David Clinton Hollister is a prominent Michigan politician and civic leader. He has served at the local, regional, and state levels since 1968. Hollister attended Lakeview High School in Battle Creek, where he was interested in politics, football, and journalism, graduating in 1960. He then attended Kellogg Community College, earning an associate’s degree, and Michigan State University, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in History and Government. In 1997 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Michigan State University. Upon graduating college in 1965 Hollister became a public school teacher, notably working for the Cristo Rey Re-Entry Program and Eastern High School in Lansing. An advocate for civil rights and public education, he spent the summers of 1966 and 1968 at the Mississippi Freedom Schools, specifically Rust College. Upon returning home in 1968, and while still teaching full-time, he launched a new career in politics by winning a seat on the Ingham County Commission. After eight years as a county commissioner, Hollister ran and was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, where he served for nineteen years. His appointments included the Appropriations Committee and chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Social Services. His most notable achievements include work with social, public and community services programs and legislation. In 1993, David Hollister was elected as the Mayor of Lansing, and was subsequently reelected for two more terms. His programs focused on rebuilding the city’s infrastructure and promoting economic development. Some of his achievements include establishing tax sharing agreements with neighboring townships, promoting industry (General Motors), bringing minor league baseball and the Stadium District to Lansing, partnering with the State of Michigan for construction of new government buildings, and expanding the city’s relationship with neighboring Michigan State University. Hollister was appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm, to her cabinet as director of the newly formed Department of Labor and Economic Growth in 2003. This department oversees Michigan’s economic growth and urban development. He left this role in 2006 to establish the Prima Civitas Foundation (PCF). PCF works to foster economic development for Lansing/Mid-Michigan area via a regional approach to building partnerships. Areas of particular interest are education, technology, and jobs creation/training. In 2011, Hollister transitioned from his position as PCF’s President and CEO to the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives concentrating on partnerships in Flint and international opportunities.