LANSING - The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) Executive Committee today announced the appointment of Judy Samelson as chief executive officer for the ECIC, effective May 1. The ECIC is a non-profit public corporation focused on coordinating and expanding programs, services, and supports for all children from birth to age five. As part of its role, the ECIC oversees development and implementation of the Great Start System - a community-based system focusing on early childhood development and care.

As CEO of the corporation, Samelson will have a broad range of duties. She will advise the ECIC executive committee, develop its strategic plan, focus on fund development to expand resources supporting ECIC programs, manage its relationships with political representatives, local governmental entities, private sector and community service providers, the educational community and private citizens, and generate public support for early childhood programs.

A Flint resident, Samelson has more than two decades' experience in advocacy and local community building. She was founder of Flint-based Advocacy In Action since 2005, a nonprofit organization that provides training and technical assistance in advocacy. She was founding executive director of Washington, D.C.-based Afterschool Alliance from 2002-04. There she helped establish after school programming as a national issue and created a clearinghouse of research and information.

She was with Flint's C.S. Mott Foundation, a philanthropic organization, from 1983-2002. From 1983-1998 she served as vice president and director of communications. She was a consultant there from 1998-2001. She was an editor and reporter for The Flint Journal from 1973-83. Samelson holds bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm announced the creation of the ECIC in her 2005 State of the State address. The ECIC operates in both the public and private sectors to help all Michigan families provide a great start for their children from birth to age five. ECIC goals are: to provide a focal point in state government for the developing Michigan's Great Start system; to serve as a clearinghouse of information, resources and technical assistance for early childhood system-building efforts; and to partner with and support local communities through Great Start Collaboratives.