Whitmer Appointments Reshape MEDC Executive Committee

LANSING – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made appointments Friday to 11 spots on the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Executive Committee, reshaping the 20-member committee.

Among the appointees, which are not subject to advice and consent of the Senate, are members designated to represent businesses, public entities and philanthropy.

Gretchen Whitmer

Appointed for terms expiring April 5, 2020 were Fay Beydoun of Dearborn, president and chief executive officer of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce to represent businesses; April Clobes of Bath, president and CEO of Michigan State University Credit Union to represent businesses; Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell to represent public entities; and Philip Shaltz of Fenton, president and CEO of Shaltz Automotive, to represent businesses.

Bill Pink, of Ada, president of Grand Rapids Community College, was also appointed to represent public entities for a term expiring April 5, 2023.

Those appointed to terms expiring April 5, 2024 were Jeffrey Donofrio of Detroit, executive director of workforce for the City of Detroit, to represent public entities; Krista Fylnn of Ada, regional president of Chemical Bank, to represent businesses; Thomas Lutz of Garden City, president of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters, to represent businesses and Ryan Waddington of Dexter, founder and partner of the Huron River Venture Company, to represent businesses.

For terms expiring April 5, 2026, the governor appointed Kyle Caldwell of Rockford, president and CEO of the Council of Michigan Councils, to represent philanthropy and Kwesi Cobbina of Detroit, vice president of business affairs for the Detroit Pistons, to represent businesses.

“The MEDC is a tremendous partner in our mission to build a stronger economy and create more good-paying jobs across the state. These leaders all understand that if we want to help our businesses compete and make Michigan a home for opportunity, then we need to get serious about attracting a talented workforce and improving our infrastructure,” Whitmer said in a statement.

This story was published by Gongwer News Service.

About the Author: Mike Brennan

Founder of Michigan News Network, and serves as CEO, as well as Editor & Publisher of MITECHNEWS.COM. Brennan has worked since 1980 as a technology writer at newspapers in New York, NY, San Jose, CA., Seattle, WA., Memphis, TN., Detroit, MI., and London, England. He co-founded and served as managing editor of Pacific Rim News Service (SEATTLE), which developed a network of more than 100 freelance journalists in 17 Asia-Pacific countries.