Heather Baker Daily Press Hilary Doe, chief growth officer for the State of Michigan, addresses a crowd at the Schoolcraft Tourism Council Annual Meeting in Manistique.

MANISTIQUE — The Schoolcraft Tourism Council Annual Meeting on February 29 was a success, thanks to the event committee, volunteers, and all the attendees who contributed to a vibrant atmosphere. Attendees enjoyed prizes, appetizers, and drinks while hearing from guest speakers Hilary Doe, chief growth officer for the State of Michigan, and Marty Fittante, CEO of InvestUP. The event highlighted community collaboration and commitment to the region’s tourism and economic development.

As chief growth officer for the State of Michigan, Doe leads the state’s efforts to grow Michigan’s population, economy and reputation as a good place to live, work, rasie a family and start a business.

Doe works alongside the Growing Michigan Together Council on a once-in-a-generation effort to grow Michigan’s population, boost economic growth, and make Michigan the place everyone wants to call home.

Most recently, Doe served as President and Chief Strategy Officer at Nationbuilder, working to equip the world’s leaders with software to grow their movements, businesses, and organizations while spreading democracy. Before that, Doe served as the National Director at the Roosevelt Network and Vice President of the Roosevelt Institute, overseeing strategy and expanding the Institute’s Four Freedoms Center.

Doe is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Honors College and Ford School of Public Policy.

Marty Fittante began to lead InvestUP, the regions’ lead private sector-led regional economic organization, on January 1, 2019.

Over the preceding 14 years, Fittante served in the legislature. In addition to serving as chief of staff to the 38th Senate District, which spans most of the Upper Peninsula, Fittante also served as a policy advisor to the Michigan House of Representatives where, among other responsibilities, he managed three statewide task forces that addressed job creation, education, and agriculture.

Fittante’s legislative works spanned numerous industries and areas, including natural resources, transportation and regulatory affairs. His legislative works included helping manage passage of over 100 bills into law, including legislation to regulate non-ferrous metallic mining, which has resulted in the creation of some 400 jobs and nearly $1 billion in local investment in the Upper Peninsula. He also worked on legislation that led to the Healthy Michigan Forestry Package, a partnership between the forest products industry and the environmental community to provide sustainable, responsible forest harvesting practices.

Fittante is a graduate of Bay College, Ferris State University, and Wayne State University Law School. Following graduation from WSU, he spent 13 years practicing law in the Upper Peninsula, where he specialized in criminal defense and domestic relations.