Gov. Whitmer Announces Promotions and New Hires in Executive Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 2, 2024

Contact: [email protected]

Gov. Whitmer Announces Promotions and New Hires in Executive Office

LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced additional promotions and hires within the executive office.

"Today, I'm excited to announce new hires and promotions on my team who are working hard every day to get things done," said Governor Whitmer. "After signing another balanced budget to round out 18 historically productive months of policy and action, we still have a heck of a lot of work to do. With this growing team, we will keep our foot on the accelerator and deliver on the kitchen table issues that make a real difference in people's lives. Let's go."

"Whether new to our team or established members, I am thrilled to work with these individuals to deliver for hardworking Michiganders and build upon our deep commitment to improving Michigan communities," said Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. "Together, we will continue to lower barriers to health and wealth for Michiganders in communities across our state."

Executive Office Staff

Governor Whitmer announced promotions and hires within the policy, legal, appointments, community engagement, and communications divisions in the executive office.

POLICY

Marc Rehmann, Advisor

Marc Rehmann will be transitioning to a new advisor role in the executive office, where he will lead the administration's efforts on key issues, including economic development and the state budget. Marc joined the Executive Office of the Governor in 2021 as the policy director. Before joining the administration, Marc served as the deputy chief of staff to U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO), a senior campaign manager at the Center for American Progress, and a legislative aide to U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke (D-TX). Marc received both his J.D. and undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 2012 and 2006, respectively.

Zoe Ahlstrom, Interim Policy Director

Zoe Ahlstrom has been promoted to interim policy director. Zoe joined the Executive Office of the Governor in March 2023 as a policy advisor and was promoted to deputy policy director in 2024. Her portfolio includes housing, rural development, natural resources, and military and veterans. She joined the administration from Consumers Energy where she served in multiple roles, most recently being manager for the energy assistance team. She previously served as deputy chief of staff for state Senator David Knezek and legislative aide for state Representatives Terry Brown and Frank Liberati. Zoe is an alumnus of AmeriCorps NCCC and holds a bachelor's in political science from Kansas State University.

Martha Cambell, Senior Climate Policy Advisor

Martha Campbell joined the Executive Office of the Governor in April 2024 as the senior climate policy advisor. She joins the governor's office with over a decade of experience in the energy sector. Martha arrives most recently from RMI, a 40-year-old think-and-do tank focused on transitioning the economy off fossil fuels using market-based approaches. While at RMI Martha founded REALIZE and the Advanced Building Construction Collaborative, partnerships with the US Department of Energy and California Energy Commission, focused on scaling building decarbonization in new and existing buildings. Prior to RMI Martha served in a variety of roles including as a program equities trader for Goldman Sachs all the way to a field organizer for the Alliance for Climate Protection and 2008 Obama Campaign. She previously served as the public director of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. Martha holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Stanford University and a Master of Business Administration and Master of Science from the University of Michigan's Erb Institute.

APPOINTMENTS

Alissa Cravens, Director of Appointments

Alissa Cravens joins the Executive Office of the Governor in August 2024 as the director of appointments. Before joining the administration, Alissa served as chief of staff to Assistant Senate Majority Leader Darrin Camilleri (SD-4). Prior to her service in the Senate, Alissa served in numerous roles in and around the Michigan House of Representatives, including legislative director for then-state Representative Darrin Camilleri (HD-23), regional political director, campaign manager, organizer, and most notably deputy caucus director in 2022, helping lead the team that flipped the House to Democratic control for the first time in over a decade. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Emily Mellits, Deputy Director of the Office of Community Engagement (OCE)

Emily Mellits has been promoted to deputy director of the Office of Community Engagement. Emily joined the Executive Office of the Governor in April 2023 as a community engagement specialist. Before joining the administration, Emily served as finance director for the campaigns of Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. She volunteers as a county committee member for the Macomb County Democratic Party. She has also volunteered as the chair of the Macomb County Branch NAACP Political Action Committee. Emily started her career as a Biology and Chemistry educator at Grosse Pointe North High School. Before joining this administration, she continued her education advocacy by helping to establish the nonprofit organization Michigan Parent Alliance for Safe Schools. She graduated from Oakland University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a teaching minor in Chemistry.

Timothy Brooks, Community Engagement Assistant

Timothy Brooks has been promoted to community engagement assistant. Timothy joined the Executive Office of the Governor as an intern with the Office of Community Engagement and was hired as a staffer in March 2024. His portfolio includes the Flint and Genesee area and young Michiganders. Timothy graduated from the University of Michigan-Flint with a bachelor's degree in supply chain management and international business in 2023.

Anna Cool, Engagement Specialist

Anna Cool joined the Executive Office of the Governor in May 2024 as a community engagement specialist covering the greater Lansing area as well as Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties. Before joining the administration, she served as a district director/scheduler in the Office of state Senator Sean McCann. After taking her initial courses at Kalamazoo Valley Community College as a high school student, Anna received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and Policy and Comparative Cultures and Politics from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 2021.

Victoria Houston, Engagement Specialist

Victoria Houston joined the Executive Office of the Governor as a community engagement specialist in April 2024, covering Downriver, Western Wayne, Monroe and Lenawee counties and is working to support the office with statewide stakeholders in health, education, and labor. Prior to joining the administration, she served as a staff assistant in Michigan Senator Gary Peters' Office. She went on to hold a legislative correspondent position, working on health, education, and labor policy. She has also previously held internships in Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow and Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur's Offices. She received her bachelor's degree in human resource management from the University of Toledo in 2021.

Carly Swanson, Engagement Specialist

Carly Swanson has been promoted to engagement specialist, covering western portions of the state including Berrien, Kent, and Muskegon Counties. Carly joined the Executive Office of the Governor in October of 2023 as the executive assistant to Chief of Staff JoAnne Huls and Principal Deputy Chief of Staff Zack Pohl. She previously worked in the Iowa legislature as clerk to state Legislator Molly Donahue in both the state House and state Senate. She brings additional experience from her work as an intern for U.S. Congresswoman, Cindy Axne (IA-03). She received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Drake University in 2023.

CONSTITUENT SERVICES

Adam Schira, Deputy Director of Constituent Services

Adam Schira has been promoted to deputy director of constituent services. Adam joined the Executive Office of the Governor in August 2020 as a constituent services student assistant. In May 2022, Adam was hired full-time as an issue specialist. Before joining the administration, Adam served as a legislative intern for the Michigan House of Representatives. He received his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Social Relations and Policy from Michigan State University in 2022.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE

Abrielle Matibag, Executive Assistant to Deputy Chief of Staff

Abrielle Matibag has been promoted to executive assistant to the deputy chief of staff. Abrielle joined the Executive Office of the Governor in May 2022 as an intern with constituent services. In May 2023, she was hired full-time as an issue specialist. Abrielle graduated from Michigan State University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and Policy.

FEDERAL AFFAIRS

Preston Weyland, Deputy Director of Federal Affairs

Preston Weyland has been promoted to deputy director of federal affairs. Preston joined the Executive Office of the Governor as a federal grants and appropriations manager in April 2021. Over almost 15 years, Preston has acquired extensive experience in Federal and State government. This includes serving four years in the United States Senate working on Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor's Appropriations Committee portfolio. Previously, he has also worked alongside the Michigan Department of Treasury on state debt issuance. He received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Central Arkansas.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF LT. GOVERNOR GILCHRIST

Kylie Schmitt, Special Assistant to Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist II

Kylie Schmitt has been promoted to special assistant to Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist II. Kylie joined the Executive Office of the Governor as an intern with the advance and scheduling team in January 2024. Prior to joining the administration, she served as a legislative intern in state Senator Sarah Anthony's office. Kylie received her Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Cultures and Politics from Michigan State University in 2024.

DeKeea Quinney-Davis

DeKeea Quinney-Davis joined the Executive Office of the Governor as a scheduler for Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II in June 2024. Prior to joining the administration, DeKeea worked for Senate Majority Leader, Winnie Brinks. She is a graduate of Lansing Public Schools.

COMMUNICATIONS

Bre Wilson, Constituency Media Manager

Bre Wilson has been promoted to constituency media manager. Bre joined the Executive Office of the Governor as a staffer for the advance and scheduling team in January 2024. Before joining the administration, Breona interned for the City of Detroit and the U.S. House of Representatives. Breona received her Master of Arts in Organizational Communications/ Public Relations from Wayne State University in May 2024 and her bachelor's degree from Cornerstone University in Broadcast Communications in 2018.

Shreya Bandyopadhyay, Deputy Press Secretary

Shreya Bandyopadhyay joined the Executive Office of the Governor as the deputy press secretary in June 2024. She joined the administration from the National Women's Law Center where she served multiple roles, most recently being a creative and digital strategies associate. Shreya has also previously held internships in the Wisconsin legislature, Vital Voices Global Partnership, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia. Shreya received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Legal Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May 2022.

Ivonne Serrano, Visual Communications Specialist

Ivonne Serrano joined the Executive Office of the Governor in December 2023 as a graphic designer. Before joining the administration, Ivonne worked for the City of Miami Beach as a visual communications specialist. Ivonne received her Associate of Arts from Miami Dade College in 2015 and her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the College for Creative Studies in 2022.

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