Committees and Taskforces
Sign up for a Committee or Taskforce
MEDA Members, to sign up for a committee or taskforce, email meda@medaweb.org and specify which committee or taskforce you are interested in.
Advocacy Committee
MEDA’s Advocacy Committee has been successful in influencing economic development policy.
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The Charge of the Advocacy Committee is as follows:
- Carry out the Board-approved advocacy plan.
Committee Co-Chairs:
- Kurt M. Brauer, Partner, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
- Mary Myers, CBSP, Director of Business Development, Lake Superior Community Partnership
Committee Members:
- Contessa Alexander, Development Analyst, City of Muskegon
- Peter Anastor, Director, Office of Rail, Michigan Department of Transportation
- Craig Clark, Owner, Clark Communications
- Lois Ellis, Executive Director, Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance
- Todd Fenton, CEcD, EDFP, Deputy City Manager, City of Royal Oak
- Rochelle Freeman, Business and Economic Development Director, City of Southfield
- Rich Houtteman, Community Affairs Manager, Consumers Energy
- Ryan Hundt, Executive Director, Michigan Works! Association
- Madison Jarmon, Community Affairs Manager, Consumers Energy
- Michelle LaJoie, Executive Director, Alger-Marquette Community Action Board
- Samantha Mariuz, MPA, EDFP, Vice President, Economic Development Services, AKT Peerless Environmental Services
- James McBryde, President and CEO, Middle Michigan Development Corporation
- Margaret McCammon, PhD, MBA, Portfolio Manager, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
- Paula Nas, Director, Office of Economic Development, University of Michigan - Flint
- Christine Roeder, EDFP, Executive Vice President / Regional Economic Competitiveness Officer, Detroit Regional Partnership
- Sarah Snoeyink, Economic Development Coordinator, Market Van Buren
- Caitlyn Stark, President, Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce
- Tracey Tucker, Economic Enhancement Director, Charter Township of Flint
- Alan Weber, Managing Vice President, Business Development, Detroit Regional Partnership
- Arnold Weinfeld, Director for Workforce and Economic Development Partnerships, Michigan State University, Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship
Membership Committee
MEDA’s Membership Committee works together to attract and retain a strong membership community for the Association.
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The Charge of the Membership Committee is as follows:
- Carry out the Board-approved plan.
Committee Co-Chairs:
- Kati Mora, Vice President, Middle Michigan Development Corporation
- Alan Weber, Managing Vice President, Business Development, Detroit Regional Partnership
Committee Members:
- Charles Boulard, Community Development Director, City of Novi
- Doug Brown, Director of Development, ASTI Environmental
- Aurelius Christian, Lansing Community Development Fellow, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM)
- Craig Clark, Owner, Clark Communications
- Justin Horvath, CEcD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership
- Heidi Pfannes, Director of Business Development, Albert Kahn Associates, Inc.
- Nick Posavetz, Vice President, Plante Moran Realpoint
- Vicky Rowinski, Director, The Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development
- Ronald Smedley, Jr., CEcD, Brownfield Redevelopment Coordinator, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
- Jeffrey Smith, Director, University Corporate Research Park, MSU Foundation
- Jim Wagner, Economic Development Coordinator, City of Trenton
Annual Meeting Committee
A fresh Annual Meeting Committee plans and executes MEDA’s biggest professional development event of the year.
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The Charge of the Annual Meeting Committee is as follows:
- Create a vibrant learning opportunity for the diverse membership base using educational sessions, networking, tours, and other unique delivery methods.
2024 Committee Co-Chairs:
- Todd Dickerson, Director of Economic Development, West Erie Realty Solutions, LTD
- Heidi Pfannes, Vice President, Director of Business Development, Albert Kahn Associates, Inc.
2024 Committee Members:
- Sam Bailey, Strategic Initiatives Manager, Northern Lakes Economic Alliance
- Gavin Beckford, Economic Development and DDA Manager, Canton Township
- Sara Dimitroff, Economic Development Project Manager, City of Bay City
- Salam Habhab, Economic Development and Planning Specialist, City of Oak Park
- Ryan Hundt, Executive Director, Michigan Works! Association
- Kristy Jones, Director, Business and Community Development, Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County
- Jason Kester, Ohio Valley Regional Development Director, Agracel, Inc.
- Ian McCain, Economic Development Manager, City of Eastpointe
- Katie Multhauf, Economic Development Manager, Market Van Buren
- Penny Payea, Director of Business Services and Economic Development, Michigan Works! Region 7B & Ogemaw Economic Development Corporation
- Nick Posavetz, Vice President, Plante Moran
- Corey Utley, Economic Development Manager, Consumers Energy
- Isaac Wolf, Business Forward Consultant, Business Forward Oakland County
Emerging Leaders Committee
The Emerging Leaders Committee coordinates mentoring, networking, and training activities for MEDA's Emerging Leaders Network.
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The Charge to the Emerging Leaders Committee is as follows:
- Ensure connectivity to industry professionals and establish a network of peers with expertise in the various aspects of economic development.
- Provide formal individual and/or group opportunities for emerging leaders to be mentored by experienced economic development professionals.
- Provide emerging leaders with specific professional development opportunities.
- Create a network conduit for new members and established members.
Committee Co-Chairs:
- Stephanie Carroll, Manager, Business Development and Community Relations, City of Auburn Hills
- Samantha Mariuz, MPA, EDFP, Project Manager, Fleis & VandenBrink
Committee Members:
- Faris Alami, Founder & CEO, International Strategic Management (ISM, Inc.)
- Emma Bostwick, Tri-County Development Manager, Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP)
- Erica Burman, Economic Development and Financial Services Specialist, City of Roseville
- William Butler, Senior Business Development Manager, Detroit Regional Partnership
- Aurelius Christian, Lansing Community Development Fellow, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM)
- James V. Gammicchia, MPA, Administrative Services Specialist, City of Roseville
- Christopher Germain, Chief Executive Officer, Lake Superior Community Partnership
- Madison Jarmon, Community Affairs Manager, Consumers Energy
- Brandon Jonas, Planner II, ROWE Professional Services Company
- David Lutz, Vice President, Community Development Executive, NTH Consultants
- Tanya Markos-Vanno, PMBC Development and Operations Manager, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
- Tiffini D., Smith, MBA, MSA-HRM, Director of Human Resources, Detroit Economic Growth Corp.
- Samantha Timko, Chief Assistant to the Township Supervisor, Charter Township of Orion
- Jacob Uhazie, Planning and Economic Development Coordinator, City of Livonia
- Kasey Zehner, Director of Business Development, Greater Gratiot Development, Inc.
Education Committee
Vital to MEDA’s highly-rated conference and training events is the Education Committee; a team of members that build the sessions based on the needs of the economic development community.
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The Charge of the Education Committee is as follows:
- Oversee the educational needs identified by all committees, prioritize and implement in accordance with the vision/mission/strategic plan.
- Hold spring and fall membership meetings/educational events with sessions that help the diverse membership base do their jobs more efficiently and effectively.
Committee Chair:
- Marcia Gebarowski, EDFP, Director, Business Development, Livingston County, Ann Arbor SPARK
- John Wolf-Meyer, EDFP, Business Development Manager, Oakland County Economic Development
Committee Members:
- Faris Alami, Founder & CEO, International Strategic Management (ISM, Inc.)
- Tyler Bailey, Small Business Specialist, City of Flint
- Jamie Beier Grant, Manager of Economic and Workforce Development, The Montrose Group, LLC
- Charles Boulard, Community Development Director, City of Novi
- Morgan Carroll, Director of Business Development, Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce
- Jessica DeBone, National Manager, Brownfield and Economic Incentives, PM Environmental, Inc.
- Karl Dehn, EDFP, Senior Strategic Advisor, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
- Sara Dimitroff, Economic Development Project Manager, City of Bay City
- Tom Fehrenbach, Director of Planning, Building, and Development, City of East Lansing
- Cathy Knapp, CEcD, Partner, Southwest Michigan First
- Dylan Luna, Business Development Manager, Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance
- Nichole Lyke, Economic Development Coordinator Barry County Chamber and Economic Development Alliance
- Roy Messing, Director of State Center Operations, Employee Ownership Expansion Network
- Jim Reaume, Economic Development Manager, Bay Future, Inc.
- Jacob Uhazie, Planning and Economic Development Coordinator, City of Livonia