At the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA), our success is driven by a dedicated team of professionals and a committed board of directors who represent the region we serve. Our team brings expertise in economic development incentives; project funding and financing; grant writing and administration; results-driven project management; research and data analysis; and local, state, and federal policy.
Payton Heins is President and CEO of the NLEA, where she sets organizational strategy, oversees programming, and manages daily operations.
Payton joined NLEA in 2024 following her role as Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives at the Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity. Her career spans local, state, and national levels, leading efforts in housing, workforce development, economic growth, and organizational capacity building. She previously managed statewide operations for a national community revitalization consultancy and has led complex redevelopment and small business initiatives across Michigan.
She holds a B.A. in German and Social Relations and Policy from Michigan State University’s James Madison College, a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan, and is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD). Payton is a member of the International Economic Development Council, Michigan Economic Developers Association, and an alum of the Urban Land Institute’s Larson Center for Leadership.
Payton enjoys trail running, fishing, and exploring Northern Michigan’s natural assets with her family. She also proudly serves on the board of the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan.
Chris Bauer serves as the Senior Special Projects Officer for Infrastructure and Development at the NLEA, where he advances regional infrastructure initiatives and supports site selection for business investment.
Chris joined NLEA in 2022 after working for the State of New York’s Office of Planning and Development, where he led revitalization efforts through programs like the Brownfield Opportunity Areas and Downtown Revitalization Initiative. His earlier experience includes over a decade in Ohio local government, managing economic development projects in Lorain and Westlake focused on incentives, industrial parks, and downtown revitalization.
Chris holds a B.A. from Central Michigan University and an M.A. in Geography and Planning from the University of Akron. He is a certified planner (AICP) and member of the American Planning Association, International Economic Development Council, and Michigan Economic Developers Association.
Committed to public service, Chris has coached youth sports, served on local planning and housing commissions, and is President of the Cheboygan Lions Club. He is also a private pilot and proud husband and father.
Jessica Lovay is the Senior Program Manager of Community Investment at NLEA, where she leads community development efforts, including grant acquisition and development incentives to advance transformational development and infrastructure projects across the region.
Since joining NLEA in 2014, Jessica has played a key role in transformative projects across Northern Michigan, including brownfield redevelopment, mixed-use development, and infrastructure expansion. She is one of the few Certified Grant Administrators in Northern Michigan, certified by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and brings deep expertise in state and local incentive programs.
Jessica is a member of the International Economic Development Council and Michigan Economic Developers Association. A long-time resident of Boyne City, she enjoys supporting her son’s local sports teams and celebrating the growth and transformation of the region she calls home.
Dave Kronberg is the Director of Business Growth at the NLEA, leading the organization’s support for business growth and attraction. He works closely with businesses to align their goals with NLEA’s extensive network of services.
Dave joined NLEA in 2025 with a background in high-tech innovation and entrepreneurship, having served as director of regional services at Innovate Marquette and 20Fathoms. A seasoned economic developer and industrial designer, Dave has worked extensively across Michigan and is co-founder of Van Abel and Kronberg Design. He also played a key role in Cheboygan’s revitalization efforts as a Planning Commissioner and founding member of the Port Commission.
A lifelong Northern Michigan resident, Dave is an advocate for rural enterprise and creative economic development. He has contributed to several technology patents, serves as Council Member on the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, and for fun is founder and president of a very small company producing the largest architectural laser show in North America.
Sam Bailey is the Strategic Initiatives Manager at the NLEA, a role he has held since 2022. He leads strategic projects focused on talent retention and attraction, economic research, and educational programming, including NLEA’s signature Economic Symposium. Sam also serves as an Extension Educator through NLEA’s long-standing partnership with Michigan State University Extension, connecting statewide MSU resources to regional stakeholders.
Sam began his economic development career as an NLEA/DTE Foundation Intern and has a background in the local hospitality and service industry. He holds dual B.A. degrees in Political Science and Economics from St. Olaf College, with a concentration in International Relations, and is pursuing a Master of Public Policy with a concentration in Rural Policy from Oregon State University. He serves on the Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity’s Young Rural Champions Council, is a member of the Michigan Economic Developers Association, and a 2024 Leadership Little Traverse alum.
Outside of work, Sam enjoys skiing, mountain biking, soccer, and hiking. He also coaches youth soccer for the Petoskey Youth Soccer Association and holds a U.S. Soccer National D License.
As Marketing and Events Coordinator, Tommy is responsible for creating engaging content, managing marketing efforts through social media, email, and printed media, and planning and executing all NLEA events. Tommy also leads NLEA’s Talent Attraction and Retention campaign, Choose the North. Tommy’s contributions to the organization are possible thanks to the generous support of the DTE Energy Foundation.
We are on a mission to best serve our communities, businesses, and fellow residents in this region. We tenaciously strive to achieve our mission with maximum results.
We are not just working to solve today’s challenges or seize today’s opportunities. We must anticipate and prepare for future needs and act with the intention of serving future generations.
We are present and proactively engage our business, community, and organizational partners so they always know we are here as a resource.
We listen and serve as an honest and trusted partner to communities, businesses, and organizations.
We fulfill the commitments we make to each other and the communities and businesses we serve.
If we do not immediately know the answer to a question, we find it. If we do not immediately have a solution, we work to create multiple possible solutions.
We work collaboratively and respectfully and support the common good of the organization, not our own self interests. The organization invests in and demonstrates care for its staff.
We always maintain professionalism in our work and interactions with each other and in the community.
Others look to us for knowledge and expertise. To continuously meet this expectation, we commit to continued learning, professional growth, and honing of our crafts.
Ahrens Gallery & Studio
Awakon Federal Credit Union
Emmet County Administrator
Retired
Dayton Anchor Lamina
Retired
North Central Michigan College
DTE Energy
Charlevoix City Manager
Charlevoix County Commissioner
Michigan State University Extension
Cheboygan County Economic Development Coordinator
Cheboygan County Administrator
Huntington National Bank
Char-Em ISD
Munson Health Care – Charlevoix Hospital
Antrim County Administrator
Charlevoix County Administrator
Shooks Farm Co. and Cellar 1914
Consumers Energy
Great Lakes Energy
Ellsworth Farmers Exchange
Antrim County Commissioner
Emmet County Commissioner
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