Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO Daniel Loepp are among those named to Gov.-elect Gretchen Whitmer’s transition team, it was announced Wednesday.
Hanna-Attisha, the physician credited with helping expose the lead-in-the-water crisis in Flint, as well as Loepp, are among the “honorary transition committee members” announced Wednesday as part of Whitmer’s transition rollout, now live at michigantransition.org.
Mark Bernstein was named the director of Whitmer’s transition office and charged with leading the day-to-day operations. Also on the team as chief strategist is Mark Burton, a past Whitmer chief of staff who also ran the pro-Whitmer nonprofit Build A Better Michigan during the gubernatorial campaign.
Other honorary transition members include:
– Former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade, who also played a role as Whitmer’s debate negotiator during the general election campaign.
– Former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer.
– Former Senate Minority Leader Mike Prusi.
– Former U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz.
– Kate Pew Wolters, chair of the Steelcase Foundation and a Grand Valley State University trustee.
– Allan Gilmour, retired vice chair of Ford Motor Co.
– Dug Song, co-founder of Duo Security.
– Gary Torgo, chair of Chemical Financial Corp.
– Portia Roberson, CEO of Focus: HOPE.
Awenate Cobbina as deputy director, JoAnne Huls as COO and Steve Liedel as general counsel round out the rest of the team.
Whitmer included visiting the Governor’s office Wednesday as part of her transition, where Gov. Rick Snyder transition discussions began, his office said in a statement.
“I still have a full dog year left to get things done, but we have been working on a transition plan for a year and now it’s time to put that into action, as well,” Snyder said in a statement. “It’s important that we have a smooth, strong transition so that Gov.-elect Whitmer can put her foot on the gas on day one and help maintain Michigan’s momentum.”