Staff: Jamie Schriner-Hooper, Executive Director
Jamie Schriner-Hooper is the Executive Director of the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), overseeing all areas of the organization. Prior to joining CEDAM, she served as the Organizational Specialist with the Michigan Main Street Center @ MSDHA, where she worked with communities to create and improve their Main Street program, a national approach to revitalizing traditional, historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.
Prior to working at the state level, Jamie worked at the local level as the Executive Director of the Old Town Commercial Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing Lansing’s historic Old Town district. While there, Jamie helped to welcome in 30 new businesses in one year alone, won IKEA’s Main Street Makeover contest - bringing in national recognition and $50K worth of new furniture for the neighborhood, and created a number of new events and fundraisers including the Festival of the Moon, Old Town Oktoberfest, Pickin’ in the Park and more. Jamie also worked as the Communications and Government Affairs Specialist for Emergent BioSolutions (formerly BioPort Corporation), where she created their Charitable Giving Committee and helped to create partnerships with local non-profits, as well as worked with a number of national organizations to help create the Partnership for Anthrax Vaccine Education. In addition, Jamie and her husband own and have rehabilitated several historic properties in the Greater Lansing area, as well as own a small business in their local Main Street district.
Jamie has particular interest in board development, fundraising, volunteer training and special events and has been a guest speaker at a number of events. She is a Big Sister and serves as Vice President for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region Board of Directors. She also serves on a number of other boards and advisory committees, including the Michigan Main Street Advisory Committee, National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations Board, Michigan Magnet Fund Board and Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis Affordable Housing Advisory Council. Jamie possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Family Studies and German from Central Michigan University and a Master’s degree in Communications from Michigan State University.
Q&A with Jamie:
What drives your passion for neighborhood / community and economic development?
I love watching people take charge of their community to make it a better place. Despite limited resources, these stakeholders are able to do amazing things to improve their community. Tell them they’re unable to do something, and nine times out of ten, they’ll prove you wrong!
Why do you love Michigan?
Michigan is amazing. With the exception of a brief study abroad in Germany, Michigan always has been and always will be my home. I love the friendly people, the incredible beauty of our environment (especially during the fall,) and the unique small towns and big cities.
How do your family and/or community inspire your work?
My family first inspired me to do this type of work. I grew up volunteering with my mom and sisters and haven’t been able to stop. My entire family has a hard time saying no and volunteers for a number of great causes. I now bring my husband along to a number of the things for which I volunteer, and he seems to have also caught the bug. I’m a firm believer that if you can do something to help someone, you should.
What do you do in your free time (if it exists!)?
Free time? What’s that? In what little spare time I have, I enjoy volunteering, spending time with my family and friends, spoiling my two yappy dogs, gardening and drinking obscene amounts of coffee.