Tyler Bailey is the Deputy Director of Business Services for the City of Flint, where he has led a significant transformation in the city's economic development efforts. Since stepping into the role, he has expanded the department from a single-person operation to a dynamic team encompassing economic development, licensing, and zoning. One of his most impactful achievements has been the creation and implementation of Flint’s first formal development process—bringing structure and clarity to a historically underdefined system.

He serves as the city's primary liaison for major development projects, including partnerships with Ashley Capital and NanoGraf Corporation, helping to facilitate investment and innovation in the region. Prior to this role, Tyler served as the City’s Small Business Specialist and also ran two small businesses in Flint, gaining firsthand experience in entrepreneurship and community development. A third generation Flintstone, Tyler takes great pride in being a part of addressing Flint’s current challenges and planning for Flint’s continued socio-financial renaissance.

Before entering public service, Tyler worked in the private sector, focusing on mixed-use multifamily property development throughout the Southeastern United States. Outside of work, he enjoys reading and spending time with his dog, Olive.

Chuck Donaldson is a Managing Director for the Regional Development Department at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  He oversees a field team comprised of community and business development professionals covering Prosperity Regions 3/5/6 which is generally located on the east side of the state from Mackinaw City to Port Huron.  In his role as Managing Director, Chuck works to build local capacity and advance development projects using a variety of economic development tools.  Chuck joined the MEDC in 2013. Chuck has a background in community planning, transportation planning, environmental studies, and economic development.  

Chuck was born in the metro Detroit area but went to college in California to study Natural Resources Management at Cal Poly State University at San Luis Obispo.  A little-known fact about Chuck is that during his summers in college, he was a National Park Service Park Ranger at Devils Postpile National Monument, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park in California. In his spare time Chuck likes to participate in outdoor hobbies like hunting, fishing, snowboarding, and hiking with his dogs.

Chuck can be reached at 810.241.6658 or donaldsonc2@michigan.org.

Allie Herkenroder serves as the Digital Equity Director for the Michigan High Speed Internet (MIHI) office at the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). MIHI aims to advance digital equity for all Michiganders. Allie leads the MIHI digital equity team and DE initiatives at MIHI, including the historic MI Connected Future statewide listening tour and the development of Michigan’s Inclusive Training, Technology, and Equity Network (MITTEN). Allie understands the tangible and long-lasting impact the digital divide has on our economy, mental and physical health, and education, all of which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Allie comes to MIHI from Flint where she implemented the ConnectHomeUSA broadband initiative across eight public housing communities and connected over 1,000 families to free broadband access and devices.

Amy Hovey has been leading the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) as its chief executive officer and executive director since January 2023, making history as the first woman to hold this role in the agency’s history. With over two decades of experience spanning government, philanthropy, and the private sector, she brings a well-rounded perspective to housing development and policy.

Before joining MSHDA, Amy worked at the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, where she led special projects in Flint for six years and served as a housing consultant for Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Her diverse career includes roles as senior vice president and CEO of the Center for Community Progress in Washington, D.C., program director for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation in Lansing, and district chief of staff for Congressman Dan Kildee. She also began her career in banking and founded a consulting firm.

Her leadership continues to shape innovative approaches to housing and community revitalization in Michigan and beyond. She currently sits on the board of directors for the National Council of State Housing Agencies and on the National Advisory Council of the National Housing Conference. In March 2025, she was appointed to the National Housing Conference’s Board of Governors. Her term will officially commence in June 2025.

Amy holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and psychology from Alma College and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Michigan-Flint.

Josh Hundt is the Senior Advisor with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation where he is the executive responsible for the development, execution, and project management of strategic initiatives and business growth opportunities for the organization. Additionally, Josh serves as senior counsel to Business Development team and serves as a senior representative of the MEDC for various board, legislative, business, and media opportunities.

Josh has nearly two decades of economic development experience and extensive knowledge of statewide economic development programs, with signification experience in policy development and management, and experience in managing relationships with key accounts and stakeholders. Josh has been a member of the MEDC executive team since 2017, including a five-year stint as the organization’s Chief Business Development Officer. He played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of the Michigan Business Development Program, MEDC Industry 4.0 initiative, the Build Ready Sites Program, the Critical Industry Program and Strategic Site Readiness Program under the Strategic Attraction Reserve Fund, and many COVID relief tools. 

Dr. Megan Knittel is a Project Manager with Merit Network Inc. In this role she supports digital opportunity research initiatives across the State of Michigan. Megan is also an Assistant Professor with the Quello Center for Media & Information Policy at Michigan State University. Her expertise includes information technology, broadband policy, and the impacts of technological change. Megan is passionate about utilizing data-driven strategies to improve the lives of Michigan residents.

Dr. Lobo is the UC Foundation and First Tennessee Bank Distinguished Professor of Finance in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga where he teaches Finance courses at the senior undergraduate, MBA and Executive MBA levels. Dr. Lobo has a Ph.D. in Financial Economics, Masters degrees in Economics and Management Studies, a B.A. in Economics, and is a CFA charter holder. Dr. Lobo’s research covers theoretical and applied issues in finance and economics.  His work on the economic impact of fiber optic infrastructure has garnered global attention and served to build the case for fiber deployment in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 2009, he was a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. His research has been published in reputed academic journals and presented at numerous domestic and international conferences.  Dr. Lobo was inducted into UT Chattanooga’s Council of Scholars, the university’s highest recognition for those who research, publish, and have national and international reputations in their fields.  He has received the University’s Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award at two different universities. He is currently the Department Head of Finance and Economics at UTC, and Research Scholar at the Center for Regional Economic Research. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Lobo worked in investment banking in India and Singapore. 

County Executive J. Ryan McMahon, II is the 4th County Executive. He assumed office on November 2nd, 2018.

Ryan started his career in public service as a Syracuse City Councilor in 2005 after being elected at the age of 25. He was reelected in 2007 for a second term and quickly earned a reputation as a bi-partisan problem solver.

In 2011, County Executive McMahon was elected to the Onondaga County Legislature and was subsequently elected Chairman of the County Legislature in 2012 by his fellow legislators becoming the youngest Chairman in County history. As Chairman, his primary focus was job creation and ensuring good fiscal discipline in the county. Under his leadership, property taxes were brought down to historic lows.

Upon becoming County Executive in 2018, Ryan has placed a focus on three main initiatives: poverty, infrastructure and economic development. A passionate supporter of small and local businesses, the County Executive firmly believes that the best way out of poverty is through a job and career. In his first term, County Executive McMahon has also led the way in securing huge economic successes for our community including JMA Wireless on the South Side of Syracuse, Amazon in the Town of Clay and most recently, the largest economic development project in the history of the United States with Micron. 

Karyn Miller was elected as the Charter Township of Flint Supervisor in 2008. Recognizing the need, she has been a strong proponent of the Township’s economic development promoting the creation of the Township’s DDA, 2 CIA’s and the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority in 2018. Under her leadership, the Township has seen many road improvement projects, including 11 road rehabilitation SAD’s over the past few years, a trail extension and several grants awarded to aid in the Township’s struggling financial situation all while improving the Township’s high bond rating.  Miller has almost 17 years of experience in municipal governance and is focusing on effective team leadership and the development of a strategic plan.  She serves on many boards, including the Flint Township DDA, the Flint Township Road Advisory Committee, Genesee County 911 Consortium Executive Committee and the Bishop Airport Authority Board of Directors.   She has a BS in Food Systems Economics and Management from Michigan State University.  She is married with 5 grown children and 4 ½ grandchildren.  Karyn enjoys traveling and spending as much time with her family as possible.

Jashell Mitchell-Cross is a Flint, MI native and 1999 graduate of Flint Northern HS, where she was part of the Back to Back Girls Basketball State Championship, and their 2016 induction into the Greater Flint Sports Hall of Fame. The former Women's Basketball Student-Athlete is a 2005 HBCU Graduate of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, FL. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Physical Education/Recreation and was inducted into the 2016 BCU 40 under 40. Jashell graduated with her masters degree in 2013 from The University of Memphis. 

Her professional career began at the University of Arizona in Basketball Operations under Hall of Fame coach Joan Bonvicini and continued to athletic academics at Bethune-Cookman University. She managed four sports of Men's Basketball/Women's Basketball/Softball/Baseball. In 2010, Jashell transitioned into football operations at the University of Memphis and was quickly promoted to athletic administration and operations under the U of M Director of Athletics. 

In 2014-2017, she served at North Carolina Central University as the Assistant AD for Football Operations. This role made her one of under 10 women in the country at the time, to hold this position for a Division I football program. While at NC Central, the football team secured three MEAC Football Championships under Head Coach Jerry Mack, and was identified as the community service leader for a Division I Football program by volunteer servicer Helper Helper. While at NC Central, Jashell was selected by the National Football League to attend the 2016 Women's Careers in Football Forum in Phoenix, Arizona.  

In 2018, the National Football League Football Operations division in NYC, selected Jashell to serve as the Manager of HBCU Relations. In this capacity she managed the HBCU Careers in Football Forum, Quarterback Coaching Summit, and the NFL Experienceship program, which allows students to job shadow at the Super Bowl, NFL Pro Bowl, NFL Combine and the NFL Draft. She assisted with the Women's Careers in Football Forum under women in sports advocates Sam Rapoport and Venessa Hutchinson. After two years she transitioned to NFL Player Engagement and Operations under sports industry veteran SVP Tracy Pearlman. 

In 2021, Jashell returned to her home state of Michigan to serve as the Senior University Relations Manager, with Dan Gilbert's Rocket Companies in Detroit. She specialized in providing HBCU students with paid internships and paid housing, as well as professional development and initiatives with their HBCU campus partners. 

In 2023, Jashell was named as a Rising Executive by Women Leaders in College Sports while serving as the Assistant AD & Chief of Staff for Football Operations at HBCU Jackson State University. She created the Total Tiger Experience which still serves as the off the field leadership/professional development and community impact for JSU Football. 

Jashell currently serves as a Development Officer at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. Serving in areas of support for Flint Promise, GEN Forward Network, and other strategic initiatives for high level community impact. 

Jashell is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Flint community supporter of Invisible Giants Legacy & Leadership Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that provides City of Flint youth and adults with ACES in Spaces (Arts Culture Education,& Sports) resources. Jashell enjoys traveling with her husband Mario Cross, being a pet parent to their maltipoo doggies Shugga Bear & Pepper, and being with her family.

Amari Steward joined Explore Flint & Genesee, a division of the Flint & Genesee Group in January of 2016 as Corporate Sales Manager. She was later promoted to Executive Director in 2023, promoting hospitality and tourism in Genesee County on a state and national level.

Prior to joining the Flint & Genesee Convention and Visitors Bureau, Steward dedicated ten years in tourism and hotel management by working with the leading brands in hospitality such as IHG and Marriott; in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. In addition to professional responsibilities, Steward served on the board of St Luke New Life Center and served as 2018 board President for the YWCA of Greater Flint.

Amari is an active participant in Michigan Society of Association Executives in which she was named 2017 Rising Leader of the Year by the statewide association. She takes pride in participating in numerous volunteer opportunities in collaboration with other organizations within the community in which she was raised. However, what she values most is the time she gets to spend with her husband, their blended family, and two dogs.

Mark Vanderpool has served as City Manager of Sterling Heights since 2004 where he has been a leading advocate in the city’s proactive economic development program. He helped lead the City’s Visioning 2030 Plan which resulted in a $45 million voter approved initiative to reinvest in quality of life assets, including an upgrade of all parks, construction of a new Farmers Market Pavilion, new Community Center, Skate Park, Ice Rink and Dog Park.  Vanderpool developed funding strategies for over $400 million in roadway improvements over a 10 year period.  He helped steer the City through the worst economic crisis resulting in financial stability and preservation of a superior bond rating.  Vanderpool has 30 years of municipal management experience and has focused on being a cost-effective leader.  He serves on numerous boards, including Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board of Directors, SEMCOG’s Executive Committee, MML Board of Trustees and is past Chairman of the Macomb Area Communities for Regional Opportunities (MACRO).  He has a BA in Political Science from Augustana College and an MPA from Northern Illinois University.  He is married with 4 grown children and 3 grandchildren.