 Friends,
During the past three
years, we’ve faced many challenges together. Throughout that time, I have
valued your feedback and friendship.
And today, we face another
transition.
As of March 16, Selam
Ghirmai, current Deputy Director will become Interim Director of the MFDMO, and
I will be stepping down to pursue opportunities in the private sector.
Reinventing the mission of
the Michigan Film & Digital Media Office has allowed us to be more
responsive, and better positioned to attract jobs and private investment to the
state’s creative industries and communities. The creation of the Creative
Chamber grant program, our partnership with Google to advance computer science
education in Michigan’s schools, and our work with the City of Detroit to develop
the Detroit Film Initiative are a few of the examples of what we have
accomplished together in a short time.
Selam is a passionate
advocate for all of you working in the creative industries. Many of you already
know her impressive work. Her leadership style is distinguished by an uncanny
ability to find solutions and advance initiatives across various economic
sectors. In Selam, you will find an ardent supporter with a vision on how to
reach out and build timely and successful ways to create opportunities for
those of you working in the creative industries.
Please join me in
welcoming Selam to her new position.
It’s been an honor to
serve as Michigan’s film commissioner.
Jenell Leonard
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