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MiMfg Magazine
May 2019
Keynote
Conversation
Liesl Clark
Michigan Department of
Environment, Great Lakes,
and Energy
on your
Q: Congratulations
appointment. You come
from the private sector as the
co-founder of 5 Lakes Energy,
a policy consulting firm.
How does your background
in the private sector prepare
you for this new role?
Clark: Coming from an entrepreneurial
family — the child of a telecommunications
mogul and small business owner — my success in
launching and growing a business has meant a lot
to me personally. Providing good jobs, health care
and retirement plans for seven people was even
more gratifying than I imagined. And doing all the
paperwork required of a small business owner —
especially with employees in four states — was a
real eye opener. I come to this role with deep
respect for the challenges employers face and the
contributions they make to our quality of life.
Executive Order 2019-06 the governor
Q: With
created the new Department of Environment,
Great Lakes, and Energy, which you will lead.
Why were these functions combined?
Clark: From reducing waste and air emissions to
conserving water and helping communities manage
extreme weather events, almost everything we do
at the Department has a role to play in Michigan’s
response to climate change. Likewise, our identity
as the Great Lakes State — and place at the heart
of the Basin — is a thread that runs through all our
work. So, combining those functions makes perfect
sense to me, and I don’t consider it a significant
departure from what the Department has been
doing. Generally speaking, there are many good
ways to structure or align a set of government
programs. Our Environment, Great Lakes, and
Energy (EGLE) model will bring talent and
resources dedicated to common purposes together
under a shared organizational umbrella. It will also
facilitate a deeper integration of our programs, and
more deliberately point our compass at two
foundational issues: water and climate.
1 1 Appointed director of the Michigan Department of
Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy by
Governor Gretchen Whitmer in January 2019.
1 1 Served as president of the Michigan Energy
Innovation Business Council and deputy director
for energy programs at the Michigan Department
of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth.
1 1 Held a series of roles involving natural resources,
environmental and agriculture policy in state
government from policy advisor to legislative liaison.
has been leading the nation in
Q: Michigan
manufacturing job growth for several years.
Manufacturers have a strong interest in protecting
the environment. How can we work together to
both protect the environment and continue to
create a vibrant growing economy in Michigan?
Clark: One enduring theme in my two decades of
work at the nexus of food, water and energy has
been identifying and implementing strategies to
create jobs and generate wealth through enterprises
deliberately designed to conserve our natural resources
and safeguard public health. We can pursue both
environmental protection and economic growth
simultaneously. My commitment to building
strong relationships and bringing all relevant
perspectives to the table has driven my successes
in life. Communication and collaboration will be a
hallmark of the department under my leadership.
That’s where we’ll find the creative solutions that
will drive Michigan’s prosperity and deliver a
world-class way of life for the long haul.
do you believe are the biggest
Q: What
challenges facing Michigan?
Clark: When I was growing up in The Thumb,
Michigan was a national leader in public education,
infrastructure, environmental protection and other
vital areas. After decades of disinvesting in ourselves
and our communities, we need to reclaim our
Michigan pride and restore our high aspirations.
I spent my college days playing in the Spartan
Marching Band but I’ll plug my nose for a moment
and borrow from the U-of-M fight song. Michigan
needs to recommit itself to being the “leaders and
best.” That’s my goal for our department.
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