Bobbi is a Michigan native with a background in civil engineering, holding a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. She spent 31 years with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) as a licensed professional engineer, beginning her career in construction across west Michigan and later serving as project manager for the Michigan half of the Second Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron. In her final assignment, she served for 17 years as the Southwest Region Engineer based in Kalamazoo, where she led MDOT’s work throughout southwest Michigan.
Upon retiring from the Michigan Department of Transportation in 2015, she relocated to her life-long vacation home on Beaver Island in northern Lake Michigan. She became a year‑round resident in April 2022, and in July of that year was appointed Supervisor of St. James Township - one of two townships in the Beaver Island Archipelago. In this role, she is responsible for the governance and operations of the township, which encompasses the northern portion of Beaver Island as well as seven surrounding outer islands.
Bobbi also volunteers on two Beaver Island Association task forces. The Beaver Island Broadband Team is advancing a $9 million, island‑owned fiber‑to‑the‑home and business project. She also serves on the Beaver Island Housing Task Force, which is identifying community housing needs and developing solutions for affordable, workforce, and senior housing.