[nfbmi-talk] Look who is running Lara now

[Larry Posont]

National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
7189 Connors Rd.
Munising, MI 49862

August 5, 2014

Dear Michigan Federationists:

     Look who is running Lara now.


Sincerely,
Larry Posont
President
 National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
 (906) 387-3546
Email: president.nfb.mi at gmail.com
 Web page: www.nfbmi.org

Munising home of the beautiful Pictured Rocks.
Steve Arwood, director of the state agency that regulates business, is
following in his predecessor's footsteps and leaving to become chief
operating officer of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation
(MEDC). Arwood is the second director of the Michigan Department of
Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) since Gov. Rick Snyder took
office in 2011. The first, Steve Hilfinger, moved into MEDC's COO
position in 2012. He returned to the private sector in June with the
law firm Foley & Lardner LLP, according to an article in Crain's
Detroit Business. LARA chief deputy Mike Zimmer will act as director
of the department, effective immediately. "Steve's track record of
accomplishment and knowledge of our state's business climate has been
instrumental at LARA and will make him a vital addition to the MEDC
team working to spur even more and better jobs for Michiganders and
business development, talent and entrepreneurship initiatives," Snyder
said. "Mike Zimmer is a dedicated, adept leader at LARA, and I
appreciate his willingness and commitment to take on this new and key
role. Arwood brings extensive experience to the job, said Mike Finney,
president and CEO of the MEDC. "His experience in energy development,
the Jobs Commission and the National Federation of Independent
Business combined with his recent time at LARA makes him a great fit
as we accelerate our focus on business expansion efforts," Finney
said. Emily Lawler is a Capital/Lansing business reporter for MLive.
You can reach her at elawler at mlive.com , subscribe to her on Facebook
or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler