Alliance Completes Successful State Of The State Trip

Representatives of the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance were on hand in Lansing for Governor Rick Snyder’s seventh State of the State address on Tuesday, January 17, 2017.

The Governor’s speech was the back drop for the Chamber Alliance’s annual trip that takes them to Lansing to meet and get to know elected officials, get a up close view and reaction to the governor’s agenda, and network within the state’s power structure.

The Alliance hosted  Lt. Governor Brian Calley and the staff of the Executive Office for lunch the afternoon before the State of the State address. This has become an annual event that is recognized and appreciated by Gov. Snyder, Lt. Governor Calley and the entire staff as an opportunity to grab a bite to eat and decompress for a moment in the middle of an otherwise hectic day.

The morning following the address, the Alliance held its annual Legislative Breakfast with northern Michigan legislators. Alliance members had time to rekindle relationships with existing legislators Rep. Triston Cole (105^th), Rep. Lee Chatfield (107^th), Rep. Larry Inman (104^th), and get to know new northern Michigan House members Curt VanderWall (R – 101^st), Michele Hoitenga (R – 102^nd), and Sue Allor (R – 107^th). The Alliance also had the pleasure of being introduced to new Speaker of the House Tom Leonard (R – DeWitt).

Chamber Alliance Board Chair Carlin Smith, President of the Petoskey Regional Chamber, was invited to view the speech in the House Chambers as a guest of State Senator Wayne Schmidt.