SOS Initializes Business Roundtable To Improve Services
MACKINAC ISLAND (WWJ) - Have a suggestion for ways to improve the Secretary of State's office? A new business roundtable announced this morning at the Mackinac Policy Conference may want to hear from you.
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said the new group will meet four times a year and develop a list of recommendations for the office.
The group of 13 leaders includes business and industry leaders from across the state.
"We want to work smarter, leaner and more efficiently. We are indebted to these men and women, top in their fields, for their willingness to share their experience and wisdom as they assist us in streamlining operations, cutting costs and improving customer service," Johnson said.
Leaders who have agreed to serve on the Business Roundtable, which is expected to meet quarterly and develop a list of recommendations for the Secretary of State's Office, include:
- Ron Boji, president of Boji Group, LLC, who also played a leadership role in the mid-Michigan computer industry as a representative of large computer hardware and software firms
- Pete Beauregard Jr., president of Colony Marine
- Terry Burns, executive vice president of the Michigan Auto Dealers Association
- Sherrill Freeborough, owner-dealer of Hyundai of Lansing
- Ed Doss, owner of Waters RV of Waters, Mich.
- Tim DeWitt, executive director of the Michigan Manufactured Housing, RV & Campground Association
- Michael J. Gingell, vice president of corporate development for Polk and chairman of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
- Gary Granger, founder, owner, and president of Granger Group, a national real estate brand development company
- Jim Murray, president of AT&T Michigan
- John Ropp, chief executive of the Michigan Boating Industries Association
- Bob Shuman, owner of Shuman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Walled Lake
- Todd Wyett, partner and CEO of VERSA. Wyett was also appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder in January 2011 to the Michigan State Transportation Commission
- A representative, to be announced, of Grand Rapids-based Meijer.
During the "Era of Change" discussion, Johnson talked about several of her initiatives to streamline and improve customer service, from her "Secret Shopper" program to assess services to improving and expanding online technology. Just seven percent of all citizen transactions are handled online in the Secretary of State system.
Johnson has also met with business, industry and job providers across Michigan to find out how the Secretary of State's Office can help them cut through government red tape so they can help get Michigan back to work.
For more information about the Michigan Secretary of State's Office, visit the Secretary of State website or call 888-767-6424.
