Council of the Great Lakes Region Appoints New Board of Directors

CLEVELAND and TORONTO, Oct. 24, 2016 /CNW/ - The Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) held its fourth Annual General Meeting of members on October 12. During the meeting, members approved the appointment of the following individuals to the Council's board of directors for a one-year term:

• Brenda Drinkwalter, Independent Director
• Ted Gruetzner, Vice President, Ontario Power Generation
• Stephen Petras, Partner, Baker Hostetler
• Chris Smillie, Senior Director, Canada's Building Trades Unions
• Lieutenant Colonel (Ret'd) Don Lauzon, President, Lauzon Consulting, LLC
• David Ullrich, Executive Director, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Cities Initiative
• Geoffrey Wilson, President and CEO, PortsToronto
• William D. Friedman, President and CEO, Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority
• Rakesh Naidu, COO, Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation
• Patrick Whalen, Director, Niagara Global Tourism Institute
• Blair Severn, Co-Founder and Chairman of enabling ideas
• Akin Alaga, Director, Sector Strategy Branch, Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Growth
• Mark Fisher, President and CEO, Council of the Great Lakes Region

Established in 2013, CGLR is an independent, non-profit corporation that was created to provide decision makers and thought leaders with direction on the future of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Region and its role as a bi-national economic region.

CGLR mobilizes business leaders, lawmakers, government executives, policy specialists, academia and advocates from non-governmental organizations in building a strong regional economy while preserving the environment.

The Council achieves this mandate by conducting insightful public policy research; generating sensible policy solutions and region-wide strategies; and, convening thought-provoking events like the annual Great Lakes Economic Forum, which stimulate diverse policy conversations and ideas. The next Forum will be held April 24-26, 2017 in Windsor and Detroit (www.greatlakeseconomicforum.com).

Quotes

"CGLR plays a key role in shaping the future of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Region. As such, I'm pleased members approved the appointments put forward by our nominating committee as they ensure that the board reflects the diversity of perspectives and interests in the region."

– Ted Gruetzner, chair of the board of directors

"Since its inception in 2013, CGLR has made important strides in creating a stronger identity and voice for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Region, a globally significant bioregion and vital trade corridor to the United States and Canada. These appointments will help the organization grow and deliver on its mandate over the next year."

– Mark Fisher, President and CEO, Council of the Great Lakes Region

SOURCE Council of the Great Lakes Region

Mark Fisher, President and CEO, 613-668-2044 / [email protected]