Treasurer
State of Michigan
Treasurer
State of Michigan
Rachael Eubanks was appointed as Michigan's 47th State Treasurer by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in January of 2019. She is committed to bringing creativity, collaboration and commitment to identify and implement solutions to some of Michigan’s greatest challenges. She does this while also building upon Treasury’s culture of service to Michiganders, through continuous improvement and employee engagement, which are the foundation of Treasury’s mission to provide fair and efficient financial services on behalf of taxpayers, governments, students and all Michiganders, for the long-term fiscal health and stability of our state.
In 2016 she was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder (and reappointed in 2017) to serve on the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) as a utility regulatory commissioner. In that capacity she reviewed and voted on hundreds of orders that helped shape Michigan’s energy future. In particular, the Commission had regulatory oversight over the implementation of two comprehensive energy law changes during her tenure. She served on several national organizations, including being elected as Vice President to the Organization of PJM States, Inc., and was on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, where she was Chair of the Supplier and Workforce Development Subcommittee.
Prior to that role, Treasurer Eubanks structured more than $25 billion in bond financings for public entities–primarily the state of Michigan, State Building Authority, Michigan Finance Authority and the Michigan Strategic Fund. Treasurer Eubanks also served as point of contact for credit rating agencies on state credit matters for 10 years.
Treasurer Eubanks serves on the National Association of State Treasurers’ (NAST) State Debt Management Network and Legislative Committees and also is the Vice Chair of the NAST Financial Education & Empowerment Committee. She was on the Board of Michigan Women in Finance from 2008-2013 and was elected Treasurer and President.
She obtained her bachelor’s in economics from the University of Michigan.
The State Treasurer is also a member of the following boards and commissions:
Director of Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics
University of Michigan
Director of Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics
University of Michigan
Dr. Gabriel M. Ehrlich is an economic forecaster at the University of Michigan, where he is the Director of the University’s Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics (RSQE). He has published widely in academic journals, and his research has been discussed in the Economist, the Financial Times, and the Washington Post.
Gabe oversees RSQE’s forecasts of the U.S. and Michigan economies, and he presents regularly to the Michigan Legislature and Governor about Michigan’s economic and fiscal prospects. He also gives frequent interviews on the economic outlook both in print and on the air. He is a coauthor of The U.S. Economic Outlook for 2023–2024 and The Michigan Economic Outlook for 2023–2024.
Prior to joining RSQE, Gabe worked as an economist at the Congressional Budget Office. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan.
Chief Executive and Economic Competitiveness Officer
Michigan Economic Development Corp.
Chief Executive and Economic Competitiveness Officer
Michigan Economic Development Corp.
As MEDC CEO and President and Chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund, Quentin L. Messer, Jr. is charged with implementing and executing MEDC’s core mission of business development and attraction, community development, providing access to capital and enhancing Michigan’s image and brand with a focus on building a strong and equitable economy for all Michiganders.
Immediately prior to his role as CEO of MEDC, Messer served as President and CEO of New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA) leading efforts around business attraction, small business growth, talent development, branding, and driving market-responsive, equitable economic growth for New Orleans residents.
As the assistant secretary at Louisiana Economic Development, Messer was designated President of the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation, helping to provide financial assistance to small and medium size businesses in partnership with the private sector and federal agencies including the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Messer’s private sector experience includes The Boston Consulting Group and O’Melveny & Myers LLP, as well as work at a variety of start-up ventures, including as a principal at Foster Chamberlain, LLC – a start-up venture accelerator and corporate venturing consultancy.
An IEDC certified economic developer (CEcD), Messer received a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University, where he was a Princeton School of Public and International Affairs major and earned his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from Columbia University’s Law and Business Schools, respectively. He sits on the board of directors of the International Economic Development Council, where he serves on the board’s Committee for Public Conduct and also is the incoming Co-Chair of the Racism in Economic Development Committee.
Messer was named in Consultants Connect North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers in both 2019 and 2020.
Michigan’s economic landscape continues to evolve and adapt to many external factors. We will explore the state’s financial health and priorities, trends in job growth and strategies to bring new businesses to Michigan. No conversation on this topic would be complete without an assessment of what the recent presidential election will mean for Michigan.
Results of the 13th annual Michigan Economic Outlook Survey will be unveiled at this meeting. This highly collaborative effort involves input from over 1,000 businesspeople and many associations throughout the state.
11:00 a.m. Network Café
11:15 a.m. Speaker Reception
Open to DEC Board, Life and Golf Members with up to two accompanied guests
12:00 p.m. Program (Theater-Style, Unreserved Seating)
1:00 p.m. Strolling Lunch with Open Seating (Reserved Tables of 10 Available)
Mike Land
Metro Detroit Market President
The Huntington National Bank
Daniel Howes
Sr. Editor/Business & Columnist
Detroit News