James H. VanLeuven, Jr.
Deputy Clerk/Register

James H. VanLeuven, Jr. was appointed Deputy Clerk/Register of Deeds in September 2003. He serves as one of two Deputy Clerk/Register of Deeds with primary responsibilities related to the Register of Deeds and Micrographics Divisions.

Mr. VanLeuven has considerable experience in budgeting, personnel procedures, legislative matters, training and county policies.  He has been employed with Oakland County since December 1977.  He started in the Personnel Department and spent two years there, transferred to the Budget Division being promoted to Senior Budget Analyst, became Chief of Tax Administration for the County Treasurer's Office and served as the Administrative Director for the Board of Commissioners prior to being appointed Deputy Clerk/Register of Deeds.

He is the Chairman of the Oakland County Employees Retirement Commission and has been a member for the last 17 years.  Having been elected four times as one of three employee representatives then serving as the designated alternate for the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.

Mr. VanLeuven is a member of the Michigan Municipal Finance Officers Association (MMFOA) and was President of the Association in 1992-1993.  He also served as chair of the MMFOA Legislative Committee.  He has made numerous presentations to State House and Senate Committees concerning finance and property tax issues on behalf of the MMFOA and County Treasurers Association.  Most notably was PA 123 of 1999, which revamped property tax reversion procedures throughout the State of Michigan.

He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Oakland Community College, Highland Lakes Campus, teaching business classes.

Currently Mr. VanLeuven is a member of the following organizations:
   

• National Association of Clerks and Recorders    
• Michigan Association of Register of Deeds    
• Michigan Association of County Clerks    
• Michigan Municipal Finance Officers Association    
• United County Officers Association    
• Oakland County Clerks Association    
• Oakland County Employees Retirement Commission

Personal

Mr. VanLeuven is married to Caroline and has two children, Sonya and Jimmy and three grandchildren, Bianca, Mariah and Lourdes.  They enjoy travel, family activities and home projects.

He attended Alma College and is a graduate of Oakland University (1977) and received his Masters of Business Administration from Wayne State University (1984).

He has also been active over the years with the William and Marie Carls Family YMCA as a coach and a member of the Board of Directors.  Also, Jim is a member of Cornerstone Church in Highland and has participated in the Children's Ministry.