John Nitz, a founding member of O’Reilly Rancilio P.C. and a lifelong Macomb County resident, was recently named to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame Class of 2020. The award recognizes Michigan legal leaders over the age of 60, or who have practiced for 30 years or more, for their successful careers and valuable contributions to the community.

Mr. Nitz has been with the firm since its inception in 1984, having served as the firm’s president for more than 30 years. Mr. Nitz has shown great dedication to his profession and has done much to ensure the growth of the firm and Macomb County.

Mr. Nitz focuses his practice on estate planning and probate, trust administration, business and real estate law, and municipal law. He has assisted countless business owners, including several Macomb County manufacturing and service businesses, with their legal matters. In addition, he served as general counsel for the Macomb County Charter Commission, where he coordinated the work of several law firms in the draft of the Macomb County Charter. The charter is essentially the County’s Constitution and provides a framework of government that the people of Macomb County designed and adopted themselves.

Mr. Nitz is the founder of Leadership Macomb, a nonprofit program that brings together leaders from numerous institutions and disciplines to obtain in-depth information about relevant topics in Macomb County and develop long-term leadership skills. Since 1996, over 950 individuals representing more than 130 organizations have participated in the Leadership Macomb Program. He served as President for many years.

A lifelong Macomb County resident, Mr. Nitz has been involved with many other organizations including the Warren Consolidated School District and Warren Consolidated Schools Foundation; the Warren, Center Line, and Sterling Heights Chamber(s) of Commerce; Warren Rotary Club; Utica Community Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence; Leadership Macomb, which he helped to found; Friends of the Octagon House, where he has served as President; and more.

Currently Mr. Nitz serves on the Board of Directors of Advancing Macomb Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening Macomb County, of which he was a founding member.

When he has time, Mr. Nitz enjoys traveling with his wife and family. He’s visited every continent (except Antarctica) and collects interesting art from his trips. China was one of the countries he enjoyed most. Although he’s traveled the world, he works only a few miles from his childhood home. A University of Michigan graduate, Mr. Nitz is proud to be a Michigan Wolverine.