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Kinnaman and Shepherd, P.C.

Competitive and aggressive, with a focus on developing lasting personal and professional relationships best describes Matthew B. Shepherd, Esquire.  While the law firm of Kinnaman & Shepherd, P.C., is relatively new to the Newaygo area, Matt happens to be very familiar.  Shepherd grew up in Newaygo and graduated from Newaygo High School in 1997.  He is the latest installment in a long line of attorneys with the same last name.  His Grandfather, Russell Lyle Shepherd, was a former Newaygo County Prosecutor for many years.  Matt’s Great Uncle, John Wesley Shepherd, succeeded his brother Russell as Prosecutor, with both Shepherd boys continuing and ultimately finishing their distinguished legal careers with a successful small firm practice in downtown Newaygo.

While at Newaygo, Matt was a member of the Varsity Basketball Team that enjoyed great success including conference, district, and regional championships, and back to back runs at state titles.  “There was a ton of talent on those teams” states Shepherd, “but it was the camaraderie and friendships that I will most remember.”  In his senior season, Shepherd was named First Team All-State by the Associated Press and moved on to Muskegon Community College where he continued his basketball career.  As a “Jayhawk”, Shepherd won a conference championship, the first in twenty-five years, and was also an all-conference performer.  Matt then moved once again, this time to NCAA Division One, Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne, or “IPFW.”  Shepherd finished his playing career there and earned his bachelors degree in the spring of 2002.  Having always planned to go on to Law School, Shepherd enrolled in the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, in the fall of 2002.  Matt earned his Juris Doctorate Degree in May, 2005, graduating in the top 20% of his class.

While attending law school, Shepherd clerked for the law firm of Michael, Jerow & Kinnaman, P.C., in Grand Rapids.  Ironically, Shepherd has not always been on the side of the desk that he is presently on.  Matt was introduced to Attorney Mark Kinnaman, now his partner, when Mark represented Matt at age 19.  “It was a minor scrape with the law, but enough for me to figure out that I did not want to make a habit of it” stated Shepherd.  Matt shared his plans of pursuing law as a profession with his then Attorney, who half-heartedly invited Shepherd to call him should he ever reach law school.  “I think he was shocked when I actually called,” said Shepherd, “but he remembered me, and I guess the rest is history.”

Kinnaman & Shepherd, P.C., has offices in Holland, Michigan, as well as the recently opened Newaygo location.  “I was surprised when I realized that Newaygo did not have a local attorney” said Shepherd.  “Say a guy would like to get a burger and a beer, he shouldn’t have to drive to Fremont, White Cloud, or even worse, Grand Rapids or Muskegon to do that, and so as analogies go, here I am.”  Shepherd continued, “I have been told that hiring an Attorney is right up there with buying a car and going to the dentist.  I want to change that perception; in fact, I think I have to change that perception.  I plan on being the attorney that people want to hire, and I am going to make it an enjoyable experience.”

Personally, Shepherd is married to the former Stacy Essebaggers of Whitehall, Michigan.  Matt and Stacy met while both attending Muskegon Community College.  “It was astronomy class, and I just happened to look down the row from me one day and there she was.  The only problem is that she graduated from Michigan, and is a huge Wolverine fan” lamented Shepherd, who very proudly pledges his allegiance to Coach Izzo and the Spartans.  Stacy, who is an eighth grade English teacher in Whitehall, was also Miss Michigan 2001, and went on to finish in the top ten at Miss America during that same year.  Matt and Stacy have a son, Graycen Russell, who is two, and a daughter, Sidney Letta, who is one month old.  The Shepherd family resides in Montague, Michigan.

Kinnaman & Shepherd, P.C., is a “full service” law firm, representing clients in an array of different areas.  Shepherd specializes in criminal defense work, civil litigation, wills, estates, and trusts, and all matters that affect the family.  Shepherd also contributes to a legal column titled, “For What Its Worth”, and plans on publishing a monthly newsletter containing his column and other important local events.

“I am very proud of where I am from” states Shepherd, “and I want to add a new dimension to this community.”  The Newaygo Office is located at 8235 Mason Drive, Suite B, in the Morningside Center at the intersection of M-37 and M-82.  If you have a legal question, Shepherd offers a free initial consultation and can be reached locally at (231) 981-0533, in Holland at (616) 494-0500, or toll free at (888) 529-8884.

All About You Salon

            All About You Salon, located at 8140 Mason Drive in Newaygo, is owned and operated by Tamara Gillette. The team of three stylists and a massage therapist have been making the members of our community beautiful for 4 years! This full service salon offers a wide variety of family hair care and spa services.

            Services available include:

• §         Hair care

• §         Manicures & Pedicures

• §         Facials

• §         Face & body waxing

• §         Massage

Also available is wedding and special occasion services. Brides and Grooms can take advantage of a customized wedding day! Choose from a selection of packages or create your own because “It’s your special day, get treated that way”.

            Gina Webster, massage therapist, can help you relax and reenergize with an array of massages. Choose from deep tissue, reflexology, reiki, hot stone, relaxation and sports massage. Additionally, prenatal and infant massage is available! Chamber members receive a 10% discount.

            Can’t choose which services you want? Take advantage of an affordable spa package. Packages range from $40 for the “Time Out” up to $100 for “A Day at the Spa”. In addition, they carry a selection of professional quality products that include Aquage, Tressa, Nioxin, Chi and Joico.

            So what makes All About You Salon unique besides the many services they offer? The salon actively participates with a non-profit organization, called Children With Hair Loss. The organization provides children who suffer from medically related hair loss with hair replacement. All About You Salon receives donations of hair and provides wig molding and fitting for children with hair loss at no cost to the recipient. Hair donations are 6” in length, clean, braided or in a ponytail. If you are interested in donating hair please contact All About You Salon.

            Whether you need a new do, time to relax at the spa, special occasion or would like to donate to a good cause, All About You Salon has it all because “It’s all about you”. For further information about products and services call (231) 652-1444. Operating hours are Tuesday thru Saturday.

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