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Keith W. Cooley, Director Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth

Known as an innovative problem solver, Keith W. Cooley was appointed Director, Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm effective March 5, 2007. His previous efforts in workforce development and quality management as CEO of Focus: HOPE, a Detroit civil and human rights organization made him the perfect candidate to head DLEG with its 4,000 employees and $1.3 B budget. The task in front of DLEG being to upskill Michigan’s workforce for a globally competitive 21st century and increase overall system efficiency in the department’s 35 agencies.

Under his leadership, from 2002 to 2006, Focus: HOPE became ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certified for quality, environment and manufacturing; received Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA) Silver and Bronze Awards in 2005 and again in 2007; and developed robust processes to educate underrepresented urban youth.

Cooley began his professional career in 1968 as an experimental physicist with General Electric Corp. He joined General Motors in 1972 as a project engineer, rising to engineering director for Cadillac Motor Division in 1985 and Director, Strategic Planning, for the GM Corporate Communications Staff in 1994.

In 1997, Cooley founded Principia, Inc., a consulting company dedicated to helping organizations manage crisis and critical change. He later joined Motorola Corp. as Director, Telematics International Sales, GM account, in 2001.

His professional activities and affiliations currently include the Engineering Society of Detroit. Previously, he served on the boards of trustees for the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology (chair, research subcommittee) and for WIRED (Workforce Innovation for Regional Economic Development) West Michigan and on the board of directors for the University Prep Academy and Presbyterian Village Ministries.

Cooley's professional recognitions include Who's Who in the World, Tau Beta Pi Eminent Engineer, and the General Motors President's Council Honors. He is also a life member of the National Black MBA Association and the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honorary Society.

Cooley received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering physics and a Master of Science degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Michigan (U-M) in 1967 and 1972, respectively. As a graduate student, he founded the Minority Engineering Programs Office, College of Engineering. In addition, he was a gymnast; the first African-American to compete in that sport at the school and was a member of U-M’s 1966 Big Ten Championship team. A resident of Troy, he is married and has four children.