Center for Michigan expansion continues with hiring of Diana Roginson as COO
Diana Roginson, an entrepreneur and operations strategist who has received national recognition for her work, joins the Center for Michigan as chief operating officer on Monday.
For the past 10 years, Roginson has worked as COO and co-founder of Rebel Nell, a women-owned jewelry manufacturer that is a certified social enterprise. The business provided opportunities for women with barriers to employment, and Roginson’s leadership helped boost the company into a nationally recognized brand. Among her honors, Roginson was recognized as an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016.
Roginson also is co-founder and former board chair of Teach Empower Achieve, a nonprofit workforce development organization based in Detroit.
“Diana's proven entrepreneurship and team leadership are exactly what the Center for Michigan needs in its next-stage growth,” said Center for Michigan CEO Katy Locker.
At the Center for Michigan, Roginson will focus on strategic planning and financial, human resources and support projects for the Center for Michigan, the nonprofit publisher of Bridge Michigan and BridgeDetroit.
She is a Wayne State University alumnus who lives in Detroit with her husband, daughter and two dogs.
Roginson’s hire follows a national search and is the most recent hire on the center’s revenue and operations team, which also recently brought aboard Jackquelyn Garrett as fund development associate.
Also a Wayne State alumnus, Garrett provides donation data analysis and customer service to those who donate to Bridge Michigan and BridgeDetroit. Garrett worked previously at Michigan Community Resources, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Department of Transportation, and as a public policy assistant to former Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones.
The hires follow a decade of growth at the Center for Michigan, which earlier this year hired Asha Lewis as digital marketing associate, a newly created job that works to bring Bridge Michigan and BridgeDetroit content to new audiences and deepen loyalty among existing readers.
Bridge Michigan this year also hired Janelle D. James as its first breaking news reporter, bringing its staff to 20 full-time employees
BridgeDetroit, meanwhile, this year hired Micah Walker to cover arts, culture and education. Launched in spring 2020, BridgeDetroit has continually grown and expanded on its strategies to reach new audiences in Detroit.
See what new members are saying about why they donated to Bridge Michigan:
- “In order for this information to be accurate and unbiased it must be underwritten by its readers, not by special interests.” - Larry S.
- “Not many other media sources report on the topics Bridge does.” - Susan B.
- “Your journalism is outstanding and rare these days.” - Mark S.
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