PRESIDENT’S CORNER

BY JANET MENDEZ, OUTGOING PRESIDENT (INGHAM COUNTY) & TYLER MARTINEZ, INCOMING PRESIDENT (OAKLAND COUNTY)

Thank you to all who attended our annual meeting on the last day of our Annual Conference on May 22, 2026.  We had our elections and your new Board is set and ready to represent RAM for next two years.  A huge thank you goes out to all of the Board members, speakers, members and guests responsible for making our 42nd Annual Conference the success it was!
 
Let us introduce you to the RAM 2026-2028 Board.  Each member brings experience, network connections, and leadership that are critical to ensuring our organization remains at the forefront of information, guidance, training, and expertise, as is required in our important work.  Their service to this organization is so appreciated.
 
President
Tyler Martinez works in Oakland County as a Domestic Referee. He has been on the RAM Board since 2021. He is co-chair of the Communications Committee and also a co-editor of the Referees Quarterly.
 
Vice President
Stephanie Witucki works in Wayne County as a Domestic Referee. She has been on the RAM Board since 2020 and serves as the chair of the Membership Committee.
 
Treasurer
Michelle Letourneau-McAvoy works in Oakland County as a Domestic Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board since 2016. She serves as chair of the Finance Committee. She also served as a Past President and was a former chair of the Membership Committee.
 
Secretary
Melissa Sytsma works in Kalamazoo County as a Domestic and Juvenile Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board since 2019.  She has served in her current role since 2022. 

Members at Large
Alicia Bianchi works in Wayne County as a Domestic Referee. She is newly elected to the RAM Board in 2026. Congratulations, Alicia! She is co-chair of the Communications Committee and a co-editor of the Referees Quarterly.
 
Ilyssa Cimmino works in Oakland County as a Domestic Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board since 2023. She is the chair of the Social Committee.
 
Dan Ferency works in Oakland County as a Domestic Referee. He has been on the RAM Board since 2024 and is on the Law and Court Rule Committee. 
 
Sahera Housey works in Oakland County as a Domestic Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board for more than ten years. She is a Past President and current co-chair of the Conference Committee.
 
Janet Mendez, Immediate Past President, works in Ingham County as a Domestic Referee. She has been on the RAM Board since 2017.  She served as the RAM Secretary from 2017-2022 and Vice President from 2022-2024.
 
Lynn Perry works in Kent County as a Domestic and Juvenile Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board since 2016 and serves on the Child Welfare Board.
 
Brandi Taylor works in Wayne County as a Juvenile Referee. She is newly elected to the RAM Board in 2026 and has expressed interest in joining the Law and Court Rule Committee. Congratulations, Brandi!
 
Kate Weaver works in Oakland County as a Domestic Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board since 2015.  She is a Past President, co-chair of the Conference Committee and formerly chair of the Law and Court Rules Committee.
 
Thank you again to all who ran for positions on the Board, and to those who are serving on the Board for the next two years.  We are excited to continue making RAM a vibrant and visible organization within the legal community!
 
Finally, several awards were given out at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting to RAM members that have gone above and beyond in their roles and in their contributions to the organization.
 
President’s Award for 2026 was presented to Sahera Housey and Kate Weaver, in recognition for their exemplary service to the Board, and to RAM as a whole, in their roles as co-chairs for the Conference Committee. The hours and hard work they put into planning our conference every year often go unrecognized. Even after the conference has been planned and announced, they continue to address any problems and/or issues that arise along the way to assist our members and ensure a positive conference experience.
 
Valuable Member Award for 2026 was presented to Melissa Sytsma for her dedication to the RAM Board in her ongoing role as Secretary. She helps keep us organized and on-task, and provides thorough and thoughtful minutes to assist in proper follow-up.
 
Outstanding Recognition Award for 2026 was presented to Daniel Ferency for going above and beyond in his role as co-chair of the Law and Court Rule Committee. He regularly provides important updates regarding new and potential changes in the law. He recently represented RAM’s position and interests by drafting an eloquent and poignant letter of comment addressing the proposed Administrative Order 2026 – X regarding judicial officers’ remote appearances. He arrived to the conference a day early, so that he could speak on behalf of RAM at the public hearing regarding this issue, which was held the morning of the first day of the conference.  He made sure to let the Justices know that he appreciated the ability to appear remotely before them, as he sat in his hotel room at the H Hotel in Midland gearing up for the RAM Conference.

​If any current RAM member is interested in serving on one of our many important committees, please reach out to a board member, and we will do our best to put you in touch with a committee best suited to your talents.  You can see all of our committees and contact information on our website at https://www.referees-association.org/board--committees.html.
 
Have a great summer, RAM!
 
Janet Mendez & Tyler Martinez