Inaugural Symposium Panelist: Dennis Aloia

Dennis Aloia, administrator of
Grand Traverse County, Mich.

Dennis Aloia has served as the county administrator for Grand Traverse County since 2001. He is in his 34th year of working in county government, having spent the last 26 years as county administrator or manager in Marquette County, Mich., Seneca County, N.Y., and now Grand Traverse County.

For the past 10 years he has served as a strong proponent for expanding economic development efforts as a board member for the county’s Economic Development Corporation and its Brownfield Development Board.

Aloia joined with others to spearhead efforts to bring northwestern Michigan communities together to develop a long-term transportation and land use plan. This effort, known as the “Grand Vision” process, grew into a six-county plan involving input from more than 12,000 citizens.

The “Grand Vision” is now being used in the region as a template for development. Aloia’s efforts in the process led to his being named “Environmentalist of the Year” in 2006 by the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council.

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Aloia serves as an advisor to the Michigan State University board on reinventing cooperative extension services in Michigan and as a board member for Priority Health Insurance Company.

Aloia received a bachelor of science in public administration and master’s degree in public administration from Indiana University.