The Economic Growth Institute held its second Elevate Forum at the University of Michigan’s North Campus Research Complex. The daylong event brought together a mix of industry experts, community leaders, and economic development organizations for a day filled with insightful discussions with dedicated networking opportunities. This year’s event, built upon the success of the [read more]
Elevate Forum 2025 Advancing Manufacturing, Communities, and Economic Development Date Thursday, March 6, 2025 8 AM - 4:30 PM Location University of Michigan North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) 2800 Plymouth Rd Building 18 Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Event Registration Limited space! Register for your free ticket [read more]
Mengjie Lyu, PhD Senior Research Project Manager Email: mjlyu@umich.edu Mengjie Lyu is a research project senior manager contributing to EGI’s empirical and applied research projects. Using both quantitative and qualitative research approaches, Mengjie leads and supports multiple studies, collaborating closely with EGI partners and U-M faculty on a diverse range [read more]
University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute and Michigan State University Industrial Training and Assessment Center Awarded Department of Energy Program to Develop EV Transition Playbook The University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute (EGI) and Michigan State University Industrial Training and Assessment Center (MSU-ITAC) have been awarded $500,000 by the Department of Energy (DOE) [read more]
Jessi Kittel, MS Workforce Development Lead Email: jessik@umich.edu Connect with Jessi on LinkedIn In her dual roles at the Economic Growth Institute and the Electric Vehicles Center, Jessi Kittel leads strategic initiatives within Workforce Development and Education, focusing on building a talent pipeline for the burgeoning electric vehicle industry. Jessi [read more]
The U.S. youth camp industry contributes $70 billion to the national economy, accounting for the total value of the camp industry’s production and its ripple effects—which include business-to-business purchases and labor income, according to a study from the University of Michigan. This figure represents the industry’s overall economic impact across the nation while also [read more]
Benjamen Spisak Project Manager Email: bspisak@umich.edu Benjamen Spisak is a Project Manager working with the EGI's business and industry programs. As an experienced trusted advisor and manufacturing advocate, Ben helps manufacturing leaders identify new opportunities for innovation. Through his work at EGI, he supports business leaders across Michigan. He helps connect [read more]
Sara Reynolds Project Coordinator Email: reynosar@umich.edu Connect with Sara on LinkedIn Sara Reynolds is a project coordinator with EGI’s Department of Defense-funded grant programs. With over a decade of administrative experience, Sara collaborates closely with the project management team to design strategies that increase the volume and quality of applicants. [read more]
LaTricia Mitchell Project Manager Email: lattem@umich.edu Connect with LaTricia on LinkedIn LaTricia Mitchell is a project manager working with EGI’s community programs. LaTricia’s work with the Economic Growth Institute capitalizes on her leadership in community engagement, facilitation, and planning. Through her work at EGI, she supports communities across the Detroit, Lansing, [read more]
The University of Michigan's Economic Growth Institute hosted its inaugural Elevate Forum for businesses, community leaders, and economic development colleagues at the University's Detroit Center. With over 100 attendees joining both in person and online, the forum offered a full day of presentations and networking. The day commenced with opening remarks from EGI’s Executive [read more]
