Board of Directors & Advisory Board
We appreciate the local community and business leaders who make up our Board of Directors & Advisory Board and value their thoughtful guidance of our organization.
Chairman
Richard DiBartolomeo, Chairman
Rick DiBartolomeo currently provides consulting and fractional CFO services to small and growing businesses. Rick began his career in 1982 at Deloitte & Touche where he provided results-driven consulting in finance, accounting, and operations. After retiring as a Partner, he continued to work side-by-side with business owners providing financial and operational leadership to reduce risk, increase profitability, and maximize cash flow. In addition, from 2010-2016, Rick worked in various capacities under Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s administration.
Rick is active in the community serving on numerous charitable boards, foundations and is also a past president of the Detroit Athletic Club. Among his other community service involvements, he exchanges his business suit for a clown suit as part of America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’s Distinguished Clown Corps.
Rick and his wife Sue have 3 grown children and live in Troy, Michigan.
Leadership Team
Kirk Mayes
Chief Executive Officer
Tim Hudson
Chief Development Officer
Mike Spicer
Chief Operations Officer
Cheryl R. Johnson
Chief Financial Officer
Anne Ginn
Chief Public Policy Officer
Executive Committee
Richard DiBartolomeo, Chairperson
Community Leader
Hannan Lis, Vice Chairperson
Chief Operating Officer
Weight Watchers
Jason Paulateer, Member at Large
SVP, Community & Econ Development Fifth Third Bank
Kathrine Gorman, Secretary
Vice President
PNC Bank
Hugh Mahler, Vice Chairperson
Community Leader
David Sanders, Member at Large
Strategic Acct. Director
Microsoft
James Trouba, Treasurer
Partner
Grant Thornton
Dave McNulty, Vice Chairperson
VP, Corp HR & Global Talent
Lear Corp.
Julie G. Smith, Vice Chairperson
Community Leader
Randy M. Kummer, 1st Vice Chairperson
Community Leader
Mike Murri, Vice Chairperson
VP and General Manager
WXYZ – Channel 7
Lorna G. Utley, Member at Large
Community Leader
John C. Carter, Vice Chairperson
Community Leader
Andrew Ottaway, Member at Large
Sr. Managing Director
FINNEA Group
Jon Woods, Vice Chairperson
Community Leader
Board of Directors
John Barker
Managing Director, Investments
The Kresge Foundation
Jennifer Granger
Philanthropist & Community Advocate
Sam Rozenberg
Change Agent
Harold Burns
Managing Director
UHY
Brenda Jones
City Council President
Detroit
Darcee Scavone
VP, Talent, Culture & Community Engagement
Lineage Logistics
Doug Busch
Owner
Busch’s Fresh Food Market
Daniel Kaufman
SVP, Corporate Growth
H.W. Kaufman Group
Stephen Swartz
President
The JAR Group
Derrick Coleman
Entrepreneur
President of DC Elite
Kevin Kernen
Managing Director, Valuation Advisory
Stout Risius Ross, LLC
Nathan Upfal
President
Law Offices of Nathan Upfal, P.C.
Eric Dietz
President, SE MI Region
Huntington Bank
Jason Lee
EVP, Capital Markets
Flagstar Bank
Diane Wolfenden
Vice President, Eastern Region
Priority Health
Derek Edwards
SVP Lending
Invest Detroit
Ken McClure
Regional Director, Corporate Affairs
Kroger
Genna Young
Manager, Detroit Community Partnerships
General Motors
Mark Ellis
Chief Revenue Officer
Sports Illustrated
Melinda Mernovage
Director, Corporate Communications – Americas Region
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services
Neal F. Zalenko
Investor & Retired Owner of
Zalenko & Associates
Stan Finsilver
Co-Founder
Friedman Real Estate
Camille Nicita
President and CEO
Gongos Research
Sean Zecman
President, National Food Group
Cynthia Ford
Community Leader
Lisa C. Peracchio
President
East African Children’s Fund
Kristina Robinson Garrett
Judge, 36th District Court
Advisory Council Members
Mitch Albom
Sports Columnist
Detroit Free Press
Tim Allen
Boxing Cat Productions
Maggie Allesee
Community Leader
Sarkis Mark Anusbigian
President
Westborn Market
Rob Cohen
President
Advance Packaging Technologies
Keith W. Cooley
Community Leader
Ed Deeb
Founder, President & CEO
Michigan Food & Beverage Association
David Draper
Partner
The Draper Law Firm
Eric Ersher
Founder & CEO
Zoup! Fresh Soup Company
Dr. Nancy Fishman
Founder
Forgotten Harvest
Rick Foster
W. K. Kellogg Chair in Food, Society and Sustainability
Michigan State University
George Francis III
Community Leader
Joel E. Jacob
President
The Bottle Crew
Anita Jenkins
Community Leader
George G. Johnson
Managing Director
George Johnson & Company
Gary Karp
Executive Vice President
Sherwood Food Distributors
Bruce Kridler
Greenleaf Trust
Bob Olender
Chairman, DDA
Dawn Food Products
Terry Palleschi
Community Leader
Peggy Pitt
Attorney
Pitt, McGehee, Palmer, Rivers & Golden, P. C.
Kathy Reid
First Vice President
Comerica Incorporated
Leroy C. Richie (Roy)
Attorney
Lewis & Munday
Marty Shoushanian
President
Versacom, Inc.
Stephen Swartz
President
The JAR Group, L.L.C.
Harry Warner
President
Warner Petroleum Corporation
Rabbi Paul Yedwab
Temple Israel