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The State of Michigan, through legislation enacted in 2000 (2000 PA 248), established the SmartZone Program to foster the
development of high technology enterprises through commercialization of research and emerging technology. The Local Development
Finance Authority (LDFA) was created by legislation and is chartered to providing funding for the Houghton/Hancock SmartZone.
It is chartered to fund the creation and promotion of the development and attraction of high-technology activities to the
designated SmartZone. The LDFA board has seven members, three members from each community – Houghton and Hancock and an
independent member.
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Barry is Vice President of Moyle, Inc. Prior to working at Moyle, Inc. he worked for Hitch, Inc. Architects, Engineers and Surveyors
for nine years. He has seventeen years of engineering experience and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan and Wisconsin.
He was elected to the Hancock City Council in 2004 and served as Mayor for four consecutive years. He has served on the Portage Lake
Water and Sewage Authority, The City of Hancock Planning Commission, The City of Hancock Recreation Commission and The City’s Transit
Authority. He is currently a Commissioner of the Hancock Housing Authority and has been a member of the Local Development Finance
Authority for the past six years.
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Jim Hainault is associate director of Sports and Recreation at Michigan Technological University. Prior to working at Michigan Tech
he was Comptroller for Wedtech of Michigan and Ontonagon County Controller. He has extensive experience in economic development having
served as member and chairperson of the Ontonagon Economic Development Corporation. He was elected to the Hancock City Council in 2006
and is the Mayor Pro Tem. He has also been a member of the Local Development Finance Authority for the past 3 and one half years.
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Gernot A. Joachim is the Assistant Director of the Western Upper Peninsula Substance Abuse Services Coordinating Agency, Incorporated
headquarters in Houghton, Michigan. Mr. Joachim is also a current member of the Houghton City Council, Local Development Financing Authority,
and Vice Chairman of Sts. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church.
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Lisa Mckenzie works as a realtor with State Wide Real Estate in Houghton, Michigan. She has served on the Hancock City Council for nine years and
has been a member of the Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA) since it’s conception.
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A graduate of Concord Carlisle High School in Concord, Massachusetts. Attended Michigan Technological University and graduated with a degree in Mechanical
Engineering. Robert Megowen has been a member of the City of Houghton Fire Department for twenty-five years. Currently he is Mayor Pro-Tem for the City of
Houghton. Megowen is also an owner/partner of the Douglass House Saloon-Armandos Restaurant and general manger of Houghton Housing Associates. He is married
and has one child.
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