2023 John Genitti Northville Citizen of The Year

Sue Hillebrand, former Northville Township Clerk

Sue Hillebrand is a giver. It was true when she was the Township clerk from 1992-2019 and it is true today. Despite retiring, she continues to give her time and talent to the Northville Township community, the Clerk’s Office and her family. She is quick to volunteer or lend a helping hand. Sue has kept an open door to the community that she helped nurture after 26 years with the Township, where she conducted 50 successful elections, making her the longest elected clerk in Northville Township.

Sue excels at being a mentor. When current Township Clerk Roger Lundberg needed assistance navigating the complex world of liquor licenses, Sue jumped in. This came on the heels of answering questions regarding business registrations. Did I mention she is retired?

“When I first started, it was Sue Hillebrand who spent the time showing me the ropes,” Clerk Lundberg said. “She is such a great resource.”

Sue’s dedication and motivation is simple: She loves to help and she loves Northville Township. She has lived here 35+ years and to this day remains a great role model to all.

Her record is awe-inspiring. Sue nurtured the Clerk’s Office during an unprecedented period of growth in the Township. She helped put the Clerk’s Office on the map in terms of professionalism by earning the Master Municipal Clerk certification from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks in 2009. It is a title very few hold in the United States because it’s an extensive and rigorous program.

She volunteered on both the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks’ Board and the Association of Wayne County Clerks’ Board as well. She was elected the MAMC Township Clerk of the Year in 2008 for her involvement and interest in improving her professional field.

Sue also served the community as a member of the Northville Township Board of Trustees, Beautification Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission.

Sue has always been there for her family, too. When her son and daughter-in-law learned they were having twins, Sue and her husband, Tom, bought a Northville Township house a few doors down from them. She wanted to be nearby to help with her three granddaughters. Sue is an amazing mother and doting grandmother.

Sue is a shining example of servant leadership. She is a source of inspiration to all. For this and so many other reasons, please chose Sue Hillebrand as the John Genitti Citizen of the Year.

Volunteer of the Year

All trails in Northville Township lead to Jeff Oles.

After all, he’s created a lot of them himself. Or completed maintenance on them. Or planned them. Or recommended them. Or enjoyed them. Jeff Oles is an invaluable resource to Northville Township and his neighbors. He makes our community a better place and deserves to be named Volunteer of the Year.

 A Northville Township resident since 2005, Jeff’s passion is mountain bike riding. It’s a passion he shares often and generously. He is an active member of the Motor City Motor Bikers Association (MCMBA), a chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association. This advocacy organization focuses on preserving, protecting and promoting mountain bike access and diverse riding opportunities on metro Detroit’s public lands. It does this through education, communication and unified action – volunteering.

Jeff has taken it on himself to make Northville Township synonymous with the outdoors and mountain biking. His vim and vigor about our trails has put Northville Township on the map with physical fitness buffs.

When Northville Township prepared a master plan in 2010 for Legacy Park, the former state psychiatric hospital property, mountain bike trails weren’t part of the plan. That quickly changed thanks to Jeff and his extensive network, who were invited to help put in trails on the eastern end of the park.

In 2018 -2019, Jeff personally brought in volunteers from the MCMBA to construct the Bell Branch Loop trails at Legacy Park. The 2-mile beginner loop allows users to enjoy a quick escape in nature, something that residents found necessary during the pandemic. The trail is also smack dab between other existing bike riding trails at Maybury State Park, Hines Park and the I-275 Metro Trail. By creating a bridge to other parks, more people make Northville Township a regular stop on their day-long fitness pursuits. He’s put Northville Township on the map for sports enthusiasts.

Jeff jumped in again in 2021 to volunteer for the Legacy Park Development and Trails Committee, which has met twice a month for two years to bring more trails to Legacy Park. He has been invaluable sharing his expertise and extensive contacts with trail planners to help Northville Township plot 17.5 miles of trails for hiking, biking, walking, running and nature exploration. In every meeting, he raises a question to move the project forward. He is always available to our great community.

His excellent networking skills spill over to social media. He shares any developments with the property with his biking community, so hundreds if not thousands more learn about Legacy Park and all the exciting recreation developments Northville Township. He is a true influencer.

Jeff Oles is an invaluable champion for Northville Township and greatly deserves the Volunteer of the Year Award.