Shows
The Michigan Opportunity Radio ShowThe Michigan Opportunity Radio Show ~ Planning for Progress: Mobility, Talent, and Thriving CommunitiesJuly 21, 2025 ~ In this episode of “The Michigan Opportunity,” Ed Clemente is joined by Amy O’Leary, executive director at Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC), to discuss regional cooperation, mobility, and workforce development. Later, Jill Bahm from Giffels Webster dives into community planning, economic development strategies, and the importance of public input.2025-07-1937 min
The Green StreamEp. 32: SBN Detroit, The Green Stream, Feat: Terry Barclay, Palencia Mobley, Jim Nash & Amy O'LearyWater – a vital resource essential for life. But ensuring sustainable access to clean water requires both immediate and long-term solutions.
In episode #32 of #TheGreenStream, Terry Barclay, SBN Detroit chair and CEO of Inforum, talks with Palencia Mobley, chair of the Michigan Infrastructure Council; Jim Nash, Oakland County’s water resources commissioner; and Amy O’Leary, executive director of SEMCOG.
They dive into how infrastructure impacts sustainable water resources in Detroit, the challenges they face, and how economic growth ties into it all.
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✅ YouTube: https://bit.ly/3PcZgo4...2024-10-2359 min
The Michigan OpportunityS4 Ep.16 - Mackinac Policy Conference 2024 Part 2: Governor Whitmer, University Presidents, The Grand Hotel, NFL Detroit Draft and moreJoin our host Ed Clemente for a special Michigan Opportunity Podcast live from Mackinac Policy Conference, hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber. Hear from very interesting guests including Hilary Doe of MEDC; Ruthanne (Ruthie) Sudderth of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association; Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer; Ferris State University President Bill Pink; Grand Hotel President David Jurcak; Lawrence Technological University President Tarek Sobh; Claude Molinari & Christopher Moyer of Visit Detroit; Naheed Huq of SEMCOG & Khalil Rahal of DTE Energy.2024-05-311h 32
Mi Business MattersEp. 47: Ozone Attainment and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) - What’s Happening and Why it MattersJim Holcomb, President and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, leads the discussion of an issue that may not be on your radar right now but one that can have far reaching impacts - and that's Ozone Attainment and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)!Joining him in this discussion are:Mike Alaimo, Director of Environmental and Energy Affairs for the Michigan ChamberKelly Karll, Manager of Environment & Infrastructure for SEMCOG, Southeast Michigan Council of GovernmentsCaroline Liethen, Director of Environmental & Regulatory Policy for Michigan Manufacturers Association2024-04-0320 min
Destination Downriver PodcastSEMCOG, a governmental catalyst that’s helping improve the lives of residents and businesses throughout Downriver.
Host Karl Ziomek discusses economics Downriver with Kevin Vettraino Planning Director, and Trevor Layton Communications Manager, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments or most often referred to as its acronym, SEMCOG.
Community Sponsor is The Martenson Family of Funeral Homes. Visit the website, www.martenson.com. Also sponsored in part by team sponsor Allegra Print and Design. Visit their website https://www.allegramarketingprint.com.
Special thanks for Video and Podcast Audio Produced by the City Of Taylor, Scripts by Rich Williams-SMZ and Podcast presented by: Market Insights
2023-08-2848 min
Talking Michigan TransportationThe grades are in and Michigan infrastructure still needs helpThe American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released their infrastructure report card for Michigan at a May 8 news conference and gave the state a cumulative grade of C-, which counts as improvement since the previous grade was D+. On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, two people who participated in the news conference talk about the roads component of the report card. First, Ron Brenke, executive director of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Michigan and the Michigan section of ASCE, talks about how decades of underinvestment in transportation infrastructure put Michigan wher...2023-05-1126 minThe Michigan OpportunityS2 Ep.40 Amy O-Leary, Executive Director – Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) & President, Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC)What 60-year-old organization was started by Henry Ford II & Walter Reuther? The Metropolitan Affairs Coalition is one of leading driving forces for economics and quality of life, that brings together leaders from business, labor, government, and education for the 7-county region of Southeast Michigan!Join in listening to Amy O’Leary as she joins host Ed Clemente to discuss the big-ticket items that effect all the businesses, citizens, and environment of the region. MAC is partnership dedicated to enhancing the economic vitality & opportunity and the quality of life in Southeast Michigan. Her near three decades of...2022-11-0925 min
Talking Michigan TransportationA veteran of the House Fiscal Agency breaks down the transportation budget processOn this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Bill Hamilton, a senior transportation funding analyst at the Michigan House Fiscal Agency (HFA). As negotiations proceed on Michigan state government’s fiscal year 2023 budget, Hamilton explains the challenges and how things are unique with a needed infusion of federal dollars through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), following relief from federal pandemic funds. Hamilton also talks about the IIJA’s impact in Michigan. This analysis breaks down the benefits to states. Acknowledging Michigan’s decades of underinvestment in transpor...2022-06-1624 min
Talking Michigan TransportationA Black History Month view from a veteran Michigan transportation leaderOn this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation, a conversation with Robert Davis, who retired from MDOT in 2021 after working across three administrations as a senior adviser and community engagement leader on large projects in Metro Detroit. Sharing his passion for public service, Davis talks about his work as a senior adviser and cabinet member for former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and his work at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) from 2007 until 2021. Davis, who also worked for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and the administration of former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, talks about his...2022-02-2424 min
Destination Downriver PodcastDestination Downriver- Episode 5- The Power of PartnershipsThe Power of Partnerships
Sponsored by BellaGraniteandMarble.com Ron Hinricks, President and CEO of SWCRC hosts Jim Perry, Executive Director at Downriver Community Conference and Brian Pawlik, Planner at SEMCOG discussing partnerships resulting in benefits to communities in the Southeastern Michigan area.
Video and Podcast Produced by Kathy Kane-Market Insights, Scripts by Rich Williams-SMZ and presented by: Trenton Trib and Island Beacon. https://youtu.be/8XL9wDfOrpo2021-12-0128 minThe Michigan OpportunityEp.29 - Naheed Huq of Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC)How SEMCOG & MAC will change the face of southeast Michigan for Shared Prosperity, Economic Development and expose its New Future!Join Naheed Huq and host Ed Clemente as they discuss a wide variety of topics from what are SEMCOG and MAC and what they’re doing to support communities and workforce development in southeast Michigan. They discuss the challenges facing talent training, retention and attraction, digital divide, and other workforce issues, including how local governments are handling disruption and change in the new economy. Also, a discussion about Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and how an...2021-09-2225 min
WCCCD's Critical Conversations Podcast with host Ed ClementeEpisode 19WCCCD’s Critical Conversations Podcast team welcomed the Executive Director of Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), Kathleen Lomako. SEMCOG supports local planning through its technical, data, and intergovernmental resources. In this podcast, Ms. Lomako provides insight into how the organization works to improve the quality of the region's water, make the transportation system safer and more efficient, revitalize communities, and spur economic development.2021-03-2527 min
SEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 17: Michigan Trails Week We talked all things Trails Week with Andrea LaFontaine, Executive Director of Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance and Jonathan Jarosz, Executive Director of Heart of the Lakes. 2020-09-1829 min
SEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 16: Refocusing Economic Development We talked to Flagstar Bank CEO, Sandro DiNello and Mount Clemens Mayor, Laura Kropp about SEMCOG's Economic Development Task Force and their roles as co-chairs, as well as what they're doing in their respective positions to adapt to the pandemic. Kevin Vettraino, SEMCOG's manager of Economic And Community Vitality begins the show and talks about the planning process. 2020-08-1235 min
SEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 15: Eastern Market with Dan Carmody We talked with Dan Carmody, President of the Eastern Market Partnership, about what Eastern Market looks like these days and how they've adapted to the COVID-19 crisis. 2020-07-0228 min
SEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 14: Farmers Market Operations with Amanda Shreve We talked to Amanda Shreve, Executive Director of The Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIMFA) about how farmers markets are adapting to maintain safety during COVID-19. 2020-06-3023 min
SEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 13: Opportunities in Skilled Trades with Lee Graham We talked with Lee Graham, the Executive Director of labor management and education for the Operating Engineers 324, about opportunities in skilled trades for people in Southeast Michigan. 2020-06-1921 min
SEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 12: Economic Impacts of COVID-19 We sat down with economists Gabriel Erlich, PhD; Donald Grimes and Daniil Manaenkov, PhD of the University of Michigan to learn about what the future may hold for the economy of the United States, Michigan, and the seven-county SEMCOG region. 2020-04-3042 minSEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 11: Helping Workers and Employers through COVID-19 We sat down with Southeast Michigan Community Alliance CEO Greg Pitoniak to talk about how they are assisting people during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020-04-0321 min
SEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 10: Leading in a Crisis with Bryan Barnett We sat down with Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Burnett about how he's handling the COVID-19 pandemic in his community. 2020-03-2529 min
SEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 9: The Taubman Fellowship We sat down with this years Taubman Fellows, Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones and Canton Township Supervisor Pat Williams, along with SEMCOG Deputy Executive Director Amy O'Leary to discuss their experiences in the program. 2019-11-1336 minSEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 8: Future Skills We sat down with Doug Smith, Executive Director, Government & Community Relations for Oakland Community College along with Naheed Huq, SEMCOG's Talent & Economic Development Manager, to talk about our new report, Future Skills: Preparing for the Changing World of Work. 2019-09-2520 minSEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 7: Meet Don Hubler, new SEMCOG Chair We sat down with SEMCOG's new chair, Don Hubler, to talk about his background and the year ahead at SEMCOG. 2019-08-1225 minSEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 6: Parks and Recreation SEMCOG recently adopted a Parks and Recreation Plan for Southeast Michigan, so we sat down with Amy McMillan, Director of Huron-Clinton Metroparks to talk about all things parks. Kevin Vettraino, SEMCOG Manager of Economic And Community Vitality, along with Tyler Klifman, the SEMCOG planner who leads much of our work on parks and trails, also join in the conversation. 2019-05-2327 min
SEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 5: What's Up With Transportation? SEMCOG planners Christina Ignasiak and Trevor Brydon walk us through SEMCOG's recently adopted 2045 Regional Transportation Plan. 2019-03-2823 min
SEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 4: The MIC Kathleen Lomako, Executive Director of SEMCOG and Vice Chair of the Michigan Infrastructure Council (MIC), and Jessica Moy, Executive Director of the MIC, explain exactly what the MIC is and what they're doing to ensure the future success of the infrastructure in Southeast Michigan and the entire state. 2019-03-1315 min
SEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 3: What's Up With the Economy? Kevin Vettraino, Manager of Plan Implementation for SEMCOG, talks us through the region's Economic Development Strategy. 2019-03-0417 min
SEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 2: What Will Southeast Michigan Look Like in the Future? Xuan Liu, Research Manager for SEMCOG, talks us through the 2045 Regional Forecast for Southeast Michigan. 2019-02-2217 min
SEMCOG: Region AheadEpisode 1: What Happened to the Lottery Money? The Michigan Lottery revenue was originally intended to support schools when the lottery began in 1972. In the ensuing years, the situation changed and evolved. SEMCOG Government Finance expert Bill Anderson talks with us about this compelling story. 2019-01-1611 min