The Board of Road Commissioners for the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), at its regular meeting today, elected Commissioner Eric McPherson as chair of the Board. Also today, new Road Commissioner James Esshaki was seated for his first meeting.
McPherson had previously been vice chairman of the Board, and has served for two years. Esshaki was appointed to the Road Commission Board on Jan. 13.
While the Road Commission is an independent unit of government, and not part of Oakland County general government, the three RCOC Board members are appointed by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
The third Board member is Nancy Quarles. The RCOC Board sets policy for the Road Commission, approves the agency’s budget and appoints the agency’s managing director. Board members serve for six-year, staggered terms, with appointments every two years.
McPherson is a life-long resident of Hazel Park and a business agent for the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 80, where he has been a member for 39 years. A graduate of Catholic Central High School, he has been a business representative for the organization for 19 years, is a trustee of the Local’s Insurance Fund, is a building trades journeyman, has completed continuing education classes in upgrading labor, is a trustee of the Michigan Maritime Trades Port Council and is chair of the Oakland County Building Authority.
A resident of Bloomfield Hills and lifelong Oakland County resident, Esshaki is a real estate developer and owns and manages commercial real estate. Additionally, he owns and operates a hospitality company with establishments throughout Oakland County.
Esshaki is a past member of the Birmingham Parking Advisory Committee and the Berkley Downtown Development Authority. He currently serves on the Oakland County Building Authority and is the director of the Oakland County Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial.
He is the proud father of two sons.
Quarles has a PhD in public administration and public affairs from Western Michigan University. She served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1996 to 2002 and on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners from 1995 to 1996 and again from 2011 to 2020.
She is also a professor at Central Michigan University and a resident of Novi.
The Board of Road Commissioners typically meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 9 a.m. at the Road Commission administrative offices at 31001 Lahser Road in Beverly Hills.
(From left to right: Board Chair, Eric McPherson; Board Vice Char, James Esshaki; Board Member, Nancy Quarles)
