LANSING, November 15, 2010 – Governor-elect Rick Snyder today rounded out his senior staff naming Dennis Muchmore chief of staff, Geralyn Lasher director of communications, and Michael Gadola legal affairs director.
“Finding the right people is crucial for the administration to be a success,” Governor-elect Snyder said. “With Dennis, Geralyn and Mike joining the administration I am confident we are putting together a top-flight team with the diverse mix of backgrounds and experience to help us reinvent Michigan.”
Muchmore is founder of government affairs firm Muchmore Harrington Smalley & Associates. He is also an executive vice president at DHR International, where he is responsible for recruiting executives for corporate clients.
Lasher is currently director of infrastructure services at the Michigan Department of Community Health, where she manages strategic planning of public awareness campaigns. Lasher previously served as the department’s spokesperson for six years under former Governor John Engler.
As Governor-elect Snyder’s top legal adviser, Gadola will play a key role in reinventing Michigan and streamlining government to make it more responsive in providing services and helping create an environment where businesses can thrive and help create jobs. Gadola currently is legal counsel to the Michigan Supreme Court, a post he has held for nearly a decade.
The three senior staff will work closely to help Governor-elect Snyder in his mission to reinvent Michigan. They join William Rustem, who was announced Friday as director of strategy, in the Executive Office.
About Dennis Muchmore
Dennis Muchmore is an executive vice president at DHR International, an executive recruitment and job search firm. Muchmore is also founder of Muchmore Harrington Smalley & Associates, a multi-state government affairs firm, from which he is retired.
Muchmore has held a variety of prominent positions in Michigan, including serving as executive director of the 40,000 member Michigan United Conservation Clubs and vice president of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Muchmore serves on the state Climate Action Council and as chair of the Natural Resources Trust Fund. He previously served on the Oakland University board of trustees.
About Geralyn Lasher
Geralyn Lasher has held a number of positions with the Michigan Department of Community Health and currently serves as the director of the Infrastructure Services Divisions, through which she is responsible for strategic planning of public awareness campaigns. Previously, she served as director of the communications, training and performance support division and was director of communications for the department for six years before that, during which time she served as chief spokesperson for the department.
Lasher also served as a press secretary for the senate majority leader and as deputy press secretary for former Governor John Engler.
About Michael Gadola
Michael Gadola currently serves as Michigan Supreme Court Counsel, a position he has held since 2001. In that position, he provides administrative and legal counsel to the Michigan Supreme Court, the chief justice and the State Court Administrative Office. Prior to that, he served as House majority counsel and in various roles for former Governor John Engler including deputy legal counsel and director of the Office of Regulatory Reform. Gadola has also practiced law as an associate at the law firm Dickinson Wright. He was editor-in-chief of The Wayne Law Review.
