Employers and citizens concerned about the Michigan and U.S. economies, including the impact of state and federal legislation, will have an opportunity to hear from top leaders in Michigan and Washington at Northwood University’s Bay Harbor Policy Forum, “The Michigan & U.S. Economies: The Road Ahead.”This free, public event, set for Aug. 2, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., at the Bay Harbor Yacht Club, 4300 Vista Drive, Bay Harbor, Mich., will feature Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and Cato Institute Senior Fellow Michael Tanner among others. Forum panelists will dissect some of the most pressing issues facing both businesses and consumers in Michigan and the United States.
Attorney General Bill Schuette will outline a roadmap for expanding Michigan’s business-friendly, pro-jobs environment, while Michigan Chamber President Richard Studley will release preliminary data from the organization’s “2014 Michigan Competitiveness Study.”
Speaking from a national perspective, Cato Institute Senior Fellow Michael Tanner will discuss the impact of the Affordable Care Act on employers and individuals, including the effect of its full implementation on employment and innovation in the healthcare industry.
In turn, Northwood University economist Dr. Timothy Nash will review the challenges and opportunities facing the American economy, examining its changing position and influence among the world are leading nations.
“We’re nearly six years into what is supposed to be an economic recovery, yet we’ve seen anything but that,” stated Dr. Timothy Nash, vice president of strategic and corporate alliances and the Fry endowed chair in free market economics at Northwood. “While we’ve seen signs of improvement, neither the Michigan nor the U.S. economy is operating at optimal levels. And with the impact of both recent and imminent legislation at the state and federal level the ‘road ahead’ does not look any more promising.”
For more information or to make a reservation for this event, contact Betty Gillespie at 989.837.4356 or
ABOUT THE PANELISTS
The Honorable Bill Schuette was elected as Michigan’s 53rd Attorney General in November 2010 and took office January 1, 2011. He has extensive experience in both federal and state government and has served Michigan in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government for three decades. Schuette’s commitment to public service began in 1984 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives at the age of 31. In 1994, Schuette was elected to the Michigan Senate, representing Michigan’s 35th Senate District. In November of 2002, he was elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals and served for six years as one of 28 appellate judges in Michigan. He also served as Senior Counsel at the law firm of Warner, Norcross & Judd from 2009 to 2010. A member of various boards and organizations in his community and throughout Michigan, he currently serves as vice president of the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, is a trustee of the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation and is a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation. Schuette graduated cum laude from Georgetown University in 1976, receiving a Bachelor of Science in the Foreign Service and earned his law degree from the University of San Francisco in 1979. In 2005, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Northwood University.
Dr. Timothy G. Nash is vice president of strategic and corporate alliances and the Fry endowed chair in free market economics at Northwood University. He leads specialty programs, economic research, and continuing and executive education programming for Northwood University. Nash is the co-author of four books and is an adjunct scholar with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and the Free Enterprise Institute in Houston, Texas. His travels and research have taken him to over 30 countries, he has co-authored four books and his writing and interviews have appeared in numerous publications. Nash received a B.B.A. from Northwood University, an M.A. in economics from Central Michigan University and his doctorate from Wayne State University with a cognate in management. He is a frequent commentator and his writing and interviews have appeared in numerous outlets including the Detroit News, USA Today, CNBC.com, and the Harvard Kennedy School’s Better, Faster, Cheaper.
Mr. Richard Studley is President & Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and leads the organization’s efforts to promote conditions favorable to job creation and business growth in Michigan. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce represents nearly 6,800 members and provides leadership in legislative and political action, offers services and resources to assist employers in the legal and regulatory environment, and conducts programs and research supporting free enterprise. Prior to joining the Chamber, Studley was program director for the Michigan Senate Republican Office from 1979 to 1981. Earlier, he was City Manager for the City of Clare, Michigan. He is a member of the Council of State Chambers and the Michigan Society of Association Executives; National Chair for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, and Chair of the U.S. Chamber’s Accreditation Committee for state and local chambers. He is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management, and the American Chamber of Commerce Executives’ Leadership Development Program. Studley received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alma College and a Master of Science in Administration degree from Central Michigan University.
Mr. Michael D. Tanner is a senior fellow with the Cato Institute, a leading Public Policy Think Tank in Washington, DC. Tanner heads research into a variety of domestic policies with particular emphasis on health care reform, social welfare policy and social security reform. Most recently, Tanner co-edited Cato’s highly regarded anthology Replacing Obamacare:The Cato Institute on Health Care Reform. Mr. Tanner has authored four books with topics ranging from government and welfare reform to Health Care and Social Security Reform. Tanner is a sought after speaker and a frequent guest on national television and radio programs. His articles have appeared in publications ranging from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal to The Washington Post and USA Today. Before joining to the Cato Institute in 1993, Michael was director of research at the Georgia Public Policy Foundation and legislative director for the American Legislative Exchange Council in Washington, DC.
