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meet NAOMI
meet NAOMI
Rooted in Community
I grew up in a small town not much larger than Keego Harbor, so there is something very endearing to me about living in a community this size. In a small city, local government doesn’t feel distant. The decisions being made affect your neighbors, the streets you drive every day, the places you walk, the parks you enjoy, and the community you come home to. You have the opportunity to know the people around you, to get involved, and to see the difference that individual people can make. That sense of community shaped me from an early age.
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As a child and young teenager, I spent many of my summers volunteering at my local public library. At the time, I simply enjoyed being there and helping out. Looking back, though, it was one of my first experiences seeing how important local institutions are to a community, and how much of what makes a community special comes from people who are willing to give their time, help their neighbors, and contribute simply because they care.
A Life of Service
Service continued to be an important part of my life as I got older. I built my career as a federal civilian supporting the U.S. Army, but being a military spouse has given me another perspective on what service and leadership can look like.
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During my husband’s first deployment, I served as a leader of the unit's Soldier Family Readiness Group,  a volunteer organization that helps connect military families with information, resources, support, and one another. This support is vital for families when unit is deployed.Â
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That experience alone taught me a great deal about leadership. Leadership isn’t always standing at the front of a room or having all the answers. Sometimes it is answering the phone, finding the right resource, communicating information clearly, checking in on someone, or simply making sure people know they have someone they can turn to. It reinforced my belief that good leadership starts with listening and that strong communication can make people feel far more connected to the organizations and communities they are part of.
Prepared to LEAD
My education has strengthened that perspective as well. I earned my BA in Communication Studies from Wayne State University and later earned my MSA in Leadership from Central Michigan University. My studies have afforded me the opportunity to better understand how organizations work, how people respond to change, how good decisions are made, and most importantly, how much effective leadership depends on understanding and communicating with the people you serve.
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Those lessons have carried into my professional life as a federal public servant, where I work in a complex environment that requires collaboration, problem-solving, accountability, and thoughtful decision-making. But I also know that experience and education only take you so far. Good leaders have to remain willing to ask questions, learn, consider different perspectives, and recognize when someone else in the room knows something they don’t.
Why I'm Running
I’m not running because I believe I have every answer. I’m running because I’m willing to ask questions, do the homework, listen to residents, and thoughtfully consider the decisions that will shape our community. I believe local government should feel approachable. Residents should feel comfortable reaching out with a question, a concern, an idea, or even a different point of view and they should know that someone is genuinely willing to listen.
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Keego Harbor may be small, but I see that as one of our greatest strengths. In a community our size, individual voices matter. Individual decisions matter. And individual people really can make a difference.
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I’m proud to call Keego Harbor home, and I would be honored to bring my experience, education, and perspective to City Council and give something back to the community my family and I have chosen to be part of.
Keego FORWARD