Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently made appointments to the Growing Michigan Together Council, which she announced at the 2023 Mackinac Policy Conference. Among the appointees is Sandy K. Baruah, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Detroit Regional Chamber. Baruah is appointed to represent the interests of the private sector, labor, workforce development and talent, infrastructure, nonprofit or philanthropy, and education.
Sandy K. Baruah
The Growing Michigan Together Council will advise the Governor on specific policies to grow Michigan’s population. The council will identify a population goal for 2050 and will also look at ways to prepare Michigan’s workforce for in-demand jobs and emerging industries by proposing initiatives to improve preK-12 educational outcomes and long-term funding solutions for higher education. Additionally, to meet the needs of a growing, thriving population, the council will develop long-term, sustainable transportation and water infrastructure funding solutions.
Other appointees of the council include:
- Ambassador John Rakolta Jr., Chairman, Walbridge (Co-Chair of the Growing Michigan Together Council)
- Shirley Stancato, Past President and Chief Executive Officer, New Detroit Inc. (Co-Chair of the Growing Michigan Together Council)
- Linda Apsey, President and Chief Executive Officer, ITC Holdings
- Brian Calley, President, Small Business Association of Michigan
- JoAnn Chávez, Founder, Michigan Hispanic Collaborative; President, Michigan Hispanic Fund
- Robert Coppersmith, Executive Vice President, MITA, Inc.
- Jeffery Donofrio, President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Leaders for Michigan
- Patrick F. “Shorty” Gleason, Retired President and Business Agent, Michigan Iron Workers Local 25
- Anika Goss, Chief Executive Officer, Detroit Future City
- Maha Freij, President and Chief Executive Officer, ACCESS
- Ollie Howie, Managing Director, New Community Transformation Fund
- Santa Ono, President, University of Michigan
- Bill Parfet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Northwood Group
- Jennifer Root, Executive Director, SEIU Michigan
- Nikolai P. Vitti, Ed.D., Superintendent, Detroit Public Schools Community District
Additional appointments, including four members of the legislative branch and two members with expertise in demography and economics, will be made in the weeks ahead. These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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