Cassie Jo Thierfelder is the Director of Advocacy and Government Relations at United Way for Southeastern Michigan. Cassie began her career practicing Public Finance and Municipal Law, serving governmental bodies throughout Michigan on issues such as ballot initiatives, school finance, and municipal code. Her passion for policy work and serving her community brought her to the United Way for Southeastern Michigan where she has focused on a range of advocacy issues central to United Way's mission including education policy, nutrition policy, tax policy, community organizing and civic engagement. She now oversees the Policy and Advocacy Department and is dedicated to effecting policy changes that will have long-term systemic impacts. Cassie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Political Science and Communication from Saginaw Valley State University and a Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law.