DWCPA Board Members

Board Chairman

Jonathan Kinloch has been engaged in Detroit's social and civic community for over twenty years. He graduated from Detroit Public Schools’ Northwestern High School and among the lessons learned was the importance of community service. During his formative years, Kinloch was fortunate to have engaged in internships and volunteerism efforts under the guidance of Michigan trailblazers such as former Detroit City Council President, Erma L. Henderson; Detroit's former Ombudsman Marie Farrell- Donaldson; and Gloria C. Cobbin, a former president of the Detroit Board of Education. He attributes these experiences with learning the importance and privilege of public service.

Currently, Jonathan Kinloch serves as Wayne County Commissioner-District 2 and an At-Large member of the Detroit Board of Education, a position he was appointed to by the former Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Roy Roberts. Kinloch served on the Wayne County Planning and Development Commission (1989-1991), Detroit Board of Zoning Appeals (1998-2007), Detroit Library Commission (2008-2013) and previously as a member of the Detroit Board of Education (2006-2007). During his previous service on the Detroit Board of Education, he chaired the Committee on Human Resources, Policy and Legislative Affairs. While serving, he introduced a number of policies which remain with the district today. He's most proud of the Office of Inspector General, DPS Police Department, and the city-wide voter approval granting DPS subpoena power during corruption investigations.

Jonathan Kinloch worked as a Legislative Aide to former Michigan State Senator Jack Faxon and served as Director of Government and Community Relations for Trend Industries, Inc. Currently, he is president of The Kinloch Group, Inc., a multi-faceted entertainment and media company. He continues to volunteer and lend his support to various causes locally and nationally. He is a member of Triumph Church, serves on the Executive Committee for the Detroit Branch of the NAACP and the Michigan Democratic Party, where he is an Officer-at-Large. He also serves as the Chair of the Democratic Open Government Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party.

Vice Chair

Powell currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority (DWCPA), serving since 2017 in various roles including Secretary-Treasurer. 

Bryan is vice president in charge of the Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland Waterways for the Seafarers International Union, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes, and Inland Waters. 

Bryan has served in a multitude of roles across all divisions of the union, spanning every region of the United States as well as internationally, and possesses broad experience with cruise ship, commercial, military, heavy-lift and special mission vessel operations (shipboard and shoreside). 

He also serves as an international vice president for the Seafarers International Union of North America, AFL-CIO, and vice president of the Seafarers Entertainment & Allied Trades Union (the SIU’s gaming, service and hospitality division). 

Appointed by the George W. Bush administration in 2003 and 2005, Powell served on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Special Industry Committee, responsible for advising the Secretary of Labor on economic policy related to application of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Powell is a member of and/or active in organizations including the National Defense Transportation Association, Society for Human Resources Management, 

Labor and Employment Relations Association, Chicago Federation of Labor, state labor federations in Michigan, Illinois, and Missouri, as well as the Maritime Trades Department of the AFL-CIO. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management, and master’s degree in business administration with doctoral studies.

Secretary

Nabih H. Ayad Esq, has been in private practice at his firm, Ayad Law, PLLC for over 22 years. Currently in Downtown Detroit, Attorney Ayad has had an impressive and successful career. Mr. Ayad is Founder for the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL). From December of 2008 to December of 2011 Attorney Ayad was a Michigan Civil Rights Commissioner, Appointed by former Governor Granholm. He is on the Advisory Counsel for Arab and Chaldean Affairs for the State of Michigan since 2007. Ayad was Vice President of the Arab-American Political Action Committee (AAPAC); On the Detroit NAACP Legal Redress Committee; Chairman of the NAACP Western Wayne County Legal Redress Committee for 18 cities in Western Wayne County and on the ACLU Lawyers Committee for the State of Michigan since 2002. Attorney Ayad was on the National Executive Board for American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Ayad and also as former Chairman of the ADC Advisory Board for the State of Michigan for over 7 years. Attorney Ayad was also Co-Chair of ALPACT (Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust) an organization made up of 100 law enforcement and civil rights groups where he co-chaired with the head of the FBI in Detroit. From 2015 to 2021 Attorney Ayad served on the board of the Detroit Wayne County Airport Authority, the body that oversees the operations of Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Willow Run Airport, for which he served as last year’s chairman of the board. Attorney Ayad sits on several important boards in Southeastern Michigan including, New Detroit Board of Directors, Wayne State President Advisory Board, and Chairman of the Board of Behavioral Health Professionals Inc. (BHPI). Attorney Ayad was also on Detroit East Mental Health Board, Vice chair of the MEATV Board, and former Chairman and current Board member of the ACRL.

Attorney Nabih Ayad has received numerous honors and awards for his leadership, including the ADC National Advocate of the Year Award in 2005; Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee; ADC Michigan Attorney of the Year Award in 2003; ACLU 2006 Bernard Gottfried Award; Forum and Link Magazine Distinguished Leadership Award; Wayne County Community Leadership Award, NAACP Western Wayne County Outstanding Leadership Award; AAPAC Community Service Leadership Award, Lakeshore’s Leaders, Legends & Luminaries 2011 Honoree award as well as Wayne County Executive Office Certificate of Recognition. Attorney Ayad was honored with the prestigious NAACP Great Expectation Award at the Centennial Year Celebration in May 2012 at the Nation’s largest sit-down dinner at Cobo Hall. Mr. Ayad was honored by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights in 2011, honored by the Wayne County Airport Authority in 2020, and awarded by the American Chaldean Counsel for his leadership. In 2012 Attorney Ayad was honored with the Arab American Leadership Award and the Arab Student Union Visionary Award. Mr. Ayad was honored with Alkebulans Community Leadership Award in 2016 and was featured in The Top Attorneys of North Ameriica in 2021. 

Attorney Ayad is a member of: Michigan Trial Lawyers Association 1999; American Immigration Lawyers Association 1999; Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International; Golden Key Honor Society; Beta Gamma Sigma.

Attorney Ayad received his JD from the Detroit College of Law at MSU in 1998, B.S. in Accounting from Wayne State School of Business in Detroit in 1995. In February 2003, the Detroit News done a Bio on Attorney Ayad and said he is a “tireless crusader for civil rights since September 11, 2001”. Attorney Ayad has been featured in almost every major media outlet in the world taking on cases to protect our nation’s constitutional rights. 

Board Member

Commissioner Monique Baker McCormick is a Democrat, mother, veteran of the U.S. Army, businesswoman and has a master's degree in business from Walsh College of Business and Accountancy. She is a licensed Michigan Real Estate broker/owner of McCormick Real Estate and Financial Group, a full-service real estate company located in northwest Detroit and is celebrating 28 years in the real estate industry.  Additionally, since 2008 Commissioner Baker McCormick has sponsored a free online community newsletter called “The McCormick Report” which informs the community of critical issues and events. 

Legislative Leadership 

Commissioner Baker McCormick is the chair of the Committee on Health and Human Services, sponsor administrator of the Wayne County Commission Youth Council and serves on the committees of Economic Development and Ways and Means. She is also vice-chair of the Special Committee on Behavioral Health.  Additionally, she is a legacy member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Commissioner Baker McCormick is most proud that in 2020 her colleagues unanimously supported a resolution by her to create the Wayne County Commission Youth Council (WCCYC), dedicated to empowering youth and promoting education, community involvement and civic engagement. Its goal is to bring together youth from varied socioeconomic backgrounds and multicultural neighborhoods to assist in planning, developing and implementing activities and services that help young people in Wayne County have a voice and become socially responsible community members. With the support of Commissioner Baker McCormick, WCCYC has sponsored resolutions addressing youth mental health, gun reform and economic oppression. Applications for WCCYC open in August of each year.

Board Member

Bryan C. Barnhill II, is a purpose-driven leader with a passion for bringing transformational impact to systems and organizations. Bryan currently works in Ford Smart Mobility’s City Solutions Group, where he plays a critical role in shaping the creation of Ford’s urban eco-system for mobility innovation in Detroit.

Prior to joining Ford Motor Company, Bryan worked in Mayor Michael Duggan’s administration as the Chief Talent Officer. Before working in the mayor’s office, Bryan was the campaign manager for the Duggan for Detroit campaign. As campaign manager, Bryan led the historic write-in campaign victory for Mayor Michael Duggan. He has also served as Chief of Staff, and Director of Policy & Legislative Affairs in the Detroit City Council President’s Office. Bryan has also worked at Southwest Housing Solutions in Detroit, and at Kushner Companies in New York.

Bryan is on the board of directors for the United Way of Southeast Michigan. He is also on the board of directors for the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority, the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority, and is Chairman of the Detroit Building Authority. He is a gubernatorial appointee to the State of Michigan Blue Ribbon Panel for Parks & Recreation spaces, as well as the Belle Isle State Park Advisory Board. Bryan is the treasurer for the Iron Belle Trail Board of Managers.

He is a recipient of the Washington Post 40 Under 40 award, the Michigan Front Page’s 30 under 40 award, Crain’s Detroit 20 in their 20’s award, the Payne-Pulliam Door Opener award, and the Spirit of Detroit Award. He was a “Men of Excellence” honoree by the Michigan Chronicle and has also received a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from the office of Congressman John Dingell.

Bryan is a Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Research Michigan Political Leadership Program Fellow. He was selected by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce to be part of the inaugural cohort of Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders Program.

Bryan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Government from Harvard University with coursework in corporate financial accounting from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business with a concentration on finance and entrepreneurship.

Bryan is active with the Harvard College Alumni Association as an alumni interviewer for local applicants to Harvard College. Bryan is part of the MWPHGL Abiff Lodge #21 where he currently serves as a lodge officer. He also frequents Jabs Boxing Gym in Eastern Market.

Bryan is a proud Detroit native, and currently lives in Detroit with his wife Rian English, and their two children, Britton and Riley.