By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS - Cass County commissioners were formally introduced Thursday to Todd Gustafson, the new executive director of the tri-county Michigan Works! job training agency based in Benton Harbor.
The native of Iron Mountain in the Upper Peninsula said he was enjoying the first wintry day, although there was “not enough” snow to suit his taste.
Gustafson “knows the national scene. He knows how to get along and deal with the people who count” while administering an $8.5 million budget for Cass, Berrien and Van Buren counties, Taylor said.
There are 25 such employment agencies in Michigan, of which tri-county Michigan Works! is one of the 10 largest.
Gustafson, an Iron Mountain native who lived in Kingston was one of 126 applicants.
Gustafson, as president since 2000 of the Dickinson Area Partnership in Iron Mountain, was responsible for merging the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Alliance and Tourism Association.
He managed and coordinated almost $2 million annually, including $1 million in revolving loan funds, a $360,000 annual budget, $500,000 in grant funds and $125,000 in event funds.
From December 1997 until July 2000, Gustafson was associate director, congressional and public affairs, for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.
From September 1995 to June 1997, he worked as regional director for U.S. Sen. Spencer Abraham in Marquette.
With the U.S. Army Reserves from August 1997 to 2000, Gustafson was a first lieutenant and platoon leader for Charlie Company, 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Meade, Md.
Gustafson earned bachelor's (in international studies in May 1992) and master's (in public administration and administrative services in May 1997) degrees from Northern Michigan University in Marquette.
He studied German language and culture during 1990 with the Midwest Consortium for Study Abroad, Vienna, Austria.
His employment started June 27 at an annual salary of $87,400.