Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced new appointments and staff members for key positions in her administration. Marlon Brown will take on the role of Director at the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), bringing his extensive experience in public service to the department. Suzanna Shkreli has been selected as the new Commissioner of the Michigan Bureau of State Lottery, with a strong background in juvenile justice reform and government service.

Additionally, several promotions and hires have been made within the executive office, including Shelia Marshall-Curtis as Chief Compliance Officer and Vignesh Meyyappan as Associate Legal Counsel.

Former acting commissioner of the Lottery, Jessica Weare, has accepted a new position within state government.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced several appointments to boards and commissions, with an emphasis on diversity. Appointments of special notice are as follows.

Appointments Include:

Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission:

• Jane Nickert: Director of nursing at the Washtenaw County Health Department (replaces Chioma Ejiofor).

Health Information Technology:

• Jessica Robinson: Digital inclusion manager for the State of Michigan (succeeds Camille Pasquel Banks).

Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect:

• Judge Yasmine Isshak Poles: Judge of the Michigan 6th Circuit Court (reappointed).

Human Trafficking Health Advisory Board:

• Brigette Robarge: Lead mentor for trafficked youth at Common Ground (reappointed).

Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council:

• Joseph Bione: President and founder of the Whitehall Group (new appointee).
• Tiffany Gaiter: Former secondary education teacher (new appointee).

Michigan Board of Medicine:

• Dr. Holly Gilmer: Neurosurgeon (reappointed).
• Dr. Michael Lewis: Anesthesiologist (reappointed).
• Angela Trepanier: Genetic Counselor (reappointed).
• Dr. Brigitte Lorenz: Obstetrician-Gynecologist (new appointee).
• Dr. Stephen Zintsmaster: Radiologist (new appointee).

Michigan Health Endowment Fund Board:

• Zaineb Hussein: Chief of staff for the mayor of the City of Dearborn (represents the nominee of the speaker of the house of representatives).
• David Nyberg: Executive Director of Business Engagement and Economic Development at Northern Michigan University (represents the nominee of the Senate Minority Leader).
• Lynn Chen-Zhang: CEO of Zhang Financial (represents the nominee by House of Representatives Minority Leader).

Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services:

• Karen Wang: Transition specialist for the Michigan Alliance for Families (reappointed).
• William Ernzen: Managing director for Slalom Detroit (reappointed).
• Kellie Blackwell: Michigan Assistive Technology Program Co-Director of the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition (reappointed).
• Brent Mikulski: President and CEO for Services to Enhance Potential in Dearborn (reappointed).
• Carol Bergquist: Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the Hannahville Indian Community (reappointed).

On June 12, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that Michigan would receive $338 million following the state’s role in the Walgreens National Opioid Settlement.

The state is expected to receive $200 million over 15 years with an additional $138 million allocated over 18 years. These funds are in addition to previous national settlements from other opioid distributors and manufacturers, which brings the total allocation to approximately $1.6 billion.