By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Gov.-elect Rick Snyder recently appointed three veterans of the state’s agriculture industry to key positions in his administration.

Dan Wyant was named group executive for Quality of Life, a new role that will bring a more streamlined business management model to state government for the departments of Environmental Quality, Natural Resources and Agriculture and Rural Development. He also will serve as director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

Keith Creagh will head the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Rural Development, and Rodney Stokes will serve as director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Snyder’s new group executive model means the current Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment will be split back into separately functioning departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources, which will allow both to better focus on their core missions.

“Reinventing Michigan means reinventing how state government is organized to provide exceptional value to the taxpayers and citizens it serves,” Snyder said. “Dan, Keith and Rodney bring exceptional private and public sector experience to this new management model, which will allow departments to function better and take successful practices from the private sector and put them to work in government.”

Snyder’s expansion of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development illustrates his commitment to agriculture as Michigan’s second-largest industry – a move lauded by the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB), the state’s largest farm organization.

“Moving rural development functions to a newly named Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is a wise move,” said MFB President Wayne H. Wood. “Agriculture is one of the largest contributors to economic growth in Michigan’s rural communities, so it makes sense to have rural development programs housed within the agriculture department, where agribusiness owners, developers and entrepreneurs are already doing business.”

Wyant, 51, is returning to state government after a five-year absence. He served as MDA director from October 1996-July 2005, during the administrations of governors John Engler, a Republican, and Jennifer Granholm, the outgoing Democrat. During his tenure, he built a reputation for openness, fairness and problem-solving.

In 2005, he left state government to take over as president and chief operating officer of his family’s Edward Lowe Foundation. Located in Cass County, Wyant’s home county, the Foundation promotes entrepreneurship and helps second-stage business owners accelerate growth for their companies.
“I am excited at the opportunity to help Governor-elect Snyder reinvent Michigan and about creating a new government management model that will improve the services it provides residents and businesses,” Wyant said. “I am honored to be part of a dynamic team focused on implementing customer service-oriented government.”

Wood said as a former MDA director, Wyant has “a proven track record of operating an efficient and responsive state agency and being an excellent listener and communicator with stakeholders.

“Dan has been involved in agriculture his whole life and respects agriculture’s high value as a land-based industry,” Wood said, adding that during his tenure as former MDA director, Wyant “was instrumental in helping to launch the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program, and taking the revolutionary approach of helping farmers to identify and minimize pollution risks and comply with state and federal environmental regulations before rather than after problems potentially occur.”

Creagh joined the MDA in 1974 as an inspector and worked his way up in various positions during his 33-year career, ultimately serving as chief deputy director and deputy director of land use. He currently is director of industry affairs and Hacco operations at the Lansing-based Neogen Corp.

Wood said Creagh is a familiar face to agriculture, with a large network of agricultural peers from whom to draw insight and guidance.

“Thanks to his past service with MDA, including several years as deputy director, Keith Creagh has valuable firsthand knowledge of the intricate workings of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the vital functions performed by the agency not only for farmers and agribusiness professionals, but also the general public,” Wood said.

“The Michigan Farm Bureau is encouraged by Keith’s eagerness to make the new Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development relevant to the current needs and issues facing Michigan’s $71.3 billion and growing agriculture industry.”

Stokes has a long history serving Michigan citizens. He joined the Michigan DNR in 1977 and held leadership positions at the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund program and Grants Administration. He served as director of the Parks and Recreation Division from 1997-2002.

He also served in positions in Detroit, Mich., and Gainesville, Fla., before returning to the Michigan DNR in 2004, where he served as its legislative liaison, chief of staff and chief of its Office of Science and Policy.

“Rodney brings a wealth of DNR experience to the table and he is in tune to the many facets of Michigan’s vast natural resources,” Wood said. “We are confident that Rodney will be able to continue the progress Rebecca Humphries has made in forging and building relationships with all natural resources stakeholders for the good of the state and Michigan’s wildlife populations, forestland and all natural resources sectors combined.”