Dr. Alí R. Bustamante is the deputy director of the worker power and economic security program at Roosevelt. He specializes in how public policy can structure markets around economic and social value and empower Americans through the provision of public goods and stronger labor protections. Dr. Bustamante earned a BA and PhD from the University of Miami, specializing in political economy.

Hilary Doe is Michigan’s first Chief Growth Officer—and the first of any state in the country. As Chief Growth Officer, Hilary leads the state’s efforts to grow Michigan’s population, economy, and reputation as the best place to live, work, raise a family, and start a business. Hilary also served as Executive Director of the Growing Michigan Together Council on a once-in-a-generation effort to develop a strategy for structural reforms designed to grow Michigan’s population, boost economic growth, and ensure Michigan is a place everyone wants to call home.

Molly Bashay is a senior policy advisor in the Employment and Training Administration within the U.S. Department of Labor. Her portfolio ranges from infrastructure and unemployment insurance to climate and youth policy. Before joining ETA, she worked with nonprofits large and small, leading initiatives on digital equity, the future of work, community and economic development, eliminating student debt, and embedding equity throughout the education-to-workforce pipeline. Molly received her master’s degree in European Union social and economic public policy and a bachelor’s degree in government and environmental policy.

Jonathan Smith is the Senior Chief Deputy Director, Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) for the state of Michigan where he advances the strategic goals and vision for Michigan’s economic future. He first joined LEO as Chief of Staff in 2020, playing an integral role in a wide variety of projects and initiatives critical to our mission. Jonathan is a public policy professional who brings with him more than two decades of experience in policy development, legal analysis, regulatory oversight, management, and strategic stakeholder engagement. He holds degrees from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan Law School.

Keyontay Humphries has the privilege of pursuing a career driven by passion for community building and empowerment. She is the Chief of Staff for Detroit City Council Pro Tempore James Tate, Jr. Prior to joining Pro Tem Tate’s team, she served as the Strategy Manager for former Detroit City Councilmember Raquel Castañeda-Lopez. In college, Keyontay co-founded the Roosevelt Institute Student Chapter at Kalamazoo College. She also served as the Midwest Regional Legislative Director and was a summer intern. She is a board member of the Roosevelt Institute.

Deborah Bayer serves as the Director of Regional Initiatives and Grant Compliance for the Workforce Intelligence Network for Southeast Michigan (WIN). Deborah came to WIN following a career in postsecondary education, serving over three years as Vice President of Instruction at Alpena Community College (ACC) where she was responsible for all aspects of ACC’s Academic footprint. Prior to ACC, she spent 12 1/2 years at Oakland Community College, first as the Director of Emergency Services Training and building the programming for the Combined Regional Emergency Services Training Center (CREST), and later as the Dean of Public Services Programs and Interim Dean of Engineering, Manufacturing, and Industrial Technologies.

Ashlee Breitner brings more than 15 years of experience in leadership, organizational development and project management to her roles as our Workforce Director. She also serves as managing director at U-M’s Economic Growth Institute and a lecturer for Michigan Engineering’s Center for Entrepreneurship.

Chong-Anna Canfora is the executive director of the Michigan AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute, where she supports investments in the current and future workers in Michigan. Before being named Executive Director, Chong-Anna served as Executive Director of Michigan Community Action, representing a statewide network of anti-poverty non-profit organizations. She also served as the Director of Rapid Response for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, leading the state’s Dislocated Worker Team, which assisted workers impacted by mass layoffs during the Great Recession.

Ken Whittaker is a native Detroiter who has spent over sixteen years fighting for racial and economic justice for the 99%. Ken has traveled the U.S. training activists and inspiring new leaders. With a strong background in information technology, Ken brings process and procedure to the power-building movement. Ken is a long-time community organizer and former Movement Politics Director at Michigan United. For the past ten years, he has played key roles in local political races throughout Detroit and has worked as a legislative aide in the state legislature.

Zachary Kolodin serves as Chief Infrastructure Officer and Director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office. Previously, he was Governor Whitmer’s Public Policy Counsel. Before joining the executive office, he was an associate at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP and served as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Edward R. Korman. Previously, he worked in the Office of Grants Policy and Operations at Americorps, and as a program administrator at the Roosevelt Institute, a New York City-based think tank. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University and New York University School of Law.