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2026 ElectionThank you for voting for the 2026 Directors positions for the Genesee County Historical Society.
There are two parts to this ballot. The first is to elect Board members. The second is regarding a proposed Bylaws Amendment. Simply enter your name, email, and choose for not more than five board members, vote on the Bylaws amendment, then click the Submit button. The results will be tallied by the GCHS Secretary and then announced at the 2026 Annual Heritage Dinner on June 12th, which will be held at Genesys Banquet and Conference Center in Grand Blanc. |
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LEARN ABOUT THE CANDIDATES:TRACY LEIGH FISHER
Both of Tracy’s paternal and maternal grandparents migrated from outside Michigan—Missouri and Wisconsin respectively—to work in the auto industry in the Flint area. She graduated from Grand Blanc High School, and then received her Bachelors degree from Michigan State University. She is married to Gary L. Fisher, GCHS board member and president. She has a management and marketing background, also spending many years working as an artist, participating in several of the Flint Art Institute art fairs, with an emphasis on children's murals, some of which can be see at Hurley Hospital, Troy Beaumont, and C.S. Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor. Today, she works with Gary as the operations manager for G.L. Fisher Capital Management, their wealth advisory firm, located in the Mott Foundation Building. Tracy has been on the board for since 2019, first appointed to a vacant seat, then was elected to a three year term in 2020. She has been heavily involved in many of the operations of the Society over the last four years, including programs, membership, sales, and publications & publicity. Currently, Tracy is the chairperson of the Communications Committee (Publications & Publicity). As the editor-in-chief of The Historian magazine, she also does all of the planning of the issues, creates the graphic design and layout herself, organizes the contributors, writes occasional articles, edits, and manages the printing. DAVINA KUH JAKOBI
Born and raised in New York City, Davina has been working in the field of conservation since the age of 16, and was lucky enough to get an internship with the Museum of Modern Art. Davina attended University of Delaware for her undergrad, where she double majored in Art Conservation and Art History, and minored in Art. She then went on to obtain two masters at University College London, her MA in Principles of Conservation and her MSc in Conservation for Archaeology and Museums. Working in conservation with various institutions throughout Europe (in Portugal, England, Scotland, Greece, the Netherlands, and Germany) over the past decade, she has come to specialize and write papers about various subjects, such as sporting heritage, maritime heritage, and technical research. After completing her MSc dissertation, Davina worked with the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands, then went to Bremerhaven to work with the German Maritime Museum (Deutsches Schifffahrtsmuseum). Then she returned stateside to work with the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. She specializes in conservation, preservation, technical object-based research, and policy creation, and is particularly passionate about outreach and collaboration. She started working with the Whaley Historic House Museum as Executive Director in 2019 and has absolutely fallen in love with Flint. She says, “I am continuously heartened by the sense of community, camaraderie, loyalty, and welcome that I constantly feel here.” Today, Davina is the Manager of Curatorial Affairs at Applewood Estate and Conservator and Collections Preservation Specialist. In 2021, Davina stepped into the role of Curator/Archivist for the Society, and then became Chairman of the Fundraising Committee, formulating a clear strategy to help us continue ‘telling our story’, as well as raising monies, for example, to help with the care and maintenance of the GCHS’s most important asset, the Arches in downtown Flint. Her efforts were highly successful. Since then, Davina has transferred her curatorial expertise from Flint to a new home in Miami, Florida, where she is the Lead Conservator at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Even so, she is still fully engaged as the fundraising chairman for the Genesee County Historical Society. Jim Hargrove
Jim was born a Flintstone, at Hurley Hospital, the grandson of a true-blue sit-down striker. He graduated from the University of Michigan-Flint, with a Bachelors in communications. He has spent the last 30 years in the publishing business. Jim also owns Varsity DJs, his Lansing-based business where he manages a team of deejays and technicians providing services throughout Michigan, other states in the region, and Florida. If you've been to Back to the Bricks, or to many of our events, you may have seen Jim there, as he is a stalwart volunteer, providing audio support and lending a hand. He also has assisted in technical, design, and publishing advice during production of our publication, The Historian. Gary Cousins
Gary "Cuzz" Cousins grew up on the Eastside of Flint, graduating from Flint Central High School before pursuing a career rooted in both technical expertise and community service. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Kettering University and later completed a Master of Business Administration at the University of Michigan-Flint. This solid educational foundation paved the way for a successful career as an Industrial Engineer for General Motors within the Customer Care and Aftersales Division. Beyond his professional engineering career, Gary has dedicated himself to education and ministry. He serves as a Trustee on the Board of Education for Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools. Currently, he is balancing two vital pastoral roles: serving as the Chaplain and Director of Advancement at Carriage Town Ministries in Flint, and as the Pastor at Caro Church of the Nazarene. Outside of his work and ministry, Gary is an ardent lover of American and local Flint history. He is also a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan who rarely misses a game. Above all, he is devoted to his family, sharing his life's journey with his wife, Gwen, and their daughter, Megan. Cuzz stepped into the role of the Genesee County Historical Society's treasurer nearly three years ago and has been fulfilling those duties since. Yasmin Ladha
Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, Yasmin "Yaz" Ladha has lived in the city for 24 of her nearly 38 years. After spending her early childhood on the Eastside—where her parents ran Third Avenue Video—she moved to Davison, graduating high school in 2006. Yaz earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in print graphics and interactive web design from Kendall College of Art and Design, where she also studied photography and historic preservation. Driven by an urbanist mindset, Yaz returned to Flint in 2013, purchasing a home in Carriagetown and joining the neighborhood's historic association board. Her background is shaped by her mother, a retired registered nurse and quilter, and her father, a Ugandan refugee and antique reseller, who both instilled a deep commitment to education and local commerce. As a graphic designer, Yazmin has spent years branding community events, including Flint Handmade, Carriage Town Porch Fest, and Goodstock at Good Beans Cafe. Transitioning into public service after a role at the United Way of Genesee County, she now works directly for the City of Flint, aiming to be a transparent and responsible local government employee. Her diverse pursuits include ongoing training with the Michigan State Tax Commission, residential architecture, disability rights, and animal welfare. 2026 Annual Heritage Dinner InfoIf you wish to attend the dinner, please RSVP by June 4. Click here to learn more event details and more about this year's honorees. Click here to RSVP and purchase your tickets. |
