Gov. Whitmer Appoints Michigan’s First-Ever Chief Growth Officer

Will lead efforts to grow Michigan’s population, economy, and reputation as the best place to live, work, raise a family, and start a business

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich.—Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointment of Hilary Doe as Michigan’s Chief Growth Officer, the first Chief Growth Officer in the nation. Doe will work alongside the Growing Michigan Together Council on a once-in-a-generation effort to grow Michigan’s population, boost economic growth, and make Michigan the place everyone wants to call home.

 

“Growing Michigan Together is about investing in our people, places, talent, and education,” said Governor Whitmer. “With her extensive experience in policy, strategy, and technology, her future-oriented work to empower communities and tackle the biggest challenges, and her commitment to our state, Hilary Doe is an ideal candidate to lead our Growing Michigan Together efforts and get the job done. I am incredibly excited to work with her to achieve our population growth goals and build a Michigan with vibrant communities, a growing economy, and a bright future.”

“I’m honored to join Team Michigan as the first-ever Chief Growth Officer,” said incoming Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe. “Let’s grow Michigan together by investing in and nurturing vibrant communities and economic opportunities for all Michiganders—current and future. I love this state, and I can’t wait to leverage my experience to take on this challenge.”

“Across Team Michigan, we share a collective goal of growing our state’s population by making Michigan a premier place to live, work, stay, and play,” said Quentin L. Messer Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “As Michigan’s first-ever Chief Growth Officer, Hilary Doe, working in concert with the Growing Michigan Together Council, will ensure we stay united in our efforts and take the steps necessary to guarantee Michigan remains a prosperous and thriving state for years to come. I look forward to working alongside Hilary, Governor Whitmer, Michigan lawmakers, and all our partners on Team Michigan to make it happen here in our great state.”

“Economic Development Leaders for Michigan is driven to grow our state through quality job growth, exciting placemaking, and talent retention, development, and attraction,” said Jennifer Owens, Chair of Economic Development Leaders for Michigan. “We are excited by the focus on growing Michigan’s population and look forward to working with the Growing Michigan Together Council and supporting Hilary Doe in her new role as Chief Growth Officer.”

“We know that people will move to places where they see opportunity—for belonging, for quality of life, to start a family or a business. And we know that Michigan hasn’t been on the winning side of these moves in the past,” said Dan Gilmartin, Executive Director and CEO of the Michigan Municipal League. “We can change these trends—if we make the choice to invest boldly in our communities in ways that improve the human experience, expand economic opportunities more broadly, and protect our abundant natural resources. Whether it’s the neighborhoods of Detroit and Grand Rapids or the main streets of Alpena and Houghton, Michigan can offer places for everyone, if we make that commitment to place and community wealth, and we’re eager to support Ms. Doe in her role as Michigan’s Chief Growth Officer to make that happen.”

“We need to show young people that Michigan is the best place to invest in your future, find opportunity, and make your dreams a reality,” said Ahmad Nassar, CEO and Creative Director, Detroit 75 Kitchen. “As Chief Growth Officer, Hilary Doe will work with the Growing Michigan Together Council to build a strong foundation for population growth and invest in the people, places, experiences, and communities that make Michigan a great place to live, work, and play.”

Doe is a dynamic leader in nonprofits, technology, strategy, and public policy. She served as the national director at the Roosevelt Network, where she built and led an organization engaging thousands of young people in public policy, advocacy, and civic engagement at chapters nationwide. The organization ultimately went on to receive the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. Doe also served as Vice President of the Roosevelt Institute, where she oversaw strategy and expanded the Institute’s Four Freedoms Center, with the goal of empowering communities and reducing inequality alongside the greatest economists of our generations. Most recently, she served as President and Chief Strategy Officer at Nationbuilder, working to equip leaders around the world with software to grow their movements, businesses, and organizations. A graduate of the University of Michigan’s Honors College and Ford School of Public Policy, Doe is a Detroit resident and proud Michigander.

Growing Michigan Together Council
The Growing Michigan Together Council, created by Governor Whitmer, will develop concrete goals to grow the state’s population and propose recommendations to reach such goals, including with respect to retaining and attracting workforce talent, investing in infrastructure, and improving pre-K through postsecondary education in the state. The council will bring together stakeholders and leaders from state government, the private sector, nonprofits, education, and others to collaborate on a long-term vision to address current and future challenges and set Michigan up for success. In December, the Council will present a report to the governor and the Legislature that includes:

• A specific population goal for 2050 based on comprehensive economic development strategies.
• Potential future workforce shortages and recommend targeted programs to ensure that Michigan’s workforce is prepared to meet the challenges of the future.
• Proposals on how we can meet the needs of a growing thriving population through long-term, sustainable transportation and water infrastructure solutions.
• Policy recommendations on how we can improve outcomes at every education level in Michigan, from preschool to postsecondary.

View Executive Order 2023-4

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.