Orrick Public Policy Podcast #1 – A Conversation with Michigan Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield

Note: This episode was recorded on April 8, 2020
April.14.2020

In our inaugural episode, Jeremy Kudon and Michelle McGann sit down with Michigan Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield to discuss his role in leading the state during this period of crisis.

As of April 8, Michigan has experienced over 900 deaths and Detroit has emerged as an epicenter of the Coronavirus pandemic. Michigan was in the first wave of states to declare a State of Emergency and has since issued 27 additional Executive Orders, ranging from closing schools and imposing shelter in place order for residents. The state has also taken measures to expand support services for healthcare facilities, eased unemployment eligibility and has relaxed tax collection policies to alleviate the strain on individuals.

Thanks to the great leadership of many individuals including Speaker Chatfield, the state has implemented sound measures to curb the spread of the virus and protect its constituents.

About Our Guest:

photo of Lee Chatfield, Michigan Speaker of the House Speaker Chatfield is the youngest Speaker in Michigan history in more than 100 years, and currently the youngest serving in the country. He was first elected to serve the 107th District in the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2014. Lee earned his Bachelor of Science degree in History Education from Northland International University. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Policy from Liberty University. Lee served as a full-time high school teacher, coach and athletic director at his alma mater, Northern Michigan Christian Academy in Burt Lake.

Lee and his family are active members in their local church and he serves his community in various ways. Lee has coached several community teams and hosts summer sports camps for his high school and local athletic associations. Lee was born and raised in Northern Michigan and is a high school graduate of Northern Michigan Christian Academy. He married his high school sweetheart Stephanie in 2008 and they live in Levering with their five children—four sons and a daughter.

Contacts

Jeremy Kudon Partner, State Legislative & Regulatory Practice, Gaming & Gambling

New York

E[email protected]

See my bio

E: [email protected]

Practice:

Technology & Innovation Sector
State Legislative & Regulatory Practice
Gaming & Gambling
State & Federal Government Solutions
Strategic Advisory & Government Enforcement (SAGE)

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Jeremy Kudon Partner

New York

No other group in the United States - whether at a law firm, public affairs firm, or inside the Beltway - can match Jeremy and Orrick's record of success in the state legislatures. Unlike others, who specialize in tracking bills, identifying contract lobbyists (and taking a % of their fee), or developing expensive media and PR campaigns, Jeremy and his team don't specialize in any one area of state government affairs; they specialize in EVERYTHING. They learn your business, work with you on your objectives--both overall and in the state legislatures, identify threats/opportunities, develop a budget, hire contract lobbyists, draft legislation, prepare advocacy pieces, attend legislative conferences, travel to state capitols and educate members about your issue, testify before committees, develop and implement grassroots and PR campaigns, coordinate roll calls, and coordinate every aspect of both the state and overall campaign to add the most possible value to your business.

Just listen to what the media and our clients have to say – The New York Times profiled our efforts in passing online sports betting and daily fantasy sports legislation in an extensive above-the-fold report and in an episode of their podcast, “The Daily.” And from an interview with TechCruch, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said Jeremy and Orrick’s Public Policy team have “helped us go from a tech company that didn’t know a whole lot about legislative affairs and regulation to really being sophisticated there” and praised that “For anyone who’s in a disruptive industry and might be regulated, they really did a fantastic job.”

Michelle (McGann) MacGregor Senior Strategist, State & Federal Government Solutions, State Legislative & Regulatory Practice

Washington, D.C.

See my bio

D:+1 202 339 8552
E: [email protected]

Practice:

State & Federal Government Solutions
State Legislative & Regulatory Practice
Strategic Advisory & Government Enforcement (SAGE)

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See full bio

Michelle (McGann) MacGregor Senior Strategist

Washington, D.C.

Before joining Orrick, Michelle gained broad experience working with elected leadership at the federal and state government levels. Most recently as Executive Director of the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee, Michelle was responsible for advancing the Committee’s objectives of providing financial support, leadership development, and strategic assistance to lawmakers nationwide. In her previous leadership positions at the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee, Michelle reported directly to Senate and House leadership and was tasked with advancing their objectives by evaluating and managing the nexus of policy initiatives and political impact.

Michelle is a graduate of Amherst College, where she received a B.A. in Political Science.