Michigan Works! Association names Senator Mary Cavanagh 2023 Legislator of the Year

LANSING (Sept. 27, 2023)— State Senator Mary Cavanagh was honored this week as the Michigan Works! Association’s (MWA) 2023 Legislator of the Year.

Sen. Cavanagh  (second from left) accepts her award at the Michigan Works! conference on Sept. 11. She is pictured (L to R) with SEMCA Michigan Works! CEO Greg Pitoniak, Oakland County Michigan Works! Director Jennifer Llewellyn and Michigan Works! Association CEO Ryan Hundt. 

“Having strong leaders like Senator Cavanagh advocating for the Michigan Works! system continues to help our agencies improve and grow,” said Ryan Hundt, Michigan Works! Association CEO. “Senator Cavanagh’s leadership has been invaluable and we are proud to name her as our 2023 Legislator of the Year.”

Cavanagh was honored for being a vocal champion for workforce development with a focus on building relationships and bringing about positive change. She advocates for Michigan Works! in her role as vice chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee and chair of the Labor & Economic Opportunity Appropriations Subcommittee, and as a member of the Senator Labor Committee.

“As Chair of the Senate LEO/MEDC Appropriations Subcommittee, investing in programs and resources to ensure our workers have the education and skills needed to succeed in Michigan’s future economy is one of my top priorities,” said Sen. Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp). “Michigan Works! is a critical tool in that effort, supporting the development of our workforce and empowering Michigan workers. It’s an incredible honor to be recognized as a Michigan Works! Legislator of the Year, and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with this incredible organization to create a more thriving and competitive state of Michigan.”

Senator Cavanagh is currently serving her first term in the Michigan Senate, representing parts of Detroit, Farmington Hills, Livonia and all of Farmington and Redford Township. She was previously elected in 2020 to serve as a state representative.

The award was presented at the 2023 Michigan Works! conference in Detroit earlier this month.

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Established in 1987, the Michigan Works! Association fosters high-quality employment and training programs serving employers and workers by providing support activities and a forum for information exchange for Michigan's workforce development system. For more information, please visit www.michiganworks.org.