Lansing, Michigan – Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a change in leadership at the Michigan Lottery. Joe Froehlich, a long-time lottery official, will take over as acting commissioner after Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli stepped down. Shkreli’s resignation took effect immediately, and the governor said that the agency’s transition went smoothly and without any problems.
Whitmer said the Michigan Lottery plays a critical role in supporting public education by generating funding for schools across the state.
“The Michigan Lottery helps us make record investments every year into our schools, and their success is supported by a team of professionals who ensure our games are run smoothly,” said Governor Whitmer.
“I’m proud to announce Joe Froehlich as acting commissioner of the Michigan Lottery, ensuring a seamless transition as Suzanna Shkreli resigns effective today. The incredible team at the Michigan Lottery will continue working together to run our games effectively and with full integrity.”
Froehlich steps into the role with deep institutional knowledge of the Michigan Lottery. Before being named acting commissioner, he was the lottery’s chief operations officer. Before this, he worked for the agency as the deputy commissioner of Legal Affairs and Charitable Gaming and the director of Compliance and Legal Affairs. He was in charge of the lottery’s legal, operational, and regulatory duties in those roles.
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Froehlich worked for the Michigan Department of Attorney General for more than ten years in a variety of staff and management roles before joining the lottery. He has also worked in the legal department of a Fortune 500 property and casualty insurance company, as an attorney at a Lansing-area law firm, and as a law clerk and court officer with the Ingham County Circuit Court.
Whitmer also thanked Shkreli for his work, saying that he was leaving the job to look for new work. She said that Shkreli helped the Michigan Lottery have multiple record-breaking years, during which the organization brought in billions of dollars for Michigan’s public schools. Since 2019, Shkreli has had several positions in Whitmer’s government.
The governor thanked Shkreli for her leadership and public service, saying that her time in office made the lottery work better and have a bigger effect across the state. The government thinks that the Michigan Lottery will keep running well with Froehlich as interim commissioner. The lottery will still focus on honesty, responsibility, and helping education.