Notre Dame alums Todd McConaghy and Kevin Ketels both graduated in the same year. But as council members, they take two different approaches to city hall. Todd McConaghy graduated from Notre Dame in 1989.
It isn’t very often that two people from the same high school class wind up on their city’s governing council at the same time, but Kevin Ketels and Todd McConaghy managed to do just that. The two NDHS alums (both ’89) sit on the Grosse Pointe Woods city council. McConaghy has been a council member for six years, Ketels for four.
Todd McConaghy blends the analytical and the inspirational
Todd McConaghy reflects on meeting many Grosse Pointe Woods residents during his 2013 re-election campaign for city council. Walking door to door one rainy evening and handing out campaign literature (his campaign slogan was “Pride in our past, faith in our future”), he found himself on the porch of yet another stranger. The man looked at McConaghy, who was by then very tired and soaking wet, and asked him, “Is it really worth it?” Although running on empty, McConaghy found the question and subsequent conversation with the man reaffirming. “Sometimes inspiration comes where and when you least expect it,” he says.
After graduating from Notre Dame, McConaghy attended the University of Detroit, where he received his BS and JD before joining the business law and litigation firm of Sullivan, Ward, Bone, Tyler & Asher, P.C. (now Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton, P.C.). It was as an undergrad that he met his future wife, Alexa. McConaghy is quick to point out that Alexa could have become a lawyer herself “just from hanging around all those law books” when McConaghy was in law school. The couple has two boys, Jack and Dan, and have lived in Grosse Pointe Woods for the last 12 years.
In 2008, McConaghy became associate counsel to the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission and senior associate counsel in 2013. In this role, he investigates and prosecutes attorney misconduct on behalf of the Michigan Supreme Court.
McConaghy was made a district committee member to the State Bar of Michigan Character and Fitness Committee in 2009, and became a district chairperson in 2012. According to The Detroit Legal News, “If Todd McConaghy does a good job in his volunteer work for the State Bar, he will have less work in his day job with the Attorney Grievance Commission.” As chair, he assigns three-member panels to interview applicants to the State Bar of Michigan, which gauges their character and fitness.
“We’re a self-regulating industry,” McConaghy says. “So we have to be very watchful.” In 2013, McConaghy also became a fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, where he has been recognized for outstanding legal ability, devotion to the public, and support of the public service ideals of the foundation.
McConaghy says his legal background has made him very analytical, a skill that has served him well on the Grosse Pointe Woods city council.
“I tend to analyze an issue from the perspective of identifying the crux of the issue, the applicable rules, how the rules interact with the issue, and what the ultimate outcome will be,” he says. “I also approach issues from the perspective of an attorney seeking the best possible outcome for a client.” This type of analysis has been put to use repeatedly in light of the many trials the city has faced, a “hopefully temporary” decline in property values, decreased revenues and increasing expenses. He says strategic cuts in expenditures and careful use of rainy-day funds have allowed the city to maintain services consistent with pre-recession property values and revenues.
McConaghy’s council work with the city’s elected officials during these difficult economic times often is challenging, though he admits he welcomes the chance to serve and is confident the current city council has the knowledge, ability and experience to persevere on behalf of its citizens.
“Being a city council member has been its own reward,” McConaghy says. “It has provided me a unique opportunity to give back to the community that has given me so much.”
For NDHS alum Kevin Ketels, it’s all about communication
When Kevin Ketels was a senior at NDHS, he co-directed (with Eugene Cyranski) “The Good Doctor,” a comedy by Neil Simon. The cast and crew collaborated with the young women from Star of the Sea. Ketels recalled hiccups and delays, but after much rehearsing, the end result was a well-received, polished production. He also remembered asking director and teacher Norm Kotarski if the students who participated could receive credit. Kotarski initially turned down the request, explaining the process to give school credit was detailed and took time, and it was unfortunately too late to start.
“I guess I really wasn’t clear about what I was asking for,” Ketels recalls. “I just wanted the students to be recognized for their participation.” When it was time for graduation, Ketels was deeply touched to find his name and others in the program guide next to an award for excellence in drama. He carries the acknowledgement and the lesson in communication to this day.
Perhaps that’s why the Grosse Pointe Woods resident followed a career path in marketing. As the CEO and owner of KMED Marketing in St. Clair Shores, Ketels brings marketing and communication services to health care and clinical research organizations. He says KMED helps organizations interact with patients, members, employees, study subjects, and customers to build strong and lasting relationships. Ketels is a regular speaker at conferences and workshops on topics including clinical research subject recruitment, business development and social media strategies.
Kevin Ketels is a 1989 Notre Dame High School graduate.
Married to Renee—who serves as communications manager at KMED—and father to Sofia and Roman, this family man keeps up with professional memberships in the American Marketing Association, the Adcraft Club of Detroit, the Public Relations Society of America, and the Association of Clinical Research Professionals.
A first-termer on the Grosse Pointe Woods city council, Ketels says representing the values and needs of Grosse Pointe Woods residents is something he takes seriously. “I spend a lot of time communicating with residents and understanding their concerns,” he says.
“Renee and I are invested here—in our home, in our children’s education,” he says. “I want this to remain a great community.” Ketels admits he learns something new every day as council member, and finds it all “infinitely interesting,” whether it’s an aspect of municipal finance, labor relations, or even sewer engineering.
Considering the leap from leading a school play to leading a major marketing company, Ketels says it was at NDHS that he first had the opportunity to explore and develop the leadership skills he now uses regularly. One particularly influential teacher at NDHS for him was Fr. Kiselica. Ketels had many classes with Kiselica, and current events still stands out in his memory for the lively discussions about politics and world affairs. Kiselica also chaperoned Ketels’ student trip to Germany. “Tough, fair and encouraging, he was a formative figure in my development as a young man,” Ketels says.
Upon graduating NDHS, Ketels attended Michigan State University (BA ’93), Boston University (MS ’97), and began to accumulate a wealth of experience working at companies like Dell Financial Services and State Street Corporation. His career has spanned multiple disciplines, including marketing, product management, business development, communications and sales. Ketels tries to distill all he’s learned and experienced as he daily oversees his staff of 25 and makes tough decisions.
Good communication, at KMED, on the Grosse Pointe Woods council, and in his many other interests and activities, is what makes it all work.
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.