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May 8, 2025

Bi-Weekly Executive Newsletter

TOP: Drew Schultz and Ashlee Barnes. BOTTOM: Ryan Salter, Suzanna Shkreli and Ryan Particka.

Dear Friends, 

What do an Emmy award winner, gubernatorial appointee, STEM advocate and university admissions executive have in common?

On the surface, not much, other than that all four and 36 more people are extraordinary individuals who are excelling in their careers and making significant contributions to their communities.

And, they are members of the 2025 class of Oakland Together 40 under 40, a group of young and dynamic entrepreneurs, scientists, lawyers, philanthropists, teachers and so much more.

It’s the 13^th year for the 40 under 40 program and I believe it’s so important to recognize people who are doing exceptional work and public service, often without fanfare or accolades. Take note of them because they are the bright stars of the future, who I’m sure we’re going to be hearing a lot more from down the road.

They are transforming their workplaces, their communities and Oakland County for the better. To see the full list, go to oakgov.com/40under40. But here are just a few members of this fabulous group:

Take Drew Schultz, of Clawson. He’s a talented musician who has performed with the likes of Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops and Aretha Franklin. And he’s sharing that love of music with Michigan as the digital media curator at the Motown Museum and he’s contributing that appreciation for music back into the Detroit Public Schools.

Or Suzanna Shkreli, a Birmingham resident who is helping pump more than $1 billion into public education as the commissioner for the Michigan Lottery. She also is a passionate advocate for children, serving as a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect.

Ashlee Barnes, of Beverly Hills, is helping educate the next generation of nurses as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at University of Detroit Mercy. And as a Nurse Practitioner, she also has received numerous awards, including a Distinguished Alumni Award from Oakland University.

While Ryan Particka, of Royal Oak, is fighting elder scams and abuse as a lawyer with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. And Ryan Salter, of Royal Oak is the founder of Salt + Ko and Breadless, which is providing unique dining experiences for the general public and high profile clients as well as being highly active in the Southfield Chamber of Commerce..

There were more than 300 people who applied for the 2025 class, which is a record number for the initiative. And our panel of judges, comprised of county leaders and community members, had a tough job selecting just 40 from such a worthy group of young professionals.

Congratulations to the 2025 Oakland Together 40 under 40 class. And I can’t wait to meet you all.

With gratitude,

David Coulter
Oakland County Executive

Oakland County Planting Nearly 700 Trees on Government Campus While Reducing Fleet Fuel Consumption

Oakland County is once again demonstrating its commitment to environmental stewardship with the planting of about 700 trees across its government campus. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these trees will each remove an average of 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually once mature or an estimated 15 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year.

In addition to the tree planting, the county continues to make significant strides in reducing emissions from its fleet operations. Despite an increase in fleet size and total miles traveled in 2024, Oakland County’s investment in higher fuel-efficiency vehicles helped save more than 22,000 gallons of gas. This reduction averted the release of 196 metric tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to removing approximately 46 gasoline-powered vehicles from the road for an entire year.

“This kind of progress underscores our commitment to sustainable practices,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “From our growing canopy of trees to smart fleet management, we’re taking action today to build a healthier, more resilient environment for our children and future generations.”

May Edition of the Healthy Oakland Newsletter Out Now

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