Coulter appoints Martins as deputy director of Public Services. Post Date: 06/23/2026 1:09 PM * Oluwatosin Martins is a workforce development leader who brings 15 years of experience to advancing operational excellence. * She will help advance strategic initiatives for Children's Village, Pretrial & Justice Services, the Medical Examiner's Office and Animal Control. * Her appointment strengthens Oakland County's commitment to innovative and compassionate public service. Pontiac, Mich. - Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter has appointed Oluwatosin Martins as deputy director of the Department of Public Services. In her new role, Martins will help implement the department's strategic vision for several critical county operations, including Children's Village, Pretrial & Justice Services, the Medical Examiner's Office and Animal Control, with a particular focus on advancing Oakland County's criminal justice programs. "Olu's extensive background in workforce development and organizational leadership will be a tremendous asset as we continue strengthening the programs and services provided through our Department of Public Services," Coulter said. Martins brings more than 15 years of experience in workforce development, nonprofit operations, strategic planning and program leadership designed to expand opportunity for underserved communities, including individuals impacted by the justice system. As regional program director for the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), Midwest, Martins managed programmatic, financial, contractual and performance operations for social enterprise sites serving justice-impacted individuals across the Midwest. She oversaw annual budgets supporting five regional offices while leading workforce initiatives, developing public-private partnerships and securing grant funding to expand services. Prior to her role with the CEO, Martins served as program director for the Michigan Works! Livonia American Job Center, where she led employment and training initiatives, developed workforce pipelines and expanded apprenticeship and work-based learning opportunities. Also, she previously worked as a data and performance manager and a career development facilitator. "Olu's leadership experience and deep understanding of workforce systems make her an excellent addition to our team," Oakland County Deputy Executive Madiha Tariq said. "Her ability to build partnerships and develop innovative solutions aligns perfectly with our goal of delivering responsive, effective services to our residents." "Her experience and passion for supporting justice-impacted individuals make her a perfect fit for this role," said Barb Hankey, director of the Department of Public Services. "She has hit the ground running and is already making an impact on expanding opportunities for the individuals we serve." Martins holds a Master of Business Administration in organizational management from Eastern University and is pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership, focusing on inclusive workforce ecosystems, with an emphasis on effective leadership practices, workforce intelligence planning, talent mobility and strategic organizational planning. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and organizational behavior from the University of Michigan, Dearborn. Martins is a member of the Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class of 2025, the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals and the International Leadership Association.

Oakland County breaks ground on second 'neuro-inclusive' housing development in Rochester Hills. Jeffrey Brake, a future resident of Auburn Oaks, operates the machinery with some assistance to break the ground of the Auburn Oaks community. Three Oaks Communities CEO Bill Godfrey speaks about the company's neuro-inclusive neighborhood model, which allows low income adults with intellectual and development disabilities to live more independently in homes they own at the groundbreaking of Auburn Oaks June 4. Laurel Seizert, a future resident of Auburn Oaks, and her father, Gerry Seizert, share a special moment after speaking at the groundbreaking of Auburn Oaks June 4. Auburn Oaks will feature 55 homes, including a mix of condos, single-family and town homes, with 17 condos and two single-family homes reserved for adults with intellectual and development disabilities. ROCHESTER HILLS - A second "neuro-inclusive" neighborhood, Auburn Oaks, will be opening in Rochester Hills. On June 4, officials broke ground on the $35 million project, which is a partnership between Oakland County; Rochester Housing Solutions, a nonprofit founded by families to create homeownership opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and Three Oaks Communities, a developer that specializes in homes for neurotypical homebuyers, as well as adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Located off of Auburn Road, Auburn Oaks will feature 55 new homes, including 41 condos in five buildings, nine single-family homes, and five townhomes. Of those, 17 condominiums and two single-family homes have been reserved for adults with disabilities. Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said the county is committed to building communities where every resident has the opportunity to live independently and thrive. "This project is going to increase home ownership for all people, and that's the key," Coulter said. Bill Godfrey, the CEO of Three Oaks Communities, said there is "a huge demand" nationwide for housing for the estimated 7 million adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. "These families have come together, and some of them are embracing this concept that you can actually own your own home as an IDD adult, so that it's permanent, you have greater control and choice over your caregivers, and you can be part of a community," Godfrey explained. "I think there is a huge demand for this type of housing, and we're hoping that it creates a new market segment in the home building industry." In Michigan, Kirsten Elliott, president and chief executive officer of the Community Housing Network, estimates there are 49,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, which she says is probably under-reported. "There is a definite need, and there are not a lot of resources to be able to build housing for people like this and other options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities that are fully included in the community," she said. Auburn Oaks is just the third development in Michigan, and second in the county, featuring homes for sale to homebuyers with intellectual and developmental disabilities along with the general public. "It's my dream, and I know that it's the dream of others, that these wonderful communities will just continue to sprout in communities, not just across Oakland County, but across the state of Michigan," Coulter said. The first neuro-inclusive neighborhood in the state was launched by Three Oaks Communities in Saline, Michigan, in 2022, while the first Oakland County neighborhood of this kind - Walton Oaks - broke ground in Rochester Hills in September 2024. Rochester Hills City Council President Jason Carlock said council members unanimously approved both Walton Oaks and Auburn Oaks. "And we did so with pride," he said. "This project will include the quality of life in a meaningful and lasting way. It will give residents a place where they are supported, where they can grow in independence, and where they can build friendships and a true sense of home. And, as for the families, it brings something incredibly powerful: peace, hope and reassurance about the future." Residents of Auburn Oaks are slated to start moving into the neighborhood in about 18-24 months, according to officials. "It's very exciting for me. I can't wait to start over and start a new life," said Laurel Seizert, who will be a resident of Auburn Oaks. Laurel's father, Gerry Seizert, said the neighborhood will provide his daughter, and over 25 others, independent living in "a safe, supportive and compassionate community." "What we look forward to is all these friendships and associations that Laurel has made over the last four to five years, now becoming neighbors," he said. The project has both public and private support from the Oakland Together Housing Trust Fund, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Community Housing Network, F&M Bank, First State Bank and private equity partners. The Oakland Together Housing Trust Fund provided $1.5 million in mezzanine financing to the Auburn Oaks development.

New probate judge sworn in. PUBLISHED: May 4, 2026 at 11:19 AM EDT UPDATED: May 4, 2026 at 12:52 PM EDT A new judge has been sworn in to the Oakland County Probate Court bench. Judge Nicole Sophia Calhoun Huddleston was appointed to the bench in early April to fill a vacancy. She was sworn in May 1 by Judge Kameshia Gant. "My colleagues and I congratulate Judge Huddleston on her appointment to the Oakland County Probate Court and we are pleased to welcome her to the bench," Chief Judge Jennifer Callaghan stated in a news release. "Her breadth of legal experience and dedication both to the law and the community has prepared her well for her new role as a member of the judiciary. We look forward to her joining our court in service to the citizens of Oakland County." Prior to joining the bench, Huddleston practiced family law, probate matters, and civil litigation at Huddleston Law, PLLC, which she founded. Before that, she was managing director of the Detroit Justice Center's Legal Services and Advocacy Practice. Huddleston earned her Juris Doctor from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2014 and her Bachelor of Arts from Oakland University. While in law school, she served on the Moot Court Board of Advocates and as vice president of the Business Law Association. She completed judicial internships with Judge Victoria Roberts and Marianne Battani of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and with Judge Helene White of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.