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Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance Named to Governor Whitmer’s Growing Michigan Together Council
Friends of the Great Lakes Bay Region,
The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance would like to announce that Ken Horn, executive vice president of Strategic Development has been selected to serve on Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Growing Michigan Together Council.
The Council is comprised of four working committees focused on several factors of the state’s growth plan and Horn will serve on the workgroup focused on Jobs, Talent, and the Economy.
“The diverse workgroup members of the Growing Michigan Together Council will be instrumental in our effort to grow our economy and population while protecting our natural resources,” said Governor Whitmer. “These members represent a range of professions, communities, and perspectives—all of which are essential to developing a comprehensive strategy for growth. I look forward to hearing from the council and its workgroups later this year. Let’s get to work!”
Horn joined the Alliance this past spring to focus on the key aspects needed for population growth within the Great Lakes Bay Region. An advocate for growth and development, Horn previously served as the chair of the Senate Economic Development Committee, where he advocated for Michigan’s economic development efforts and personally championed Project 1MP, a concept for growing Michigan by one million people in under a decade.
Horn is now working to apply that effort to the Great Lakes Bay Region through Operation 40K, an effort that is scaled down to the region’s population with a target of growing by 40,000 people by the year 2040. Through this effort, Horn is advocating for sustainable evolution and growth of the region while drawing on support from education and workforce readiness, community development efforts, employment opportunities, underscoring many of the quality-of-life aspects of the region and more.
“I’m honored to join the Growing Michigan Together Council and focus on how jobs, talent development and people will fuel Michigan’s population goals,” said Horn. “It’s also incredibly valuable to have the Great Lakes Bay Region gain a seat at the table in this important effort and help shine a light on the region’s future. I’m looking forward to sharing what the region has to offer in terms of supporting Michigan’s population goals and working with partners from across the state to bring ideas back to our region.”
The Jobs, Talent and Economy workgroup includes the following members:
Monique Stanton, President & CEO, Michigan League for Public Policy
Jeannette Bradshaw, Recording Secretary, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 58
Guillermo Cisneros, President & CEO, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Alaina Jackson, Managing Director, Global Detroit
Ahmad Nassar, CEO & Creative Director, Detroit 75 Kitchen
Ken Horn, Executive Vice President of Strategic Development, Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance
Randy Thelen, President & CEO, The Right Place, Inc.
Chad Bassett, COO, BAMF Health
Stacie Bytwork, President & CEO, Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce
John Van Fossen, Vice President of Government Affairs, Meijer
Ahmad Ezzeddine, Vice President of Academic Student Affairs and Global Engagement, Wayne State University
Kevin Prokop, Managing Partner, Rockbridge Growth Equity, LLC
Eva Garza Dewaelsche, President & CEO, SER Metro-Detroit
James Avery, Director of Talent Development, Flint & Genesee Group
Adam Finkel, Partner, Orfin Ventures
Abigail Baudry, Michigan’s Creative Coast Project Manager and Communications & Strategic Projects Coordinator, Traverse Connect
“With the profound importance of this issue, I am excited to finally have the Jobs, Talent and Economy workgroup populated, especially with thoughtful leaders like Ken Horn. I had the good fortune of working with Ken when I was on staff in the legislature, where he proved himself to collaborative in approach, driven by practical solutions, and passionate about addressing complex economic development issues,” said Marty Fittante, CEO of InvestUP and co-chair of the Jobs, Talent and Economy workgroup. “I look forward to working with this group to find meaningful, impactful solutions to what I believe is the most important issue spanning the state.”
In addition to the workgroups, this fall, the Growing Michigan Together team will launch an ambitious public engagement plan with events across the state. The tour will include regional forums designed to discuss local challenges and growth opportunities in communities across the state. Additionally, many events will focus on collecting additional input from young people—at work, on campus, and online. Events in community spaces, workplaces, and on digital social media platforms will seek to include a broad range of perspectives. The tour will also meet college students on campus, convening both traditional students and adult learners with stops at universities, colleges, and community colleges. Engagements include move-ins, on-campus listening events, homecomings, high schools, and other youth-focused events across the state.
The full details of Governor Whitmer’s announcement can be viewed here.
It is significant that the Great Lakes Bay Region has a seat at the table in this important growth initiative and we look forward to collaborating with partners across the state to move Michigan and the region forward.
Please join us in celebrating Ken's nomination!
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