Board of Directors
Meet the Board
Debbie Dacey
Debbie Dacey and her husband moved to Traverse City from Cincinnati in 2012. While the beautiful Northern Michigan is quite an enticement for retirees, the bigger appeal was her daughter’s family and four grandchildren. Debbie is a retired speech-language pathologist with more than thirty-five years of experience working with children and adults with significant disabilities. She has worked in a variety of clinical and educational settings as a therapist, consultant, and supervisor. She specialized in the use of assistive technology in the area of augmentative communication. Debbie has presented at local, state and national conferences. She has served as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Louisville where she taught graduate classes in augmentative communication and computer access. She has a strong commitment to helping improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. Serving on the Board of the Disability Network of Northern Michigan is one more step on this lifelong journey.
Paul Derby
Paul graduated in 2004 with a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation from Lake Superior State University. He currently lives in Cadillac and is the business owner of Streamer’s Custom Flies where he crafts custom flies for fly fishermen. Paul is passionate about accessible recreation and strives to live life to the fullest. He enjoys skiing, sailing, kayaking, camping, fishing, and all that Northern Michigan has to offer. He is currently a committee member and Assistant Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 125 in Cadillac and is active with Knights of Columbus Council 1224. Paul became a board member in Spring 2014 and is excited to have the opportunity to advocate on behalf of others with disabilities.
Brandon Dornbusch
Brandon received his undergraduate degree with honors from Michigan State University in History with a concentration in Mandarin Chinese. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2011. He currently practices estate planning in Traverse City. He is passionate about helping individuals, families, and business owners achieve peace of mind by tailoring plans specifically to each of his clients. Part of his practice involves helping disabled individuals with guardianships and conservatorships, Medicaid planning, and special needs trust issues. As an attorney with a disability, Brandon finds a great deal of fulfillment in helping others with disabilities increase their degree of independence, and improve their quality of life. When not practicing law, Brandon enjoys spending time exploring the outdoors around Traverse City, fishing, hunting, hiking, and spending time with his wife, Charlotte, and dog, Bosco.
Jackie Duncan
Jackie is a Mortgage Originator at West Shore Bank.
Steve Rutkowski
After graduating high school in 1972, Steve entered an apprenticeship and received his Journeyman's card as a Reinforcing Ironworker. In 1976, he experienced a diving accident that left him quadriplegic. Unexpectedly faced with such a profound life change, Steve, with the support of family, friends, and a deep faith, has embraced life to its fullest. Answering God’s calling, he serves the community as a licensed minister. His interests include sailing, kayaking, traveling, designing stained glass, and kites. He aspire to be a valuable asset to everybody supported by the Disability Network.
Ex-Officio Board
Mike Newman
Mike is a Senior Trust Administrator at West Shore Bank. He previously was in private legal practice in Traverse City and Boston, MA, where he handled litigation, commercial transactions and estate planning. Mike also represented individuals with disabilities in discrimination cases and has remained passionate about disability rights and advocacy. He has been an instructor with the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. Currently, Mike serves as a mentor to small businesses with the Northern Michigan Chapter of SCORE and is part of the SCORE/Chamber of Commerce — Mark of Excellence Certification Committee. He also volunteers at the Third Level Crisis Legal Aid Clinic. Previously, he served on the Board of Directors at the East End House in Cambridge, MA. Mike lives with his wife Chantal and son Nate in Kewadin, MI.