Whitmer spends Wednesday preparing for transition to governor

After Tuesday's nights win in the general election, Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer took Wednesday to discuss her transition into the Governor's office and announce the team of who will be supporting her.

The key members include a diverse group of policy, business, and philanthropic leaders, according to a release by Whitmer.

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was also created that will serve as the hub for all news about the transition.

“I am proud to have this esteemed group of leaders from across Michigan helping set the foundation needed to get to work for the people of this state on day one of my administration,” said Governor-elect Whitmer. “These individuals bring the know-how and can-do experience that will be critical to expanding access to affordable health care, improving education and skills training, cleaning up Michigan’s drinking water and, of course fixing our roads.”

The transition members are listed below:

– An associate professor of pediatrics and human development at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine and a nationally-recognized child advocate, Hanna-Attisha is founder and director of the MSU and Hurley Children's Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative, a model program mitigating the impact of the Flint water crisis.

– A professor at University of Michigan School of Law, McQuade served as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan from 2010-2017. Appointed by President Barack Obama, she was the first woman to serve in her position.

– Mayor of Detroit from 1994-2001, Archer has also served as chair of the Board of Directors of the Detroit Regional Chamber and as president of the American Bar Association, National Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan.

– Chair of the Steelcase Foundation and a Grand Valley State University Trustee, Wolters is also president of the Kate and Richard Wolters Foundation and is involved with the Progressive Women's Alliance of West Michigan, Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service and is co-chair of the Kent County Children's Commission.

– Former Michigan Senate Minority Leader, Prusi represented Michigan’s 38th District in the Michigan Senate, serving three terms in the House of Representatives prior to that. He is a native of Negaunee, working more than two decades in the iron ore mines and serving as president of USW Local 4950 in the Upper Peninsula.

– Former U.S. Congressman for Michigan’s 7th District and a practicing physician, Schwarz is a lecturer at University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and serves on the board of directors of Voters Not Politicians.

– Retired Vice Chairman of Ford Motor Company, Gilmour held a number of key senior management positions at Ford as well as serving as president of Wayne State University from 2010-2013. Gilmour currently serves as president of The Gilmour-Jirgens Fund and co-chair of the HOPE Fund Committee.

– Co-Founder of Ann Arbor-based internet security provider Duo Security, Song is a leading voice in the information security industry and has a history of building successful products and companies to solve pressing security problems.

– Chairman of Chemical Financial Corporation, the holding company of the largest bank headquartered in Michigan, Torgow is also the founder of the Sterling Group. He is a member of the Executive Board of Business Leaders for Michigan and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and is a member of the Board of the Detroit Downtown Partnership.

– HOPE, Roberson spent four years as group executive of the City of Detroit’s Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity Department leading the charge on how Michigan and Detroit-based businesses can work together to enhance local employment. Prior to this position, she served as corporation counsel for the Law Department as Detroit lead for the White House Domestic Policy Council for Strong Cities, Strong Communities.

, Loepp also serves on the board of the National Institute for Health Care Management, is the executive committee chairman of the Downtown Detroit Partnership board and serves on the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.

Also, Whitmer has named Mark Bernstein as director of her Transition Office. Bernstein, who is president and managing partner of The Sam Bernstein Law Firm, PLLC, and serves on the University of Michigan Board of Regents, will lead day-to-day operations of Whitmer’s transition. Also serving on the transition are Awenate Cobbina as deputy director, JoAnne Huls as COO, Mark Burton as chief strategist and Steve Liedel as general counsel.