GLIN==> Great Lakes Commission establishes two new program areas

[Kirk Haverkamp <kirkh@glc.org>]

Communications, information management functions will expand

Great Lakes Commission establishes two new program areas

Ann Arbor, Mich. —  The Great Lakes Commission announces the creation
of two new program areas that will greatly enhance its capacity to manage
and distribute information critical to informed public policy decisionmaking.

The new program areas are Communications and Internet Technology, and Data
and Information Management. Building upon the former Communications and Information
Management Program, they will enhance the Commission’s ability to manage
mutiple existing projects while providing the resources for significant program
expansion. 

“These new program areas will oversee a growing suite of projects that will
enable the Commission to access, organize and manage data and information
to support informed policy development and decisionmaking,” said Dr. Michael
J. Donahue, Commission president/CEO. “These are areas where the Great Lakes
Commission has long demonstrated leadership and special expertise.”

The Communications and Internet Technology program will house all of the
Commission’s communications activities, including the Advisor newsletter,
press releases, the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN), web site maintenance
and other outreach activities. Christine Manninen, a project manager and
seven-year employee, has been promoted to program manager.

The other new program will handle the Commission’s data collection, analysis
and management activities, including geographic information systems (GIS),
the development of data management tools and a range of other activities.
A new program manager will be announced soon.

“This is similar to our successful reorganization of Resource Management
and Environmental Quality into separate programs a couple years ago,” Donahue
said. “As the Commission continues to grow and gain new responsibilities,
it makes sense to restructure our program areas so they can remain focused
on clearly defined core missions.”

Donahue added that the staff has expanded in size and will continue to do
so to better serve its state and provincial members, and the entire Great
Lakes-St. Lawrence community.

In other personnel matters, two staff members have been honored with the
Commission’s Outstanding Service Award upon reaching personal milestones
with the organization. Steve Thorp, program manager in Transportation and
Sustainable Development, recently completed his 20th year with the Commission,
while Katherine Glassner-Shwayder, project manager in Resource Management,
marked the 10th anniversary of her work here. Congratulations to them both!

###

 Contact: Dr. Michael J. Donahue, president/CEO
 Phone:  734-665-9135
 Fax:  734-665-4370
 E-mail:  
mdonahue@glc.org


The Great Lakes Commission, chaired by Nathaniel E. Robinson (Wisconsin),
is a nonpartisan, binational compact agency created by state and U.S. federal
law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and
high quality of life for the Great LakesSt. Lawrence region and its residents. 
The Commission consists of state legislators, agency officials and governors’
appointees from its eight member states.  Associate membership for Ontario
and Québec was established through the signing of a “Declaration of Partnership.” 
The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian
federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional
interests.  The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.