Leadership Change at the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification Announced

LANSING, Mich. – As Michigan strengthens its position as the global capital of mobility and a leader in the electrification revolution, the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) works across state government, academia and private industry to enhance Michigan’s mobility ecosystem, including developing dynamic mobility and electrification policies and supporting the startup and scale up of emerging technologies and businesses.

Today, Kathryn Snorrason was announced as Interim Chief Mobility Officer and head of the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification with the departure of current Chief Mobility Officer, Trevor Pawl, stepping down today, January 27.

Snorrason currently serves as Managing Director of the Office, leading cutting-edge mobility and electrification programs that give companies unique opportunities to grow within the state of Michigan and positioning the state to lead in public-private partnerships and signature testing assets. Snorrason previously worked for World Business Chicago, Kiva and Deloitte Consulting; she graduated from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business with a Bachelors in Business Administration and a minor in Community Action and Social Change (CASC).

During his tenure as Chief Mobility Officer for the state of Michigan, Pawl led initiatives and projects that include:

• Launching the first state strategy for future mobility, the MI Future Mobility Plan
• Building America’s first road custom-built for driverless vehicles
• Building America’s first road that charges an EV while it drives
• The development of a signature EV route around Lake Michigan
• Launching America’s first smart parking lab
• America’s first feasibility study for cross-border drone skyways
• The creation of the Midwest’s first airport innovation lab in Grand Rapids
• A first-of-its kind partnership to attract 5,000 tech workers to Michigan Central Innovation District in Detroit
• Co-led the creation of Michigan’s NEVI Plan ($110M for EV charging)
• Invested in the first autonomous, electric bus on a university campus

“I want to thank Trevor for his service to Michigan and his comprehensive vision for mobility to ensure that our work impacts not just industry, but makes a real difference in people’s lives,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “The Office of Future Mobility and Electrification has positioned Michigan to compete for game-changing projects and lead the future of mobility and innovation. I want to welcome Kathryn and thank her for stepping up, and I know we will continue to build on the strong foundation of the office to get things done.”

The Office of Future Mobility and Electrification leads a Team Michigan approach to mobility policy and activation working in coordination with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Since being created by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2020, the Office has facilitated $478.5 million in new private investment to support mobility projects in Michigan and made more than 2,000 qualified introductions to Michigan industry, university and government partners, creating dialogue and collaboration to create new opportunity and address existing challenges within the mobility sector. The Office has also led the creation of public-private partnerships, touching every county in the state on a range of projects including rural EV charging solutions, EV workforce training, drone deliveries of food and medicine, better transit options, grid resiliency and safer traffic intersections.

In November, the Office released the MI Future Mobility Plan designed to grow Michigan’s mobility leadership, and complement the state’s economic development, workforce, energy, and infrastructure priorities.

“We are living through a generational moment for mobility. One that will play an outsized role in determining how people and goods move over the next century, and what influence Michigan will have on all of it,” said Pawl. “I’m so grateful to have worked alongside colleagues across state government that understood the stakes and embraced this moment, encouraging me and the OFME team to take risks, and deliver on bold, first-of-their-kind ideas that will put Michigan in the driver’s seat to solve some of the biggest transportation challenges of our time. Thank you to the countless individuals across our state, and the world, who are passionate about Michigan and this work. Although there is much more to be done, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”

The Chief Mobility Officer position is currently posted on the Careers page of michiganbusiness.org and will be filled through a competitive hiring process in partnership between the Executive Office of the Governor, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

“It has been an honor to serve alongside Trevor as he played an integral role in positioning Michigan as a leader in the future of mobility and electrification. Our state has continued to reinvent public policies and develop outstanding talent who will lead Michigan into the next generation of the mobility industry,” said Susan Corbin, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and chair of the Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification. “We are looking forward to conducting a thorough national search to select an exceptional individual to continue to lead the great work of the OFME team.”

“We are staking a strong claim on the next generation of mobility – from critical investments in EV and battery manufacturing facilities, to supporting the entrepreneurs and start-up technologies that are creating a safer, more sustainable transportation future here in Michigan,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “Trevor has been a tireless advocate and uniter as Michigan’s Chief Mobility Officer and we are committed to continuing to build on the strong foundation he has built with the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification.”

To learn more about how Michigan is leading in transportation mobility and electrification, visit www.michiganbusiness.org/mobility.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.