Tom Shumaker, Apartment Association of Michigan’s 2011 President, has over 30 years of apartment management experience and in the practice of law. He joined John F. Uznis Builders, Inc. in 1977 and has been actively involved in all phases of apartment the operation and administration. His personal and political skills were recognized by the AAM during the introduction of proposed inspection legislation on local and state levels. He was instrumental in obtaining a more common sense approach to the introduction of various ordinances relating to municipal oversight. Shortly after, he was invited to the Executive Committee of AAM where he has served as a Vice President for the past ten years.
He has been “of counsel” with Abbott Nicholson since 1987. Before joining Abbott Nicholson, he spent 15 years as a clerk with the Michigan Court of Appeals and in private practice. His primary practice areas include Closely Held Businesses, Estate Planning and Real Estate. Tom received his A.B. in 1969 from Georgetown University. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1973 from the University of Detroit where he became a member of the Journal of Urban Law in 1971 and was named the Articles Editor in 1972. After spending two years with the Michigan Court of Appeals in Detroit and Lansing, he studied tax law at New York University and was awarded a master of Laws (L.L.M.) degree in 1976.
Tom has taught Business Law at the Lansing Community College and has also served as a mediator with the 47th District Court. He has been a member of the Michigan State and American Bar Associations and has also participated as a member of various real estate and tax committees of each. His association in the real estate business community as an executive of a regional property management firm brings a unique perspective. In 2009, Tom was recognized as a Top Lawyer in Metro Detroit – 2010 by DBusiness Magazine.
Tom and his wife live near Detroit, and have two sons; Tom Jr. is an investment banker with the Bank of Montreal in Chicago and Nick is an independent film producer based in New York City. Tom’s philanthropic interests are educationally based; he is Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Academy of the Sacred Heart, Bloomfield Hills. He was recently a member of the Board of Regents of Georgetown University and currently works with the Urology Department of the University of Michigan Medical School. His recreational interests include tennis, rackets, sailing and gardening.