Midland Business Roundup: Legal Honors, Executive Education, and Community Grants
Midland’s professional community is celebrating a series of significant milestones, ranging from prestigious legal recognitions and executive leadership development to a substantial influx of local philanthropic funding.
Local Attorneys Named to “Best Lawyers in America”
Two prominent attorneys from the Midland office of Warner Norcross + Judd LLP have been named to the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, a distinction that places them among an elite cohort of legal practitioners nationwide.
The honorees include Susan Cook, a veteran attorney specializing in bankruptcy and restructuring, and Jonathan Lauderbach, a distinguished commercial litigator. Selection for this recognition is rigorous; it involves a nomination process followed by an intensive evaluation of the candidate’s skill, integrity, and peer-reviewed reputation. Fewer than 5% of all practicing lawyers in the United States achieve this status, with the latest rankings drawn from a pool of over 3.8 million individual evaluations.
Cook brings over four decades of experience to the firm, having navigated complex legal landscapes across the hospitality, automotive, construction, and retail sectors. She is widely recognized by peers for her creative problem-solving and negotiation prowess.
Lauderbach, a former Midland County Circuit Court judge and a founding member of the firm’s Midland office, brings a unique perspective to his practice. His portfolio spans diverse industries, including aerospace, supply chain, and the evolving cannabis sector. Beyond his private practice, Lauderbach continues to serve the legal community as a hearing panelist for the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board.
Midland Center for the Arts CEO Expands Leadership Skills
In the nonprofit sector, Matt Travis, President and CEO of the Midland Center for the Arts, recently returned from a high-level executive development program in Boston. In late July, Travis participated in the Harvard Business School Executive Education’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program.
The six-day intensive course brought together global nonprofit leaders from 18 countries to study advanced governance, performance management, and organizational strategy under the guidance of Harvard’s renowned faculty.
“Learning alongside so many talented nonprofit leaders from around the world was deeply impactful,” said Travis. “Our cohort and faculty explored new and innovative ways we can collaborate to make the world a better place.”
Community Foundation Invests Over $350,000 in Local Projects
The Midland Area Community Foundation (MACF) has announced its second-quarter grant cycle for 2026, distributing more than $350,000 to 11 local organizations. The awards, which range from $7,500 to $60,000, are designed to drive long-term community transformation.
Sharon Mortensen, President and CEO of the MACF, emphasized that the funding represents the tangible impact of local philanthropy. “Grantmaking is one of the ways we see community philanthropy in action,” Mortensen noted. “These grants are made possible by donors who believe in Midland County and are given to partners who understand the needs of the people they serve.”
Key recipients of this quarter’s funding include:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region: Awarded $60,000 to launch a pilot program aimed at increasing access to youth mentorship.
- Great Lakes Bay Region YMCA: Received $30,000 to bolster their Women’s Economic Empowerment Program.
- Bullock Creek School District: Granted $8,200 to foster student leadership and community service initiatives.
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