Commissioner Rita Brown (D) of Birmingham was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in April 2023.
Brown is CEO of Brown Construction Collective +. She is an outspoken advocate for increasing representation in her industry after her own experience and struggles to be given a fair shot as a working mom. She founded Project Accelerate, a seven-week intensive program to introduce women to the design and building trades industry.
Brown’s recruiting efforts have earned her several awards from the National Association of Women in Construction and, in 2017, she was invited to discuss Project Accelerate at a White House policy briefing focused on expanding careers for women in the construction industry.
Brown holds an associate's degree from Schoolcraft College and has earned professional certificates from Michigan State University and Dartmouth. Her commission will expire on December 21, 2025.