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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *   

April 8, 2025    

Contact*: *[email protected]    

   

*Gov. Whitmer Announces Executive Leadership and Additional Staff Updates*    

   

*LANSING, Mich. -- *Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer selected Alexis Blane to serve as acting chief legal counsel for the executive office as Christina Grossi takes a new opportunity outside of state government. The governor also announced promotions and new hires in the executive office.   

  

“Christina Grossi is a skilled legal mind and lifelong public servant who has fought for Michiganders in every community throughout her career,” said *Governor Whitmer*. “She protected people’s fundamental rights and freedoms from assaults on their reproductive care, ensuring they could make their own decisions about their own bodies. As a member of my team, she’s led our legal strategy and helped coordinate crisis response for natural disasters, upholding our laws and keeping people safe. I can’t say enough about the lasting difference she has made for our state. I wish Christina the best.” 

     

*Alexis Blane, Acting Chief Legal Counsel  *  

Alexis Blane has been promoted to acting chief legal counsel for Governor Whitmer. She joined the executive office in 2022 as special counsel, leading the office’s work on reproductive rights, education, and economic development. Prior to serving in the governor’s office, she was the principal deputy counsel and acting counsel to the Mayor of New York City from 2018-2021. Alexis has worked in the non-profit space and at the U.S. Department of State. She attended New York University Law School and holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. 

    

*Executive Office Staff *   

Governor Whitmer announced promotions and new hires on her executive team in the leadership, legislative affairs, federal affairs, operations, and appointments divisions.    

  

*Shaquila Myers, Senior Advisor*  

Shaquila Myers rejoined the governor’s leadership team as a senior advisor. Previously, she led Speaker-elect Joe Tate’s office as chief of staff during the historic time period when Democrats held the House and Senate for the first time in 40 years. She helped pass record investments in economic development to bring good-paying jobs to Michigan, led efforts to pay off public school debt, and ushered through a historic clean energy package that will lower utility costs for Michiganders. While in the executive office, she served as senior advisor to the governor and chief of staff to Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist. Shaquila played a pivotal role in the passage of the bipartisan economic development package that helped Michigan land several projects that create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment. She has also spearheaded criminal justice reform efforts, the Jail and Pre-Trial Taskforce, and the Thriving Cities Tour, among other projects. Previously, Shaquila was legislative director for Senate Democratic Leader Jim Ananich and a policy analyst for the Michigan Senate. She received a Master of Public Administration and her undergraduate degree from Oakland University. 

 

*Tiffany Brown, Director of Agency Relations* 

Tiffany Brown has rejoined the governor’s office as director of agency relations. Previously, she served as the director of communications and community engagement for the federal Department of Justice in the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan under Mark Totten. Before that, she held positions as senior advisor at the Michigan Infrastructure Office and communications director for Governor Whitmer. Before joining the governor’s office, she served as Public Information Officer for the Department of Environmental Quality and the Michigan State Police. She also served as Deputy Press Secretary under former Governor Jennifer Granholm. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint and Michigan State University. 

 

*Rob Mass, Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs for the State House* 

Rob Mass joined the governor’s office as deputy director of legislative affairs for the state House. He has significant legislative experience, previously working as legislative director for the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, and legislative liaison for the Michigan Department of Treasury. Prior to that, he was a legislative director for multiple members of the Michigan House of Representatives. Rob graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with a degree in political science and economics. 

 

*Loren Kruger, Legislative Project Manager* 

Loren Kruger has been promoted to legislative projects manager on the legislative affairs team for Governor Whitmer. Previously, she served as advance associate, coordinating events for the governor and lieutenant governor. Prior to that, she was the district special assistant for then Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin. Loren helped re-elect Governor Whitmer as political operations manager during the 2022 gubernatorial campaign. She graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in social relations and policy. 

 

*Nathan Reynolds, Federal Grants and Appropriations Manager* 

 Nathan Reynolds has been promoted to the manager of federal grants and appropriations role within the State of Michigan Office of Federal Affairs. Nathan joined the Executive Office of the Governor in 2019 and has served in multiple roles, including most recently as assistant director of scheduling. Prior to joining the administration, he worked on the reelection campaign of Senator Claire McCaskill (MO). Nathan received his Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Occidental College. 

 

*Joe Smellie, Senior Appointments Specialist* 

Joe Smellie joined the Executive Office of the Governor in March 2025 as a senior appointments specialist. Before joining the administration, Joe served as a research analyst for the Michigan House Democratic Caucus. Previously, Joe served in numerous roles in and around the Michigan House of Representatives, including member services advisor, data director, and redistricting director.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.   

 

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