Best Brightest and Most Beautiful 2007: Brian McGrain

Brian McGrain is the Associate Director of the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), a nonprofit trade association that engages in advocacy and training work to support community development organizations across the state.  Brian manages operations for CEDAM and oversees training programs, members services, and communications.  Prior to joining CEDAM, Brian was a Special Projects Manager at Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR). At IPPSR, Brian directed the Tomorrow’s Political Leaders program, a program aimed at educating college students and recent college graduates (particularly from under-represented communities) on the ins and outs of running for and serving in elected office.  He also provided staff support to the Michigan Political Leadership Program, worked on various land use research projects, and coordinated educational seminars and special events.
A self-proclaimed “air force brat,” Brian spent his childhood in many different parts of the country and the world.  He attended schools in Texas, South Carolina, Ohio, Japan, and Germany, before finally graduating from high school in suburban Washington, DC.  He moved to Michigan to attend Michigan State University, from which he has received an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning and a Masters of Public Administration and Urban Studies.  He also was a graduate of the Honors College, and spent a semester studying industrial redevelopment at the University of Dortmund, Germany.  Brian’s area of study in redevelopment practices and brownfield remediation lead him into the field of community economic development.  His schooling and experience in community revitalization have provided an important backdrop for his realization that people are the most important resource in reinvigorating communities.
Brian has resided in the city of Lansing for over a decade and actively serves the community as President of the Grand River Connection (GRC), Lansing’s young professionals’ organization.  Brian works with other dedicated individuals on the GRC Board to improve the quality of life in the Greater Lansing area by providing networking opportunities and a sense of community for young professionals who might otherwise leave the area.      Enjoy the sunshine at Downtown East Lansing’s hottest new restaurant! Dublin Square (327 Abbott Road) it has an incredible atmosphere, fantastic menu, and a huge patio!
Join the fabulous GRC from 6pm to 8pm on Tuesday, June 26th, for the 4th Tuesday Networking Night.
Brian is also a member of the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals, and is a frequent political campaign volunteer and contributor.  He is a parishioner at St. John’s Student Parish, a former Board member of the Franklin Street Community Non-Profit Housing Corporation, and owner of CJM Properties, LLC, a property holding and management company.