My Story
I’ve made my life in Michigan raising our family, living the Michigan Dream, and my work has been about helping that dream come alive for others.
I was born and raised in the coalfields of West Virginia, son of a Presbyterian Minister who wanted to fight the War on Poverty. I saw a lot of struggle and suffering, families without jobs, children without good schools or health care, a beautiful state wrecked and polluted by strip-mining of coal. Older, I went to school and went to work, learned about and saw the power of good political leadership to create jobs and help people have a chance at a decent life.
I met my wife-to-be Terese over 30 years ago here in Michigan - where we decided to make our lives and raise our family. I saw a huge economic and racial divide between Detroit and its suburbs, where my wife was born and raised. I started out in Flint working to improve the schools and build paths to better life for young people -- and saw a lot of the same struggles that I grew up with in West Virginia.
Since then I have worked tirelessly to make a difference on the things that matter to create economic opportunity and a shot at a better life for others. My professional and elected service has been all about improving Michigan, providing leadership in areas that help us transform our economy: education, higher education, revitalizing our cities, welcoming immigrants, protecting the outdoors and environment, driving innovation and new business development, and creating the new “blue & green” economy of the future.
My credentials:
I was born and raised in the coalfields of West Virginia, son of a Presbyterian Minister who wanted to fight the War on Poverty. I saw a lot of struggle and suffering, families without jobs, children without good schools or health care, a beautiful state wrecked and polluted by strip-mining of coal. Older, I went to school and went to work, learned about and saw the power of good political leadership to create jobs and help people have a chance at a decent life.
I met my wife-to-be Terese over 30 years ago here in Michigan - where we decided to make our lives and raise our family. I saw a huge economic and racial divide between Detroit and its suburbs, where my wife was born and raised. I started out in Flint working to improve the schools and build paths to better life for young people -- and saw a lot of the same struggles that I grew up with in West Virginia.
Since then I have worked tirelessly to make a difference on the things that matter to create economic opportunity and a shot at a better life for others. My professional and elected service has been all about improving Michigan, providing leadership in areas that help us transform our economy: education, higher education, revitalizing our cities, welcoming immigrants, protecting the outdoors and environment, driving innovation and new business development, and creating the new “blue & green” economy of the future.
My credentials:
- Harvard Kennedy School of Government – Master’s in Public Administration
- Fenton Planning Commissioner
- Chair, Genesee County Road Commission
- President, Flint Roundtable
- President, State Board of Education
- Director, $100 million New Economy Initiative
- Brookings Institution Nonresident Senior Fellow
- Director, Michigan Economic Center
- Lecturer on the Economy, University of Michigan