This article appeared in the February 2020 issue of MiMfg Magazine. Read the full issue and find past issues online.

Q: Share with us a little bit of your background and how that positions you to help the Legislature move Michigan and its manufacturing industry forward?

Ananich: My passion has always been for teaching the next generation. Before my first election to the Michigan State Legislature, I taught high school civics courses in Flint. For me, one of the most rewarding aspects about the job was helping kids uncover their interests and providing guidance as they chose career and education paths. For many of my students, the skilled trades were a perfect fit.

That experience has motivated many of my legislative efforts: I’ve introduced bills to establish the Michigan Opportunity Scholarship, adjust math graduation requirements to give students more career flexibility, and in 2018, we successfully established the Flint Promise, allowing students from Flint to attend a community college or university tuition-free.

Q: Manufacturers have created a nation-leading 205,000 new industry jobs in the last decade. In what ways do you see the industry continuing that trend to make the next decade even better?

Ananich: Michigan will always be a leader in making the latest research and design come to life via manufacturing. In my hometown of Flint, the best trucks in the world roll off the GM lot every day, and much of our local economy is dependent on the excellence the men and women at those plants put into their work. Manufacturing will continue to see job-creating success so long as the industry stays flexible. Consumers are excited about new innovations, like autonomous vehicles and more eco-friendly cars. It is up to us as a state to make sure that we’re ready and workers are prepared to fill those good jobs.

Q: How can Legislative Republicans and Democrats work together and with the Whitmer Administration to ensure positive movement on issues impacting employers and the communities they invest in?

Ananich: I always say, “Let’s start where we can agree and work from there.” We’ve already seen some success despite divided government this past year, namely with auto insurance and criminal justice reform. We face challenges and disagreements but at the end of the day, we all have constituents who send us to Lansing. Many of our constituents share the same concerns, regardless of their political leanings: they want to make sure they can put food on the table, afford their prescriptions, have clean water to drink and provide the best education for their children. If we start where we can agree, I think senators and representatives from all perspectives can work together with Governor Whitmer to find common denominators that ensure Michigan’s communities are friendly places for investment, and that we have a big enough talent pool to fill jobs and keep facilities up and running.

Q: Looking ahead, what is your vision for Michigan and its manufacturing industry over the next 5-10 years?

Ananich: My vision is that we continue to lead in making the best products money can buy! We are already in the midst of the next big technological revolution, and Michigan’s manufacturers will be the ones to deliver quality, trustworthy products to homes across the country and world.