March 24, 2016
Thursday, March 24, 2016
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointment of Karen Weaver, of Flint, and the reappointments of John Brown, of Portage, Tom Moran, of Onaway, Jack O’Reilly, of Dearborn, and Chris Rizik, of Northville, to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s executive committee.
The 20-member committee is charged with overall management and guidance of MEDC development projects and policy initiatives.
“These are talented professionals, and I look forward to their contributions and support as we continue our work of strengthening Michigan’s economy,” Snyder said.
Appointment:
Weaver is the mayor of the city of Flint. She has held several leadership positions, including director of behavioral services at Mott Children’s Health Center and chief operating officer of Ennis Center for Children. She is currently the owner of Shea Lavelle Boutique and serves on the Hurley Board of Managers, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, and as Flint’s NAACP Freedom Fund chair. Weaver holds her bachelor’s degree from Tougaloo College, a master’s degree from Long Island University, and a doctorate from Michigan State University. She represents public agencies and replaces Cindy Larsen, whose term is expiring.
Reappointments:
Brown is a director of the American Business Conference and a director at St. Jude Medical, a global cardiovascular device company. In 2004 he retired as CEO of Stryker Corporation. He was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from Freed-Hardeman University in 1999 and an honorary degree of doctor of humane letters from Kalamazoo College in 2003. Brown received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Auburn University, and received Auburn’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Brown will continue to represent the private sector.
Moran is the founder and CEO of Moran Iron Works, which specializes in large modular metal fabrication for the power industry and employs over 125 people at four locations in Onaway, Cheboygan and Rogers City, Michigan. Moran Iron Works received "Michigan's 50 Top Companies to Watch" designation from the Lowe Foundation in 2012. Moran was awarded “Business Champion of the Year” in 2013 from the Great Start Coalition, “Business of the Year” in 2013 from the Cheboygan and Onaway Chambers of Commerce, “Economic Development Project of the Year” from Northern Lakes Economic Alliance and recognized as a patriotic employer from the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He currently serves on the board of directors of McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey. He will continue to represent the private sector.
O’Reilly is currently the mayor of Dearborn. Mayor O’Reilly was named to the board of directors of the Michigan Municipal League in 2013, and served as the 2014 chair of the Downriver Community Conference. He also maintains an active role with the Urban Core Mayors, a bipartisan, multi-regional coalition of 13 central city mayors, and the Conference of Western Wayne. He is involved with the United States Conference of Mayors and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. O’Reilly holds an associate’s degree from Oakland University and received a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy. He will continue to represent the private sector.
Rizik is the CEO of the Renaissance Venture Capital Fund. He is also a co-founder, partner, and board chair of Ardesta, LLC and was previously a managing director of Avalon Technology fund. He chairs the executive committee of TechTown in Detroit and the investment committee of the First Step Fund and is past chairman of the state of Michigan’s advanced energy accelerator, NextEnergy. In 2010, Rizik was named by Crain's Detroit Business magazine as one of its "Newsmakers of the Year" for his leadership role in the advancement of venture capital and entrepreneurship in Michigan. Rizik received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University and his law degree from the University of Michigan. He will continue to represent the private sector.
Members serve eight-year terms expiring April 5, 2024. Their appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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