Elder Law of Michigan is proud of its dedicated team. Many of the staff members have been here over five years, and all are dedicated to finding the right solutions to assist our clients, older adults and persons with disabilities. They are always willing to go the extra mile if needed to make a difference in the lives of as many of our clients that we possibly can.
Elder Law of Michigan, Inc. – Main Office
3815 W. St. Joseph St., Ste. C200
Lansing, MI 48917
Admin: 517-485-9164
EIN: 38-2960530
Subscribe and stay informed on issues important to older adults and persons with disabilities.
Abigail is a Screening Integration Coordinator for the MiCAFE Network at Elder Law of Michigan. She has been a member of the Elder Law of Michigan team since October 2018.
Abigail is a Screening Integration Coordinator for the MiCAFE Network at Elder Law of Michigan. She has been a member of the Elder Law of Michigan team since October 2018.
Abigail holds an Associates in Criminal Justice, Juvenile Specialization, from Lansing Community College.
Before joining the Elder Law of Michigan team, she served as a Dining Services Cook for a medical facility in Ingham County. The facility specialized in medical care and assisted living for older adults. She is eager to broaden her horizons and learn new skills to make a difference in the lives of others.
As a Screening Integration Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan, Abigail helps seniors in Michigan apply for benefits so they can feel comfortable with the application process.
Betsy is the MiCAFE Network Shareholder and Partner Manager at Elder Law of Michigan. She has been a member of the Elder Law of Michigan team since September 2019.
Previously, Betsy spent three years at MSU studying child psychology. Currently, she is enrolled in the Human Resource Management program at Lansing Community College.
Before joining the Elder Law of Michigan team, she served as a director of the premier childcare center for Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. For nearly twenty years, Betsy and her team provided exceptional childcare services to the community. Betsy also complied with both state and national regulations while maintaining an accredited center.
As the MiCAFE Network Partner Manager at Elder Law of Michigan, Betsy provides outreach, training, recruitment, and education to MiCAFE Network Partners and stakeholders.
Christine Steinmetz is a part-time Attorney at Elder Law of Michigan and has been a member of the Elder Law team since 2011.
Ms. Steinmetz graduated from Brooklyn College with a degree in Business, Finance, and Management. She received her Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. While in law school, Christine developed an interest in the field of Elder law as an intern at Thomas M. Cooley’s Sixty Plus Elder Law Clinic.
After graduating from law school, Christine worked for a Lansing law firm and later opened her own practice, The Law office of Christine M. Steinmetz, PLC, in Okemos, Michigan. As a general practice lawyer, Christine has represented clients in a variety of legal subject areas, including estate planning, Social Security, housing law, family law, and criminal matters. As an attorney at Elder Law, Christine advises clients on issues including Medicare/Medicaid, wills and trusts, estate planning, landlord/tenant, and consumer law.
Christine Steinmetz also holds a Certificate of Completion in the areas of probate and estate planning issued by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
Darling A. Garcia is the Director of Community Services at Elder Law of Michigan and has been a member of the Elder Law of Michigan team since September 2013.
She holds a Bachelor of Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. She relocated to Michigan to attend Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where she graduated in 2003. In 2005, she received an LL.M. in taxation from Wayne State University Law School.
Before joining the Elder Law Team, she was a staff attorney at the Legal Services of South Central Michigan, handling cases in the areas of family law, mortgage and tax foreclosure, elder law, housing law, consumer law and public benefits. Prior to this, Darling started her own general practice, The Law Office of Darling A. Garcia, P.L.L.C. in Lansing, Michigan where she focused on criminal defense, family law, tax law, consumer and housing law. Before this, Darling was a judicial clerk for the Honorable
Louise Alderson at the 54A District Court in Lansing, MI. Darling is the vice-chair of the Ingham County Housing Commission. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan Character and Fitness Committee, and the Domestic Violence Committee. She represented the Calhoun County as a member of the Representative Assembly in the Michigan State Bar from 2008 – 2013. She was an adjunct professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where she taught Introduction to Law.
Denise Keiser is a Fund Development Specialist with Elder Law of Michigan and has been a member of the Elder Law of Michigan team since August 2017. As a Fund Development Specialist, Denise assists Elder Law of Michigan’s leadership with donor management, grant writing, and communications.
Denise earned an Associate’s Degree from Palomar College and studied Business and Real Estate at California State University in San Marcos, California in 1994. She is currently completing a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Media.
Denise is originally from Hillsdale, Michigan but attended college in San Marcos, California where she resided for nearly 20 years. In 2010, she returned to Michigan to pursue her passion for helping others by leading the Center for Financial Health — a non-profit organization that inspires financial wellness through housing and financial education.
Before returning to Michigan, Denise was a licensed real estate broker in California and specialized in affordable housing and mortgage lending. These days, Denise enjoys sharing her housing and finance knowledge by presenting to various groups and is a regular speaker at the annual Building Michigan Communities Conference.
As an independent consultant, Denise delivers specialized training to housing counselors certified through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. She also serves as an expert witness for the Attorney General’s office on housing-related cases. She is seen on TV as the “Money Expert” for WLNS-6 Lansing’s “Money Monday,” where she provides weekly money tips during the evening news.
Jennifer Blanck is a MiCAFE Network Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan. She has been with Elder Law of Michigan since September 2014.
Jennifer attended Lansing Community College for two years to study foreign language and is fluent in Spanish.
Since working at Elder Law of Michigan, Jennifer has handled our Tax & Insurance line, HECM line, Non-Case referral line, and MiCAFE line. She helps clients apply for benefits through the Department of Health and Human Services and helps find resources for clients with needs that cannot be met by one of our programs. Prior to working at Elder Law of Michigan, she worked at an automotive factory for several years.
Jennifer is an assistant senior high youth group leader at her church as well running the small children’s program. She has been on many mission trips and retreats where she has broadened her mind and heart to the world around her.
Kim Hill facilitates Economic Security Client Services at Elder Law of Michigan, and has been a member of the Elder Law team since March 2005.
Before joining the Elder Law of Michigan team, Kim worked in guest services and cash office at a grocery store. At Elder Law of Michigan, Kim provides general support to MiCAFE staff and Community Partners through one-on-one training and policy research. She also organizes educational outreach mailings, maintains various MiCAFE staff schedules, and other administrative projects as they arise.
Before serving in her current position, Kim worked as an Administrative Assistant with the Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors until she joined the MiCAFE program.
Mary Beth Sartorius is a Staff Accountant at Elder Law of Michigan. She has been a member of the ELM team since 2014.
Mrs. Sartorius graduated from Lansing Community College (magna cum laude) with an Associate Degree in Business, Accounting. Before joining the Elder Law team, she worked as a Staff Accountant for a student travel company and worked several tax seasons with a local CPA.
Mrs. Sartorius feels fortunate to be a part of this amazing nonprofit. She finds working at a nonprofit to be an exciting and refreshingly different side of accounting from her past experience. She also enjoys being a part of something that makes a significant difference in the lives of Michigan’s seniors every day. To quote a line from one of her favorite movies, “It’s everything I never knew I always wanted!”
Michelle Jackson is an Economic Security Team Member as well as a MMAP counselor for Elder Law of Michigan, Inc., having joined the team in March 2013. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science from Davenport University and is currently pursuing a Master Degree in Human Resource at Davenport University.
Before joining Elder Law of Michigan, she owned her own business for thirteen years. During that time, she hired her own employees, prepared her own accounting and payroll. Michelle worked for Sears Holdings for 10 years in the human resource department where she oversaw 250 employees, boarding staff, worked in the cash office and oversaw 250k in revenue at times. She also worked at General Motors where she effectively oversaw the safety of GM employees, performed respiratory testing to GM employees for safety masks, conducted purchasing of uniforms for GM employees including acquisition of quotes and on-time delivery as well as handled and managed confidential medical reports with complete compliance to HIPPA privacy requirements.
Since beginning at Elder Law of Michigan, Michelle has become a Medicare and Medicaid Assistance Program Counselor, assisted Michigan seniors with benefit applications, served as an advocate for the health and safety of seniors through Elder Law of Michigan as well as a member of TRIAD which is a partnership among law enforcement agencies, fire personnel, senior citizens (60+), and community members which promotes elder quality of life through advocacy, assistance, education and training. Michelle has also worked with Michigan seniors on intake for legal foreclosure prevention and housing issues as well as fund development.
Pam became an Intake and Screening Integration Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan in November 2018.
Pam was born and raised in New Orleans, LA. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Social Work from Grambling State University which is in northern Louisiana.
Pam started volunteering on Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors in 2004. In 2007, she joined MiCAFE until leaving Elder Law of Michigan in 2013. She also volunteered at American Red Cross Lansing Chapter in the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
Before joining the Elder Law of Michigan team, Pam worked for the State of Michigan from 1974 until 2002. She was a Correction Specialist and an Adult Protective Service Worker.
As an Intake and Screening Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan, Pam helps seniors in Michigan apply for food assistance and other benefits.
Rachael joined the Elder Law of Michigan team in 2013 as a Call Center Operator for MiCAFE but now serves as Human Resources.
Ms. Savoie majored in Business at Lansing Community College. Prior to coming to Elder Law of Michigan, Rachael worked as the Purchasing Coordinator for Cole Rehabilitation Technology, Inc. for 11 years.
Rachael has 11 years experience working with senior and disabled clients. While working for a durable medical company she assisted clients in the process of getting wheelchairs, walkers, and custom medical equipment. This consisted of helping the client get complete documentation from their doctor and physical or occupational therapists. Once all documentation was received she then would send a prior authorization to the clients Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance companies for approval.
Ron Tatro is the Director of the Michigan Elder Justice Coordinating Council at Elder Law of Michigan and has been a member of the Elder Law team since January 2007.
Ron graduated with his Bachelor of Science, Human Services in 1978 from Trinity College.
Before joining the Elder Law of Michigan team, he had extensive experience in non-profit management, business management, and government management.
Since beginning at Elder Law of Michigan, Ron has served as the Director of Consumer Fraud Prevention Project, Director of Elder Abuse Prevention, Associate Vice President and Vice President. Ron provides support services to all aspects of the organization’s programs.
Sandra A. Wisnewski is the Director of Client Assistance and has been a staff member of the Elder Law of Michigan team since 2010.
Sandra earned her Bachelor of Arts from Siena Heights University in Applied Science in Electronic Engineering Technology and graduated with her Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan.
Before coming to Elder Law of Michigan, Sandra devoted her time as a volunteer at the Legal Services of South Central Michigan. As a volunteer, she answered hotline questions and advised clients on various legal issues. In 2009 Sandra started her own general practice, Wisnewski Law Firm, P.L.L.C. in Stockbridge, Michigan where she focused on family law, wills and trusts, and criminal law.
Shanon Gallagher is a Screening Integration Coordinator for the MiCAFE Network at Elder Law of Michigan and has been a member of the Elder Law of Michigan team since November 2019.
Shanon earned a Bachelor of Science from Western Michigan University. Before joining the Elder Law of Michigan team, she worked as a nanny for two different families.
As a Screening Integration Coordinator, Shanon helps Michigan seniors navigate the benefits application process, and helps raise awareness of benefits through community outreach events.
Sheila Robison is an Economic Security Team Member with the MiCAFE department at Elder Law of Michigan and has been a member of the Elder Law of Michigan team since June 10, 2010.
Sheila holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from William Tyndale College in Farmington Hills, MI.
Sheila was employed in the Business and Administration Offices at William Tyndale College in the past. Other employment includes a diligent service to the low income/no insurance public as the Manager of Hope Dental Clinic in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where she maintained the office and compiled reports for grant writings with funders such as United Way. She started with Elder Law as a volunteer with the Consumer Fraud Prevention Program in 2009 and was employed by 2010.
Serving the public, low income, and now the elderly community is at the heart of what Sheila holds dear. Sheila continues to be proud of her past employment and trusts that she has made a difference in the lives she continues to touch.
Shirley L. Brown is a member of the Economic Security Team and has been a staff member of Elder Law of Michigan team since 2011. Her current focus is on assisting clients with benefits applications such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid.
Shirley earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wright State University of Dayton, Ohio. Her degree is in Multi-Media Communications. She was on the technical team for live tapings of the Dayton City Council Meetings and other Community Events for cable television.
Before coming to Elder Law, Shirley was an Executive Assistant at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI. Shirley also volunteered with the Detroit Institute of Art and is active in community and political events and organizations.
