Former Health Director Will Join Lansing Lobbying Firm

Elizabeth Hertel will provide strategic counsel to The WinMatt Group starting in October as state cooling-off rules evolve.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in People

Bold vector editorial illustration of stacked geometric wooden blocks representing a transition in professional roles and state regulatory advisory frameworks. — Elizabeth Hertel, former director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, will join The WinMatt Group as a strategic advisor beginning in October. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Elizabeth Hertel, who served as Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services from 2021 to June 2026, will begin a role as a strategic advisor for The WinMatt Group on October 1, 2026. The move follows her formation of the consulting firm EHSA LLC in August 2026.

Why it matters

The transition highlights how high-level officials navigate state ethics regulations when moving into private sector advisory roles. Operators should monitor how state officials manage the transition between policy leadership and private firm partnerships under shifting compliance environments.

A new law signed in July 2026 mandates a 2-year cooling-off period for certain officials before they can register as lobbyists. Hertel will operate through a partnership with her firm, EHSA LLC, and will not serve as a registered lobbyist.

The players

Elizabeth Hertel

The former Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services who led the agency starting in 2021.

The WinMatt Group

A Lansing-based firm that operates as a lobbying and government relations entity.

Michelle Lange

The former Director of the Department of Technology, Management and Budget who transitioned to lobbying for the law firm Dykema.

Gretchen Whitmer

The Governor of Michigan who authorized the new lobbying cooling-off period legislation in July 2026.

The details

Hertel will provide strategic counsel through a partnership between her firm, EHSA LLC, and The WinMatt Group. The WinMatt Group is a Lansing-based firm that manages lobbying efforts. Unlike former Department of Technology, Management and Budget Director Michelle Lange, who registered as a lobbyist after leaving government in January 2026, Hertel will not serve in a registered lobbying capacity in her new position.

Hertel began leading the Michigan health department in 2021.
Michelle Lange left state government in January 2026.
Hertel departed her government position in June 2026.
Governor Whitmer approved the new cooling-off period law in July 2026.
Hertel will begin her new role on October 1, 2026.

Market Landscape

The transition follows the approval of Michigan's two-year lobbying cooling-off period law in July 2026. This legislative change sets a precedent for how former state officials manage their entry into private-sector advocacy and advisory roles.

Operators should review their own internal compliance policies regarding the hiring of former government officials to ensure alignment with state-level cooling-off periods. Monitor future lobbying disclosures from the firm to determine how their advisory services affect the local competitive environment.

The takeaway

The move suggests a trend where former officials utilize strategic advisory partnerships to remain active in policy circles while avoiding direct lobbyist registration. Business owners should maintain a current registry of advisor disclosures to track potential shifts in local government access and influence.