DBusiness Magazine
Capitol Returns
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s tenure as Michigan’s elected leader has been marked by an elastic lockdown of the state economy, a steady stream of political attacks, and an autocratic management style. Combined, it’s led to thousands of job losses and business closings since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Illustrations by Jason Raish
In an inaugural address, every elected president, governor, or mayor seeks to offer a list of their numerous goals while detailing a first-term agenda. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ran on a promise to “fix the damn roads,” vowed bipartisan cooperation, and committed to dealing with a host of other issues in her first State of the State address in February 2019.
Gregory Nowak is one of Michigan's leading experts on state and local tax issues. He focuses his practice on both structural tax planning and state tax controversy matters.
A longtime advocate for economic development in Michigan left that role this year, turning over an influential business organization focused on improving the state’s economy to new leadership.
Doug Rothwell ended his tenure at Business Leaders for Michigan this fall after what he says are many successes, but also remaining challenges.
The organization grew out of Detroit Renaissance, a business roundtable for the city that launched in the 1970s. After forming and leading the Michigan Economic Development Corp., Rothwell moved to the Detroit-based organization and rebranded it with a stateside mission.
His goal, Rothwell said, was “to really get us, as a state, thinking about how we fit into the global world that we have to live in and work in, rather than just our little cocoon within the state’s borders.” (Editor’s note: Rothwell is on the steering committee for the Center for Michigan, the parent company of Bridge Michigan.)