Episode 37: Inside the Boardroom

In this episode of Double Down Michigan, Executive Director Henry Williams sits down with newly appointed MGCB Chair Jim Ananich for a candid conversation about his path to public service, his vision for the Michigan Gaming Control Board, and the importance of strong regulation in a rapidly evolving industry. With deep roots in Flint and experience spanning government, health, and education, Chair Ananich shares how his background shapes his approach to leadership and community impact. Listeners will gain insight into his priorities for the Board, the role of consumer protection, and what he hopes to accomplish during his term through 2028.
 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Uh hello? Where are you? The party started an hour ago. I got, um, you know, delayed. Wait, are you at the casino again? Casino. No, not at all.

SPEAKER_01 0:15

If gambling is getting in the way of your priorities, self-exclusion from the Detroit Casinos might be for you. Learn more at don'tregretthebet.org. A message from the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Have a gambling problem? Call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800GAMBLES.

SPEAKER_00 0:40

On the Double Down Michigan podcast, we explore topics related to the gaming industry in Michigan. Host Henry Williams, Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director discusses responsible gaming, gaming legislation in our state, current trends, and more. We feature special guests from the gaming industry so you can get the inside scoop. Be sure to subscribe to Double Down Michigan, a podcast by the Michigan Gaming Control Board to stay up to date on the latest in gaming. Thank you for listening.

SPEAKER_02 1:15

Hello and welcome to this episode of Double Down Michigan Podcast, where we spotlight the work and people behind the Michigan Gaming Control Board. I'm Executive Director Henry Williams, and today I'm excited to introduce our new board chair, Jim Ananick. Appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer this past April, Chair Ananick brings years of leadership experience. He's currently leads the Greater Flint Health Coalition, teaches at the University of Michigan Flint, and previously served in the legislature and as Flint City Council President. Chairman, we're glad to have you here today.

SPEAKER_03 1:47

Thanks for having me. I'm looking forward to the conversation.

SPEAKER_02 1:49

First, congratulations on your appointment to the board. For those who may not know you yet, could you share a little bit about your professional journey and what led you to this role with the Michigan Game and Control Board?

SPEAKER_03 2:00

Yeah, thank you. That's a great question. So I'm a first time a lifelong Flint resident, uh Michigan resident. Uh grew up in the Flint community, went to Michigan State. Uh after college, I um worked for Congressman Dale Kilde, not Dan Kildy, uh, and first in D.C. and then back in Flint. So I was uh both in Washington and also in his district office. As you mentioned, I served on the city council, I taught in the Flint schools for a number of years, and then I served 12 years in the legislature, uh kind of culminating with uh two terms as a minority leader. Uh my job at the Greater Flint Health Coalition is kind of a continuation of service, as is this role uh when I was talking to the governor and her team about ways I could be helpful. I always had an interest and I always had a respect for the way you and the department ran. Uh and I thought uh, you know, having worked with you guys briefly on some legislation over the years, I just liked the way that you guys uh run things here with integrity and and uh you know level of professionalism that you you you it's it's really refreshing. I wanted to be uh when I was offered the opportunity to to chair the board, I was I jumped at it because it's a great way to continue to serve but not um have to go to Lansing every every day like I did before.

SPEAKER_02 3:09

Well, thank you. We appreciate that. And just to be clear, you served as um a senator in the state legislature.

SPEAKER_03 3:14

Yes, yep. I was a minority leader and I served uh term and a half in the House as well.

SPEAKER_02 3:18

Okay, great, thank you. And if I recall, I I think I read some literature before. You succeeded to governor? I did, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_03 3:25

She was my minority, she was my leader, and then I took over the next term.

SPEAKER_02 3:28

Okay, great. Um, Chairman, you served your community in many different capacities, from City Council to the state legislature to your current work in in health and education. How have those experiences shaped your approach to leadership?

SPEAKER_03 3:44

That's a great question. In different capacities, whether I was mentoring or talking to staff or in my current role or previous roles, I've talked about leadership a lot and like what does that mean and you know what are some of the principles that are important. I think listening is one is really important. I think uh having a goal, it's important to have a goal of why you're doing it. And I think improving the quality of life for the residents of your community or the state was is something I've always had a core uh part of my leadership style, uh, to be honest, to to lead with integrity, to to trust that uh to treat people uh with respect, both in their ideas, whether they agree with me or not, but like uh uh come in with an understanding that they have their their their values and their beliefs and their thoughts, and that I don't judge the motivation, we just may disagree on something. I think that helps people find common ground if you're not attacking somebody for disagreeing with you. So that's kind of the the role that I've always taken. And um uh this was just a great opportunity to continue to kind of serve in a leadership role under your uh direction is uh doing a tremendous job as the executive director and your staff is just the ones I've met so far in the last year, it's been pretty refreshing.

SPEAKER_02 4:54

Well, good. I'm happy to hear that. We should we share a similar approach um to leadership. Yes, I noticed that from here, that's for sure. Um what drew you to the Michigan Control Board and what excites you most about serving as chair?

SPEAKER_03 5:06

That's a great question. Um, you know, um I think one of the things I liked about it the most is when we did the gaming uh reform gaming reform bills a few years ago when we did uh largely, you know, kind of around internet and other gaming like that, and kind of one of the leaders in the country on our our laws, I think, uh are looked upon in many other states as kind of the the best practice. I got to work with you and your team a little bit on that. I I wasn't the point of my caucus, but I got to work on it, and I saw um again, like uh the integrity and the and the dedication that you all put into this uh on a regular basis, and I thought it's not an area that I worked on a lot in the legislature, so I wanted to learn one. I wanted to expand my relationships with people in the industry and and and you and the team here. Um I I thought that um you know it'd be something that I could be proud of because I knew you guys do a good job, and I could help try to just add whatever um uh skills and abilities I have would help just enhance what you guys are already doing. And um again, it was just an area that I wasn't that comfortable with, it wasn't that uh knowledgeable in, so I thought it'd be a good way to learn too.

SPEAKER_02 6:09

Okay, all right, great. Um and looking ahead, what are some areas of focus as you begin this term?

SPEAKER_03 6:17

Well, um I think you and the team have done a great job of really making sure that we have a strong, responsible gaming and consumer protections because it is obviously uh it's an important uh part of our economy, it's an important uh industry, but uh doing it irresponsibly can be very very dangerous uh for people. And you can't obviously there's no way to 100% please someone making uh uh bad decisions with their money, but if you can make it so that you protect the consumer and and really work on uh you know uh gaming issues, problem gambling issues like we have, I think done a good job. I want to continue to support that. Uh I want to make sure I um, you know, we have a very transparent process, but I want to help you guys make sure that that that you feel that the board is supporting the work that you're doing. And you know, uh it's really important to have a safe and well-regulated gaming industry. And I think we do, but you you you always have to be vigilant when you're when you're a regulator to make sure that you don't let your guard down and you know, there's always the there's always folks trying to find ways to sneak in and do things improper uh that that are improper, and we have to make sure we're vigilant about making sure that we protect the the taxpayer and the and the and the folks that are operating gaming and also that are trying to participate in it.

SPEAKER_02 7:25

Absolutely. We can always improve, right? Um in your view, Chairman, why is strong and effective regulation of gaming so important to Michigan residents?

SPEAKER_03 7:35

I think there's a few reasons why it's extremely important. Uh it builds trust, right? I think the the the family member or the person who's doing the gaming has to know that if they're uh if the if they're playing um uh participating in the in the process that it's it's a fair system. Um I think it's also important to make sure you protect consumers and again that you're you're protecting and making sure that the system is fair. Um and it's also uh creates a level playing field. It's if somebody's operating outside the system and there's folks that are playing by the rules, it's a competitive disadvantage and it's not fair to the folks that have taken the time to make sure they're doing it the proper way. And uh, you know, those folks need to be um you know dealt with because it's just in a you know, we have a system where you can get in the you can get into the gaming industry uh in a pretty transparent and uh direct way if you follow the rules. Um if you want to do it uh illegally, we're gonna try to stop you.

SPEAKER_02 8:26

That's right. Well, thank you so much. Um one of the board's key responsibilities is re-protecting the public. How do you see the board continuing to build trust and safeguard consumers in a fast-changing gaming environment?

SPEAKER_03 8:40

Yeah, that's a great question. Um I think I'm getting to know the board members now, but I've been on a you know a number of meetings. Um and I think we operate, you know, I like the way that you guys have created our our structure where we're, you know, there's obviously meetings are public, which are required. There's obviously a pretty good presence online. People can um uh address the board in a lot of different ways. Uh whether you're a employee or a person in the gaming industry, or obviously somebody who um you know um maybe has an issue, we we don't uh embarrass people, we do the obviously problem gaming in a closed session, which I think is important. So I think we've done a good job of of making sure that showing the public that we're doing it in a transparent and fair way, and I think we should just continue to do that.

SPEAKER_02 9:25

Okay. Thank you. Chairman, you worked in healthcare, education, and government. How do those experiences prepare you for leading a regulatory board like the Michigan Game Control Board?

SPEAKER_03 9:37

Yeah, I mean, in all those areas there is a level of uh regulation, right? Uh obviously there's certain rules around who can be a teacher, what the curriculum is, or in healthcare, there's a lot of regulations as well, obviously protecting the consumer as well, uh, around HIPAA, things like that. Now they're not exactly parallel, but there's an intersection, right? And showing that like uh it's it's really about protecting the consumer and uh and creating fairness. Sometimes there's a lot of there's buzzwords around we need to cut regulations. And there are times there are regulations that don't make sense, but the core component of regulation is about protecting the consumer and making sure that the system is fair. As long as you have that as your goal, um I think you can really build a system that's that that works for people. If you're if your thought process is that any regulation is bad, it tells me that maybe you you're okay with some things happening that shouldn't be happening. And cutting regulations too quickly, the problem is that you don't see it until there's a real big problem. And then the public has an outroar and it's like, well, you you you put in place the person who wanted to cut the protections. So I think uh you don't want to be over-regulatory where you're you think it's you're confusing to the to the to the people that are operating in it. You want to have a system that's fair, um, consumers protected, and it's clear, and I think we've done a pretty good job of that.

SPEAKER_02 10:48

Yeah. Thank you so much. Um, Chairman, your term runs through the end of 2028. What do you hope people will say about the Michigan Gaming Control Board's progress and impact when you look back at the end of your service?

SPEAKER_03 11:01

Well, and I think we we talked about this before we came on, so the obviously the the folks haven't heard this part, but and we talk about it obviously at a lot of our uh board meetings. I mean, gaming is evolving.

unknown 11:10

Right.

SPEAKER_03 11:10

I mean there's just a lot of and it seems like, and I I grew up, the father liked to to uh go to casinos and racetracks at times. So I I'm familiar with I've been familiar with gaming my whole life, and it feels like in the last half decade it's evolved very fast. Very fast. And I'm assuming that's gonna continue to happen. Yes. As um, you know, the games that are that are being offered are gonna be more uh you know, they're gonna have, you know, especially with things like other technologies, there could be ways that it adapts much faster than we're we used to. So I think it's important to to continue to build trust with the the residents and and any anyone involved that we have a fair, transparent, and clear structure, which I think we've done a good job at. And we I think we can also adapt uh, you know, uh based on working with the legislature and the governor if the laws need to be addressed. But I think um that's something I think is really clear, and I want to make sure that when I do leave that we continue to strengthen our transparency and the trust within the public, both within the folks that work in the industry or decide to use the the use the product or folks that may never even gamble at all. They know that the that the system that that um is working in Michigan is is one of the best in the country, and it also brings in a lot of revenue to do important things.

SPEAKER_02 12:20

Absolutely. I tell folks all the time the gaming industry is one of the most regulated industries um in the state. You know, unlike liquor and cigarettes, we have regulation officers on site at the properties all the time. Yeah, right. Yeah, no question about it. Um on a more personal note, what do you enjoy doing outside of work that helps you recharge and stay grounded? That's a great question.

SPEAKER_03 12:45

And actually, it's funny you asked that question because I've actually been kind of reflecting on that personally myself for the last few months. I had that obviously health issue that kind of took me from a couple board meetings last year where I had to have my like an emergency gallbladder removal. So I I started realizing when I'm laying in a hospital bed that like you know family is really important. Obviously, I knew that before, but you really kind of think about it when you're when you're laying in the air and you have nothing to do. There's only so many soap operas you can watch during the day. But you know, uh so I started thinking about that more and I've been more much more um deliberative, I guess you would say, or thoughtful about what I want, like kind of my how my day to start. So I get up earlier in the morning now. I'll sometimes read in the morning or walk on the treadmill. Uh I spent a lot more time with my phone uh put away uh so I can spend time when I'm home, I'm actually home because sometimes I wasn't that great at it when I was in the legislature. I'd be there, but I wouldn't always be there. Um and I think it's really you only have so much time with your kids. I mean I don't know, they the the statistic around I don't know, 70, 80% of your time, 90% of your time with your kids are before they before they turn 18, and then after that, it's holidays, things like that. And in the moment, obviously you're tired and you're you know, sometimes the kids will frustrate you. But when you have that the best moments you're gonna have, look back on, are gonna be with you know friends and family. So I'm trying to really focus on that. Um I like to play pickleball. Um, you know, I used to play basketball, and I'm getting a little older now, it's a little harder than these, but I I do that. I uh I like to, as I mentioned, reading a lot. Um uh we have a place up up north. I got I like to go up there. So that's kind of my nothing, nothing too uh exciting, but uh it's uh it kind of works.

SPEAKER_02 14:20

Okay, well it sounds good. I have a 22-year-old in her and I just even when she's a little girl, we always went and got manicures and pedicures together. And so we just went this past weekend. She's 22 now, just graduated from Howard. That's awesome. And she still wants to spend time with her old man, right? Hold on to that as long as you can, right?

SPEAKER_03 14:38

Absolutely, absolutely. Oh, so she was in DC too.

SPEAKER_02 14:41

Yes. It's a great town. Yeah, she loved it. I couldn't stand it. It's a busy town. It's a busy town. Um okay, well, thank you, uh Chair Ananick, for sharing those insights. Um, it's been great to hear about your vision and priorities for the agency. Before we wrap up, I'll like to end, I'd like to end some episodes with a few quick fun questions so listeners can get to know you a little better on a personal level. So you ready? Yeah, let's do it. All right. So here we go. Coffee or tea? Coffee.

SPEAKER_03 15:12

Coffee in the morning, tea at night.

SPEAKER_02 15:13

Okay. Early bird or night owl?

SPEAKER_03 15:16

Uh, I used to be a night owl, now I'm a I'm a very much an early bird.

SPEAKER_02 15:20

Favorite Michigan City besides Flint?

SPEAKER_03 15:22

Uh Potaski.

SPEAKER_02 15:24

Okay, Potoski. Favorite book or podcast right now?

SPEAKER_03 15:27

Uh I'm reading All Good People here. Uh and I just read Ashley Flowers as the author. I read her other book. I'm in the book club at work.

SPEAKER_02 15:35

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 15:36

And so we read the other book, which is not what I kind of I usually read, I'm super focused on politics history. It's it's I have to get I force myself to get out of it, so I'm reading this book now. It's it's really good. And I'm listening to the Money Guy Show on podcast, and I listen to um uh that's the big ones I've been listening to. A lot of history ones. Uh there's this one guy, Dan Carlisle, he does like four-hour episodes on a time. And sometimes it'll be three episodes. So like it's like um something about you know the Roman times, and it's four episodes of four hours each. So it's like I gotta be willing to like dedicate it, dedicate it to it, but uh that's another one that's really good.

SPEAKER_02 16:12

Okay. Go-to com comfort food.

SPEAKER_03 16:15

Uh pre uh bladder. Probably pizza. No. That's a good question. Uh I eat a lot of fruit now. Okay. I like I like watermelon, raspberries, uh grapes, green grapes. Yeah, those are things I've been eating a lot of lately. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 16:33

You know you put that pineapple on that pizza, right?

SPEAKER_03 16:36

Uh that's that it basically makes it fruit. Put it in a banana split. Right. Makes it a fruit fruit salad with some ice cream in it.

SPEAKER_02 16:44

Absolutely. If you could have dinner with one historical figure, and I know you used to be a history teacher, who would it be? Yeah, that's a great one.

SPEAKER_03 16:52

Um you know, this sounds this is gonna sound kind of silly, but um my dad's dad, I would have loved to have met him. He served um in Northern Africa, North Africa, Europe during World War II, so saw pretty much all the major battles. I would have loved to have learned what it was like. And they didn't have PTSD back then. They did, but they didn't call it that. So he had issues when he came home, but he never he died right before I was born. So from familiar from a family standpoint, it'd be him. Historical, maybe Alexander Hamilton.

SPEAKER_02 17:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 17:22

I just read some books about him, obviously saw the play. Uh he was interesting, had some you know different perspectives on things. Uh there's a lot of people farther back, but like I'm at the tough question. I'm I'm probably I'm overanalyzing the question because I'm like, wow, like Napoleon would be cool, but I don't speak French. So what we talk about, right? So like assuming I can there's no language barrier, there's probably a lot more people I'd be willing to talk to. Absolutely. Um favorite Michigan sports team?

SPEAKER_02 17:47

Uh Lions. Lions, absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 17:50

Also the most frustrating sports team.

SPEAKER_02 17:52

Yes. Um, hidden talent or hobby? Used to be able to juggle. Okay. Oh wow.

SPEAKER_03 17:57

Yeah, I had to learn that in seventh grade for for for a science class. I don't know why, but I uh still know how to do it somewhat. Okay, good. You're not putting me in the circus anytime soon, but I can I can hold my own.

SPEAKER_02 18:07

Right. One word to describe your leadership style.

SPEAKER_03 18:12

Listener. Okay. Or maybe, yeah. I uh uh I I'd try to delegate. Uh collaborator, maybe? Okay. I just gave you three, but I think the last one would be the one that would be the most That's good. Um what's your favorite way to unwind after a busy week? I like to play with my kid. Okay. Yeah, he uh he's very creative, comes up with all sorts of stuff that I don't like. I just played Pokemon with him last night. Again, two days in a row. I still don't understand the game, but it was a blast. How old is he? He's ten. Okay, yeah, great age. So we we like to go to the arcade too. There's an arcade by our house that has like the um and we're the old games. No, some of them the old games and some of the new ones. Okay. He's willing to get tickets. I'm like, well, I could probably buy that thing for you for half of what I'm spending on these to get these tickets. But in Grand Blanc back home, there's a uh Roll Haven's like a roller skate place, and then there's a bowling alley next to it, and behind it they have an arcade now. I don't know if that's maybe it's been there forever, but I didn't know. I just found we just found it in the last few months, and we've we've definitely kept them afloat in the last few months. Great, great experience. Yeah, it's fun.

SPEAKER_02 19:17

Uh all right, um, Chairman, is there any additional thoughts as we uh wrap up?

SPEAKER_03 19:23

Um no, I just think that um for folks that maybe aren't as familiar with what the department does or the you know the board does, um they should you know obviously watch a meeting and listen to it online, they'll have a a real uh I think the walkaway understanding that you know we we take it very seriously and we understand how important it is, and there's reasons why other states I think look to us to do the job right. And that's it's a big testament to your leadership and the team that you've put in place. But I think um if if you're not familiar with us, um, you know, come check us out sometime.

SPEAKER_02 19:53

Okay. Chairman, thank you for joining us today and for sharing your insights and vision for the Michigan Gaming Control Board. We're excited about the experience and perspective you bring to this role, and we look forward to working together in the years ahead. And thank you to our listeners for tuning in to Double Down Michigan. We hope you enjoy getting to know our new board chair a little better. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast so you don't miss future episodes where we highlight the people, priorities, and work that keep Michigan's gaming industry fair and well regulated. Until next time, thanks for listening.

SPEAKER_03 20:28

Thanks for having me.