Tony DesChenes & Todd Feenstra - Politics and Hot Potatoes
Tony DesChenes with Michigan Legislative Consultants and Todd Feenstra, Director of Midwest Water Stewards will provide an update on how the industry is navigating the complex political world in Lansing and what you can do to help.
Friday, February 4th
11:55am - 12:25pm
About The Speakers
Tony DesChenes - Michigan Legislative Consultants
With Tony’s expertise, which includes the ability to identify business opportunities and develop relationships with key decision-makers, he thrives as a procurement and policy specialist. Understanding the tedious maze of government procurement is also a major asset for lobbying the state legislature and Tony knows the process inside and out. From monitoring procurement venues for potential bid responses, bid preparation assistance, and negotiation of contracts to bid follow-up and procurement success evaluation, Tony provides unparalleled counsel and strategy.
Prior to joining MLC, Tony’s over 20 years of experience includes several roles within the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget, including Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Director of Strategic Business Development, Director Commodities Division, and Acting Director of Procurement Operations. Additionally, Tony previously served as advisor to the State Transportation Commission.
Todd Feenstra - Midwest Water Stewards
Todd Feenstra is a licensed professional geologist, certified professional geologist and has USGS training for stream and groundwater work. The Midwest Water Stewards is a group of farmers and agribusinesses who are driven to protect and preserve the water resources that make our area one of the most valuable and viable regions for agriculture in the world. The group's vision is to collect extensive field data to construct data-driven models of surface water and groundwater resources for the purposes of stewardship, education, and the protection of individual water rights.
