MEDC head Michael Finney to discuss Michigan's business future at chamber luncheon

Oct. 26, 2011 - PRLog -- Local business leaders will have a chance to get some first-hand insight on Michigan’s business growth potential and how the state intends to capitalize on it at the next Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber Legislative Forum, scheduled for Monday, Nov. 7, at Crystal Gardens in Southgate.
       The featured speaker will be Michael A. Finney, who was named president and chief executive officer of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. back in January, following the election of Gov. Rick Snyder.
       In that role Finney leads a wide-ranging public-private partnership that serves as the state’s marketing arm and lead agency for business development and overall economic growth. Its initiatives include the Pure Michigan advertising campaign.
       Finney served as the president, CEO and director of Ann Arbor SPARK until 2010. He also served as president and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise, in Rochester, N.Y., is a former vice president of emerging business sectors at the MEDC, and senior vice president and general manager at Thompson Saginaw. Prior to that he served as assistant city manager for Saginaw.
       A member of Snyder’s transition team last fall, Finney was named the 2008 Saginaw Valley State University Outstanding Alumnus for the College of Business and Management. He was also one of the nominees for Crain's Detroit Business 2007 Newsmakers of the Year.
       Finney’s talk will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
Cost to attend the monthly SWCRC Forum is $15 a person. Registration opens at 11 a.m. and lunch follows at 11:30 a.m. The program will begin at noon and conclude by 1 p.m.
       Advance registration is requested by calling the chamber office at (734) 284-6000.
Businesses and individuals interested in being a sponsor for this Legislative Forum or future chamber Forums can contact Forum Coordinator Mary Jarosz at (734) 479-0156 to obtain the details. Sponsors receive promotional benefits and also are able to participate in a pre-Forum reception with the guest speaker.
       Local high school students also are invited to attend the Legislative Forum. To sponsor a high school students’ table call the chamber at (734) 284-6000.
       Crystal Gardens is located at 16703 Fort St., just north of Pennsylvania Road. Additional information on chamber membership and the group’s other activities can be obtained at www.swcrc.com.

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Information provided by HPR Media & Promotional Services on behalf of the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber, www.swcrc.com. HPR is a southeast-Michigan-based publicity and publication services firm owned an operated by Joe Hoshaw, www.linkedin.com/in/joehoshaw.