Taylor, Huizenga Join Center Board

For Immediate Release
Friday, May 11, 2012
Contact: Michael Jahr
Vice President for Communications 
989-631-0900

MIDLAND — Former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Cliff Taylor and charter public school entrepreneur J.C. Huizenga have joined the Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s Board of Directors, President Joseph G. Lehman announced today.

“The Mackinac Center is proud to add these two accomplished leaders to our governing board,” Lehman said.

Taylor, a former Navy officer, served on the state Supreme Court from 1997 to 2008 and the Michigan Court of Appeals from 1992 to 1997.

“Cliff’s legal and judicial expertise will better enable us to defend the people against government overreach,” Lehman said.

Taylor said he looks forward to serving on the board and is excited about the potential of the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation.

“Having a public interest law firm at the Mackinac Center increases its effectiveness, and I will provide whatever insight and guidance I can when needed,” Taylor said.

Huizenga is founder and chairman of the National Heritage Academies, which he started in 1995. NHA operates more than 70 charter public schools in nine states. He also owns several manufacturing enterprises that employ more than 6,000 people.

“J.C. has a career-long commitment to one Mackinac Center core goal: educational freedom for all,” Lehman said.

Huizenga also founded PrepNet, a group of three college preparatory charter high schools in Michigan that educates more than 800 students.

“The Mackinac Center has been a faithful defender of the traditional founding values that have made this nation great,” Huizenga said. “I look forward to participating more actively in the future direction of such a dynamic organization.”

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