A native of Kalamazoo, Susy Heintz graduated from the University of Michigan–Dearborn, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and served on the Alumni Board of Governors.
In November 1996, after serving as the Republican Party's State Chairman, Susy Heintz mounted a strong challenge to the 10th district's veteran Democratic Representative, David Bonior, the House Minority Whip, who had represented the district since his election in 1976.
Following her defeat, she was appointed by Republican Governor John Engler in August 1997 as the director of his Southeastern Michigan office.
She held the job until January 1999, when she was appointed to become the new director of the state's tourism agency Travel Michigan.
Rick Snyder appointed her executive director of the Michigan Women's Commission, a post from which she retired in 2016.