Dave Coulter appoints directors in several departments
Budget, economic development, human resources get new leaders
Oakland County Executive David Coulter has appointed three department directors to oversee management of the county’s budget, economic development and community affairs’, and human resources.
The appointments of Kyle Jen, deputy state budget director, Ingrid Tighe, executive director of the Birmingham
shopping district, and Brittani Anthony, director of human resources at Bethany
Christ ian Services, were approved by the board of commissioners’ finance committee Monday and are expected to be approved by the full board at their meeting Monday night.
Last week, Coulter sent a letter to county employees informing them of the appointments. All three will begin their new roles later this month with a starting base salary of around $130,000.
“I am excited to announce the addition of three talented Directors to our leadership team,” he said. “After a thorough independent search and comprehensive interview process, we have identified three individuals to lead Economic Development, Human Resources and Management and Budget.
Coulter added that Jen, Tighe, and Anthony all bring expertise and experience in their fields, a collaborative leadership style,
and a passion and commitment around his administration’s vision for Oakland County’s future.
The delay in making these appointments was due to COVID-19 and Coulter receiving the voters’ assurance that he would be in office for at least another four years. Co
Kyle Jen
Jen will become director of the county’s management and budget department where he will be responsible for overseeing the county’s Fiscal Year 2021 $900 million budget while working to maintain the county’s fiscal year, including its AAA bond rating.
Since November 2016, Jen has served as deputy state budget director in the State Budget Office.
In this role, he oversaw annual development of the governor’s $60 billion Executive Budget Recommendation and associated budget materials presented to State Legislature. He would also brief and advise the state budget director and the governor key budget policy decisions.
As part of a small team, he also helped to negotiate the enacted budget with legislative leadership on behalf of the governor.
“He has led large capital and enterprise projects and built presentations for credit rating agencies,” said Coulter. “He has both the technical expertise and the vision to manage, maintain and strengthen Oakland County’s strong fiscal position.”
Between 1999 and 2016, he served in various roles within the House Fiscal Agency, which includes over five years as deputy director of the agency.
In that role, Jen prepared and presented nonpartisan analysis of the state’s $10 billion general fund budget to the House and its 110 members. This also included preparing special reports on fiscal issues relevant to the Legislature.
“It’s a privilege to be joining the Coulter administration, and I’m excited to get right to work helping ensure that taxpayer dollars are invested wisely to enhance the services provided to the county’s residents,” he said. “Oakland County has a well- established reputation for strong fiscal management, as reflected in its AAA bond rating.”
The department has a Fiscal Year 2021 budget totaling $10 million.
Ingrid Tighe
Tighe will become director of the county’s economic development and community affairs department where she will be responsible for overseeing initiatives and programs to support the county’s workforce and greater business community as they navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. She will also be charged with implementing the county’s new economic development strategy.
“She is a strategic planner and collaborative manager with a strong network of relationships around the state,” said Coulter. “She also served our nation in combat as a Captain in the U.S. Army.”
Since April 2017, Tighe has served as executive director of Birmingham’s shopping district where she plans, organizes, coordinates, and directs programs and activities designed to promote downtown Birmingham’s nearly 700 businesses.
She manages a $1.5 million annual budget and supervises the planning, development, and execution of approximately 30 events in the shopping district to include the Farmers Market, annual Day on the Town sidewalk sale, Birmingham Dream Cruise, Winter Market, Summer Movie
Night series, and Restaurant Week.
She also works, on a consistent basis, with individual retailers, restaurant owners, commercial property owners, business owners, local and regional officials, and civic and community organizations.
“I am excited to lead Oakland County’s economic development team as they implement County Executive Coulter’s new strategic plan to ensure inclusive economic growth for the 21st Century,” she said. “I want to utilize my background in economic, community, and workforce development to contribute to the county’s continued growth and success.”
Between June 2013 and May 2017, Tighe served as a business and workforce development manager at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
In this role, she promoted Michigan as a competitive place for business investment and job growth by developing key relationships with private sector leaders, entrepreneurs, local economic development partners, and government agencies.
She also helped to manage company growth and expansion projects across Oakland and Wayne counties resulting in 3,300 new jobs and over $425 million in private investment.
She also worked with 60 cities and assisted approximately 435 companies in their growth by connecting them to federal, state, and local and private-sector programs, grants, and resources in workforce development, capital, and business-tobusiness growth.
The department has a Fiscal Year 2021 budget of around $9 million.
Brittani Anthony
Anthony will become director of the county’s human resources department where she will be responsible for overseeing hiring and the administration of salaries and benefits for the county’s over 5,000 full and parttime employees.
She will also be charged with implementing the county’s new salary administration plan, which will give all non-represented county employees a 3.16% salary increase beginning in January.
“She combines an analytical, strategic approach to her work with a commitment to employee engagement, career development and workplace improvement,” said Coulter. “She has a collaborative management style and is passionate about creating an inclusive and dynamic workforce for all employees.”
Since August 2017, Anthony has served as director of human resources at Grand Rapids-based Bethany Christian Services.
In this role, she evaluated and advised on longterm planning impacts of new strategies and legal regulations as they affect off-boarding, compensation, benefits, policy and procedures, employee engagement, and retention of employees.
Between 2008 and 2017, Anthony served in various human resources positions in both corporate and non-profit settings, which included benefits coordinator at the City of Ann Arbor, vice president of human resources at Gold Star Mortgage Financial and HR staff specialist for Arlington County, VA, government.
“I am honored that County Executive Coulter and his administration have identified me as the new human resources director to lead and align the human resources department with the new strategic goals of the county,” she said. “I look forward to working with my new team and strengthening the county’s workforce by making it more inclusive, diverse, and collaborative.
The department has a Fiscal Year 2021 budget of around $5 million.