ONEKAMA – Michigan Lt. Governor John Cherry will be the keynote speaker Friday during the first day of the Michigan Energy Fair at the Manistee County Fairgrounds.

Cherry will speak in the Grandstand Friday afternoon.

Cherry, who spent 20 years in the Michigan Legislature, was named the 2005 Conservationist of the Year by the Michigan United Conservation Clubs and is the immediate past Chair of the Great Lakes Commission. He also has served as Chair of the National Lieutenant Governor’s Association.

As a legislator, Cherry focused on the issues that were most important to Michigan citizens – families, the quality of life in Michigan, the environment and Michigan’s great outdoors. He has authored and co-sponsored several milestone Michigan laws dealing with workers’ rights, environmental protection and conservation.

Cherry received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan in 1973 and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Michigan, Flint in 1984. He has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Saginaw Valley State University and an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from Central Michigan University.

On Saturday in the Pavilion, Rep. Dan Scripps, who serves as the State Representative for the 101st House District, which is comprised of Benzie, Leelanau, Manistee and Mason counties, will speak at 6:30 pm.

Scripps owns his own consulting business, and has worked with the Leelanau Conservancy to develop a farmland protection strategy for Leelanau County. He has served as co-chair of the economic development committee for his local chamber of commerce and as vice president of the Leelanau Children’s Center.

An environmental attorney, Scripps has emerged as a statewide leader in environmental and energy issues, and was invited to participate in a think tank panel on Climate Change and Energy Policy Solutions at the Rothbury Music Festival in July 2008. He is a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights and is an avid fisherman.

On Sunday, at 1 pm, Scott Harrison, CEO of Azure Dynamics, will serve up the keynote. Harrison comes to Azure Dynamics from Hayes Lemmerz, a $2 Billion Tier 1 auto supplier, where he was Group President responsible for two global businesses. Before joining Hayes Lemmerz in 2001, Harrison worked for Fisher Scientific Inc., where he was Vice President and General Manager of the Lab Equipment Group. Harrison began his automotive career with General Motors where he spent seven years in various positions of increasing responsibility at the Delco Chassis Division. During this time he participated in GM�??s Supervisor Exchange Program with Toyota Motor Corporation. With 17 years of direct experience in the automotive industry, Mr. Harrison has a strong record of sales growth, lean implementation, new product introduction as well as operations and supply chain experience.

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