate of Albion College and holds a master’s degree in urban planning from Wayne State University. What does the Michael A. Guido Leadership and Public Service Award mean to you? “It’s an honor to be recognized by the Michigan Municipal League for my public service. Behind every elected official’s success is a team supporting your leadership journey. I’m grateful to my city manager, city staff, city council members, and the dedicated talent at MML who informed and uplifted my ideas over the years.”

#MMLCONV

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