Role: Heads the "Emerging Sectors" business development, attraction and retention strategy, which was devised to strengthen and diversify Oakland County's economic base for the 21st century. Under his direction, the county's business development team travels the country and the globe to convince businesses in high tech markets to relocate or expand their operations into Oakland County. Toffolo also oversees the Department of Economic Development & Community Affairs, which includes Community & Home Improvement, Marketing & Communication, Planning & Economic Development Services, Waste Resource Management and Workforce Development.
Activities: Chair of the Oakland County Certified Technology Park (Smart Zone), Automation Alley (Board), Governor's Council of Economic Advisors (Board), Oakland University (Business Advisory Board), Detroit Regional Chamber (Partnership Board), Michigan Economic Development Corporation (Government Advisory Board), Italian American Cultural Community (member), Lone Eagle Land Development (Board of Directors) MDOT Transportation Research Board.
Personal: Retired President of Hudson's (department store), land developer and owner of office buildings. Holds a B.B.A. degree from Eastern Michigan University, an M.B.A. from Central Michigan University and a DBA/Honorary degree from Central Michigan University.
Douglas J. Smith, Director, Economic Development & Community Affairs
248-975-9636 smithdj@oakgov.com
Role: Oversees five divisions: Planning & Economic Development Services offers planning assistance for communities including watershed, master plan and land conservancy, administers the Main Street Oakland County historic preservation program;economic development includes business attraction and retention, small business counseling, research and financing; Workforce Development which uses state grants to help train and place unemployed workers; Community & Home Improvement administers federal housing grants to refurbish homes for low and moderate income homeowners and emergency shelters; Solid Waste Resource Management helps monitor landfills and coordinates community recycling and household hazardous waste removal programs and Marketing & Communication provides promotional support and materials for the entire department.
Activities: Former director of real estate and development for the city of Troy; former aide to Gov. William Milliken on education, finance and taxation, served on State Board of Education for five years, former director of policy and legislation for the Michigan Department of Commerce and Michigan Business Ombudsman; established the Office of Economic Expansion at Grand Valley State University and directed a number of economic development initiatives in the greater Grand Rapids area. Member of the Michigan Economic Developers Association (MEDA) since 1979; served as vice-president and chief administrative officer for Walsh College from 1991-1998; serves on local Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities and Michigan State University's University Center Research Park; board member since 1991 for the Boys & Girls Club of Troy and chaired the club's $3.5 million capital campaign; board member for the Michigan Schools & Government Credit Union. He is a licensed real estate broker.
Personal: Holds a bachelor's degree in economics and government from Lawrence University, master's degree from the University of Michigan in public policy, specializing in international economics. His wife, Carol, is an attorney. They have one son, Kevin.
Maureen Donohue Krauss, Deputy Director Economic Development & Community Affairs
248-858-0733 kraussm@oakgov.com
Role: Her responsibilities include Oakland County's Emerging Sectors Program, an initiative to diversify Oakland County's tax base by attracting and retaining industries of the future.
Activities: In 2003, Maureen served as president of the Michigan Economic Developers Association, a 400 member organization that serves economic development professionals throughout the state. She is an active member of the German American and French American Chamber of Commerce, and is on the Board of the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce Detroit. She is also past Chair of the European Committee of the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership. Rochester Community Schools Foundation (Board Member)
Personal: Holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from Albion College. Maureen also has a Masters Degree in Public Policy from the University of Michigan. In 1994 the Arizona Association for Economic Development named her Economic Developer of the Year.
Role: Oversees a team of 40 professionals who work on County-wide planning initiatives in areas such as land use, environmental stewardship and commercial revitalization. Also oversees a comprehensive economic development team that includes small business and financial services to the 60,000-plus Oakland County businesses and marketing to businesses from around the world.
Activities: Member of Michigan Economic Developer's Association, Member of American Planning Association, Michigan Chapter Board Member, Automotive National Heritage Area Partnership Board Member, and Manufacturing Academy of Plastic Sciences.
Personal: Previously employed by the City of Reading, Pennsylvania, focusing on business retention/expansion and downtown redevelopment efforts. Hunter received a B.A. degree from West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia, and a Master of City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
