Jonathan Smith

Chief Deputy Director, Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity

Speaker | 2023 Ideas Summit

From his first college internship in the Michigan Legislature to senior roles in both the public and private sector in Washington, DC, Jonathan Smith has spent two decades working in politics, public policy, and the law. Prior to joining the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity, Jonathan served in senior roles on Capitol Hill for Members of Congress such as Sen. Carl Levin, Rep. John D. Dingell, Sen. Gary Peters and Rep. Derek Kilmer to design and implement successful legislative strategies and political campaigns. Off the Hill, Jonathan was in a senior role in the private sector working to advance regulatory and policy frameworks for emerging technologies such autonomous vehicles and aerial ridesharing, and was an attorney at a large, international law firm. From transportation to economic and workforce development, Jonathan has worked on a broad range of issues and helped pass dozens of bills that were signed into law, including Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform Act and the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. Jonathan is a graduate of Michigan State University and the University of Michigan Law School.