October 08, 2003
October 8, 2003
DEARBORN – Calling them her “kitchen cabinet” for ideas to kick-start Michigan’s economy and attract new jobs to the state, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today told her newly-created Council of Economic Advisors that they will play a key role in creating a new Michigan.
“This council is my ‘kitchen cabinet’ of business and community leaders who are here for a reason – to make Michigan the best place in the country to expand a business, grow a new venture, or develop new products and services,” Granholm said. “For generations, Michigan has been the home of innovation and ingenuity. We are going to continue building upon our reputation as the best place in the country to locate a new business and create new jobs.”
The Council of Economic Advisors will work in an advisory capacity with the Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). It will have four specific charges, Granholm said. They are:
developing a comprehensive strategy to revive and strengthen the manufacturing sector in Michigan;
focusing on traditional and technology-driven economic development through the Technology Tri Corridor which focuses on attracting more tech-based businesses and jobs to Michigan in automotive technology, homeland security technology, and the life sciences;
working with labor and institutions of higher learning on workforce development and education;
developing a strategy to improve the quality of life and revitalize Michigan cities through the administration’s efforts to attract more jobs to “cool cities.”
“There is no better way to have a healthy discussion of Michigan’s economic issues than to assemble the best minds in business and education and have them give us objective, insightful advice on the issues our state is facing in these tough economic times,” Granholm said. “We have attracted a broad cross-section of Michigan’s business and education leaders from different regions and areas of expertise and given them a meaningful mission to create the next Michigan – a magnet state for business expansion and high tech job growth.”
(Please note: Members of the Council of Economic Advisors listed below)
The Council of Economic Advisors
N. Charles Anderson of Detroit, President and CEO of the Detroit Urban League
Vernice Davis Anthony of Detroit, President and CEO of the Greater Detroit Area Health Council, Inc.
Dr. E. Sharon Banks of Lansing, Superintendent of the Lansing School District
Richard Blouse of Birmingham, President and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce
Tom Boensch of Saginaw, Secretary/Treasurer of the Michigan State Building and Construction Trades Council
John Brown of Portage, Chairman, President and CEO of Stryker Corporation
Ahmad Chebanni of Dearborn, President of Omnex and Chair of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce USA
Tom Clay of Williamston, Senior Research Associate of Citizens Research Council of Michigan
Paul Dimond of Ann Arbor, Counsel of Miller Canfield
Peter Eckstein of Ann Arbor, retired from AFL-CIO
Irma Elder of Bloomfield Hills, CEO of Elder Automotive Group
Gary Erickson of Marquette, Vice President and CEO of Upper Peninsula Power Company
Linda Ewing of Grosse Pointe, Research Director for the United Autoworkers International
Dr. Haifa Fakhouri of Troy, President and CEO of the Arab-American and Chaldean Council
Robert Fowler of Haslett, President and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan
E. Delbert Gray of Southfield, President and CEO of Michigan Minority Business Development Council
Karl Gregory of Southfield, retired economist
Frank Hennessey of Grosse Pointe Farms, Chairman and CEO of Hennessey Capital
Nancy Hickey of Grand Rapids, CAO of Steelcase
Paul Hillegonds of Plymouth, President of Detroit Renaissance
Ellen Hughes-Cromwick of Ann Arbor, Director of Corporate Economics and Strategic Issues for Ford Motor Company
Saul Hymans of Ann Arbor, Professor of Economics and Statistics at the University of Michigan
Birgit Klohs of Grand Rapids, President of The Right Place Program
Van E. Jolissant of Birmingham, Director of Corporate Economics at Daimler Chrysler Corporation
Dave Littman of Bloomfield, Economist for Comerica
Albert Lorenzo of Clinton Township, President of Macomb Community College
Chris MacInnes of Beulah, Senior Vice President of Crystal Mountain Resort
Peggy Malone of Burt, administrative secretary for Saginaw County
Florine Mark of Farmington Hills, President and Chair of Weight Watchers Group Inc.
Vickie Micheau of Gladstone, Executive Director of the Delta County Chamber of Commerce
Ghulam Mustafa Mohatarem of Beverly Hills, Chief Economist for General Motors
Mark A. Murray of Grand Rapids, President of Grand Valley State University
Robert Naftaly of West Bloomfield, retired executive
Jeff Noel of Stevensville, President of Cornerstone Alliance and Benton Harbor economic development professional
Armando Ojeda of Bloomfield Hills, Executive Director of the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Dominic Pangborn of Grosse Pointe Shores, President of Pangborn Design, Ltd.
Irvin Reid of Detroit, President of Wayne State University
Charles Rothstein of West Bloomfield, Founder and Senior Managing Director of Beringea, LLC
Jim Sandy of Lansing, Director of Michigan Business Leaders for Education Excellence
Ed Scribner of Ann Arbor, retired from the Teamsters
Nettie Seabrooks, Chief Operating Officer at the Detroit Institute of Art
Noah Seifullah of Grand Rapids, of the Urban Development Cooperative, Inc.
Susan Shannon of Grand Rapids, Business Advocate for the City of Grand Rapids
Jeff Sloan of Birmingham, Managing Partner of Sloan Ventures
Dennis Toffolo of Oxford, Community and Economic Development Director for Oakland County
Gail Torreano of Mt. Pleasant, President of SBC Ameritech MichigaN
Peter Wege of Grand Rapids, President of the Wege Foundation
James Whitson of Oakland, Chief Tax Officer for Delphi Corporation
