Contact:
Matt Bach
Michigan Municipal League
c: (810) 874-1073; [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 22, 2022

Michigan Municipal League’s John LaMacchia and Jennifer Rigterink to Lead State and Federal Affairs Team

LANSING, Michigan – The Michigan Municipal League has selected new leadership for its state and federal affairs team. The League’s John LaMacchia has been named director of state and federal affairs and Jennifer Rigterink has been promoted to assistant director.

As director, LaMacchia succeeds Chris Hackbarth, who is relocating to Northern Michigan. Hackbarth served as the League’s director of state and federal affairs since January of 2015 following his earlier role as a legislative associate for the MML from 2009 to 2011.

“We will greatly miss Chris and wish him well in his new role. Chris has done an amazing job serving our members and has continually been recognized as a top lobbyist in our state,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director for the League. “Chris also has successfully mentored and formed a great legislative team for us and it’s to his credit that we are able to promote John and Jennifer to these roles.”

LaMacchia joined the League in January of 2013 as a legislative associate and later became the assistant director. In 2015, he was honored by the Michigan Society of Association Executives as one of 15 in ’15 Rising Leaders. In addition to his advocacy work, John oversees special initiatives and projects related to the Urban Core Mayors, City Business Collaborative, and the Coalition for a Strong and Prosperous Michigan.

“I have utmost confidence in John to lead our legislative team,” Gilmartin said. “As assistant director John has repeatedly taken on more responsibilities with great success, and he was an ideal choice for our state and federal affairs director.”

Prior to joining the League, LaMacchia served as Chief of Staff for former Sen. John Gleason for six years and previously worked in the office of former Senate Minority Leader Bob Emerson. John has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Michigan State University and lives in DeWitt with his wife, Dana, and three children.

“For eight years Chris has served as a mentor and friend, it has been a pleasure working with him and he will be missed,” LaMacchia said. “I am honored that the League has faith in me to lead our amazing team and I look forward to continuing to passionately advocate on behalf of Michigan’s communities.”

Rigterink started with the League in April 2016 as a legislative associate advocating for Michigan’s communities with a concentration on municipal services, economic development, and land use issues.

“Jennifer came to us nearly six years ago from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and quickly transformed herself into an excellent legislative associate,” Gilmartin said. “I know Jennifer and John will do an amazing job representing our members in Lansing and D.C. and leading our advocacy department.”

Rigterink represents the League on the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Technical Assistance Advisory Council and sits on the executive committee of the Housing Michigan Coalition. She has a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from Michigan State University. She lives in DeWitt with her husband Chris and two children. She and Chris own a small business called The Mattress Source in East Lansing and Lansing, Michigan.

“I thoroughly enjoy my time with the MML and working on behalf of our members,” Rigterink said. “I look forward to working with John to help guide our team into the future.”

In addition to LaMacchia and Rigterink, other members of the League’s state and federal affairs team are Herasanna Richards, legislative associate, and Betsy DeRose, capital office coordinator.

For additional information, contact Matt Bach, Michigan Municipal League assistant director of strategic communications, at [email protected] and (810) 874-1073.