RENARD J. KOLASA is a shareholder of the firm. He became a member of the Connecticut Bar Association in 1974 and the Michigan Bar Association in 1978. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan and the District of Connecticut, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Claims Court. Mr. Kolasa grew up in Gaylord, Michigan. He received his B.A. in 1971 and an M.A. in Economics in 1976, both with high honor, from Michigan State University. In 1974, he received a J.D., with honors, from the University of Michigan. In 2004 he earned the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation from the American College. Mr. Kolasa is a frequent lecturer and writer on many areas of personal and business tax planning. He has made presentations to over 150 organizations, including appearances on radio and television. He has taught in various programs at Wayne State University, Lawrence Technological University and Oakland University. Mr. Kolasa has authored numerous outlines, articles, videos, pamphlets and booklets in his areas of legal concentration, including several items on estate planning, charitable giving, buy-sell planning and wealth transfer. He recently published two articles entitled "New Trends in Estate Planning - Are you Up to Date?" and "Avoid These Mistakes in Your Estate Planning." Mr. Kolasa is a member of the Sections on Taxation, Corporation, Finance and Business Law of the State Bar of Michigan; the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; the Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan; and the National Committee on Planned Giving. Mr. Kolasa's primary concentration areas include small business law, estate planning law and non-profit organizations law. Email to: Renard.Kolasa@Couzens.com