SVSU Henry Marsh Institute for Public Policy

04/30/2026

We had a great discussion on institutions and regionalism at this month’s Henry Marsh session! Cohort members broke into groups by county to explore their local political and policy landscapes, then came back together to share insights with the full group.

Thank you to our regional leaders who carved out time to discuss the significance of sports tourism and how it attracts talent from across the county and helps build strong community relationships. We appreciate everyone who joined the conversation!

Up next: Public Policy!✨

04/12/2026

🎉Introducing our 2026 Cohort! Up next:

Kate Scheid-Weber serves as the School Leader of Francis Reh Academy and Superintendent of Francis Reh and Saginaw Preparatory Academies, where she leads with a steadfast belief that every child deserves access to excellent teaching, meaningful relationships, and the opportunity to master their grade-level Crown Standards. Guided by the school’s mission to grow motivated scholars who are confident thinkers and empowered learners, Kate centers her work on building coherent instructional systems, cultivating strong teacher practice, and creating a school culture rooted in belonging, character, and high expectations. Known for her clarity, purpose, and commitment to continuous growth, Kate supports teachers through data-driven coaching, explicit instruction frameworks, and MTSS-aligned systems that help students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Her leadership reflects deep dedication to both equity and excellence, particularly within the vibrant and resilient community Francis Reh serves.

Outside of school, Kate’s world revolves around her 12-year-old son, Charlie, whose curiosity, humor, and growing independence remain her greatest source of joy. She loves spending time with family and friends, baking, and reading everything from educational leadership to fiction that fuels her imagination. These hobbies keep her grounded, inspired, and connected, helping her bring her best self to her family, her team, and the scholars she serves.

04/08/2026

📢 HMIPP Alumni - Opportunity to Serve!

Are you a resident that is ready to get involved in civic service? This is a great opportunity to make a local impact!

The City of Midland is seeking residents to apply to serve on a variety of boards and commissions. No prior experience is necessary!

👇See the City of Midland post below for details!

This is your sign… yes, really.

We want YOU to help us make Midland the best community it can be!

We’re accepting applications for residents to serve on a variety of City boards and commissions. These boards play an important role in advising Midland City Council on ways to maintain and improve our community. No experience is necessary to apply!

Applications are currently being accepted for the following boards and commissions:

• Jack Barstow Aviation Advisory Commission
• Dial-A-Ride Advisory Commission
• Library Board
• Parks and Recreation Commission
• Planning Commission
• West Main Street Historic District Commission
• Zoning Board of Appeals

Applications received by Friday, May 29 at 5 p.m. will receive first preference. For more information on open seats, the application process, and more, please visit: www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/boards.

04/05/2026

🎉Introducing our 2026 Cohort! Up next:

Luke Premo is currently a student at Saginaw Valley State University, where he is majoring in Economics. He earned his Associate of Arts degree from Delta College and received his high school diploma from Hemlock High School.

Luke mentors students on FIRST Robotics Team Hemlock’s Gray Matter by leading the team’s social media efforts and supporting their community outreach program, the Beacon. He is passionate about the Great Lakes Bay Region and, as a proud alumnus of the Saginaw County Youth Ambassador Program, does everything he can to promote the region as a great place to live, work, and play.

03/31/2026

We had a successful second session talking about economic development!

Thank you to our panelists from across the Great Lakes Bay Region for sharing your expertise and insight into the issues impacting this area.

Thank you also to our board members Jamie Forbes and Raquel Perez for putting together this session and supporting the cohort in their breakout groups!

Next up: Institutions & Regionalism!

03/29/2026

🎉Introducing our 2026 Cohort! Up next:

Lauren is a daughter, sister, and student currently in her junior year at Saginaw Valley State University, where she studies Political Science and Legal Philosophy. She remains actively engaged on campus and serves as President of the College Democrats chapter at SVSU.

Outside of school and work, she enjoys spending time with friends at her favorite coffee shop or sharing a home-cooked meal prepared by her sister. She has a strong appreciation for music, arts and crafts, and games or puzzles, but what she values most is the opportunity to help others.

03/22/2026

🎉Introducing our 2026 Cohort! Up next:

Sara Elizabeth Parker is a results driven workforce and talent development leader with more than 17 years of experience helping businesses, educators, and communities grow stronger together. As Director of Workforce Development at the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, she builds and sustains relationships with more than 200 employers, educators, and community partners to create pipelines for internships, job shadows, apprenticeships, and direct career placements. She leads the Chamber’s Business and Education Partnership, aligning classroom learning with industry needs and expanding career exploration opportunities for Bay County students. She also oversees Hey, Bay City, a regional talent attraction and retention initiative that connects local employers with qualified candidates while promoting Bay County as a place to live, work, and thrive. Sara develops and scales hands on career readiness experiences such as mock interviews, job fairs, and workshops that engage more than 800 students each year and directly strengthen the future talent pipeline. Recognized as a trusted collaborator and connector, she is known for turning strategy into sustainable, measurable impact.

Sara is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in marketing at Saginaw Valley State University and holds a Business Solutions Professional certification.

She and her wonderful husband Justin reside in Bay City with their two beautiful kids, and she is deeply committed to helping her hometown continue to grow and succeed.

03/08/2026

🎉 Introducing our 2026 Cohort! Up next:

Rebecca is a 2012 alumna of Saginaw Valley State University. She holds a bachelor's degree and license in Social Work as well as an associate's degree in general management and is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She has been a licensed practicing social worker for 13 years with a Region VII Area Agency on Aging, primarily working with older adults and people with disabilities throughout Mid-Michigan.

Throughout her career, Rebecca has occupied case management, leadership, and advocacy roles. She has been a field instructor for students in the SVSU School of Social Work as they pursue their bachelor's degree. Her passion for social work comes from her desire to lead with love, meet people where they are, and aid others in discovering a path to solve their problems. It is through relationship building, curiosity, human connection, and strong communities that we can solve a great myriad of problems.

Rebecca has a special focus on Medicaid policy and access to affordable health care and has worked to connect numerous individuals with support and services to help them to age with dignity in the setting of their choosing. She has been an active participant in the statewide senior advocacy day, "Older Michiganian's Day," including sitting on the event planning committee, sitting on the Advocacy subcommittee which develops the event platform, and coordinating her agency's attendance and participation.

Rebecca is originally from Hemlock, Michigan, and now lives in Auburn with her husband and daughter.

03/04/2026

The first session of the year for the Henry Marsh Institute for Public Policy is officially complete! 👏

Our new cohort stepped into real conversation from day one. Through a fishbowl discussion and structured dialogue, participants practiced civil discourse, explored challenging political and policy topics, and began learning what leadership across difference truly requires.

One of the biggest takeaways? We are often more alike than we are different.

Thank you to board members Gavin Goetz and Bill Wickes for facilitating an honest and disciplined conversation that set the tone for the year ahead.

Next up: Economic Development!

03/01/2026

🎉Introducing our 2026 Cohort! Up next:

Andy Kenney is a chemical engineer, having received his degree in chemical engineering from Michigan Tech in 2015. He grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and Chandler, Arizona, but also spent a year as a high school exchange student in former East Germany, where he and his family visit regularly to this day.

He started his career at Dow Corning as a process research engineer after completing an internship working in the Business & Technology Incubator group doing front end research on 3D printable silicones. After 7 years in process research and development of silicone elastomers, he moved into a customer-facing research role in Tech Service & Development of engineered silicone materials for Electronics. Since then, he has worked on a variety of projects in automotive, aerospace, and high-performance computing markets. Currently, he leads a team of engineers and technologists serving the Consumer Electronics, Computing and Communications market with engineered material solutions developed and manufactured by Dow.

In his spare time, he likes to travel with his family, hunt, work on old cars, study history and practice his German skills. He is looking forward to having the opportunity to have a positive impact in his community through local political engagement.

02/22/2026

🎉Introducing our 2026 Cohort! Next up:

Vince Ford is a Financial Aid Advisor at Saginaw Valley State University, where they help students understand and access the financial and educational resources they need to pursue and complete their education. They are a graduate student in SVSU’s Master of Public Administration program. Their interest in public policy and education is deeply personal, shaped by their experience coming from a lower-income background and being the first in their immediate family to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Vince understands how life-changing access to education can be, and they are committed to helping keep these opportunities open for the next generation of students. In the current political climate surrounding education, they believe it is more important than ever to protect and strengthen educational systems. They view community-level student support as the foundation of this work and hope to contribute to policies that help students succeed despite the challenges they face.

Vince expects to complete their MPA in May 2027 and plans to pursue a doctorate in educational philosophy in the future. As they continue to develop their career in public administration and policy, their goal remains clear: to help ensure that educational opportunities remain strong, stable, and accessible for those who come after them.