PLEA Board
Leslie McMahon
Executive Director
Leslie McMahon became a licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Agent after receiving her degree in Business Management from Northwood University. She proudly became the 4th generation to enter her family’s insurance agency, where she learned every aspect of the business from the bottom up. Her insurance background provided a great resource in the creation and marketing of the Professional Law Enforcement Association, Inc. (PLEA). PLEA offers a Legal Defense Program and multiline insurance programs to law enforcement. Since her election in 1998, Leslie has been the Executive Director of PLEA, and, among her many other duties, is responsible for its’ Marketing Program. In 2014, Leslie founded the PLEA Foundation, Inc. Leslie has been happily married to her high school sweetheart, George, for thirty five years. They are the proud parents of two grown sons. They currently reside in Washington Township, Michigan with their two Labrador retrievers, Shelby and Abby. When she is not in the office, Leslie enjoys relaxing with a good book and outdoor activities with her family.Meet Our Board of Directors
The PLEA Board of Directors are the foundation and decision makers of PLEA. Their vast experience and knowledge forms a terrific team whose interests are solely focused on assisting law enforcement throughout the country. Over the years we have developed a board of very accomplished Law Enforcement Professionals to help shape the Professional Law Enforcement Association to the way it is today. In recent years we noticed a need to bring in a few key personnel who have experience in other areas of business and non- profit associations to further the knowledge and diversity of our board.
Mike Donnenwirth
President
Mike is currently the Lake County Coroner’s Deputy Coroner. He is retired as a City of Waukegan Police Officer. Mike also worked for the Round Lake Heights Police Department and the Chambers Agency in Libertyville, IL as a Private Investigator. He received a Bachelor of Science from Western Illinois University and an Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement from the College of Lake County. Mike is a member of the FOP Lodge #5, the Lake County Juvenile Officer’s Association, the Lake County SHOCAP (Serious Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program), and the Lake Shore Family Youth Services Executive Board, the Waukegan Municipal Employees Credit Union, and a Moose Member. His special interests are being a Property Manager, a snow plowing business, Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1, Amateur Radio Operator, a PADI Scuba Diver, and an antique Auto Enthusiast.
Arpad Bality
Vice President
Arpad retired from police work in November of 2021. Arpad worked for both the Longmont and Greeley police departments in Colorado. Arpad held various assignments throughout his career to include working as a canine handler and trainer, range officer and fitness instructor. Arpad served on the police pension board for the City of Greeley. He completed his final years of policing with Greeley, working with the Neighborhood Action Team, where the unit’s focus was on “quality of life” issues. Arpad is a big supporter of Co-Responder programs (pairing mental health professionals) with police to handle the large volume of police related calls that are better served by a mental health professional. The Co-Responder Program is assigned to the Neighborhood Action team which provided Arpad the opportunity to work closely with the department’s mental health Co-Responders during the final years of his career. Arpad has been associated with P.L.E.A. for approximately 17 years. Arpad has served on the Board of Directors in the past and since retirement has proudly rejoined the Board of Directors for P.L.E.A. Inc.
Robert Goldenbogen
Director
Bob is a shareholder with the firm of Garan Lucow Miller, P.C. He obtained a B.A., from Oakland University and a J.D. from Detroit College of Law, cum laude. Bob specializes in Municipal Law, ERISA Litigation, Insurance Coverage and Priority Disputes. Bob is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the St. Clair County Bar Association (Past President, Board of Directors), the Macomb County Bar Association (Past Chair, Young Lawyers Board of Directors), the Defense Research Institute, and the Michigan Foster Care Review Board Program, St. Clair County Board Member. Bob enjoys golf, hunting, and spending time with his wife and children.
Thomas Brackin
Director
Tom Brackin serves as a Lieutenant on the Delaware State Police and is currently assigned to Troop 9 in Odessa, Delaware. He has been a member of the Delaware State Police since May of 1988. Tom has represented Troopers as a Union Representative for over 25 years and currently serves as the President of the Delaware State Troopers Association representing over 700 active Troopers. He has been an Executive Board member of the Delaware State Troopers Association for over 20 years. He served as Vice President for 10 years before taking over as President in 2012. Tom is a member of the Executive Board of the National Troopers Coalition as the East Region Coordinator, a position he has held for 10 years. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Northeast Regional Troopers Coalition, a position he has held since the group’s inception in 2014.
Thomas A. Tanghe
Secretary
Tom Tanghe is the City Manager for the City of Auburn Hills, Michigan. Tom possesses an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Management from Macomb Community College (1985); a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with an Emphasis in Business, Technical and Creative Writing from Oakland University (1988); and a Master of Public Administration degree with an emphasis in Public Personnel Administration from Oakland University (1990). In 2008, Tom attended the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia. He has completed additional post-graduate level coursework from Oakland University in local government management and human resources; and in 2018 earned a post-master certificate in local government management.While pursuing graduate studies, Tom became a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration and a member of the Nu Omega Chapter of the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society. He is a graduate of Leadership Oakland and a graduate of The Grantsmanship Center in California. In addition, Tom completed the Practitioner’s Training Certification Program in Economic Development from the Michigan Economic Developers Association and has completed numerous professional development courses from the Michigan Municipal League. He completed both the Builder’s and Real Estate Sales training courses from the Currey Management Institute and has been licensed in Michigan as a real estate salesperson since 1988. He has also completed a Comprehensive Labor Relations Professional program. In 2011, Tom was the Michigan Local Government Management Association’s (now Michigan Municipal Executives) Excellence in Local Government Management award recipient. In 2015, he received the Oakland University Alumni Community Service Award. In 2018, he was recognized by the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce with the Raymond James Higher Standard Award, followed in 2021 with the Atlas Copco Excellence Award. Most recently, in 2022, he received the Mentoring Award from Michigan Municipal Executives.
Tom has been active in his public sector career for thirty-two years, having served in his hometown of Shelby Township as a member and vice-chairman of the Shelby Township Parks and Recreation Committee; and member and vice-chairman of the Shelby Township Planning Commission. He is the former Assistant City Administrator of Lathrup Village, Michigan and former Executive Director of the City of Southfield, Michigan’s Downtown Development Authority. Tom is a member of the Oakland University Alumni Association, Michigan Municipal Executives, and Michigan Public Employer Labor Relations Association. He is the Founder of the Auburn Hills Community Foundation, served as its chairman, and now serves as a member of the Board. In 2014, he joined the Board of Directors of the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce and continues to serve on that board to this day. In 2020, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Professional Law Enforcement Association (PLEA). He currently chairs the Oakland County City Manager’s Association and is a member of the board of directors of the Michigan Municipal Executives.
Tom enjoys physical fitness activities and traveling with his family. He is a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Rochester, Michigan. He is married to his wife, Leslie, and has two sons, Joshua, and Jack.
Meet Our Trustees
Linda Stout
Married to Dr. Mark Stout for 43 years and they have one daughter, one son-in-law and two grandchildren. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Michigan State University and also attended Walsh College. She was formerly employed as an Accountant for Republic Underwriters and served as Trustee and Treasurer of Shelby Township 1990-2000. She retired in 2013 as an Educator from Michigan State University Extension, and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Shelby Community Foundation serving as their Treasurer. She is also the Chair of the Michigan State University Extension Leadership Council.
Andrew P. Peralta
I am currently an Instructional Designer for the Southwest Gas Corporation. Back in March of 2019 I retired as a Captain from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with twenty five years. I have thirty years of experience in the field of Law Enforcement, five of which were with the Arizona Department of Corrections. Throughout those thirty years I was an academic instructor, defensive tactics instructor, field training officer, emergency response team officer, academy sergeant, and academy lieutenant, with fourteen academies trained. I also taught various topics over twenty three years to include inmate supervision and leadership to our officers and sergeants. I was selected as the lead supervisor on two eleven-hundred bed detention facility construction projects, and was a Captain over various large bureaus encompassing booking and releasing, ICE, a remote facility in Laughlin Arizona, and the emergency response team.
