MDARD Licensing Portal System (LPS)
Statewide Licensing Platform Modernization
Role
Client
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)
Duration
2018-2025
My Role
I served as the Functional Architect, Lead Business Analyst, and User Experience Designer for the Licensing Portal Solution (LPS), a statewide regulatory licensing platform supporting the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
My work on this project combined enterprise business architecture, regulatory process design, and user experience strategy to modernize MDARD's license administration across multiple regulatory areas covered by various Michigan Public Acts.
Note: All production screenshots are the copyright of the State of Michigan, 2026.
LPS by the Numbers
40,538 license applications were processed in LPS in 2024.
250,000 applications have processed since the initial launch through 2025.
52% of all applicants used LPS online in 2024.
LPS tracks 84% of all MDARD Licenses.
Under 2 Days, the average time from application submission to license issuance for applications that don’t require an initial inspection.
Key Responsibilities
Solution Architecture
Defined the functional architecture for a configurable licensing platform capable of supporting dozens of program areas.
Designed core system capabilities, including application intake, credential issuance, payments, data compliance workflows, and inspection system integrations.
Ensured platform scalability, enabling additional license types to be onboarded without significant redevelopment.
Requirements & Delivery Leadership
Transformed procurement documentation (RFP/SOW) into a structured Agile delivery framework.
Built and maintained the product backlog, roadmap, and requirements traceability model.
Created a fully traceable Jira repository connecting business requirements, development stories, and test cases to achieve 100% functional coverage.
User Experience Design
See Design Decisions that Shaped the MDARD Licensing Portal Solution for more on the design process of the MDARD LPS tool.
Designed the public licensing portal and internal staff interfaces.
Produced: user flows; wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups; UI component standards; and accessibility-compliant responsive layouts.
Note: The platform was designed to meet WCAG accessibility standards and Section 508 compliance to ensure equal access for all users.
Team Leadership
Managed and mentored a team of business analysts who also performed the UX design role.
Implemented structured documentation and testing practices that produced the lowest story-to-defect ratio among peer projects.
Helped team members advance into lead and principal analyst roles.
Project / Client Background
Modernizing Licensing Activities for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
MDARD is part of the State of Michigan and works to keep food safe, help agricultural businesses, and oversee many activities in the state’s food and agriculture industries. Founded in 1921 to support Michigan’s farms, it now also supports rural economic growth and consumer protection.
Today, MDARD manages many regulatory programs, including food businesses, pesticide use, grain dealers, nurseries, and other agricultural operations. These programs require tens of thousands of licenses each year, covering over forty license types. The Central Licensing Unit helps handle these tasks.
The MDARD Central Licensing Unit (CLU)
The Central Licensing Unit (CLU) manages and processes licenses for all of the department’s regulatory programs, known as program areas. It handles applications, fees, issuing licenses, and staying in touch with regulated or licensed businesses.
Across MDARD programs, the CLU supports:
Processing license applications and renewals
Coordinating with program inspectors and regulatory staff
Managing licensing data and documentation
Communicating with regulated businesses and stakeholders
Issuing credentials and maintaining license records
Each year, the CLU processes about 100,000 licenses in 42 categories, supporting programs that cover everything from food safety to plant health and fuel quality.
In the past, licensing relied on paper forms, spreadsheets, and separate databases for each program. This made operations difficult and led to several challenges, such as:
Duplicate and manual data entry
Inconsistent application processes across programs
Limited visibility into application status
Manual payment and document handling
Difficulty maintaining consistent regulatory data
These challenges led MDARD to pursue a modern, centralized licensing platform.
Licensing Portal System (LPS)
The Licensing Portal System (LPS) is a centralized online platform for MDARD. It lets regulated businesses apply for, renew, and track licenses online, and gives staff the tools they need to process applications and issue credentials.
Through LPS, MDARD consolidated licensing processes across multiple programs into a single platform that manages applications, payments, status management, processing workflows, and licence issuance.
Secure online payments through the State of Michigan payment platforms.
Automatic license credential generation.
Staff workflow management and review tools.
Centralized licensing data management