Janet Blanchard spent over 20 years in public service in Michigan, Washington, D.C., and Canada. In Michigan she worked in various management and administrative positions for the Departments of Education, Commerce, Civil Service, Labor, Management and Budget and the executive office of the Governor. Her career highlights include serving as Michigan’s deputy director of the Cabinet Council on Human Investments and co-chair of the Governor’s Telecommunications Task Force. In Washington, D.C., in 1993, she served as associate director of presidential personnel in the White House for President Clinton. Ms. Blanchard oversaw appointments to part-time boards and commissions, making recommendations for appointments to the president.

In Canada in 2004, while her husband served as ambassador, she served on the board of the Centre for Studies of Children at Risk at McMaster University in Ontario and was active in community affairs in Ottawa. She was also directly involved in the planning and implementation of the president and vice president’s official visits to Ottawa.

In 2004, Ms. Blanchard served as protocol director for the dedication of the World War II Memorial on the Mall. She has served on the board of the Michigan 4-H Foundation and was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame in 2009.

Born in Williamston, Michigan, Janet received her BA from Western Michigan University. The Blanchards currently reside in Beverly Hills, Michigan and Washington, D.C., and Janet remains active in Michigan politics and community affairs.