The Michigan Athletic Club Advisory Board exists to provide constructive feedback, innovative ideas, and member perspective to help strengthen and grow the Michigan Athletic Club.

The Advisory Board serves as a collaborative group of engaged members who support the club’s mission by sharing insights, recommending improvements, and helping leadership better understand member needs and opportunities for growth.

Richard A. Bruner, CCM, is a Professor of Practice in The School of Hospitality Business and the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management at Michigan State University. He has been responsible for Club Management Education at MSU since 1981. Mr. Bruner holds degrees in Hotel and Restaurant Administration as well as Labor and Industrial Relations. He is the CEO Emeritus of the 1500 member University Club of Michigan State University.

Liz and her family (husband Mike, daughter Zoey, 12, and son Noah, 7) live in Okemos. She is a paramedic for Jackson Community Ambulance and loves to play tennis at the MAC. Liz loves her “tennis family” and appreciates the supportive, wonderful MAC community. 

Simon is a self-motivated and organized leader with an entrepreneurial background in technology, systems integration, and client support. As the founder of Smart Integrations LLC, he developed a technology support company specializing in network integration, PC and Mac user support, website development, and onsite photography services for corporate and business events.

He also founded Smart Homes Inc., a Mid-Michigan systems integration company specializing in home and business automation. After securing dealerships with leading automation product manufacturers, he expanded the company’s capabilities across lighting, custom audio and video, control systems, and software. Under his leadership, the business grew to achieve $1 million in annual sales.

He brings a strong combination of technical knowledge, business development experience, and leadership skills, with a continued interest in advancing technology, organizational growth, and human resource initiatives.

Tico Duckett is the owner and operator of Duckett Brothers Distributing and D Squared Facilities Management.

He graduated from Michigan State University in 1992, where he was a standout player for the Spartans football team. After spending a few years in the NFL, he returned to Lansing, where his strong work ethic and discipline led him to establish his two companies. He has since grown his businesses into leaders in janitorial supplies and janitorial services throughout the Mid-Michigan area. A new website was recently launched, showcasing Duckett Brothers Distributing’s very own TOUCHDOWN Cleaning products and TOUCHDOWN Can Liners.

Tico also places a high emphasis on his commitment to the community. He currently serves as a board member of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and the nonprofit organization New World Flood. He is also a member of the Greater Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, the Michigan Minority Business Development Council, and the Michigan State University Alumni Association.

Past boards he has served on include the Lansing Chamber of Commerce, McLaren Hospital, Athletes for Kids, United Way of Lansing, Lansing Black Chamber, Boys & Girls Club of Lansing, and Lansing Promise.

Trisha is an Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator in the Counseling and Counselor Education Program at Michigan State University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with experience in counselor education, clinical training, and supervision. She is also the owner of Clear Connect Counseling, a private practice where she works with adults and couples navigating relationship and family concerns, life transitions, neurodiversity, and emotional well-being.

Nathaniel is a local real estate business owner and has been a member of the MAC since 1990 at its very opening. The club, its history and its future in this community are of great importance to him and his family. 

Jeff retired from the State of Michigan and private practice after 30 years as an Agricultural Engineer.  Activities at the MAC keeps him “tuned up” for the seasonal outdoor activities he enjoys.  Activities include swimming, kayaking, sailing, bicycling, hiking and cross country skiing.

Tina is a real estate professional, investor, and interior decorator, as well as an active member of her community and a proud mother of two adult children. Having officially graduated from raising children, she now enjoys offering the occasional piece of unsolicited advice.

Throughout her career and life experiences, she has developed strong skills in negotiation, problem-solving, multitasking, and, most importantly, getting things done. She brings energy, creativity, a strong work ethic, and a healthy dose of enthusiasm to everything she takes on.

She believes in advocating for good ideas, treating people well, thinking outside the box, and building strong, meaningful connections. Naturally inclined to jump in and get involved, she is always looking for ways to make things better, sometimes before anyone even asks.

Whether she is pursuing a real estate venture, transforming a space, investing in a new opportunity, or collaborating on a community project, she strives to make each endeavor successful, engaging, and perhaps even a little more fun.
She is excited to connect with others, exchange ideas, and contribute wherever she can. She looks forward to building new relationships and making great things happen together.

Marylin believes good health encompasses physical, social, and emotional well-being, and she believes the MAC provides many valuable opportunities in each of these areas. She feels fortunate to have formed meaningful friendships and connections with both MAC members and staff, finding these daily interactions uplifting and impactful.

She looks forward to helping others build similar connections and is committed to making the MAC and its opportunities welcoming and accessible to everyone.

As a retired teacher, she earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in Education from Michigan State University. She is also the proud mother of two wonderful adult daughters.

Pat has been a MAC member since 1993, when she retired as Senior Vice President of McLaren, formerly Lansing General Hospital and Ingham Regional Medical Center. She holds an undergraduate degree in Nursing from Marquette University and a graduate degree in Health Care Administration from the University of Minnesota.

She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Burcham Hills Retirement Center and is an active community volunteer. In her free time, Pat enjoys pool activities, walking on the track, taking an occasional class, attending performances at the Wharton Center and Williamston Theatre, and cheering on Michigan State men’s basketball as an avid fan and season ticket holder since 1978.

Dr. Mathew Saffarian is a physician in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Michigan State University. He is currently serving as Interim Chair of the Department.

Dr. Saffarian earned his undergraduate degree from Alma College, where he played four years of varsity soccer, prior to starting medical school at Michigan State’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at MSU in 2014, where he served as chief resident his fourth year.

Following residency, he completed a two-year fellowship program in Interventional Spine, Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and Sports Medicine at Michigan State. Dr. Saffarian is currently board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Electrodiagnostic Medicine, Pain Medicine, and Sports Medicine.

Dr. Saffarian serves as a Team Physician with Michigan State Athletics and an Associate Professor through the College of Osteopathic Medicine. He was named the Program Director for the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Interventional Spine and Pain Medicine Fellowship program. Nationally, he serves on the Patient Safety Committee for the Spine Intervention Society and the Ultrasound Committee for the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.

He joined the Michigan State men’s basketball program as head team physician prior to the 2022-23 season. In addition to basketball, Dr. Saffarian has served as the head team physician for the MSU men’s and women’s soccer teams since 2016.

His family includes his wife, Katie, and his children, Kara and Shane.