The Rural Insights Podcast

David Haynes sits down with David Jahn, President and CEO of Chippewa County War Memorial Hospital. David has been with War Memorial for 15 years, and prior to that he was CEO and CFO at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital in Manistique (his hometown) for 22 years. David has his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Michigan Technological University and an MBA from Lake Superior State Uni...

In this episode, David sits down with Don Wotruba, UP native and Executive Director of the Michigan Association of School Boards, one of Lansing's biggest educational associations and one of the most powerful in the state. In the podcast, Don discusses the educational policy work he is currently involved in--including managing the difficulties with mask mandates and other COVID-related polici...

In this episode, David Haynes talks with Sara Cambensy, State Representative for Michigan's 109th District.  Prior to her election to the state legislature, Cambensy served on the Marquette City Commission, Marquette Planning Commission and was the director of adult and continuing education for Marquette Community Schools. David and Rep. Cambensy talk about issues affecting the U.P. that both...

In this episode, David Haynes talks with Dickinson County leaders about the work being done and progress being made between the area's educational sector and the manufacturing employment base. This discussion features Dickinson Area Economic Development Authority Executive Director Lois Ellis, Systems Control Talent Acquisitions Lead Theresa Caylor, and Breitung Township Superintendent David...

In this episode, David Haynes sits down with Gary McDowell, current director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. Gary also served three, two-year terms in the Michigan House of Representatives. He grew up in Rudyard, MI, where he still resides, and is a farmer by trade.

In this episode, David Haynes sits down with Sault Ste. Marie City Manager Brian Chapman and Marquette County Administrator Scott Erbisch to discuss some of the issues facing not only their own respective cities and counties, but cities and counties throughout the Upper Peninsula.

Dr. Laura Coleman, President of Bay de Noc Community College in Escanaba, MI, is one of the most respected community college leaders in Michigan and across the country. In this interview we discuss lots of interesting information about higher education in the Upper Peninsula and in Michigan. More About Dr. Laura Coleman: Dr. Coleman assumed the position of President in July of 2006. Prior to joini...

In this episode, David Haynes interviews Ed McBroom, a Republican member of the Michigan Senate, representing the 38th district in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Senator McBroom's district covers twelve of Michigan's fifteen UP counties: Alger, Baraga, Delta,  Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, and Schoolcraft. 

A roundtable discussion featuring David Haynes, the Director and Editor of our Rural Insights Institute, Pat Gagliardi, former member of the House of Representatives where he also served as the Democratic Floor Leader, and Mitch Irwin former Democratic member of the Michigan Senate. This discussion was part of the 2020 Sonderegger Symposium at Northern Michigan University, put on by the Beaumier U...

This video features our conversion with Brian Chapman, City Manager of Sault Ste. Marie and David Haynes, the Director and Editor of our Rural Insights Institute. He talks about current issues facing the Soo and future developments for the Soo. The Soo is one of Michigan’s border communities with Canada, making it a truly an international city. The Soo is also home to a large federal workforce inv...