Paul Hillegonds

Governor Representative, Chair

Paul Hillegonds recently retired as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Affair at DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE), a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. He oversees DTE Energy’s governmental relations efforts at the local, state, and federal levels as well as external and internal communications. He also served as Speaker and Co-Speaker of the House during his tenure in the Michigan House of Representatives (1979-1996). His previous associations include the Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Authority, Children’s Leadership Council of Michigan, Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation, Grand Valley State University Foundation, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Future, Inc., New Detroit, Inc., the Center for Michigan, The Kresge Foundation, and the Michigan Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. He earned a law degree from the Thomas Cooley Law School and a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Michigan.