RELEASE: Gov. Whitmer Welcomes New Staff to Executive Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE?

November 16, 2023?

Gov. Whitmer Welcomes New Staff to Executive Office????

LANSING, Mich. ? Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced additional promotions and hires in the appointments, constituent services, community engagement, legislative affairs, policy, and special projects divisions within the executive office.?Today?s announcements represent hires made over the last several months.?

?Today, I am proud to welcome new members to my team and promote hardworking staff who have helped us move Michigan forward,? said Governor Whitmer. ?We have gotten a heck of a lot done this year, and with these new and familiar faces, I know we will keep our foot on the accelerator and deliver on the issues that make a real difference in people?s lives.??

Office of Community Engagement?

Jenita Moore, Director of the Office of Community Engagement??

Jenita will join the team as director of the office of community engagement. She recently served as chief of staff to state Senator Sarah Anthony, who chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee in the Michigan Legislature which recently passed the ?Make it in Michigan? budget for Fiscal Year 2024. Jenita has extensive policy and legislative experience during her two decades of service, including at the Michigan Department of State, Department of Insurance and Financial Services, and in former Governor Granholm?s office. Jenita received her bachelor?s degree in public law and government from Eastern Michigan University and later earned a Master of Public Administration from Western Michigan University.??

Nate Engle, who previously served as the director of the Office of Community Engagement, accepted a new position as director of community engagement within the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.?

Eric Keller, Community Engagement Advisor?

Eric serves as a senior advisor in the Office of Community Engagement in the executive office. He most recently worked in the U.S. Senate, where he was the regional director for Senator Peters. He was also previously appointed as deputy treasurer for a county government, and has extensive professional experience in nonprofit and advocacy management, focusing on both environmental and labor issue areas. Keller earned his undergraduate degree from Eastern Michigan University.?

Senior Advisor?

Jamil Poonja, Senior Advisor?

Jamil will join the executive office as a senior advisor. He most recently served in the Biden-Harris Administration as a Senior Policy Advisor for Infrastructure Implementation at The White House. He previously worked in business and operating roles, including as the chief operating officer for a national organization building economic security for working Americans, and for financial services, healthcare and marketplace businesses. Jamil has also advised organizations on economic issues and worked on global climate, science and technology partnerships. He studied economics and government at Georgetown University.?

Legislative Affairs?

Mikhail Perkins, Legislative Affairs Specialist?

Mikhail will join the team as legislative affairs specialist. He recently served as a policy advisor for the Michigan Senate Majority Democratic Staff, specializing in finance, economic and community development, and civil rights. Before that, he worked as a legal extern at the Saginaw Defenders Office, led former state Representative Byrd?s office as chief of staff and policy director, and was a law clerk at White & Wojda Attorneys and Counselors. Mikhail received his J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law and undergraduate degree in political science from Michigan State University.?

Policy

Aaron Sepulveda, Policy Advisor?

Aaron joined the team as a policy advisor. His portfolio includes local government issues, public safety, and migration. He joined the administration from the Department of Labor of Economic Opportunity, where he served as a policy researcher into employment challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals. Aaron has previously served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the County of Togo. He holds a master?s degree in public policy from the University of Minnesota, and master?s and bachelor?s degrees in anthropology from Case Western Reserve University.?

Michigan Infrastructure Office?

Kristin Brady, Technical Assistance Center Director?

Kristin has been hired as the director of the technical assistance center within the Michigan Infrastructure Office, a new role established to support Michigan?s ongoing efforts to empower communities to apply for and win federal funding investments. Brady comes from Blink Charging where she served as operations manager in the grants department. Prior to that she dedicated 30 years of service at Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency where she held numerous roles, including community service representative, housing program coordinator and manager, and director of community development and services.?

Appointments??

Harnoor Kaur, Appointment Specialist?

Harnoor joined the appointments team as an appointment specialist. She was previously an intern for the constituent services department. Kaur earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and political science from Michigan State University.?

Constituent Services??

Madilyn Meredith, Issue Specialist?

Madilyn joined the executive office as an issue specialist for the constituent services division. Before joining Governor Whitmer?s office, she served the City of Lansing as an intern and staff assistant for Mayor Andy Schor, where she gained experience in constituent casework. While working in the mayor?s office, she also supported the communications team and assisted in event planning. Madilyn received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy from Michigan State University?s James Madison College.?????

Ian Earle, Issue Specialist??

Ian has been hired as an issues specialist for the constituent services division. Ian previously served as a field organizer for the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights and as a member services intern for the House Democratic Caucus. He studied political theory and constitutional democracy at Michigan State University's James Madison College.?

Joshua Szewczul, Issue Specialist??

Joshua has been hired as an issues specialist in the constituent services division. He formally worked under the Michigan Democratic Party in 2022 election cycle. Previously, he?s had experience as a field geologist at Big Rock Exploration Environmental Consulting Firm and served as an intern in the Brownfield Department at EGLE. Szewczul received his Bachelor of Science and E.S.S minor at Michigan State University.?

Executive Office Reorganization?

In addition to new hires, the governor recently promoted two members of her senior leadership.?

Zack Pohl has been promoted to principal deputy chief of staff. Zack is a veteran of state government and political campaigns in Michigan. Prior to serving as communications director for the executive office and the governor's 2018 campaign, he worked for former U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer and the Michigan Senate Democratic Caucus. Zack is a graduate of Michigan State University, and lives in Okemos with his wife and two daughters.??

He will oversee the communications, federal affairs, legislative affairs, policy, and scheduling divisions.??

Maria Martinez has been promoted to deputy chief of staff. Martinez joined the executive office in December 2020 as deputy legal counsel and was promoted to chief compliance officer in October 2021. She also formerly led the governor's legal team as acting chief legal counsel in addition to her role as chief compliance officer. She has experience as a former in-house counsel for a Michigan business and working as an attorney at Bodman PLC, a Detroit-based law firm. Martinez received both her J.D. and undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.??

She will oversee the appointments, community engagement, constituent services, and special projects divisions. ?

###?