Two long-time leaders at Public Policy Associates (PPA) have become partners in the firm. Colleen Graber, chief operating officer (COO), and Daniel J. Quinn, chief strategy officer (CSO), have earned ownership in the Michigan-based public policy research and consulting firm, which was founded in 1991.
Graber joined PPA in 2002 and took on progressively more responsible positions with the firm. She has led research, evaluation, and strategic planning projects for clients in education, early childhood, workforce development, and housing sectors. As COO, she supervises research staff and leads continuous improvement of internal processes. Prior to PPA, Graber taught at the secondary level and served as an adjunct community college faculty member. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in U.S. history at the University of Michigan and University at Albany – State University of New York. She completed the post-BA teacher certification program at Michigan State University.
Dr. Quinn joined PPA in 2018 and in 2020 became PPA’s director for education policy. He was recently promoted to CSO and currently manages multiple policy-related projects, across both talent and economic policy areas, for PPA’s public sector, nonprofit, philanthropy, and corporate clients. He is the former director of the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice, where he oversaw a nationally-recognized policy research agenda. Dr. Quinn earned a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Oakland University, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Saginaw Valley State University, and a bachelor’s degree in social science from Bowling Green State University.
“Chief Financial Officer Terry Gardner and I welcome Colleen and Dan as partners in the firm. With them as partners, we know we are better equipped to manage PPA’s growth and ongoing influx of new clients,” says PPA CEO Rob Fowler. “Their partnership will help us to focus on the long-term leadership and direction of PPA.”
PPA provides evaluation, research, and strategic consultation to help clients make smart policy and programmatic decisions that improve lives, enrich communities, and strengthen institutions.