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NCCMH Board Meetings

The North Country Community Mental Health Board meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month in either Petoskey or Bellaire. 

The next board meeting will be held on Thursday, January 18th, 2024, at 2:30PM at 1420 Plaza Drive, Petoskey, MI.
This meeting is open to the public and can be attended in person or streamed live at the link below.

Board Livestream

This meeting is open to all members of the public under Michigan’s Open Meetings Act.

NCCMH is an equal opportunity employer/program.  Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon notification of request.  Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request. Email our Executive Assistant for accommodation requests at execassistant@norcocmh.org

Board Meeting Schedule

January – December 2024

Click on meeting date to access meeting minutes. Scroll down to access minutes archive.

January 18, 2024 – 2:30 P.M.
1420 Plaza Drive, Board Room
Petoskey

February 15, 2024 – 2:30 P.M.
1420 Plaza Drive, Board Room
Petoskey

March 21, 2024 – 2:30 P.M.
1420 Plaza Drive, Board Room
Petoskey

April 18, 2024 – 2:30 P.M.
1420 Plaza Drive, Board Room
Petoskey

May 16, 2024 – 2:30 P.M.
1420 Plaza Drive, Board Room
Petoskey

June 20, 2024 – 2:30 P.M.
1420 Plaza Drive, Board Room
Petoskey

July 18, 2024 – 2:30 P.M
1420 Plaza Drive, Board Room
Petoskey

August 15, 2024 – 2:30 P.M.
1420 Plaza Drive, Board Room
Petoskey

September 19, 2024 – 2:30 P.M.
1420 Plaza Drive, Board Room
Petoskey

October 17, 2024 – 2:30 P.M.
1420 Plaza Drive, Board Room
Petoskey

November 21, 2024 – 2:30 P.M.
Location TBD

December 19, 2024 – 2:30 P.M.
1420 Plaza Drive, Board Room
Petoskey

About the NCCMH Board

The North Country Community Mental Health Board was created in April 2003, with the merger of Northern Michigan Community Mental Health and Antrim Kalkaska Community Mental Health. Both previous agencies had enjoyed over 30 years of community service, and were initially created under the authority of Public Act 54, legislation which transferred responsibility for the provision of public mental health services from state to local governments. This law was superseded in 1974 and again in 1996 when the Michigan Legislature enacted major revisions to the Michigan Mental Health Code. The North Country Community Mental Health Board serves Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Kalkaska, and Otsego Counties. Funds for the operation of programs are provided by federal, state and local sources.

Garry Knapp

Gary Knapp was appointed to the North Country Community Mental Health Board by the Antrim County Board of Commissioners with the term beginning April 2021. He is a former coordinator of the Antrim County Multi-Purpose Collaborative Body, and the associate director of the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments (now Networks Northwest). Mr. Knapp has a background in criminal justice reform and was appointed chair of the State Community Corrections Advisory Board in 1989 by then Governor James Blanchard. He was also the founder of a nonprofit Community Development Corporation, the Mancelona family Resource Center, and the Mancelona Area Water and Sewer Authority, serving as its first Executive Director. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities in the snow, sun and water.

Caroline Loper

Caroline Loper was appointed to the mental health Board by the Antrim County Board of Commissioners in May 2017. Ms. Loper was employed in a number of positions: dietary aide; crew member; crew leader; housekeeping aide and laundry aide. She is a member of the First Baptist Church in Boyne City and a member of the New Horizons Clubhouse Advisory Board. Her hobbies are reading, knitting, crocheting and tatting (lace making).

Karla Sherman
Vice Chair

Karla Sherman was appointed to the North Country Community Mental Health Board by the Charlevoix County Board of Commissioners in December 2006 and was reappointed to the Board by the Emmet County Board of Commissioners in June 2012. 

Ms. Sherman was born and raised in Colorado and remains a person with a great love of the outdoors, and a strong independent spirit.  She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Colorado and a Masters of Science in Education from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. 

“Giving back” is an important value in her family thus prompting volunteer work beginning at an early age and continuing to this day.  Her great treasures in life are reading, outdoor activities including running, hiking and skiing, listening to music and spending time with family and friends.

David White

David White was appointed to the North Country Community Mental Health Board by the Emmet County Board of Commissioners in January 2019. Mr. White is currently retired after spending his career working as a City Manager in three states. His last two positions were in the City of East Jordan and Mackinaw City. Mr. White is currently an Emmet County Commissioner. He is a board member for Northern Homes Community Development Corporation, represents Resort Township and is on the Zoning Board of Appeals. When not working or volunteering he enjoys reading non-fiction, boarding, fishing and spending time with family.

Annmarie Conway

Annmarie Conway is a Charlevoix County Commissioner and was appointed to the North Country Community Mental Health Board by the Charlevoix County Board of Commissioners with a term starting January 2023. She and her husband are both teachers at Charlevoix Public Schools and have been teaching there for 28 years. Ms. Conway and her husband are very interested in the 8 dimensions of wellness and helped integrate social emotional learning and activities into the school’s curriculum.  

Ms. Conway and her husband have 2 children, Philip and Jake. Philip is a graduate of U of M with a major in biochemistry, and Jake is a Junior at U of M studying mental health in the College of Public Health. Ms. Conway is Michigan’s 2017 James Madison Memorial Foundation Fellow earning her second Masters degree from U of M Flint in Constitutional Studies. She hopes to build on her education and understanding of societal issues both as a county commissioner and NCCMH board member and contribute to their solutions.

Robert Boyd

Robert Boyd was appointed to the North Country Community Mental Health Board by the Cheboygan County Board of Commissioners in August 2006. Mr. Boyd served in the United States Marine Corps and with the U.S. Department of State as a U.S. Embassy Guard. He is a member of the Marine Corp. League, a member of the Knights of Columbus and was the former President of the Beacon Center Board. Mr. Boyd ushers at his church and enjoys writing poetry and songs.

Edward Ginop
Board Chair

Ed Ginop is a Cheboygan County native and lives in Levering. He has served on the mental health Board since March, 1983. Ed owns Ginop Construction, Inc. He is the President of the Cheboygan County Fair Board; served on the Cheboygan Area Schools Board for 9 years; and is a member of the Cheboygan County Builder’s Association. Ed is married and has four children. He enjoys reading, travelling, fishing and sports, especially playing cards.

Michael Newman

Michael Newman was appointed to the mental health Board by the Cheboygan County Board of Commissioners in January 2017.

Mr. Newman was employed as the Under sheriff in Cheboygan and is now retired. He is a member of the Cheboygan County Board of Commissioners.

Ron Iseler

Ron Iseler was appointed to the mental health Board by the Otsego County Board of Commissioners in September 2015. Mr. Iseler has been self-employed; a teacher; has worked for the Michigan Agriculture Department and the United States Postal Service. He is currently retired. Mr. Iseler has provided service at community dinners; the Food Pantry for Otsego County; social ministry at Peace Lutheran Church in Gaylord; and volunteers at (revolving) Homeless Shelter “The Refuge”. He likes travelling, camping, gardening and attending music festivals.