Board of Directors
Meghan Kennedy Riordan
President
Meghan Kennedy Riordan heads the Kitch Law Firm’s Immigration Law Practice Group in Detroit. Meghan has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of immigration law and is also licensed by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Foreign Legal Consultant. Her accomplishments have led to her being selected as a Michigan Super Lawyer. Additionally, Meghan was selected by DBusiness Magazine as a Top Lawyer in Michigan in the field of immigration law, and was recognized by Best Lawyers in America® as a “Best Lawyer” in the field of Immigration Law. She was also recognized as a Leading Lawyer in 2021.
Meghan received her J.D. from the University of Detroit School of Law, where she was on the Moot Court Board of Directors and served as the Moot Court Director of Competitions. She received her Bachelor of Arts with honors from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY.
Meghan is Past-President of the Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers (ISIAL) and a member of the Daughters of Erin. She has three children (Jeremiah, Molly and Fiona) all involved in various Irish activities ranging from Gaelic Football to competitive Irish Dance. Meghan is looking forward to the opportunity to promote Irish entrepreneurs and possible cross-border activities with Canada.
Blake McLellan
Vice President
Blake McLellan is a Financial Advisor at McLellan Financial Services.
Blake is a member of the Rochester Rotary Club, where he focuses on efforts for fund raising to help local organizations. As a member of the Michigan Irish American Chamber of Commerce, he serves as Vice President, and works together to advance the business, culture, education and civic welfare of the citizens of Michigan who are of Irish descent.
Areas of focus:
Retirement Income Strategies
Investment Management
Investments
Retirement Planning Strategies
Social Security Retirement Benefits
Small Business
Education:
BS in Finance, Oakland University, Rochester, MI
Peter McGrath
Treasurer
Peter McGrath is a commercial real estate professional with Colliers International, a full-service commercial real estate firm. Since joining the firm in 2013, Peter has been recognized as one of the rising stars in the commercial real estate industry-utilizing his relationship skills and analytical capabilities to get difficult transactions across the finish line. While familiar with all facets of the business, Peter specializes in representing local and national office and industrial occupiers, assisting with lease renewals, relocations, acquisitions, and dispositions in the Detroit market and on a global basis.
Peter earned a Masters of Urban Planning and Real Estate Development from the University of Michigan, a Master of Arts in History from Wayne State, and a Bachelor of Arts from John Carroll University. Peter serves as the Co-Chair for the Michigan Crohn’s and Colitis foundation Young Professionals Board, President of the Detroit Chapter of the John Carroll Alumni Association, and has lent his time to many other non-profit organizations.
Outside of the office, Peter enjoys traveling, watching Michigan football (Go Blue!), golfing, and relaxing with family and friends. Peter welcomes the opportunity to assist the members of the Michigan Irish Chamber of Commerce on any and all commercial real estate matters.
Brendan Dunleavy
Board Member
Since 1996, Brendan Dunleavy has served as the Executive Director of Dunleavy Wealth Management, with Michigan Financial Companies, a financial services firm specializing in estate planning strategies, wealth accumulation, business planning and executive benefits for both publicly and privately-held companies.
As Executive Director he is uniquely qualified to address the diverse needs of high net-worth individuals. He provides wealth management as well as recommendations for asset allocation, funding for education, retirement and long-term care insurance.
He works closely with business owners, executive teams and their advisors to help them pursue their financial goals.
From 1991 through 2004, he served as Assistant Auditor General and Auditor General for the County of Wayne. From 1984 through 1991, he worked as an Audit Manager for Ernst & Young CPA firm.
Brendan and his wife, Eileen, reside in Plymouth, Michigan. Brendan is very active in his community and is a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, but especially loves spending time with his four grandchildren.
Jessica E. Bauer
Board Member
Jessica E. Bauer, a graduate of University of Detroit Mercy School of Law is a Staff Attorney at The Salvation Army’s William Booth Legal Aid Clinic. The Salvation Army’s William Booth Legal Aid Clinic exists to address the legal problems of the resident population of The Salvation Army Harbor Light treatment facilities; those receiving social services from the various Salvation Army corps; and those living in poverty within the greater community. The goal of the clinic is for all to serve as productive, self-sufficient members of society, free from legal entanglements. Jessica joined the board of the Irish Network in 2020 and is excited to help the network grow in the coming years.
Dan Casey
Board Member
Dan Casey is the Vice President of the Arrow Root Family Offices here in Michigan where he directs investments and financial planning. He is a dual citizen here in the US and in Ireland as his Grandfather immigrated to the states in the late 40's, landing in Boston, MA and settling in Worcester, MA. Dan has had ties to the Irish community his whole life, whether it be family functions thrown to celebrate Irish Heritage or it be his families' ties with Sports in Ireland and trips to tour the Irish Countryside.
Professionally, Dan began his financial career in Chicago, working for Edward Jones, where he built a successful practice. He joined the Athena Financial Group, now the ArrowRoot Family Office because he wanted to work with a full-service, fee-only fiduciary firm that tailors to families, small businesses and professionals. In addition to financial planning, Dan is in charge of investment research and policy at the firm.
A native of Boston, he has a bachelor’s from the University of New England and a Masters from University of Miami (FL).
In addition to his passion for finance, Dan is an Exercise Physiologist with over a decade of expertise. His main passion points included working with athletes to improve performance, in addition to helping the general population with their overall health and weight loss goals.
At the root of Dan’s interests is a passion for helping people better themselves.
He and his wife, Bre, live in Clawson, MI with their dog Cosmo. In their spare time they enjoy music, sports, cooking, working out, playing instruments at home and traveling. Their goal is to visit at least two new places each year!
Michael Kelly
Board Member
Mike is the son of Joann and the “late” Lawrence M Kelly. He graduated from St. Mary of Redford HS in Detroit and received his BS in Business Administration from Central Michigan University. He completed post graduate Studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Environmental Program.
Mike is the President and Owner of Environmental Maintenance Engineers, Inc. EME provides environmental remediation contracting services including asbestos & lead-based paint abatement, mold remediation and universal and hazardous waste removal in Michigan and Ohio. EME and their 50 employees celebrated their 20th Anniversary in Business in 2017.
Mike is very active with charitable organizations and the Detroit Irish Community. He is the President of the United Irish Societies and Co-Chairman of the Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade. He is currently the Michigan State Vice-President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Vice-President of the AOH Stephen Walsh Division. He is a member of the Knights of Equity and is serving as the Worthy Supreme Secretary.
Mike is on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Irish American Chamber of Commerce (MIACC) and was recognized as the 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year!
He works with The Pallottine Fathers Missions in Wyandotte and was awarded the 2014 Pallottine Man of the Year.
Mike was recently inducted into the Michigan Irish Hall of Fame Class of 2015 for his accomplishments in “Business and Industry”.
Mike supports Most Holy Trinity Ministries and has been an Usher for St. Patrick’s Day Mass for over 14 years and was honored to be the Chairman of the “Sharin of the Green” Fund Raising Campaign in 2016.
Mike was awarded the “AOH Hibernian of the Year” in 2017.
Mike is a member of the Monaghan Knights of Columbus Council and is on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Columbus Federal Credit Union.
Mike is the past President of the St. Val’s Men’s Club and has been involved with all of their events. He Co-Chaired the Parish 60th Anniversary Year-Long Celebration where we started the Annual Fun Run. He still chairs all of the Redford Township Beer Tent’s as a fundraiser with the Men’s Club.
Mike married his high school sweetheart Maureen Collins Kelly and they have (3) wonderful children Matthew wife Erin Cook and their son Maxwell, Colleen and Brigid. They reside in Livonia and are parishioners at St. Valentine Church in Redford, MI.
Mary Garnett
Board Member
Born and raised in Dearborn, MI, Mary went to Divine Child and graduated from U of M-Dearborn with a BBA in accounting. She spent a few years in public accounting where she became a CPA. She then moved to Dublin, Ireland for a year while her husband received his MBA from Trinity College. There, she worked as an accountant thanks to her dual citizenship. Mary then became a stay at home mom to her three beautiful girls, until three years ago when she went back to work as an accounting manager.
Mary is very proud of her Irish heritage. Her Mom, Peggy, emigrated from Gurteen, Co. Sligo in 1961 and held the title of the youngest of the 13 in the Murray clan. Mary’s parents and many aunts and uncles were heavily involved in the Detroit Irish Community. In true Irish fashion, Mary took Irish dance at the Gaelic League with her cousins, and was one of the founding members of the St Anne’s Irish Football team. When her daughters took dance at the Tim O’Hare school of Irish dance, Mary was the booster club treasurer and also organized their walk in the Detroit St. Patrick’s day parade. Mary enjoys traveling to Ireland every few years with her daughters to keep them in touch with her many Irish relatives. She is very excited to bring her love and passion for her Irish heritage to the Irish Network Detroit.