Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti business leaders among attendees at White House briefing

By Ben Freed Business Reporter

Posted on Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 12:40 p.m.

On the heels of the Makinac Policy Conference, leaders of Michigan’s business community are gathering in Washington, D.C. for a meeting at the White House on Friday afternoon. The Michigan Business Leaders’ Briefing is a chance for administration officials to continue the discussion that was started with a series of economic roundtables held around the country last year.

Area attendees of the briefing include Fluency Media Chief Executive Officer Tim Schaden and Michigan Ladder Company CEO and owner Tom Harrison.

Tom Harrison

“I’m really looking forward to the briefing,” said Harrison. “I was delighted to be invited, and I have my own thoughts and opinions on what we should be doing to get the local economy on the right track. I was pretty vocal at the White House roundtable in Southeast Michigan, which is probably why I was invited to take part.”

Harrison was unsure exactly who would be present from the administration. That information has been kept from the attendees for security reasons. The briefing will begin with a presentation from government officials, followed by a discussion in which Harrison says he hopes that the White House will be receptive to feedback from area business leaders.

Harrison’s company, Michigan Ladder, has been operating in Ypsilanti for more than 110 years. The company is in the process of moving its fiberglass and aluminum ladder manufacturing operations to the region.