LANSING –Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) has promoted three employees and added three former Michigan Retail Hardware Association (MRHA) employees to its professional management team.
• Amy Drumm, a Lansing Township resident, was promoted to vice president of government affairs. She previously was director of government affairs and is responsible for day-to-day advocacy in the state Capitol, as well as analysis and monitoring of all legislation and public policy.
She joined MRA as legislative coordinator in 2012 and was promoted to manager of government affairs in 2013 and director in 2015. A University of Michigan graduate, she previously worked in the Michigan House of Representatives and for the House Republican Campaign Committee. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Great Lakes Cyber Academy.
• Mark Baynai, a Holt resident, was promoted to corporate accountant for Retailers Insurance Company. Baynai joined MRA in 2013 as Retailers Insurance staff accountant after graduating from Michigan State University with degrees in accounting and criminal justice.
He previously held jobs in the Michigan Department of Human Services and as a tax preparer and assistant manager for H&R Block.
• Laura Schilling, of Okemos, was promoted to manager of underwriting for Retailers Insurance. She had been associate underwriter since December 2012.
She began at MRA as a college intern in data entry in 2006. After graduating from Michigan State University she was hired as communications assistant in 2007 and promoted to communications coordinator and associate underwriter in 2012. She earned her resident producer license for property and casualty insurance in 2014.
New employees are:
• Pat Harrington, of Delta Township, is director, program development, for MRA’s new hardware division. He served as president and CEO of the 121-year-old MRHA prior to it becoming part of MRA on July 1.
He started at MRHA in 1987 as plan administrator of the MRHA SIWCF workers’ comp fund and became involved in all the association’s insurance programs. He was named president and CEO of the organization in 2015.
• Jodi Barber, a Laingsburg resident, is group health/life benefits administrator. She held a similar position with MRHA during the past year and, before that, for more than 20 years at the Michigan Lumber and Building Materials Association.
She is a Michigan licensed health/life insurance producer and holds certifications to sell and assist small employer groups and individuals through the Michigan Federally Facilitated Marketplace – the arena for health insurance plans operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Linda Pierce, of Wacousta, is underwriting assistant for Retailers Insurance Company, primarily assisting hardware members during the transition to MRA. She has spent 29 years in workers’ compensation fund administration.
She began her insurance career with Aetna Insurance. Co. in Grand Rapids and worked in personal lines for 10 years. Her retail experience also includes earlier jobs at The Dress Barn and The Country Shop in Lansing.
Michigan Retailers Association represents more than 5,000 member businesses and their 15,000 stores and websites. MRA has been a trusted business resource for 76 years and provides cost-saving membership services, such as expert credit card processing, business and personal insurances, legislative advocacy, college scholarships and discounts on shipping, to all types of businesses.
Note: For High-resolution photos, please contact MRA’s Rachel Schafer at rschafer@retailers.com.
