Elizabeth Bernhard
Executive Director of the Manufacturing Growth Alliance

Elizabeth Bernhard is the Executive Director of the Manufacturing Growth Alliance. With a life-long passion for partnership engagement and service to others, Elizabeth has a wealth of experience in the non-profit and for-profit sectors ranging from higher education to business development and executive coaching. She has a Master of Arts in Communication from Western Michigan University and was honored as an “All-University Scholar” in 2009.  Elizabeth has demonstrated expertise in creating partnerships with business and industry and in fostering community collaborations with diverse stakeholders.

 

Elizabeth is a strategic and visionary leader with extensive experience supporting the workforce needs of Michigan’s most in-demand industries, including manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and construction. In a prior role at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Elizabeth worked with the Advanced Manufacturing Career Consortium to create career academies in service of their entry-level talent needs; programs ranged from Computer Numerical Control, to Production Technician, and Warehouse Management and Inventory Control. She has successfully integrated her passions into her career, working with youth, veterans and justice-involved individuals from around the state to establish a pathway for their career success.  Elizabeth is coming to MGA from Youth Solutions, a subsidiary of Kinexus Group.

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"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now."

- William Hutchison Murray