U.S. Senator Gary Peters has been honored to represent the State of Michigan in the U.S. Senate since 2015. As someone who has lived in Michigan his entire life, Gary understands the importance of protecting our environment, our public lands, and especially our treasured freshwater resources. The Great Lakes are an ecological treasure that provide drinking water to more than 40 million people. Perhaps most importantly, they are simply part of our DNA as Michiganders, which is why Gary has made conservation of Michigan’s precious natural resources a top priority of his work in the Senate.

Throughout his entire career, Gary has been a tireless advocate for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Since its inception in 2010, the GLRI has provided more than $4 billion for 8,000 projects across the Great Lakes Basin, helping to accelerate efforts to stop the spread of invasive species, restore coastlines and habitats, clean up environmentally damaged Areas of Concern, and prevent future contamination. In 2022, Gary fought to secure a $1 billion investment in the GLRI through the bipartisan infrastructure law, which is the single-largest-ever investment in the program. Earlier this year, he introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025 to reauthorize and expand resources for the GLRI to put the program on solid footing for years to come

Gary also knows that an oil spill in the Straits of Mackinac would be catastrophic for the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem and countless Michiganders. In 2018, after the then-Commandant of the Coast Guard told him at a hearing that the U.S. was not prepared for an oil spill in the Great Lakes, Gary authored and passed legislation into law establishing the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Oil Spill Center of Expertise to study the impacts of oil spills in freshwater environments and help develop effective clean-up strategies. He then successfully secured $4.5 million to kick-start the initiative. In 2021, he announced that the center would be headquartered in two Michigan locations, the Center for Freshwater Research and Education at Lake Superior State University (LSSU) and the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor. In 2022, Gary participated in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at LSSU.

In 2025, Peters was also named Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Task Force in the 119th Congress. Founded in 1987, the Task Force is a bipartisan working group that advocates for the protection of the Great Lakes. As Co-Chair, Peters will convene meetings between Great Lakes Senators and staff to coordinate legislative initiatives, funding priorities, and oversight efforts to address the most important issues facing the Great Lakes.

After hearing how PFAS contamination has devasted communities across Michigan, Gary went to work to safeguard our public health and environment from these harmful forever chemicals. In September 2018, Gary convened the first-ever hearing on PFAS in the Senate to assess the federal response to contamination and remediation. The following month, he passed a provision into law allowing airports to phase out the use of firefighting foams that contain PFAS. He’s also led legislation that helps Michigan airports limit and prevent exposure to PFAS for our firefighters and first responders. Throughout his time in the Senate, Gary has brought key federal officials to Michigan to meet with his constituents who have been impacted by PFAS exposure. After years of advocating for more action to rid Michigan communities of these toxic chemicals, the EPA announced the first-ever national drinking water standard to protect Americans from PFAS in April 2024.

Climate change continues to threaten Michigan’s future – from our environment to our economy. That’s why Gary got to work and helped enact the Inflation Reduction Act. This historic law has made major investments to combat climate change while lowering energy costs for working families, increasing American clean energy production, and reducing our carbon emissions. The Inflation Reduction Act also created tax credits to help average Americans invest in clean energy alternatives like electric vehicles and energy efficient home improvements, while also providing tax incentives for American manufacturers to accelerate production of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and critical minerals. Together, these investments are creating jobs and economic opportunity for Michiganders, improving our energy security, and helping to confront the climate crisis.

While reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to addressing future climate and economic impacts, Gary recognizes that climate change has already had a devasting effect on Michigan. To help Michigan communities invest in making their infrastructure more resilient, he passed the STORM Act into law in 2021. This legislation created the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program to help communities across Michigan invest in projects that protect against severe flooding, rising water levels, coastal erosion, and other natural hazards. Gary secured the first federal funding to kick start the program as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law. In the first two funding cycles, Michigan has received more than $22 million from the RLF, including $17.3 million from the program’s Fiscal Year 2024 cycle – the largest allocation of the 12 states awarded.

Gary is Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which is the Senate’s top oversight committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for crafting legislation that allocates federal resources, the Armed Services Committee, and the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, where he is also Ranking Member of the Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety Subcommittee.

Gary is a fifth-generation Michigander, a product of Michigan public schools, and has lived in Michigan his entire life. He and his wife, Colleen, live in Oakland County and have three children: Gary Jr., Madeleine and Alana. They recently became proud grandparents.

We are thrilled to honor our fearless “Coach Davis” for his leadership, mentorship, immense kindness, and optimism in the face of adversity and for his unwavering commitment to Michigan LCV during his tenure as Board President. 

George has served on the Michigan LCV Board of Directors for 12 years, 5 of those years as Board President. He has shepherded the organization through the strain of COVID and the chaos of the Trump presidencies. George exudes an all-encompassing love and positivity that creates a rare form of community – one that brings people together with inclusivity and acceptance. George’s strategic lens on Michigan and savvy political prowess have helped make Michigan LCV the political power player it is today. 

George L. Davis, II has been a problem solver, chief strategist, and effective communicator serving in the public, private, and non-profit sectors over the last 30 years.  Spanning the diverse fields of public safety and health, government, mining and minerals, economic development and community revitalization, and climate security, George has worked as a thought leader and strategic partner to improve the quality of life within the State of Michigan.

As the current Director of Security and Public Safety at the Detroit Salt Company (DSC), which owns and operates the historic underground Detroit Salt Mine, George directs the public affairs portfolio comprised of federal, state, and local government relations, community outreach and sustainable development initiatives, and media relations for the company.  The public safety group he leads handles DSC’s relationships with local law enforcement and fire officials, its Corporate Security teams, and Homeland Security. He serves as the company’s Facility Security Officer to the US Coast Guard for DSC Maritime Operations.

Certified as a professional miner through the U.S. Department of Labor-Mine Safety and Health Administration, George is one very few African American mining executives in the United States. He is a member of the Geological Society of America, the Michigan Geological Basin Society. a member of the Energy and Environment Committee of the Detroit Regional Chamber, a former board member of the Michigan Mining Association, and a board member of the Oakwood Heights Business Association.

Before joining the private sector, George served as Deputy Group Executive to City of Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, where he led strategic initiatives targeting illegal dumping, abandoned cars, and hazardous material spills for the City of Detroit. He also served as a Public Policy Analyst for the Detroit City Council, where he provided analysis on environmental initiatives, including brownfield development, air quality, and other efforts of the Department of Environmental Affairs. He also served as a Project Manager for the City of Detroit’s Empowerment Zone and its environmental programs. and the Project/Outreach Coordinator with the Legislative Black Caucus Foundation of Michigan.

He is a Past-President of the Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, Former Chair of the Detroit Climate Action Committee Business and Industry Work Group, a founding member of the Detroit 2030 Coalition.

In the area of climate security, George is a Search and Rescue (SAR) professional, serving as the Emergency Manager for the Safety and Technical Rescue Association (SATRA).  He has coordinated several major SAR operations including a mine rescue in Peru, restoration of a functioning hospital during Hurricane Rita in Texas, confined space rescues during Hurricane Wilma in Florida, and 117 rescues during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

During his tenure at SATRA, George founded the Civil Affairs Division to provide coordination with local assets while the rescue team is deployed in forward areas.  This division was responsible for strategic planning, communications, weather and geologic analysis, public information, and humanitarian assistance.

George is a SKYWARN Weather Spotter for the National Weather Service (NWS) and assists in storm data collection for thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hazardous winter weather events.

As a thought leader in climate and security, George maintains affiliations with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Planetary Security Initiative, and the Center for Climate and Security.

He founded Safe and Secure Detroit, Inc., a think tank that develops current messaging for public safety education and engages community volunteers around climate security matters. This organization has produced news articles, public service announcements, op-eds, magazine columns, podcasts, social media posts, workshops, and a broadcast radio program.

George is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he studied political science as an undergraduate and educational policy as a grad student. He is accredited as a Professional Emergency Manager (PEM) for natural disasters through FEMA and the Michigan State Police. He has completed coursework through the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) at the Naval Post Graduate School, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center at Texas A&M, the Market Environmentalism Academy of the American Conservation Coalition, and the Great Lakes Homeland Security Conference. He is a graduate of the Leadership Detroit Class XXII.

In his spare time, he is an Assistant Football Coach at Cranbrook High School, an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Board President of the Crescendo Detroit music program, and a Board Trustee at the Detroit Cristo Rey High School.

In his personal life, he is father to two adult children.  His hobbies include music, writing essays and poetry, studying foreign policy and military affairs, and linguistics.

A lifelong environmentalist, Ruby has always felt most at home outdoors. Before moving to Holland, Michigan in 2022, she lived in four other states, including five formative years in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. There, she spent her afternoons hiking, biking, sailing, participating in cleanups, volunteering at trout fisheries, and attending educational programs in nearby state and national forests.

In 2016, Ruby was selected to join Camplify, a leadership program she participated in throughout high school. Camplify partnered with the Boys and Girls Club and local schools to provide free leadership training to a select group of students, teaching them how to recognize when to step up and when to step back, an important lesson she carried with her into college and beyond.

After returning from a six-month study abroad in Germany in 2022, Ruby began her junior year of high school in Holland, MI, where she became active in environmental advocacy. She volunteered with local nonprofits, joined cleanups, and by senior year was attending larger advocacy events, including an Inflation Reduction Act town hall with Congresswoman Hillary Scholten and Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, West Michigan Environmental Action Council’s annual river cleanup, and Michigan LCV’s Clean Energy and Jobs Act rally. These experiences sparked her realization of the critical role policy plays in advancing environmental protection, shaping her future focus.

At the same time, Ruby co-founded her high school’s Model United Nations (MUN) club. After taking German language courses at Hope College, she dual enrolled in an introductory international relations course at Aquinas College, where she joined Aquinas’ collegiate MUN team. At the American Model United Nations (AMUN) conference in Chicago, she represented Iraq and earned the Outstanding Delegate Award. Inspired, she brought MUN back to her high school as Black River MUN, where she recruited members, organized practices, and led delegations to three conferences. Nearly three years later, the club continues to thrive. 

Ruby’s interest in political activism deepened after attending the bill signing for the Clean Energy and Jobs Act. She applied for and was accepted into the 2024 Cycle A cohort of Michigan LCV’s Our Water Activist (OWA) program. Awarded the Alec Esparza Stipend for her essay submission, she committed to 13 weeks of intensive training in community organizing, Michigan policy, and advocacy, while attending political and environmental events statewide.

Recognized for her dedication, Ruby was promoted to Lead Intern the following Summer. In this role, she guided fellow interns through volunteer recruitment, canvassing, phone banking, and public commenting. She also supported campaigns across Michigan, canvassing in Grand Rapids and Mid-Michigan for candidates including Representatives Carol Glanville, John Fitzgerald, Angela Witwer, and others. She even traveled to Marquette to support Representative Jenn Hill.

Beyond her formal roles, Ruby helped expand youth involvement in local politics as Communications Director for Ottawa County Youth Democrats during her senior year. That summer, she also interned with both Hillary Scholten for Congress and the Michigan Democratic Party’s ONE Campaign.

When Ruby began her studies at Michigan State University in Fall 2024, she carried her passion with her. She worked on campus voter registration initiatives, canvassed for campaigns through election day, and continued volunteering with Michigan LCV. In Spring 2025, she traveled to Washington, D.C. for the Healing Our Waters Coalition’s Great Lakes Days, where she met with Michigan representatives and senators to advocate for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, investments in clean water infrastructure, and a farm bill that protects water systems.

Seeking to broaden her international perspective, she spent May backpacking across Western Europe, visiting museums and cultural sites along the way. From Copenhagen to Berlin, Brussels, Paris, Siena, Florence, and several smaller towns, she immersed herself in the region’s history and gained deeper insight into the historical and political landscape of Western Europe.

In June 2025, Ruby began work as a full-time Storytelling Organizer with Michigan LCV. She collected and elevated the personal stories of residents across Congressional District 7, holding elected officials accountable for their votes. Now entering her second year at MSU, Ruby continues her work as a storyteller and is helping expand Michigan LCV’s organizing efforts in Lansing.

Ruby is studying International Relations at Michigan State University’s James Madison Residential College and pursuing a minor in Science, Technology, Environment, and Public Policy (STEPP). Her academic focus is on environmental policy, both in Michigan and globally, with a particular interest in energy policy.

In her free time, Ruby enjoys camping and hiking in the forests around Lansing. She also spends time reading and listening to podcasts on business, travel, and geopolitics. She is actively engaged in youth activism and participates in a wide range of initiatives aimed at civic engagement and advocacy. Her passion for travel continues, and she takes every opportunity to explore both within the United States and abroad with aspirations to visit regions and continents she has not yet experienced.