Honouring the Legacy, Leading with Purpose: Staying Connected to Michigan’s Recyclers

Jacquelen Timm

Kelley Cawthorne’s Jacquelen Timm explains that purpose-led association leadership in Michigan’s auto recycling sector comes down to staying visible on-site, listening to operational realities, and responding quickly with practical support. By pairing member service and training with credible, experience-based advocacy, ARM can navigate change while protecting recyclers’ day-to-day interests.

Jacquelen Timm, Director of Association Management and Communications at Kelley Cawthorne, an association management firm that also provides lobbying, regulatory, and community engagement services nationwide, with offices currently located in Michigan and Ohio, US, discusses what it takes to lead an industry association with purpose during a period of reflection and change.

A foundation built on service and trust

I stepped into the role of Director of the Automotive Recyclers of Michigan almost two years ago, aware that I was joining an association shaped by decades of steady leadership and deep commitment. Barbara Utter served ARM for 30 years, and her recent passing has prompted reflection across the organization and the industry. For many members, Barb was a familiar and trusted presence, and the foundation she built continues to influence how this association operates today.

Barb led with consistency, care, and a strong sense of responsibility to the industry. She knew the members, understood their businesses, and believed in doing the work well and with integrity. Her leadership was rooted in service rather than recognition, and the trust she earned over time helped create the strong association ARM is today.

Barb Utter and Jacquelen Timm with Automotive Recyclers of Michigan members during a site visit. p — L-R: Barb Utter, Kim Gray of Doug’s Auto Recyclers in Coldwater, MI, Jacquelen Timm, and Gordon Middleton of Middleton Auto Parts in Fraser Mi

Staying visible: why yard visits matter

From the start, I’ve believed that this role is about being present. An association only works when it stays connected to its members, and that connection doesn’t happen from behind a desk. Some of the most meaningful moments in this job happen during yard visits, walking through operations, hearing what’s working, and listening to what keeps owners up at night. Those conversations shape how the association presents itself and ensure our work reflects the realities of the industry, not just theory.

Jacquelen Timm meeting industry partners at Commercial Forms / Recycler Supply. p three — Commercial Forms Recycler Supply in Brighton, MI

Jacquelen Timm visiting an auto recycling operation with site . p four — Schram Auto Parts in Mason Mi

That same mindset carries into how I think about service. When members reach out, it’s usually because something matters and often because something is urgent. Whether it’s a regulatory question, an operational challenge, or simply needing clarity in a complicated moment, being accessible and responsive matters. Trust is built one conversation at a time, and a strong association is one in which members know someone on the other end of the phone who understands their world.

Jacquelen Timm with members at a family-run recycling business, discussing operations. p five — Shroyer’s Auto Parts in Lansing, MI

Jacquelen Timm with members during a yard visit, highlighting community connections. p six — Highway Auto Parts in Roseville, MI

Support that members can use: responsiveness, training and events

Education and training naturally flow from that relationship. Automotive recycling continues to evolve, and staying ahead of environmental requirements, safety expectations, and technological change is no small task. Providing relevant training and meaningful learning opportunities helps members feel prepared rather than reactive. Meetings and events play an important role here as well, not just as industry gatherings, but as spaces where people can share experiences, learn from one another, and feel part of something larger than their individual operations.

Jacquelen Timm with members at a parts and batteries site during an ARM visit. p seven — Earl’s Battery Service in Port Huron

Advocacy with credibility: bringing operational reality to the Capitol

Advocacy remains central to everything we do. Ours is a highly regulated industry, and decisions made at the Capitol directly affect day-to-day operations. Without consistent advocacy, those decisions risk being shaped without a full understanding of how automotive recyclers operate or the environmental value they provide. Lobbying ensures the industry has a voice, but more importantly, it ensures that voice is informed, credible, and grounded in real experience.

Still, advocacy alone is not enough. It must be paired with thoughtful association leadership. That means taking the time to ask hard questions and being willing to listen closely to the answers. Are we representing members accurately? Are we anticipating challenges instead of reacting to them? Are we focused on what truly strengthens the industry over the long term? These questions don’t always have easy answers, but they matter.

Running an association well requires a balance between advocacy and service, urgency and strategy, tradition and change. It requires transparency, trust, and a willingness to continually evaluate what we do and why we do it.

Two years in, my commitment is simple. Stay visible. Stay engaged. Listen carefully. Advocate responsibly. When an association commits to doing the work the right way, it becomes more than an organization. It becomes a steady partner for its members and a credible voice for the industry.

Carrying forward the work that Barb and so many others have invested in shaping this association is both an honor and a responsibility, one I approach with great respect and a deep commitment to serving our members well.