Ryan Ziegler
Prosecuting Attorney 

Ryan grew up in Macomb County and went to Eastern Michigan University, earning a bachelor's of science in Philosophy and Political Science.  He moved to Indiana for three years and received a law degree from the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University.  After graduating in 2014, he moved back to Michigan and became the law clerk for the 46th Circuit Court, doing legal research for Judge Janet Allen and Judge George Mertz. Ryan began working as Assistant Prosecutor in 2017, and has worked for the Kalkaska prosecutor's office ever since. In 2021, when former prosecutor Mike Perreault left to pursue a career in aviation, Ryan was appointed as Kalkaska Prosecutor. 

Ryan also coached the Gaylord St. Mary's High School Mock Trial team from 2014 to 2017, taking them to three consecutive state championships. 

Dan Short

Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney 

Dan graduated from Cooley Law in 2014. He spent seven years working as a prosecutor in Muskegon County. His family moved to the Traverse City area in 2022, and after a brief time working for a private firm, he took the position of Chief Assistant in August 2022. 

Caitlin Borchard

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney

Caitlin graduated from Alma College with her BA in Organizational Communication. She went on to receive her Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University College of Law. She worked as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in her hometown of Saginaw, Michigan. In 2017, she moved to the Grand Traverse area and worked as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Charlevoix County. She also worked as a Program Director at the Children's Advocacy Center in Grand Traverse County before joining the Kalkaska Prosecutor's Office in 2021.