Board of Managers

Grow Michigan’s Board of Managers provides strategic oversight, governance, and leadership to support the fund’s mission of expanding access to capital for Michigan businesses. Drawing on expertise spanning banking, law, economic development, community leadership, commercial finance, and entrepreneurship, the Board helps ensure Grow Michigan operates with strong stewardship, sound decision-making, and a commitment to economic growth across the state.

Kenneth Kelly
Executive Chairman

A nationally recognized banking executive and community leader with extensive experience in commercial banking, financial services, and economic development. Kenneth provides strategic leadership and governance oversight to support Grow Michigan's mission and long-term growth.

Kenneth Kelly serves as Chairman and CEO of First Independence Bank. 

Kenneth is the Chairman and CEO of First Independence Corp and First Independence Bank, a minority depository institution in Detroit, Michigan. Under his visionary leadership, the corporation has doubled its book value in five years. He currently serves as chair of the American Bankers Association, representing the voice of the nation’s $25.3 trillion banking sector, and has held leadership roles on the boards of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion, among other industry committees. Certified by the NACD in board leadership, Kenneth is a recognized for his expertise in governance. He made history as the first African American chairperson of the Auburn University Engineering Alumni Council and was honored by Auburn University with the naming of the Kenneth Kelly Engineering Academic Excellence Program Reception Area. Before his banking career, Kenneth spent 27 years in the electric utility sector with Southern Company, where he led negotiations for major renewable solar projects valued at $3.4 billion. His leadership and entrepreneurial achievement have earned him numerous accolades, including being named one of Detroit’s Top 500 Corporate Leaders and winning EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2024. Kenneth is the author of Prepared Before I Let Go and the owner of MyLegacyItems.com, a platform for managing legal documents. Demonstrating his commitment to economic inclusion, he led the effort to open the only Black-owned bank branch in the Twin Cities after George Floyd’s death. Kenneth holds an electrical engineering degree from Auburn University and an Executive MBA from the University of Alabama.
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Henry J. Brennan III
Founder

A founding member of Grow Michigan and accomplished corporate attorney with extensive experience advising businesses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and strategic transactions. Henry brings valuable legal and transactional expertise that supports effective governance and sound decision-making.

Mr. Brennan is a partner with Howard & Howard, PLLC and provides legal counsel to Grow Michigan, LLC. 

Mr. Brennan is a partner with Howard & Howard, PLLC and provides legal counsel to Grow Michigan, LLC. He concentrates his practice in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and real estate. Mr. Brennan is AV Rated by Martindale Hubble (its highest rating based on peer review), he has also been consistently designated as a Top Lawyer by DBusiness and a Michigan Super Lawyer. Brennan in addition has been a founder and equity partner in several business ventures, including A3 Integration, TradeLogix and FreightVerify. 

Mr. Brennan serves on several corporate boards and advisory committees, in addition to being involved with several civic and philanthropic organizations.

He received a B.A. in Economics and English from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from Wayne State University Law School.
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Patrick McQueen

A highly accomplished banking executive and financial advisor with decades of leadership experience in commercial banking, financial institution management, and regulatory oversight. Patrick provides strategic guidance on financial reporting, risk management, governance, and audit oversight.

Patrick McQueen is a Managing Director of McQueen Financial Advisors.

Patrick M. McQueen is a Managing Director of McQueen Financial Advisors, providing an array of consulting services to financial institutions. McQueen serves on the Board of Directors of EnerBank USA (Salt Lake City) and serves as Chair of the Audit Committee for Grow Michigan. Previously, he served in varying capacities, including Chairman, President and C.E.O. of The Private Bank and successor banks. Previously, McQueen spent eight years in State Government, serving as the Commissioner of Banking and briefly, as the Acting Commissioner of Insurance. The first 24 years of his banking career was spent with Comerica Bank, and its predecessor, Manufacturers National Bank.

Current assignments include serving on the Michigan Gaming Control Board, the Motor City Lyric Opera Board, the Kelly (Services) Relief Fund Board and the Oakland Community Foundation Board. McQueen holds a B.B.A. From the University of Michigan-Dearborn and an M.B.A. From Michigan State University. McQueen also graduated from the Graduate School of Retail Banking at the University of Virginia.

He and his wife, Catherine, reside in Bloomfield Hills. All three children reside in the area.
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Chris Cook

Chris leads initiatives that help Michigan businesses access capital and financing solutions across every stage of growth, from small business lending to lower middle market financing.

Chris Cook serves as Director – Capital Access for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Chris Cook serves as Director – Capital Access for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. In this role, Mr. Cook is responsible for managing the MEDC’s effort in supporting Michigan based companies seeking commercial lending from microlending through lower middle market companies. Mr. Cook oversees the Michigan Strategic Fund’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (“SSBCI”) allocation. Mr. Cook received a BA in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University. He has over 13 years of experience in the financial services industry. This experience includes assisting small businesses secure financing through a variety of sources including the support of SSBCI and SBA.
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Julius Edwards

An experienced finance and economic development professional specializing in underwriting, incentive structuring, commercial real estate investment, and community revitalization projects.

Julius Edwards serves as the Senior Commercial Real Estate Investment Manager for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Julius Edwards serves as the Senior Commercial Real Estate Investment Manager for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, focusing on overseeing the underwriting and structuring of incentives for the Michigan Community Revitalization Program. Mr. Edwards received his B.A. in Finance from Michigan State University. He has over 22 years of experience in the financial services industry. That experience includes providing creative financing solutions for businesses in various phases of the life cycle, commercial real estate and affordable housing projects.
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Aileen Boven

Aileen helps ensure inclusive economic development initiatives while bringing extensive experience in public service, program administration, and organizational strategy.

Aileen Boven serves as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Officer for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

As Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Officer for the MEDC, Aileen Cohen leads strategic efforts to leverage best practices to incorporate DEI into MEDC’s training, hiring, recruitment and promotion practices, procurement policies and programs, and marketing and services guidelines and objectives to ensure the organization supports a more welcoming, accepting and engaging environment for its employees and its customers.

Prior to joining the Capital Access team, Aileen worked in the MEDC’s legal division as a Senior Contract and Grant Specialist. Previously, Aileen also worked at the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, serving in a variety of different roles. Altogether, Aileen has worked for the state of Michigan since 2006. Aileen earned a Master of Business Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University. Aileen also received a Certificate in Organizational Inclusion & Diversity from Michigan State University.
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James York

A commercial banking executive with more than two decades of lending experience supporting businesses throughout Michigan. Jamie specializes in commercial lending, portfolio management, and business growth financing.

James “Jamie” York is First Vice President of Commercial Lending for First Merchants Bank.

James “Jamie” York is First Vice President of Commercial Lending for First Merchants Bank, a full-service commercial and consumer bank headquartered in Michigan with assets of approximately $2.5 billion. York joined Level One in 2010 and during his tenure has played an integral role in four bank acquisition and managed assets. He currently leads the Bank’s Commercial Lending Group which serves, Ann Arbor, Jackson and Western Wayne County. York also manages the bank’s leasing and syndicated loan activities.

Previously Jamie worked as a commercial lender, leasing agent and asset manager on contract to the FDIC. York has been in the commercial banking industry for more than 20 years, including serving as a FDIC resolution assistance consultant supporting the resolution of assets of four financial institutions during the financial crisis of 2009.
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Donnell White

A respected community and business leader whose experience spans financial services, organizational leadership, strategic partnerships, and community engagement.

Donnell R. White is the Senior Vice President and Regional DE&I Director of Huntington National Bank. 

Donnell R. White is the senior vice president and regional diversity, equity, and inclusion director of Huntington National Bank. Previously serving as the Senior executive vice president and chief diversity officer and director of strategic partnerships for TCF National Bank August 2019 to June 2021. He also previously served in the same role at Chemical Bank June 2018 to August 2019.

Prior to joining Chemical Bank, Mr. White served as executive director of the Detroit Branch National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), where he helped lead the organization’s largest local Branch – also one of its oldest and most storied Branches. While there, he was responsible for the strategic, financial and operational oversight of the organization and also served as the spokesperson and community liaison for the organization.

Donnell is active in the community serving as a board member of the National Diversity Council, Live 6 Alliance, Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, Arab American and Chaldean Council, and Crime Stoppers of Michigan. In addition, he serves on the Michigan Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) Leadership Council, Grow Michigan Board of Managers, Federal Bureau of Investigations Multicultural Advisory Committee, Wayne State University President’s Community Advisory Group, Focus Hope Advisory Group, Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity Advisory Group, and the Michigan State Police Citizen’s Advisory Council. He is Board Trustee for Michigan Children’s Foundation, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Detroit Public Safety Foundation.
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Dan Roesner

A commercial banking leader with more than two decades of experience helping small and middle-market companies grow through strategic lending and relationship management.

Dan is a Senior Vice President at Fifth Third Bank.

Dan is a Senior Vice President at Fifth Third Bank, with over 20 years of experience in commercial banking. Dan began his career at Comerica Bank in 2003 as a credit analyst. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Bank’s Middle Market lending team as a relationship manager, operating out of the Detroit office and forging customer relationships with companies typically ranging from $30 million to $500 million in revenue. After growing that portfolio for close to two decades, Dan was named Senior Vice President and assumed a leadership role in Comerica’s Business Banking lending area.

During his entire career at Comerica, Dan’s focus has been on cultivating relationships with small and mid-sized business primarily throughout Michigan and the Industrial Midwest. Dan earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of Dayton, and has a Masters of Business Administration from Wayne State University.
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Rev. Charles E. Williams II
Michigan Chair, National Action Network

A respected civic and faith leader whose work bridges community development, public policy, research, and economic inclusion. Charles brings a valuable perspective on the social and economic impact of capital access throughout Michigan communities.

Charles E. Williams II is the Pastor of the Historic King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit and the Michigan Chair of the National Action Network.

Charles E. Williams II is the Pastor of the Historic King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit and the Michigan Chair of the National Action Network. He can often be heard on Sirius XM channel 126 as the co-host of 'Keeping it Real’ with Rev. Al Sharpton. Charles is engaged in research at the University of Michigan in the Center on Assets, Education and Inclusion and at Poverty Solutions. His research interests include poverty, inequality, health disparities, and the intersection of race and religion. Charles enjoys training for marathons, sailing, and spending time with his wife, Angela, and their two young children.
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