Miller Johnson Names Kelly Plawinski as Chief Operating Officer
Miller Johnson has named Kelly Plawinski as Chief Operating Officer, effective March 3. This strategic hire comes as the firm continues to experience unprecedented growth and anticipates further expansion. Over the past 5 years Miller Johnson has doubled its revenue while expanding its client base throughout Michigan and nationally, added more than 40 attorneys firmwide, and grown its Detroit office to 30 attorneys.
“It is an honor to join Miller Johnson, a firm with a 65-year history of excellence and dedication to its clients and communities,” said Plawinski. “Throughout its history, Miller Johnson has built a strong reputation for providing trusted legal counsel and fostering meaningful relationships across Michigan. I look forward to working alongside the firm’s talented team, valued clients, and partners to further strengthen its impact and continue advancing the firm’s mission as ‘Michigan’s Law Firm.’”
Plawinski joins Miller Johnson as an accomplished business executive with over 20 years of experience in business operations, finance, and strategic leadership. Most recently, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Adamy Valuation, where she was responsible for the firm’s strategy, operations, financial oversight, and human resources, while providing firm-wide leadership. During her tenure, she implemented new frameworks that enhanced efficiency, standardized methodologies, and set the foundation for the firm’s expansion.
Prior to Adamy, Plawinski spent more than a decade at Ford Motor Company, leading global process improvements and financial strategy in product development, marketing, and manufacturing. She worked with executive leadership to optimize financial operations and guide key business decisions across multimillion-dollar vehicle programs.
“Kelly impressed us with her ability to quickly understand our operational philosophy and recognize opportunities for growth,” said David M. Buday, Managing Member of Miller Johnson. “We have an incredible team of attorneys, paralegals, and staff. Kelly’s strategic leadership experience in restructuring processes and implementing innovative models has driven significant growth. We look forward to her helping us by using those experiences and skills to better scale our business consistent with our growth and to improve upon how we serve our clients and communities.”
Beyond her professional achievements, Plawinski is an active leader in the Grand Rapids business community. She has served as President of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Western Michigan Chapter Board of Directors and as Programming Committee Chair. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation and is a past Board Member for the Family Business Alliance (FBA). Plawinski is also involved in LeaderWork, a Holland, MI-based leadership program, volunteers as an instructor for Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes and is a prior candidate concierge for Hello West Michigan.
Plawinski holds an MBA in Business Administration and Management from the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University and a BS in Accounting from Purdue University.
About Miller Johnson
Miller Johnson is ‘Michigan’s Law Firm’, providing legal counsel to businesses and individuals in corporate matters, employment and labor law, litigation, employee benefits, and private client representation including estate planning and family law. Since 1959, Miller Johnson has been Michigan-based and has served clients worldwide.
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