Former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley is joining the Small Business Association of Michigan, where he will serve as president and lead the group's lobbying and communications efforts.
The announcement was made Wednesday, a day after the Republican left office under term limits. Current SBAM President and CEO Rob Fowler will remain the Lansing-based organization's CEO.
Calley, who lost his campaign to succeed Rick Snyder as governor, says in a statement that he is "thrilled" to advocate for the men and women who open and operate small businesses.
Fowler says Calley has a long and accomplished record advocating for small businesses. The 41-year-old former state lawmaker and banker from Portland helped craft two major changes in business taxes as lieutenant governor.
SBAM serves more than 26,000 businesses across Michigan.