MML CapCon 2023 Program

Jennifer Rigterink Assistant Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal League

Jennifer Rigterink is the assistant director of State & Federal Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League where she advocates on behalf of communities with a concentration on municipal services, economic development and land use issues. Jennifer joined the League in April 2016. Prior to joining the League, Jennifer directed technical assistance for Community Development at the Michigan

Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), including the Redevelopment Ready Communities® and Michigan Main Street programs. She also managed the Genesee Institute, now the Center for Community Progress, where she focused on building awareness of Michigan’s land bank authority model and vacant property initiatives. Jennifer has a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from Michigan State University. In addition, Jennifer represents the League on MEDC’s Technical Assistance Advisory Council and sits on the executive committee of the Housing Michigan Coalition. She lives in DeWitt with her husband Chris and two children. She and Chris own a small business called The Mattress Source in East Lansing and Lansing, Michigan.

Speaker of the House Joe Tate Michigan House of Democrats

Speaker Joe Tate is serving his third term and now represents the 10th House District, a diverse community that covers Detroit’s northeast side and the communities of the Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe city, Grosse Pointe Park and part of Harper Woods. Tate is Michigan’s first Black Speaker of the House, now holding the gavel and setting House priorities in a legislative term in which

Democrats have the majority for the first time in over a decade. His policy priorities include uplifting Michigan families; protecting the rights of all people; ensuring workers are valued; and investing in a world-class education system, a strong infrastructure, and a thriving economy. The Speaker decided to run for office as a part of his deep and lifelong commitment to public service. The value of service was taught to him by his parents — a teacher in the Detroit public school system and a Detroit firefighter. His life has been shaped by teamwork, commitment and community. As a teenager, Tate earned a scholarship to play football at Michigan State University before joining the National Football League. After the NFL, he went on to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps, deploying twice to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. After an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, he earned both an MBA and a master’s in environmental policy and planning from the University of Michigan. Before joining the Legislature, Tate helped small businesses grow their capacity as a program manager for the Detroit Economic Growth Corp.

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MAXIMIZING THE MOMENT!