People

DENNIS W. ARCHER, JR is founding principal and president of Archer Corporate Services (ACS), which is quickly becoming one of the nation's leading services firms, whose core is trade and consumer fulfillment, customer service, print management, direct mail and advertising specialties. In addition, he is managing principal of Ignition Media Group, a Detroit-based experiential marketing agency and publisher of Ambassador Magazine. LD Class XVIII.

EDWARD H. BASTIAN is president, Delta Air Lines, CEO, Northwest Airlines. He most recently served as the president and CFO for Delta Air Lines. Prior to his appointment as Delta’s president, Bastian served as the airline’s executive vice president and CFO since 2005. In addition to his service with Delta, Bastian’s 25+ years of financial experience include serving as Senior VP and CFO of Acuity Brands, Inc. and VP of Finance and Controller of Frito-Lay International.

VIRG BERNERO is serving his third year as mayor of Lansing. Since taking office in 2006, he has overseen over a half-billion dollars in new investment in Lansing. Prior to becoming mayor, Bernero represented the greater Lansing area in the State Senate and House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006, and also served on the Ingham County Board of Commissioners for eight years.

DAVE BING was elected the 62nd Mayor of the City of Detroit on May 5, 2009. Bing also serves as founder and chairman of The Bing Group. The Bing Group began as Bing Steel, which was founded in 1980 in Detroit, and is now a diversified base of unionized manufacturing companies.

RICHARD E. BLOUSE JR., CCE is president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber. His vision of a cohesive Regional Detroit marketplace has led to the creation of the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership, the Southeast Michigan Chamber Alliance and numerous other programs that address critical regional issues such as transportation, health care and business climate. Prior to coming to Detroit, Blouse was president and CEO of the Greenville, S.C. chamber.

DAVID A. BRANDON is the chairman and CEO of Dominos Pizza, Inc. He has also served as chairman of the board, CEO, and manager of Domino’s Pizza LLC and chairman and CEO of TISM-holding of Dominos Pizza, Inc. since 1999. Previously, Brandon served from 1989 to 1998 as CEO and president of Valassis Communications, Inc., an international marketing services firm. During his 20-year tenure with the company, he led the process of taking Valassis public in 1992.

TAMMY J. CARNRIKE is the COO of the Detroit Regional Chamber. In this role, she is responsible for guiding retention efforts for the more than 20,000 existing chamber members while playing a key role in managing cross-functional organizational activities and sales efforts. Carnrike also provides oversight for the chamber’s public policy activities, signature events and small business programming. Previously, Carnrike served as president and CEO of the Chenango County Chamber in New York, a position she held for 10 years.

DAVID E. COLE is the chairman of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) in Ann Arbor. His recent research focuses on strategic issues related to the restructuring of the North American industry and trends in globalization, technology, market factors and human resource requirements. Previously, Cole was director of the Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, where he worked extensively on internal combustion engines, vehicle design and overall automotive industry trends.

MARY SUE COLEMAN has led the University of Michigan since 2002. During her tenure, she has unveiled several major initiatives that will impact generations of students. Coleman is regarded as a national spokesperson on the educational value of diverse perspectives in the classroom. Under her leadership, the University launched “The Michigan Difference,” a campaign that raised $3.2 billion and led a groundbreaking partnership between the university and Google, opening the way to universal access and the preservation of recorded human knowledge. As a biochemist, Dr. Coleman built a distinguished career through her research on the immune system and malignancies.

K.C. CRAIN is the publisher of AutoWeek and the vice president of Crain Communications Inc. Crain began his career as an early member of the Crain Communications Inc New Media department and later moved to serve as an automotive reporter.

DANA DEBEL is the director of state and local government affairs for Delta Air Lines, Inc. Debel is responsible for government relations with state and local elected and appointed leaders in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and other key states and communities of importance to Delta. Prior to joining the company, she served as policy director for Governor Jennifer Granholm.

ANTHONY F. EARLEY JR. is chairman and CEO of DTE Energy Company, a Detroit-based diversified energy company. He joined Detroit Edison as president and COO in 1994, and in the same year was elected to the board. DTE Energy owns Detroit Edison and Michigan Consolidated Gas Company. Earley is vice chairman of the Edison Electric Institute, the trade association of investor utilities. In this role he is actively involved in the development of national policies on energy, the environment and climate change issues.

ARI EMANUEL is the founder of Endeavor Talent Agency, which is one of the fastest growing American agencies today. As a prominent talent agent, Emanuel represents such names as Michael Moore, Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg, along with many others. He founded Endeavor Talent Agency in 1995 in Beverly Hills California, along with three former co-workers.

ROBERT A. FICANO was elected Wayne County executive in 2003 after serving as sheriff of Wayne County for nearly 20 years. As county executive he presides over approximately two million citizens in the most populated county in the state of Michigan and the 11th largest in the nation. Overseeing an annual budget of $2.2 billion, Ficano provides innovative leadership for the region and state, delivering services that citizens and stakeholders expect while aggressively pursuing investment, economic growth and job-creation opportunities.

NOLAN FINLEY is the editorial page editor at The Detroit News. He directs the expression of the newspaper's editorial position on various national and local issues and writes a Sunday column for the paper. Finley also served as the newspaper's deputy managing editor, business editor and in various editing positions on the city, state and metro desks. He has been with The Detroit News for more than 30 years, starting as a copy boy in the newsroom while a student at Wayne State University

EDSEL B. FORD II is a member of the board of Ford Motor Company. He is the sole owner of Pentastar Aviation, which he purchased in 2001. Pentastar, which is headquartered at Oakland County International Airport, is an aviation services provider. In 2001, he served as chairman of Detroit 300, the year-long celebration marking Detroit’s 300^th anniversary. He is currently active with the Salvation Army and the Skillman Foundation. He is lead champion of the One D initiative, an alliance of six regional civic organizations.

WILLIAM CLAY FORD, Jr. is the executive chairman of Ford Motor Company. Mr. Ford joined the Board of Directors in 1988 and has been its chairman since January 1999. He serves as chairman of the board's Finance Committee and as a member of the Environmental and Public Policy Committee. He also served as chief executive officer of the company from October 2001 to September 2006, when he was named executive chairman.

MARC GARDNER is founder, president and CEO of North American Bancard, a multi-faceted payment solutions provider dedicated to delivering the latest technology as well as committing to the highest service levels. In 1992, just three years after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Gardner ventured out on his own, leaving the independent sales organization (ISO) where he worked and founded North American Bancard. The company grew from one small office into an established ISO that processed over $6 billion in 2008. It is currently ranked as one of the industry’s top 50 acquirers.

PAUL GIELEGHEM was elected chairman of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners in January 2009 and is currently serving his third term. Before his election to the Board, he served three two-year terms in the Michigan House of Representatives. Previously he served as a legislative aide to state Sen. Ken DeBeaussaert and handled constituent services for former Congressman David Bonior.

GOVERNOR JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM was re-elected the 47th governor of Michigan in November 2006. She has worked aggressively to diversify Michigan's economy, ensure world-class educational opportunities for every Michigan student, create universal access to affordable health care and stand up for Michigan workers and families during tough economic times. LD XIX

MIKE JANDERNOA is the former chairman of the board and CEO of Perrigo Company, the nation’s largest manufacturer and marketer of store brand over-the-counter drug and nutritional products. He is also co-founder of Bridge Street Capital Partners and Grand Angels. Prior to joining Perrigo in 1979, Jandernoa had worked for seven years at BDO Seidman.

WILLIAM D. JOHNSTON is president, director and chairman of Greenleaf Companies. He entered the field of investment management in 1985 after spending 16 years as a teacher, coach and high school principal. Today his companies include Greenleaf Trust, Greenleaf Holdings, Greenleaf Ventures, Greenleaf Hospitality Group and Greenleaf Capital. Johnston is also chairman of Southwest Michigan First Economic Development Corporation.

MARY KRAMER is publisher of Crain’s Detroit Business, Southeast Michigan’s leading weekly business publication. Kramer began her career as a journalist with the Grand Rapids Press and worked for daily newspapers for 16 years before joining Crain’s. Since joining the company in 1989, Kramer has held a number of positions with Crain’s, was named associate publisher in 1991 and became a vice president of Crain Communications, Inc. in 1994.

KELLY LEE is executive director of Innovation Philadelphia, a non-profit technology- based economic development organization founded in 2001 to grow the wealth and workforce of the Philadelphia Region. Innovation Philadelphia focuses on development of the creative economy, the attraction and retention of young professionals, and fostering entrepreneurism. 

FLORINE MARK is president and CEO of the WW Group, Inc. based in Farmington Hills. She is the leading franchise holder of Weight Watchers International, which includes all of Michigan and Northern Ontario, Canada. For more than 30 years, Mark has used her knowledge, influence, energy and resources to help people help themselves.

SUSAN MARTIN joined Eastern Michigan University (EMU) as its 22nd president and first woman president in July 2008. Previously, she served as provost and vice-chancellor of academic affairs at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and in various leadership positions at Grand Valley State University. Dr. Martin is the former deputy state treasurer for the Bureau of Local Government Services for Michigan, former commissioner of revenue for the state of Michigan, and has been appointed for 20 years as chair of the State of Michigan Hospital Finance Authority.

RONALD MEDFORD is currently serving as the Acting Deputy Administrator for National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Medford is the Senior Associate Administrator (SAA) for Vehicle Safety, responsible for overseeing all Rulemaking, Enforcement and Applied Research programs, as well as NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA). He joined NHTSA in May 2003. Before NHTSA, Medford was the Assistant Executive Director for Hazard Identification & Reduction at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), responsible for the regulatory and technical work of that agency.

PATRICIA E. MOORADIAN is the president of The Henry Ford, where she oversees the development and implementation of the institution’s business operations and strategic positioning with emphasis on attendance and revenue growth. Mooradian joined The Henry Ford in 2000 as COO. She was previously an executive with The Taubman Company.

LESLIE A. MURPHY is president and CEO of Murphy Consulting, Inc., a consulting firm providing services to businesses, professional firms and not for profit entities in the areas of corporate governance, workforce development and staff retention. Prior to opening her own firm in 2008, Murphy was a member of Plante & Moran PLLP from 1973 to 2007. Murphy is board chairman of the Detroit Regional Chamber.

JAMES M. NICHOLSON serves as vice president of PVS Chemicals, Inc. and in other executive roles in its subsidiary companies. He is currently responsible for PVS Technologies, Inc., a water treatment chemical manufacturer with locations in Michigan, Georgia, Texas and California; Dynecol, Inc., a hazardous materials management and destruction business headquartered in Detroit; PVS Transportation, a licensed hazardous materials trucking operation based in Detroit with operations in a number of cities; Peninsula Insurance Co. Ltd and The Chantland Company.

WILLIAM U. PARFET is chairman and CEO of MPI Research, Inc., a pre-clinical toxicology research laboratory in Mattawan, Michigan. From 1993-1996 Parfet was president and CEO of Richard-Allan Medical, a worldwide manufacturer of surgical products. Prior to that he served as vice chairman of the Board of the Upjohn Company (now recognized as Pfizer), served as president from 1991-1993 and on their board until 2003.

L. BROOKS PATTERSON is serving his fourth four-year term as Oakland County Executive. He presides over a $769 million dollar annual budget for FY2008 and a county workforce of nearly 4,000 employees. During his 14 years of administration, Patterson has launched several innovative programs: “Emerging Sectors” which focused on identifying the top ten emerging and promising business sectors for the new economy of the 21st century that Oakland County might attract; “Count Your Steps”a pedometer walking program to target childhood obesity; and his successful “Health Care Cost Containment Initiative” which eliminated liability for employee and retiree health care.

T. BOONE PICKENS is founder and chairman of BP Capital Management, one of the nation’s most successful energy-oriented investment funds with more than $4 billion under management. Pickens uses his wealth of experience in the oil and gas industry to evaluate potential investments and energy sector themes. In 2008 he launched the Pickens Plan, an ambitious, self-funded, grassroots campaign aimed at reducing this country’s dependence on foreign oil. Pickens is aggressively pursuing a wide range of other business interests from water marketing to wind power.

SANDRA E. PIERCE is president and CEO, Charter One, Michigan and Indiana. She is responsible for the bank’s commercial banking business, oversees all state bank activities and is involved in local marketing and community giving. Pierce’s successful and diverse banking career began in 1978 when she joined NBD. In 2002 after holding a number of significant roles at NBD and its successor organizations, she became regional executive of Bank One’s Retail Midwest Region. In 2005 Pierce joined Charter One as president and CEO in Michigan.

PHIL POWER is founder and president of The Center for Michigan, a think-and-do tank aimed at improving the policy and political environment in Michigan by developing a series of reforms in taxing, spending and the priorities of state government. The Center is conducting a campaign that will by the end of 2010 engage 10,000 Michigan leaders and citizens in community conversations and ignite a citizen movement for change. For nearly forty years, Power was founder, owner and chairman of HomeTown Communications Network, Inc. a group of 62 community publications throughout Michigan and Ohio, which included the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers.

JOHN RAKOLTA, JR. is chairman and CEO of Walbridge, a privately-owned construction company offering diverse delivery options including construction management, program management, general contracting, design-build and turn-key solutions. Previously he has been president of Engineering Society of Detroit, Greater Detroit Construction Employers Council, and the Detroit Council of Boy Scouts of America. 

LAUREN RAKOLTA works in the marketing department at Walbridge, a Detroit-based International General Contractor. She has held several positions for Mitt Romney’s campaigns, most recently serving as national deputy finance director at the Romney for President Campaign, where she was responsible for raising over $13 million. Lauren also served as a finance consultant for the John McCain 2008 Campaign.

RIP RAPSON is the president and CEO of The Kresge Foundation. Through its grant making programs, the foundation seeks to strengthen nonprofit organizations by catalyzing their growth, connecting them to their stakeholders and challenging greater support through grants. Before joining Kresge in 2006, Rapson was the president of The McKnight Foundation, and prior to that in 1994, was a senior fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Design Center for American Urban Landscape.

REBECCA RYAN is the founder and one of two CEOs of Next Generation Consulting with responsibilities for sales, marketing and positioning. NGC has conducted interviews, focus groups and surveys with over 24,000 young professionals since 1998. Ryan summarized this research in her 2007 book, Live First, Work Second: Getting Inside the Minds of the Next Generation. Her passion is teaching today’s leaders how to engage tomorrow’s. Prior to starting NGC in 1998, Ryan held positions in Iowa’s Department of Economic Development, Department of Education and Association of Business and Industry.

NANCY M. SCHLICHTING is president and CEO of the Henry Ford Health System (HFHS). Previously, she served as executive vice president and COO for the system and was responsible for its hospitals, community care services, hospital joint ventures, physician practice development and integrated support services. In addition, she served as the president and CEO of Henry Ford Hospital and was responsible for the operation of the Detroit Campus. Prior to joining HFHS in 1998, Schlichting was executive vice president and CEO of Summa Health System in Akron, Ohio.

DEVIN SCILLIAN is the Local 4 News anchor at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. on WDIV Channel 4 and hosts the station’s weekly current event news program, “Flashpoint.” He joined the WDIV team in 1995. His news career has taken him around the world covering the major stories of the day. His recent trip to China led to groundbreaking reports on the crisis in American manufacturing. 

TIM SKUBICK is anchor and producer of the weekly public TV seriers "Off the Record." Skubick has anchored this series since 1972 and is the longest-serving member of teh state capitor press corps. He also anchors the statewide investigative documentary series "Michigan at Risk" as well as State of the State addresses and other Michigan election and political specials on WKAR-TV in East Lansing.

PAUL W. SMITH is the popular morning talk show host on 760 WJR in Detroit. He has been the station’s morning host since 1996. His show travels worldwide to provide WJR’s listeners with the best and most interesting news and information. Paul W. has an extensive background in talk radio, television and the entertainment field nationwide.

CHUCK STOKES is editorial and public affairs director for WXYZ-TV Channel 7. Additionally, he serves as moderator and producer of “Spotlight on the News,” Detroit’s longest-running weekly news and public affairs show. His in-depth interviews have included a host of prominent politicians, entertainers, religious and business leaders. Before he became Channel 7’s editorial/public affairs director, Stokes worked as the station’s executive producer of special projects in news. LD Class XIV

ROBERT S. TAUBMAN is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Taubman Centers, Inc., a real estate investment trust that owns, develops and operates regional shopping centers nationally. He joined the Taubman organization in 1976, holding various positions until he was elected chairman in 2001. Taubman has served on its board of directors since the company’s initial public offering in 1992.

GAIL F.TORREANO serves as president of AT&T Michigan. She is responsible for regulatory, legislative and external affairs, as well as community and industry relations throughout the state of Michigan. Prior to joining AT&T in 1991, Torreano worked in legislative leadership offices and ran statewide non-profit organizations.
 

EDWARD WALKER is president and CEO of W Industries. Walker has served as CEO since 2005 and president since 1993, leading the company to growth and expansion into the aerospace, defense, energy, homeland security and industrial sectors. In the past five years the company has grown from $15 million in annual sales to over $100 million projected for 2009.

TOM WALSH is the business columnist for the Detroit Free Press. He was a city desk reporter, bureau chief, suburban editor, business editor and projects editor before assuming his current position in 2001. Walsh was the chief editor on projects that won Overseas Press Club, Gerald Loeb and Hancock business writing awards.