DBusiness | September/October 2022 by Hour Media

OctoberSeptember/$3.952022 dbusiness.com Lightning Speed Speed

INSIDE: DETROIT’S MAD MEN | WINE COUNTRY | BIG 3 EXEC CHARTS

Ford Motor Co.’s debut of the first electric pickup has been a massive hit, with sales running four times above forecasts. But can President and CEO Jim Farley and the Blue Oval team match that success as they work to electrify the rest of the vehicle lineup?

State-of-the-art Crestron® sound system

the

New air walls and LED lighting

Vibrant “lake effect” design theme

MEETINGS MODERNIZED

Private meeting planner office

New look, long history. For over 30 years, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa has been Northern Michigan’s premier meeting destination. With our nearly $3 million renovation, including upgraded technology, services and design, we’re bringing the future of meetings to life.

Owned and Operated by Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

grandtraverseresort.com/meet

All-new digital signage

86,500 square feet of remodeled space

Exactly wherewe should be. When you’re true to who you are, you’re true to where you are. Come join TraverseCity.comus.

FIVE MUST SEE DEVELOPMENTS SEPTEMBER 9 TO 11, 2022 Go to www.HOURDetroit.com for more information developments The Boulevard 2911 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202 theboulevard.city The Kahn 7430 2nd Ave. Detroit MI 48202 TheKahnDetroit.com @properties presents Exchange 277 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48226 exchangedetroit.com John R Townhomes 2627 John R St. City Modern 221 Alfred St., Detroit, MI 48201 citymoderndetroit.com The Townes at Pullman Parc 1901 E Lafayette St., Detroit, MI 48207

key.com/commercialbanking

corporateStrategic solutions are our business.

Securities products and services: Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value

No matter what your industry, from healthcare to oil and gas, public sector to nonprofits, enterprises of all sizes rely on our capital corporate services and expertise to ensure their success.

We offer commercial payments and investment banking as well as employer services and major real estate financing. We also provide timely outlooks from our industry experts.

All merchant services, credit, loan and leasing products are subject to collateral and/or credit approval, and terms of service. SBA Preferred Lender.

For business executives and owners, we are truly your full-service bank for all your financial needs.

Securities products and services such as investment banking and capital raising are offered by KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC.

Banking products and services are offered by KeyBank National Association.

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and KeyBank National Association are separate but affiliated companies.

Todd and Kristie, along with the directors of the firm, bring a perfect balance of seasoned wisdom and present-day vision to their clients. Their dynamic and progressive solutions for individuals, employers and employees help their clients succeed at every stage of life. BLOOMFIELD HILLS • HOUSTON • SANTA MONICA Greystonefg.com | 248-267-1270

MotorCity Casino Hotel and MotorCity Casino Hotel design are trademarks of Detroit Entertainment, L.L.C. ©2022 Detroit Entertainment, L.L.C. All rights reserved. AT 5:01 IT’S NONE OF BUSINESS.YOUR Business meetings are built different here. Spa, dining, music, and gaming. 400 perfectly appointed rooms. 67,500 square feet of fully renovated meeting and event space. Innovative, entertaining, and exciting. Loud, proud, and luxurious. Don’t just meet. Be moved by the high-powered hospitality of MotorCity Casino Hotel. MotorCityCasino.com

Anticipating the next evolution Explore how GameAbove Capital helps minorityled and women-led businesses focused on environmental products and services.EVERYONE,GameAboveCapital.com/InTogether IN TOGETHER.

TRANSFORMATIVE INNOVATION. THAT’S TRUE. EMU.

REWRITE WHAT HISTORY WILL BE.

Look at our heroes. We celebrate moonshot moments. But some of our heroes’ biggest accomplishments we may never know. They are the things that never happened. Such as an accident that was prevented because a cyber attack on an autonomous vehicle was blocked. Technology and innovation are creating new kinds of heroes right now at the Eastern Michigan University GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology. gameabove.emich.edu

09 10 22 42

CONTENTS

Our annual listing of Big Three auto executives and officers. Assembled by Tom Beaman Plus: Top 25 Tier 1s and auto dealer sales results. Among metro Detroit dealerships, sales fell to 156,243 vehicles in 2021.

PERSPECTIVES: Showing heart, soul, and individualistic flair, the Michigan wine industry has become far more than a curiosity. There’s potential for even more growth, but challenges center on the development of talent and, in the northwest, finding places to live. By Ronald Ahrens

MMaden Red, White, and Rosé

By Paul Eisenstein

56 Big Three Exec Listings 74 SpLightningeed

FOCUS: A star during Detroit’s golden age of advertising, Ross Roy introduced a scientific method to marketing in 1926, and his agency became a full-service ad shop. Glen Fortinberry led Ross Roy Communications into integrated services in the 1980s. Then, corporate legerdemain made it all go poof. By Ronald Ahrens

14 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022 74 GUSHUETED

Chad Bush founded The PreP Sports video production company during the pandemic and has seen incredible growth.

Obamacare is causing the cost of health care to go up, not down.

How outsiders view Detroit.

38 PDA Q&A

Detroit and the region have a golden opportunity to develop an annual marketing campaign to attract more visitors throughout the month of September.

40 PAINT JOB

CommentaryForeword

CONTENTS

By R.J. King

A Clarkston company’s partnership recycles paint so it doesn’t end up in landfills.

22 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 22 READERS' LETTERS 24 CONTRIBUTORS

37 POWER UP

By Jake Bekemeyer The Ticker

Metro Detroit native Ray Hearn is transforming a former seminary course into a championship resort track.

By Tim Keenan

27 ELECTRIC SHOCK

27 SINKING SHIP

36 DIVINE CALLING

09 10 22

38 NOSE JOB

By R.J. King

By Jake Bekemeyer

As automakers race to secure key battery materials like lithium for electric vehicles, the emerging offering of silent propulsion cars and trucks has a long road to travel before reaching mass adoption. COMPENDIUM

Growing quality seed potatoes has been a long-standing tradition at Sklarczyk Seed Farm.

By Tim Keenan

Intecells in Troy hopes to speed the process of introducing electric vehicles by reinventing the lithium-ion battery.

David M. LaPrarie, partner, Howard & Howard, Royal Oak, on Mackinac Island.

40 RITCHIEROY 16 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022

A shortage of dogs that can detect explosives creates a new specialty for Leader Dogs in Rochester Hills.

37 SMALL POTATOES

By Tim Keenan

27 RAISING THE BAR

40 GO TO THE REPLAY

At PNC, we believe that our differences make the difference in who we are as individuals. And when you bring together individuals from different backgrounds, with unique interests and perspectives, you can do more. You can be more. And you can achieve more, together. Visit pnc.com/diversity PNC provides equal opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or other categories protected by law. ©2022 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC DS PDF 0320-0154-1571801

106 PATENTS AND INVENTIONS

CONTENTS

108 OPINION

Competing to Win: Does Michigan have what it takes to be more competitive for economic growth in an ever-evolving environment?

09 10 22

Hire Power: Finding and filling customer needs took Warren Avis through ventures that started with a Ford dealership in Southfield, followed by car rentals and more. By Ronald Ahrens

Exec Life

Chris George, co-founder and chairman of SUBTA; Temeria Heard, founder and CEO of Corporate 52 Marketing Group; Cindy Pasky, founder and CEO of Strategic Staffing Solutions; Ann Marie Uetz, partner at Foley & Lardner; and April Wagner, owner of Epiphany Studios introduce us to their four-legged friends and office companions.

91 RISHERJENNY 18 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022

91 EXECS AND THEIR PETS

Et Cetera

Our party pics from exclusive events.

West Side Story: Growing up on Detroit’s west side, Mychel “Snoop” Dillard has built a restaurant-and-lounge enterprise in Atlanta that’s branching out across the Midwest and beyon. By Tom Murray

By Tim Keenan and Jake Bekemeyer

115 FROM THE TOP

Our list of the region’s most business-friend ly dining establishments.

By Jeff Donofrio

110 THE CIRCUIT

ON THE COVER

Top Intellectual Property Law Firms in Metro Detroit, 2023 Largest Conventions in Metro Detroit, Largest Meeting Venues in Metro Detroit.

118 CLOSING BELL

Photo by Ted Gushue

98 RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Prepare for Takeoff: The next generation of aircraft being developed by ASX in Detroit seeks to transform the transit of cargo, passengers, military payloads, and first responders. By Norm Sinclair

100 TOP BUSINESS RESTAURANTS

Thank you for making Delta Dental of Michigan the top choice for dental benefits.

A healthier workforce means happier employees, improved morale, increased productivity and lower health care costs.

HEALTHYSMILES = EMPLOYEESHAPPY

“Every industry, including agriculture, construc tion, retail, and hospitality, is now looking at how

they can take advantage of robotics to make their companies more successful,” says Alex Shikany, vice president of membership and business intelli gence at A3. “Robots can not only take over the dull, dirty, and dangerous jobs that are so hard to fill, but they can save and create jobs as automation helps them grow their business.”

With EVs requiring 10 percent of the parts of a comparable vehi cle with an internal combustion engine, there are far fewer steps needed on the assembly line. Nary a sound can be heard in the F-150 Lightning plant as robotic trollies silently ferry 1,500-pound bat tery packs around the facility, and the few work ers on the production line use DC hand tools rather than the noisy pneumatic tools utilized in traditional factories.

What that means for parents and students eye ing college degree programs and future career opportunities is that the automation revolution is a safe investment. Colleges, universities, and voca tional schools have been offering more classes and coursework in robotics. At the end of the day, that may not fill all the positions lost to traditional man ufacturing, but the expert knowledge base in auto mation will provide safer, more fulfilling careers that pay better.

R.J. King rjking@dbusiness.com

As for the auto industry, EVs will, over time, bring about a monumental shift in production sys tems and consolidation. Jim Farley, Ford’s presi dent and CEO, recently stated that legacy automakers, EV startups, and traditional suppli ers “absolutely will get consolidated.”

R.J. KING

Welcome to the future of automation, often referred to as Industry 4.0, where fac tories are run by a mecha nized symphony, directed remotely, and are so clean you can skip eating eggs off the floor and settle in for a nice picnic.

DBUSINESS WINS AABP AWARDS

GeorgeRochesterAcree

Cannabis sales in Michigan are expected to reach $2 billion this year, making one the top markets in the country. The industry’s success here is drawing not only savvy investors and national players, but former sports INSIDE: SECRET STASH RETAIL CHURN POWERED BY WOMEN Flower Power Letters 22 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022

Thanks for the “Secret Stash” article in the July/ August issue of DBusiness I was very fortunate to be at (MacManus, John & Adams) at that time. I knew Mickey McQuire very well. He was a class act and extremely talented. Even though I worked in the mail room, I made many trips to the Pontiac someattentionthanksthehappynow.Godthatalmostartworkretired,Whenofficespicturesitwastodistributioncarsupervisorwhenofstoragecars.specialDepartmentAdvertisingwiththisartworkofPontiacIalsohandledtheandfilingrecordstheartwork.Yearslater,IbecameaccountonthePontiacaccount,IalsohandledoftheartworkGeneralMotors.SinceitownedbyGM,mostofwasusedasartworkorintheexecutiveintheGMBuilding.theexecutivestheytookthewiththem.Sinceallofthemfromerahavepassedaway,onlyknowswhereitisIsurewouldbetohaveapieceofartworknow!Manyforbringingittomyandbringingupfondmemories.

During Bernstein’s annual Strategic Decisions Conference in June, Farley said the political push for EVs, as mandated by government regulations, means “There will be some big winners, some people who transition, some who won’t. Many of the small players cannot afford to make this transition.”

But what we do know is that automakers that can afford to invest billions of dollars in the future of electric mobility will come out on the other side with much higher profit margins that will propel the next generation of mobility — autonomy.

EMAIL US AT: editorial@dbusiness.com SEND MAIL TO: Letters, DBusiness magazine, 5750 New King Drive, Ste. 100, Troy, MI 48098 Please include your city of residence and daytime phone number. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and content.

A walk through Ford Motor Co.’s new facilityproductionforthe

From the latest figures available, North Ameri can companies purchased the most robots ever during the first quarter of 2022 — 11,595 robots sold at a value of $646 million — according to the Association for Advancing Automation, or A3, in Ann Arbor. Industry projections make a reasonable case that robot sales will reach a high water mark this year, which will be exceeded on an annual basis for decades to come.

What it means for future jobs can be summed up in one word: robots. The Big Three of economic instability these days — a lack of skilled talent, inflation, and supply chain delays — is driving more CEOs to embrace automation.

Congratulations on the well-deserved DBusiness and individual writer awards. It’s great news and recognitionmeaningfulforall your work.

all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck at the historic Rouge Complex in Dearborn is startling for its lack of work ers, activity, and noise.

RevolutionAutomation

With a shakeout on the horizon, Farley believes EV manufacturers in China like Hongguang, XPeng, Li Auto, and Nio will become formidable competi tors. Whether Americans, Europeans, and others around the world will buy Chinese cars and trucks remains to be seen.

SECRET STASH

Patrick LieblerDetroit

ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS AT LAW Thomas P. Vincent PresidentVincent&CEO 248.901.4000 | tvincent@plunkettcooney.com Michigan | Ohio | Indiana | Illinois | www.plunkettcooney.com Business leaders say they trust the attorneys of Plunkett Cooney to anticipate legal pitfalls, to resolve high-stakes litigation and to craft contracts they can sign... with condence. See your business differently. Get the Plunkett Cooney perspective. Banking & Finance Law Business Transactions Cannabis Law Commercial Litigation Environmental & Energy Law Estate Planning & Business Succession Foodservice & Hospitality Law Government Relations & Public Policy Health Care Law Labor & Employment Law Mergers & Acquisitions Nonprofit Law Real Estate Law Plunkett Cooney Perspective™Getthe

BUSINESS

OUTREACH SPECIALIST Jessica VanDerMoss

ASSISTANT OFFICE MANAGER Natasha Bajju

Postmaster: Send address changes to DBusiness, 5750 New King Drive, Ste. 100, Troy, MI 48098

To sell DBusiness magazine or for subscription inquiries: 248-588-1851

MARKETING AND EVENTS MANAGER Jodie Svagr COMMUNICATIONS AND EVENTS LEAD Cathleen Francois MARKETING & EVENTS COORDINATOR Jaime Presnail

DISTRIBUTION Target Distribution, Troy

Contributors 24 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022

Paul Eisenstein has been covering the automotive industry for DBusiness and Hour Detroit magazines for many years. Overall, he’s been covering the industry for more than 35 years. As publisher and editor-in-chief of The Detroit Bureau, his work has been seen in more than 40 news outlets including USA Today, The Economist, Kelley Blue Book, Cigar Aficionado, Autocar, NBCNews.com, CNBC. com, Realtor, and many daily newspapers nationwide. In this issue, he explores the life and career of Ford Motor Co. President and CEO Jim Farley and his plans for the future of the automaker, including the split of the company into electrical and non-electrical divisions.

STEVEN PROKUDA

DIGITAL COORDINATOR Travis Cleveland

CIRCULATION CIRCULATION MANAGER Riley Meyers

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jake Bekemeyer

PRODUCTION

SENIOR PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jill Berry

Steven Prokuda is a junior designer at DBusiness. Driven by his love for art, he graduated from Detroit’s College for Creative Studies in 2021 with a BFA in advertising design and a minor in photography. Before following his artistic passions, Prokuda worked at an emergency veterinary clinic where he fostered nearly 20 animals including his cat, Kona, and his dogs, Akela and Maui (pictured), who helped oversee this issue’s Execs and Their Pets photo shoot. He often can be found hiking in the forest with his dogs, bothering his friends, spending countless hours binging TV shows, or throwing paint at a canvas and calling it art.

WEB

MARKETING RESEARCH ASSISTANT Alexandra Thompson

Jenny Risher is a Birmingham-based freelance advertising and editorial photographer with nearly 20 years of experience. She specializes in automotive, pets, lifestyle, fashion, and portrait work. A graduate of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Risher also attended the Parsons School of Design/The New School in New York. She has published a book of her work titled “Heart Soul Detroit,” featuring portraits of 50 prominent Detroiters including Iggy Pop, Smokey Robinson, Jack White, Dr. Jack Kevorkian, Lily Tomlin, and others. In this issue’s Exec Life section, Risher had the pleasure of photographing five local executives and the pets who frequently accompany them to the office.

CEO Stefan Wanczyk

ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE Sammi Dick SALES INTERN Gabrielle Mancini

DIGITAL DIRECTOR Nick Britsky

MARKET RESEARCH

JUNIOR DESIGNER Steven Prokuda

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Jenine Knox

DESIGN

For advertising inquiries: 248-691-1800, ext. 126

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Matt Cappo

DBusiness is published by Hour Media. Copyright © 2022 Hour Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. DBusiness is a registered trademark of Hour Media.

DETROIT’S PREMIER BUSINESS JOURNAL

SENIOR PRODUCTION ARTIST Stephanie Daniel

CIRCULATION COORDINATORS David Benvenuto, Jaz’myne Jones, Cathy Krajenke, Rachel Moulden, Lisa Sawyer, Michele Wold

COPY EDITOR Anne Berry Daugherty

MARKETING RESEARCH MANAGER Georgia Iden

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Cynthia Barnhart, Regan Blissett, Karli Brown, Maya Gossett, Donna Kassab, Lisa LaBelle, Mary Pantely and Associates

SENIOR ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE Andrew Kotzian

PRESIDENT John Balardo

ADVERTISING SALES

PAUL JENNYEISENSTEINRISHER

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS Luanne Lim, Kevin Pell

PRS GRAPHIC DESIGNER Alexa Dyer

VOLUME 17 • ISSUE 5

PUBLISHER Jason Hosko

GRAPHIC ARTISTS Jim Bibart, Colin McKinney PRODUCTION INTERN Caroline Parthum

EDITORIAL INTERN Giacomina Fabiano

VIDEO EDITOR Taylor Lutz

MARKETING AND EVENTS

MANAGING EDITOR Tim Keenan

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS Kathie Gorecki PUBLISHING AND SALES COORDINATOR Kristin Mingo

EDITORIAL EDITOR R.J. King

IT DIRECTOR Jeremy Leland

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ronald Ahrens, Tom Beaman, Paul Eisenstein, Jeff Donofrio, Tom Murray, Norm Sinclair CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Nic Antaya, Patrick Gloria, Tedd Gushue, Christine MJ Hathaway, Cam Kirk, Jenny Risher, Roy Ritchie, Koji Sasahara, Lindsay Schweickert, Becky Simonov, James Yang CONTRIBUTION: Writer, Lightning Speed | SEE IT HERE: Page 74 CONTRIBUTION: Photographer, Execs and Their Pets SEE IT HERE: Page 91 CONTRIBUTION: Junior Designer CONTRIBUTORS

ART DIRECTOR Justin Stenson

Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates, and UnitedHealthcare Service LLC in NY. Stop-loss insurance is underwritten by All Savers Insurance Company (except CA, MA, MN, NJ and NY), UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company in MA and MN, UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company in NJ, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York in NY, and All Savers Life Insurance Company of California in CA. B2B EI221497156.0 6/22 © 2022 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 22-1461596-D

With a UnitedHealthcare Level Funded health plan, your small business gets the same advantages that big corporations get with a self-funded plan — like exemption from many state premium taxes and health care reform regulations. Ask your broker how a Level Funded plan from UnitedHealthcare works harder to help lower your health benefits costs.

Some health plans are just made for small business

Or visit uhc.com/savingsmi

09 10.22

COMMENTARY

28 DETROIT HAS AN UNMISTAKABLE SOUL — NOBODY CAN DUPLICATE THE SOUL WE BRING TO THE GAME.” — BIG SEAN p. 28 p. 30 Raising the Bar Sinking Ship Electric Shock Compendium YANGJAMES SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 27

While producing supposedly pollution-free vehicles is an admirable goal toward reducing overall CO2 emissions, numerous governments around the world have been pushing EV mandates as a way to bolster their standing among their respective citizenries. The trouble is, few government officials have a deep understanding of what it takes to introduce new technology, let alone brand-new vehicles that have a limited supply chain, utilize child labor to source some battery materials, have limited range, and are prone to fires following a crash.

INSIDENUMBERSTHETHOUSAND 75.9 $875 THOUSAND $ 13.3 THOUSAND Commentary 28 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

AS AUTOMAKERS RACE to secure key battery materials like lithium for electric vehicles, the emerging market has a long road to travel before reaching mass adoption. In recent months, General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., Stellantis, Volkswagen, and others have been locking up cathode materials in anticipation of collectively building millions of EVs.

ELECTRICSHIPSHOCK

Apart from that, there are plenty of recreational opportunities in September, including boating excursions up and down the Detroit River and neighboring waterways, biking and walking on trails like the Dequindre Cut near Eastern Market, motor rallies, historic home and garden tours, museum exhibitions, and more.

To help boost coverage, President Joe Biden’s administration has increased exchange subsidies to encourage coverage among the uninsured, but it often doesn’t fit their needs.

The timing couldn’t be better. Time magazine recently named Detroit to its annual list of the World’s Greatest Places — a first for the Motor City — while national and international news outlets, confer ence planners, travel groups, and others are beginning to tout the city’s renaissance from the nation’s largest municipal bankruptcy in 2014.

TOURISM

IT’S BEEN A DECADE since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, which was touted as a way of providing more people with health care and at cheaper rates than what’s available on the open marketplace.

A successful branding campaign for September would also serve to draw people who are eager to experience living and working in a Midwestern city that’s on the rise, and to attract talent at a time when the overall labor pool is shrinking. Detroit is a much better city and region today than it has been in decades, and it’s up to us to let the world know.

Average annual taxable value in downtown Detroit

AUTOMOTIVE

What’s needed is a memorable branding campaign that will draw interest from all over the world that’s on par with or exceeds popular annual festivals like South by Southwest, Burning Man, Coachella, and Lollapalooza. A compelling appeal to visit metro Detroit would drive additional revenue for businesses such as hotels, restaurants, enter tainment and conference venues, museums, airports, car rental agen cies, stores, and vendors.

SINKING

In fact, electric vehicles like GM’s Hummer EV and the Ford Mustang Mach-E require a tremendous amount of emissions to produce. According to a recent report in The Wall Street Journal, “large-battery, long-range vehicles would have to be driven many tens of thousands of miles before they rack up enough mileage and save enough gasoline to compensate for the emissions created to produce their batteries.”

The trouble is, the exact opposite has occurred. According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, premiums for individual market policies averaged $244 a month in the United States in 2013, the year before the Obamacare exchanges came online. Last year, those same premiums had more than doubled, to $644 a month — and it’s likely worse now, given rising inflation over the past year.

Obama stated: “If you like the plan you have, you can keep it. If you like the doctor you have, you can keep your doctor, too. The only change you’ll see are falling costs as our reforms take hold.”

HEALTH CARE

Overall, Obamacare has led to fewer options for people, lower care, and higher premiums. While elected government officials tried to expand health care coverage, the act has proved to be too expensive and too cumbersome.

Outside the downtown district, the nearby neighborhoods have never been better, including Lafayette Park, the East Riverfront Dis trict and the RiverWalk (which is now being extended to the west riverfront), Eastern Market, Midtown, Corktown, and Mexican town. Farther away, historic neighborhoods are improving, while multi-use rejuvenation projects like the North End are progressing full steam ahead.

Average annual taxable value in Detroit

etroit and the region have a golden opportunity to develop an annual marketing campaign to attract more visitors throughout the month of September, starting with the Detroit Jazz Festival in the central business district over Labor Day weekend and closing with the American Speed Festival at M1 Concourse in Pontiac.

President Obama also promoted the passage of the act as providing for more choices among health care providers. But in 2021, 64 percent of the counties in America had two or fewer insurers offering coverage via the Obamacare marketplace, and more than half of the nation’s counties had one insurer.

TheRaisingBar

The list of activities between those two bookends includes two high-powered automotive events — Concours d’Elegance and the North American International Auto Show — along with the Detroit Month of Design, the Detroit Black Film Festival, Brewed in Michigan, and a multitude of conferences, concerts, sporting events, and fund raisers. The good news is the month of September is already activated.

What’s more, downtown Detroit is unique in that few cities in the world have a multi-billionaire like Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Rocket Cos., who owns some 100 buildings. In fact, he’s the largest property owner in Detroit by far. If one of Gilbert’s buildings hasn’t been renovated, it soon will be — and all of his properties are kept at a Class A level in terms of upkeep, cleanliness, and community engagement.

For example, the Consulate of Italy in Detroit and the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, a nonprofit organization tasked with promoting Italian language and culture, are presenting for the first time LoveITDetroit throughout September, as part of the Detroit Month of Design. A daily series of events and activities will be held inside the main lobby of the 1001 Woodward building, immediately northwest of Campus Martius Park.

Number of employees in downtown Detroit Sources: Downtown Detroit Partnership, Detroit Open Data Portal

missionpoint.com | 906.847.3057 | info@missionpoint.com Reconnect with clients and colleagues at Mission Point Resort. Extraordinary Mackinac Island experiences await at Mission Point, with indoor and outdoor meeting space for your next conference, client reception or corporate retreat. Start planning today!

Delta passengers can opt into the experience by scanning their boarding pass once they are through the security checkpoint in Concourse A of DTW’s McNamara Terminal. Customers enrolled in Delta’s biometric digital identity program need only show their faces to a camera at theThen,kiosk.motion sensors installed in the terminal ceiling go into action.

PLUMMETFLOWERMARIJUANAWHOLESALEMICHIGAN’SPRICES

Because while most people identify Michigan’s biggest city with its automotive roots and as the birthplace of Motown, the Motor City brims with plentiful recreational, cultural, and culinary offerings. It’s a unique Midwestern metropolis that’s ever-evolving, refreshingly diverse — Detroit is the country’s biggest majority-Black city — and sits along the Detroit River, which forms an international border between Canada and the U.S. On top of that, Detroit couldn’t be any easier to get to since it’s a hub of Delta Air

If sky high diversemenuintorestaurant,graciouswhichtherestaurantnatedJamestheimpossiblyCorktownawayselection.anTartareplatesrefined,Bar,(reopeningconcepts,featuresthe71stDetroit.furtheryou’reandperfectly-grilledviews,chops,aswankyvibeiswhatafter,looknothanHighlandsPerchedontheflooroftheRenCen,panoramicspacealsotwootherHearth71soon)andHighwhichdolesoutbutapproachable(theWagyuBeefisexceptional)andextensivescotchAndtuckedintheheartofisthecharmingMink,sisterrestaurantoftheBeardAward-nomibutchershopandMarrow.Insidenarrow,cozyspacefeelsmorelikeahomethanstuffyguestscandigarotatingtastingthatcelebratesthebountyofthesea.

ASTRAIGHTBOARDINFORMATIONFLIGHTPERSONALIZEDDETROIT’SVIEWHOWCOMPENDIUM:OUTSIDERSDETROITNEWISOUTOFSCI-FINOVEL

MJBIZ DAILY JULY 28, 2022

THE POINTS GUY JULY 16, 2022

BY HARRIET BASKAS

Prices of recreationalwholesalemarijuana in Michigan are now as low, or lower, than those in older adult-use states

Connie Maxim-Sparrow, a cannabis consultant and marijuana business license holder based in Muskegon, $300.somepound,is$2,200.wouldaroundflowerindoor-grownagoMaxim-Sparrow,market.itandgrowspendinglar,ascurrentcharacterizedMichigan,thestate’smarketconditions“unstable”—inparticucannabisgrowersareatleast$800toapoundofflowergettingonly$600foronthewholesaleAccordingtoayearamidgradepoundofwholesalethattestedat20%THCpotencysellfor$1,800-Now,thatsamegrowerluckytoget$600aandshe’sheardofsellingforaslowas...Asmoremultistateoperatorslearnhowtoquicklysetupshopinnewregionswithmanyproducers,thepaceofanewlylegalizedstate’smarkethittinganoversaturationpointisspeedingup.…

Stretching over three scenic miles, the Detroit RiverWalk makes it more than easy to get outdoors. But no matter how you choose to spend time here — whether it’s biking, splashing in fountains, or riding the carousel — you’re fantasticguaranteedviewsofthe city and Canada across the river. Detroit’s also home to lots of public parks, including Belle Isle, Beacon, and Grand Circus. And though it will take about a decade to complete, the highly anticipated Joe Louis Greenway, a 27.5-mile loop of trails connecting 23 city neighborhoods, broke ground last year. …

• JUNE 29, 2022 • BY KATIE CHANG

This time of year, Americans usually beeline to spots with some sort of nature component like Yellowstone, Maui, and Ocean City. But why not steer clear of the crowds this summer, and consider an urban destination with outdoor appeal like Detroit?

Ahead,Lines.even more reasons why Detroit makes for a smart, yet under-the-radar destination right now.

— underscoring how new markets are ramping up more quickly and, in some cases, becoming glutted.

Opened in 2019, the 129-room Shinola Hotel, spanning two historic structures (a Singer sewing machine factory and former department store) and three new builds, helped spark the revitalization of downtown Detroit. A beguiling mix of old and new, the public spaces and accommodations embrace a clean, minimalist aesthetic bumped up with original artwork, fresh pops of color, and of course, Shinola-branded accessories like turntables, clocks, and power strips. …

What to Do in Detroit

Where to Eat in Detroit

BY BART SCHANEMAN

As Detroit’s most exciting new restaurant, Baobab Fare specializes in homestyle East African cooking (Ugali, Kuku, and Samaki) and is owned by partners in work and life, Nadia Nijimbere and Hamissi Mamba. After immigrating to the U.S. from Burundi in 2014, the couple worked tirelessly to build a business that isn’t just about eating well — it’s also a safe haven for fellow immigrants, and a place that truly welcomes everyone. Down the street is another noteworthy spot, Yum Village. Run by

pixels of a display board to send different content to each viewer.

Once a customer logs in, they are identified by the motion sensors as a specific moving object tied to a specific customer record. “And then the display knows to direct specific information to that moving object even as that object is moving around,” Ng said. “In this demo, as soon as you walk out of the viewing area of the display, the system forgets everything, and all of the data is purged.” …

HOW TO SPEND THE PERFECT LONG SUMMER WEEKEND IN DETROIT FORBES

Commentary 30 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

Where to Stay in Detroit

Delta Air straighttechnologyaccessAirportMetropolitanpassengersLinesatDetroitWayneCounty(DTW)cannowinnovativethatseemsoutofasci-finovel.Thetechnology—whichisappropriatelynamedParallelReality—makesitpossibleforonegiantdigitalscreenintheterminaltodisplaypersonalizedtravelitinerarydetailsforupto100peopleatatime.Nooneseesabigjumbleofinformation,though.Instead,eachpersonlookingupatorwalkingbythescreenseesamessageaddressingthembyname,withtheirmileageprogramstatus,flightinformationandtheestimatedtimeitwilltakethemtogettotheirgate.“Thetechnologydoessoundlikesciencefiction,”saidAlbertNg,CEOofMisappliedSciences,thecompanythatcreatedtheParallelRealityproduct.However,aftermorethanfiveyearsinwhathedescribedas“stealthmode,”thecompanyworkedoutaproprietymethodofgettingthe

Industry insiders say cannabis flower in Michigan is readily available for less than $1,000 a pound on the wholesale market — and often for much less — be cause of oversaturation as more and more cultivation businesses come online in a state with no limit on business licenses.

Nigerian-American chef Godwin Ihentuge, the fast-casual concept turns out terrific Afro-Caribbean and Western African dishes in a colorful, cheerful setting.

“The first is Europe, and the second is Israel. It’s remarkable that Israel is the second market because of how small the country is population wise and geography wise,” said Pawl after speaking at the EcoMotion international mobility conference in TelConsideringAviv. that the Michigan city of Detroit is the epicenter of America’s automotive scene — the birthplace of manufacturing,vehicleaswell as infrastructure such as traffic lights and lane markings — it’s significant that the state is looking to Israel for innovation in that sector.

Following a strong offseason for Detroit, Hockenson should be in a much better position to realize his potential. …

Commentary SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 31

seen as the best all-round tight end in the 2019 draft having excelled as both a blocker and a receiver in college at Iowa. That he was one of the more efficient tight ends in the NFL last season while playing for an offense that was 24th in Expected Points Added per play on dropbacks — according to rbsdm.com — is testament to his talent.

The New Yorker: The piece “would have been a triumph in any season,” Ross wrote, but it “felt borderline miraculous” in 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic. …

While his raw numbers may not be overly impressive, Hockenson has been a consistent scoring threat — scor ing 10 touchdowns in his last two seasons — and has produced efficiency for the Lions.

THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE • JULY 7, 2022 • BY MARK BINELLI

“When we look outside of the United States for new technology, especially for mobility technology, there’s really only two places that have the

But today, nearly two years into his five-year contract, Sharon has already radically elevated Detroit Opera’s status in the larger cultural ecosystem. His first production in Detroit — a drive-through, socially distant version of fromstructuredowntown“Götterdämmerung”Wagner’sinaparking—receivedaraveAlexRossin

T.J. Hockenson has yet to deliver elite tight end production during his three seasons in the NFL but the Detroit Lions appear to be ready to bank on him imminently making such a leap.

BY ABIGAIL KLEIN LEICHMAN

Should the Lions find long-term agreement with Hockenson, they will not be committing to him for his previous performance, they will be extending him because of what they think he can produce in the coming

WHY ISRAEL IS INNOVATIONMOBILITYDRIVING IN MICHIGAN

IS THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN OPERA UNFOLDING IN DETROIT?

As a deep partisan of the city, I say with all fondness: The future of American opera unfolding in Detroit was not a plot twist I saw coming. And yet, Sharon countered, Detroit might actually be “the perfect place to really push for what the future of opera can be.” …

Pawl said that the state is looking into Israeli solutions for maritime mobility for recreation and industry as well. ...

technology applicable to the use cases that we have here,” said Trevor Pawl, chief mobility officer for the State of Michigan.

Last September, as cultural organizations began their fall seasons in a state of crisis, unsure if audiences would venture from their homes in the midst of a pandemic, Yuval Sharon, the artistic director of the Michigan Opera Theatre, decided to mount a show called “Bliss.” A restaging of a marathon piece by the Icelandic performance artist Ragnar Kjartansson, “Bliss” requires its performers to replay the final three minutes of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” without pause for 12 hours.

He is due to earn $9.4 million under that option in 2023 after a 2022 season in which he will be paid $6.5 million.

Sharon’s production took place in what was once the Michigan Theater, a former Detroit movie palace that closed in 1976; infamously, when architects determined that demolishing the theater would make an adjoining office building structurally unsound, the interior was gutted and transformed into a multilevel garage. The sight of cars parked beneath moldering Renaissance-style plasterwork and traces of long-gone balconies has long proved irresistible to Detroit ruin photographers, but no one before Sharon had ever staged a live performance among them. The production was pay-what-you-like, and those of us in the audience reached the performance space by walking up a ramp. Looking over its edge, I spotted a dusty Jeep parked on a lower level with the words LIONS SUCK traced on the windshield. A pair of low stages, minimally dressed to set a banquet scene, had been assembled, and the rest of the space was hauntingly lit, with an orchestra on the same level as the audience, whose members were free to sit or orbit at their leisure, entering or leaving at any part of the show, which began at noon and ended at midnight. Sharon paced the perimeter in a bow tie, a colorful jacket and yellow sneakers.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the Lions are expected to prioritize a contract extension for Hockenson before the start of the season. Having previously failed to come to an agreement with the 2019 first-round pick, the Lions picked up his fifth-year option in April.

FORBES • JULY 21, 2022 • BY NICHOLAS MCGEE

In-road charging

DETROIT LIONS LOOK SET TO BET ON T.J. HOCKENSON’S FUTURE PRODUCTION

Kinetic charging Michigan may also do business with ZOOZ Power (formerly Chakratec), an Israeli company whose Kinetic Power Booster (KPB), based on innovative flywheel technology, can provide ultra-fast charging networks for electric vehicles. …

JEWISH NEWS SYNDICATE JULY 5, 2022

Now 42, Sharon is the most visionary opera director of his generation. He founded an experimental company, cheekily named the Industry, in Los Angeles in 2012, and was met with near-immediate acclaim for stagings so wildly inventive they often dispensed with stages altogether. …

One joint project is with Israel-based Electreon, to build America’s first wireless charging road for electric vehicles. …

Indeed, the 2021 season saw Hockenson finish 11th among qualifying tight ends in Football Outsiders DYAR, which measures total value.

While Israelis don’t have a history of car manufactur ing, said Pawl, “they have a history of areastechnology.”technologyelectricautonomousfoundationalbeingautomotivekey,engineering.”softwareAndthat’shesaid,because“theindustryisdrivenbyfourplatforms:technology,technology,sharedandconnectedAllofwhichareIsraeliofexpertise.

Hockensonyears.was

And yet Sharon’s boldest venture may have been the announcement, in 2020, that he would be accepting a position as artistic director of the Michigan Opera Theatre — since renamed, at Sharon’s insistence, Detroit Opera. It’s hard to overstate the unlikelihood of a director as innovative and internation ally celebrated as Sharon taking the reins of a decidedly regional (and in certain companyconservative)respectsoperalikeDetroit’s.

Hockenson has 1,673 receiving yards in his NFL career, his best year coming in 2020 — the only season that has seen him play every game — when he finished with 723 yards and six touchdowns.

If you are having difficulty obtaining

If you want to attract and retain top talent and keep your employees happy and healthy, a comprehensive benefit package can help employees feel rewarded and appreciated for their work. Healthy workers are more productive, which keeps your business running

Did you know that Michigan has a system to support startups? SmartZones provide resources to help startups and connect entrepreneurs to mentors and business consultants.Thefollowing

The survey found a strong correlation between supply chain developments and company outlook. Among the business owners and executives who characterized their company’s financial performance in the next 12 months as good, fair, or poor, and also reported that supply chain issues had a “somewhat negative impact” on their operations, increased by 20% between first and second quarter 2022. At the same time, the num ber who reported no impact from supply chain developments fell to 16%. Clearly, middle market businesses with a neutral or negative outlook are significantly more likely than businesses with a positive outlook to be facing continuing supply chain challenges.

TRUSTED ADVISERS Q&A

municipal approval for your cannabis business, it’s time to speak with a cannabis law attorney who can guide you through the legal and business issues that are specific to your needs.

smoothly and improves your company’s reputation.Ahealthy, beautiful smile can boost your self-esteem, make you look younger and more attractive, and can influence your social life, career earning potential and relationships.

customers over the next 12 months.

A majority of these companies plan to identify alternative suppliers or sources of raw materials, and 41% plan to pass through cost increases to

However, supply chain challenges persist for many businesses. Difficulties in obtaining raw ma terials persist because of higher costs, lower availability, and longer wait times. The survey found that more than half (64%) of these companies have experienced reduced profit margins as a result.

experts offer insight and advice in their areas of expertise.

Q: Are middle market business leaders feeling better or worse about supply chain issues?

CFMA #220720-1648129

Relying on the wisdom and experience of trusted advisers can be invaluable.

TRUSTED ADVISERS OFFER THE EXPERT ADVICE YOU NEED

For example, legal, health, and financial matters can be complex if you are not one of these professionals yourself.

KeyBank David CommercialPresidentMannarinoandSales Leader 248-204-6550MichiganKeyBank’sMarket @keybank.comDavid_Mannarino

Joining a dental network is the first step to finding a dentist that you are comfortable with and who has appointments and a location that works best for you.

A: One of the most striking effects of the global pandemic was supply chain disruption for all kinds of materials and goods. KeyBank’s latest middle market sentiment report found business owners’ and executives’ concerns about the implications for their companies that are slowly, but steadily, diminishing. In the fourth quarter of 2021, nearly half of the owners and executives said that supply chain developments had a negative impact on their businesses in the past 12 months. As of the second quarter of 2022, that proportion has fallen to 39%.

tants to help with marketing, financial planning, investor pitch preparation, and access to other subject-matter experts. Qualified companies can apply for up to $50,000 of grant funding.

A: The process for obtaining municipal approval varies from community to community. Municipal ities can “opt in” or “opt out” of any type of cannabis business license. I advise clients that obtaining mu nicipal approval is the most difficult part of the licensing process, and without this approval, they cannot obtain a state operating license.

TRUSTED ADVISERS Q&A

Delta Dental of Michigan

Most municipalities have stringent zoning cri teria for locating a cannabis business. Operators h ave to confirm that the property they wish to lease or purchase is eligible under the regula tory and zoning ordinances in the community. A l ot of properties are marketed as being in the “green zone” but they are in a “buffer zone” that is too close to a school, playground or other

A healthier workforce means happier employees, improved morale, and increased productivity, and lower health care costs.

Plunkett Cooney’s cannabis industry practice includes a multi-disciplinary group of attorneys who provide specialized advice to cannabis business clients tailored to their specific needs. Our attorneys represent more than 100 cannabis businesses and provide advice and guidance on all legal issues that may arise.

miss 164 million hours of work because of oral health problems. By seeing the dentist reg ularly, potential oral health problems can be s potted earlier when treatment is easier and moreDentalaffordable.careis very personal, so it’s import ant that you find a dentist you’re comfortable w ith, and who has hours and a location that work best with your schedule.

Ann Arbor SPARK Bill Ann330ServicesSVP,MayerEntrepreneurialE.LibertySt.Arbor,MI48104

@plunkettcooney.comjschroder

Jeffery Johnston, DDS Delta Dental of Michigan Chief Science Officer 4100 Okemos Rd. Okemos, MI 48864 deltadentalmi.com

Photo Credit: Doug Coombe

Q: Why

annarborusa.organnarborusa.orgEntrepreneurialServices@

38505PartnerWoodward Ave. Suite Bloomfield100 Hills, MI 48304 C:248-594-2796586-215-3923

At SPARK, the focus of the entrepreneurial services team is to provide resources to help startups before private funding, whether that’s angel fund capital or venture capital. For exam ple, we have business incubators in downtown Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti where startups can come to work and become part of a community of entrepreneurs.Additionalsupport services include connecting entrepreneurs to mentors and business consul

A: In Michigan, we have a system to support startups. They’re known as SmartZones, and you find them all around the state. Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit economic development organization, administers programs on behalf of the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti SmartZone.

More than 90 percent of systemic diseases have oral manifestations, which means that if something is wrong in your mouth, then some thing could be wrong in another part of your body. If certain signs are detected, your dentist may recommend you follow up with your physi cian for better overall health management.

K eeping up with dental visits can reduce time away from work, too. Each year, adults

Plunkett Cooney Jeffrey M. Schroder

A: Your oral health and overall health are closely connected, making regular dental visits much more important than some may realize.

Q: Ann Arbor was recently recognized as one of the largest tech hubs in the U.S. What makes its entrepreneurial ecosystem special? How can I obtain approval from a municipality for my cannabis business? is oral health important for employee well-being?

sensitive use.

Ann Arbor has the highest startup density compared to other cities — including Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis. A lot of credit for this success goes to the University of Michigan, a strong partner of SPARK. The research being done in the laboratories, the engineering school, and the medical school by faculty and staff create inventions that can be commercialized into a product that can go out to the market. A business can be built on top of that product and SPARK is there to help.

Many municipalities require proof of a pre-qualification approval for a license from the Cannabis Regulatory Agency, and this process can take up to 60 days or more. With a prequalification status and a municipal approval, operators will be eligible for a final state operating license once the facility is built out.

Insurance, we work with you to develop the right program for your risks, budget, and goals. How much can you afford to lose? BUSINESS PERSONALEMPLOYEERISKINSURANCESOLUTIONSBENEFITSINSURANCEWORKSITEWELL-BEINGGLOBALSOLUTIONS 888.263.4656 | INFO@KAPNICK.COM | KAPNICK.COM

cost,

lose?

insurance

At Kapnick

Everyone always asks how much their is going to but that’s the wrong question. The real question is, how much can you afford to

FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN Workers from LaBar Golf work to transform the three nine-hole golf courses at St. John’s Resort into an 18-hole championship course named The Cardinal.

09 10.22

THE TICKER

36 p. 36 p. 38 p. 40 Divine SmallPowerCallingUpPotatoes Nose Job PDA Q&A Paint Job Go to the Replay ANTAYANIC SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 35

Metro Detroit native Ray Hearn is transforming a former seminary golf course into a championship resort track.

The seminary closed in 1988 and the site became a resource for diocesan youth and families. Nine more holes were added during the property’s redevelop ment in the 1990s. The new course is expected to be ready to play by August or September 2023.

Pulte Family Management SJ acquired The Inn at St. John’s from the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit in August 2021. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Enter Hearn, who got into the golf course design business by bothering the leg endary course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. as a high schooler until the latter gave him an eight-year path of education and apprenticeship to help him achieve his Raymonddream.

CallingDivine

“This place really screams for a championship 18 (holes),” Hearn says of the St. John’s property. “With a five-tee system, it can be something for everyone to play. The original three nines were really short nines. Now, St. John’s can aspire to some nice state and regional tournaments, or a national amateur.”

St. John’s golf course began with nine holes designed by the late Edward Cardinal Mooney in the property’s earliest years, and grew to 18 when the course opened to the public in 1979.

Rocket Cos. Debuts Fintech Platform Rocket Money Truebill, a personal finance app and part of Detroit’s Rocket Cos. family of companies, has officially changed its name to Rocket Money to bring it closer to the other businesses on the platform.

On Park Near Train Station

The City of Detroit has started a $6 splitswillAvenueCentralParktransformationmillionofRooseveltinfrontofMichiganStationatMichiganand14thStreetthatremovetheroadwaythatthepark.

Stellantis’ Free2move Division Expands with Acquisition Free2move, the mobility division of Auburn Hills’ Stellantis, has acquired Berlin-based Share Now, a European free-floating carsharing pioneer. The move supports Free2move’s global growth plan.

Ray Hearn always wanted to be a golf course architect. Now he’s working on making the course at the former St. John’s Provincial Seminary into a destination course.

6,200-square-foot outdoor garden pavilion. In addition, there’s a 10- to 15-acre sec tion in a corner of the property that’s designated for a future housing development.

Stefanini Group Launches Employee Work Portal

Detroit Officials Break Ground

LIVING THE DREAM

DBUSINESSDIRECT

JOHN’SST.ATINNCOURTESY

Hearn Golf Course Designs, now based in Holland, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2021 and has completed projects in several states and many coun tries around the world.

W hen Ray Hearn was in high school in the 1970s, he told a classmate that he wanted to be a golf course architect. Decades later, he’s one of the nation’s most sought-after links designers, and today he’s working on transforming the 27 holes at the former St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township — recently renamed St. John’s Resort — into an 18-hole championship course.

The Ticker 36 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

Stefanini Group in Southfield has launched Chameleon, a custom-configured portal with a centralized interface containing all things pertaining to an employee’s work life. The new offering allows for improved internal technology services.

Mick Fleetwood, Birmingham Investors Start Coffee Firm

Mick Fleetwood, co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, along with Gerard Marti, owner of the Robert Kidd Gallery in downtown Birmingham, and three other local investors, have launched Mick Fleetwood Coffee Co.

BY TIM KEENAN | NIC ANTAYA

Located near the southeast corner of Five Mile and Sheldon roads, St. John’s Resort was established in 1948 as a Roman Catholic seminary to provide gradu ate-level theological education and spiritual formation for diocesan priesthood candidates from the dioceses of Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Gaylord, Kalamazoo, and Marquette.

Hearn’s handiwork, which will include a seven-hole par-3 course and a putting course, will add to the ren ovations being done to St. John’s brick and mortar structures. That project includes a one-of-a-kind 15,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor ballroom space for up to 2,000 people, as well as the development of a

POWER UP

— By R.J. King

The potato seeds are created using a technique called isolated tissue culture. Sklarczyk’s wife, Alison, and her five-person team cut plants into sections at the growing point, just below the leaves, and put the sections into a growing medium that looks like clear gelatin. In four weeks, an iden tical plant is produced.

THE RACE TO INTRODUCE electric vehicles on a massive scale due to government regulations has caused shortages, given long production times for batteries. But Intecells, a company in Troy, hopes to speed up the process by reinventing lithium-ion manufacturing.battery“Thebiggestfactor in introducing vehicles, consumer electronics, power tools, and wearables that run on batteries is the weight, high costs, and rigidity,” says Xiaohong “Shawn” Gayden, co-founder and CEO of Intecells, who spent 24 years at General Motors Co. in Detroit.

The createprintingcold-plasma-basedcompany’sprocesscanbatterieswith 3-D topologies that offer flexible battery cell shapes and doubles“Ourconfigurations.technologytheenergy and power density of battery cells, offers a tenfold increase in electrode coating adhesion, and reduces manufacturing costs by 93 percent,” says Gayden, who leads eight employees. “Overall, we can reduce battery costs by 40 percent.”

“It’s just water, and the plants sit on a tray that has a 5 percent slope to it,” explains Ben Sklarczyk, the third generation of his family to run the farm. “There’s a capillary mat, like a thin blanket the plants sit on, that helps spread the water across the tray. This allows them to have both wet and dry periods. Otherwise, the potato would stay submerged in water and would break down and not be usable.”

“It keeps the plants clean and healthy,” Sklarczyk says. “Everything we produce and grow is free from all potato pathogens. The industry has very strict standards for clean seeds.”

Growing quality seed potatoes has been a long-standing tradition at Sklarczyk Seed Farm.

“For every 25 potatoes that leave our operation, four years down the road, 50,000 pounds — or a semi-trailer full — of raw product ends up

In turn, the company states its manufacturing process doesn’t use toxic solvents and can lower carbon emissions by 50 percent. “We plan to roll out our technology in 2023,” Gayden says. “There’s no textbook for what we’re doing. We’re writing the textbook.”

Amazon has started using custom electric delivery vehicles made by Rivian to deliver packages, with the electric vehicles hitting the road in Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Kansas City, and Seattle, among other cities.

at Better Made to be made into chips,” Sklarczyk says. “It starts with good, clean material that we supply our customers with and that, in turn, helps drive the yield and quality for the customers for years to come.”

With EV Live Experience General Motors Co. has launched EV Live, an immersive, virtual, and free service that allows participants to interact one-on-one with EV specialists and learn about electric vehicles.

The farm was founded in 1942 and sold its full-grown product at Eastern Market in Detroit. Over the years it transitioned to selling potato seeds and now sells 6.5 million seeds per year, 40 percent of which are exported to Canada, the Middle East, South America, Chile, and Asia.

The Cadillac brand of General Motors Co. unveiled the Celestiq show car, a concept that previews that brand’s future handcrafted and all-electric flagship sedan. It will serve as a touchstone for future design and engineering teams.

One might visualize potato farming as a dirty job worthy of a Mike Rowe TV episode. But the Sklarczyk Seed Farm grows its seeds using hydropon ics, which is a method of growing plants sans soil.

Sklarczyk Seed Farm customers then plant the seeds (as many as 20,000 per acre at 50 cents per seed) and begin a four-year process to produce potatoes, potato chips, and French fries. Potato farmers plant, harvest, and store, replant, harvest, and store their crops four times before they’re large enough to sell.

For full stories and more, visit dbusiness.com/daily-news to get daily news sent directly to your email.

Amazon’s Rivian EV Delivery Vehicles Hit the Road

BY TIM KEENAN

The Ticker SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 37 FARMSEEDSKLARCZYKOFCOURTESY

Lansing’s Neogen Begins Work on $70M Expansion Neogen Corp., a developer of food and animal safety solutions, has started a $70 million, productwillfacilityexpansion175,000-square-footofitsfoodsafetyinLansing.Theprojectincludenewequipmentfortesting.

Ford Adds Capacity, Material Sourcing to Boost EV Sales Ford Motor Co. announced a series of initiatives for sourcing battery capacity and raw materials that will move the automaker closer to its targeted annual run rate of 600,000 electric vehicles by late 2023.

PotatoesSmall

HIGH-TECH YIELD Ben and Alison Sklarczyk (below) use advanced growing techniques to maintain and enhance their 80-year-old business.

GM Ramps Up EV Education

Cadillac Evolves its Design With Reveal of Celestiq

ne might think that growing seeds for tubers amounts to small potatoes, but that’s the farthest thing from the case at Sklarczyk Seed Farm in Johannesburg, east of Gaylord.Theoperation brings in between $2.5 million and $5 million annually selling grape-sized seed stock for more than 125 different varieties of pota toes to customers all over the world.

Nose Job

Designed for cleanliness, the villages are built with epoxy flooring and burnished block walls that enable easy cleaning. Ventilation systems cycle the air eight times per hour. “Of all the different instru ments and ways of testing for explosives — some cost thousands and thousands of dollars — dogs do it better,” Hetu says.

ccording to Greg Guidice, president and CEO of Elite Detection K9 in Roch ester Hills, humans can easily smell a teaspoon of sugar in a regular sized cup of coffee.Scent-detection canines, on the other hand, can smell that same teaspoon of sugar in the amount of coffee that it would take to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools (1.3 million gallons).

trademark front, the Trademark Modernization Act, or TMA, is being discussed. One of the nice things is the introduction of a couple of mechanisms to challenge trademarks for non-use. With the new rules, you can challenge a trademark for non-use so that someone else can potentially use it. — R.J. King

The company has contracts with Johns Hopkins University and the U.S. Depart ment of the Airforce to breed dogs for the TSA and U.S. Department of

BY JAKE BEKEMEYER

Founded in September 2018, the offshoot of Leader Dogs for the Blind formed after Guidice and his research task force realized there was a shortage of 6,000 explosive dogs in the U.S. that year. He saw an even more specific shortage that his new business, EDK9, could fill.

DOG AFTERNOONDAY

DAVID LAPRARIEM.

DL: On Mackinac Island at the Grand Hotel. I’m attending the IP ICLE conference (Intellectual Property for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education).

DB: HOW’S IT GOING?

DB: WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

Leader Dogs facility. In November, it will open a 23,000-square-foot facility in Auburn Hills complete with villages — a large space where a group of dogs lives — for adult dogs, puppies, birthing dogs, and female and male breeding dogs, as well as a general vet erinary clinic, and a surgery suite.

their continuing education rules. It’s nice to interact in a different setting.

DL: Coming on the horizon is the PTAB, or Patent Trial and Appeal Board, where there’s some proposed legislative reform. It entails minor changes to the rules associated with the PTAB to improve things. On the

“They wanted to go to a gentler-looking dog, like a Lab, rather than a pointy-eared dog,” Guidice says. “When they’re in an airport, they want the dog to get close to people. Most people aren’t afraid of a Lab, but they are afraid of a shepherd. The same is true in highRicschools.”Hetu,master trainer at EDK9, takes the dogs through training that ends with them becoming certi fied to detect 25 to 30 odors at 12 months old. The dogs can then patrol events like music festivals for explosives and firearms. Clients can also request a handler/dog team, both trained by EDK9, to provide security at public events.

A shortage of dogs that can detect explosives creates a new specialty for Leader Dogs in Rochester Hills.

Partner Howard & Howard, Royal Oak

EDK9OFCOURTESY The Ticker 38 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

Defense, respectively. Avondale High School in Auburn Hills also has implemented a team for secu rity, and has offered its facilities for after-hours training

trademark law, and the third is copyright law. I specialize in patent and trademark law, and more so patent. Today and yesterday, we were going through the latest issues, things to keep our eyes on, trends in the law, and changes in the administra tive rules that we follow.

PDA Q&A: THE E-INTERVIEW

Jamespurposes.Schwarz, superintendent of the Avondale School District, says in today’s world, there’s no such thing as taking too many precautions. “The student response has been really good. Almost seamless. We’re totally transparent with the kids. They know the dog, they know why the dog is there, they know it’s a muni tions dog,” Schwarz says. “We weren’t going to try to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes.”

DB: WHERE ARE YOU?

DL: There are three different facets of the law; the most prominent is patent law, followed by

DL: There’s social and networking activity going on. The attendees are on the porch of the Grand Hotel every evening, and it’s a relaxed atmosphere with our clients who are here, as well as lawyers from competing law firms and lawyers from other states who may need to attend the event to fulfill

Since its inception, EDK9 has been nestled into the

All Elite Detection K9 dogs undergo similar training, but the amount of training required varies foranimal.each

DB: ANYTHING ELSE?

CREATING THE LEADERS AND BEST IN BUSINESS

1 (800) WWW.GLOBEMW-AI.COM445-1554 YOU ARE ENTITLED TO MORE!

It’s

SEE ANGELO’S STORY AND LEARN MORE

Students in University of Michigan-Dearborn’s College of Business have the edge to compete. Our finance lab allows students to earn their Bloomberg certification and manage an investment fund with real money. experience that students like Angelo Policicchio have taken all the way to Wall Street.

ith an estimated 85 million gallons of paint going to waste each year in the United States, Dustin Mar tin, founder and CEO of Up Paint in Clarkston, saw an opportunity after being intro duced to an upcycling company at a trade show.

YouTube page.

BY JAKE BEKEMEYER | ROY RITCHIE

To expand its reach, the company is branching out this fall into the painting accessories market with its proprietary EverGood product line, which utilizes a composite of bamboo fiber and resin that Martin says offers a 60 percent carbon dioxide emissions reduc tion compared to traditional plastic. The Up Tools product line will consist of brush handles, roller han dles, paint trays, stir sticks, and more.

Collection, of course, isn’t free. Through a program called PaintCare — currently operating in 10 states

Today, The PreP Sports has grown to employ 50 people, workteam-orientedwhofortunatesays.southeasthome-growneachuplacrossebaseballairedfar,producers,photographers,includingdirectors,andmore.So140-plusgameshave—rangingfromtobasketball,andtosoccer—withto6,000viewersforgame.“AllofourtalentisfromMichigan,”Bush“We’vebeentohavepeoplearetalentedandwhowanttowithus.”

Founded by Kevin Callahan in 2010, Denver’s GreenSheen reconstitutes paint that would otherwise end up in a landfill and transforms it into a product that’s ready for retail. Before Martin decided to part ner with GreenSheen, he wanted to make sure the product was as good as new.

— By Tim Keenan

MANY BUSINESSES struggled and even failed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chad Bush bucked convention and launched The PreP Sports video production company in Royal Oak, even as many public activities were cancelled.Bush,a Huntington Woods native, was laid off from his sports announcing job at Eastern Michigan University during the pandemic. He launched The PreP Sports when COVID-19 mitigation measures attendancelimitedathigh school sporting onon-demandbroadcastsranks.schoolclientscompanyyearhasSinceevents.then,revenuegrown450percentoveryear,andthenowhas30fromboththehighandprofessionalThecompanybothliveandcompetitionsits

That markup goes toward paying for the recy cling process, which is charge-free upon returning excess paint. In states that don’t participate, like Ari zona, there’s a small fee for recycling the paint when it’s

GO TO REPLAYTHE

Today, Up Paint offers 18 colors, ranging from Taupe and Perfect Gray to Harbor Blue and Purple Haze, along with custom colors for large jobs.

Up Paint in Clarkston and GreenSheen in Denver plan to expand the pilot program they established with Ace Hardware to eventually offer collection at the chain’s nearly 5,000 locations in the U.S.

Paint Job

A Clarkston company’s partnership recycles paint so it doesn’t end up in landfills.

The Ticker 40 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

The process starts with collecting the paint. GreenSheen is conducting a pilot program to gather returned paint with Ace Hardware in Colorado, Phoe nix, Seattle, and Albany, N.Y., all near its own facilities. Additional paint comes from manufacturers that may have excess cans of a discontinued line or bad tints that weren’t retail quality.

PERFECT MATCH

Bush’s first broadcast, an Orchard Lake St. Mary’s high school basketball game, aired in February 2021 and was shot with a bare-bones crew.

Oncereturned.ithas been collected, the paint is brought to a GreenSheen facility where each can is opened, inspected, and dumped into a 250-gallon, col or-coded tote before the mixture is tested, filtered, reconstituted, and prepared for retail.

“The biggest hurdle for us, as a new category in the paint industry, is conveying the quality of the product,” Martin says. “I think the general concep tion on recycled anything is that you’re giving up some type of quality. The reality is that when you combine high-quality paints together, you get high-quality paint.”

“It measures on par with what would retail at a store for around $60 per gallon,” Martin says. “We’re able to retail at $35 for the same quality paint because of the collection subsidies involved with the process.”

including Colorado and New York — all new cans of paint across brands receive a small markup from retailers at checkout.

Fueling the Tech-Enabled Broker

Fifteen of the nation’s top super-regional brokerage firms and 14 premiere insurance carriers and wholesalers are collaborating with BTV’s cohort of technology innovators from across the globe. Working in collaboration with the sheer drive to elevate the industry to help our clients identify risks sooner and drive down costs, faster. Learn how the industry’s first broker-led convening platform is lighting the way to maximize technology solutions and amplify innovation within the insurance industry as we know it: BrokerTechVentures.com

FORTINBERRYLANECOURTESY Focus 42 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022

SHARP-DRESSED MAN

In life, Glen Fortinberry’s face was indelible, with a broad forehead under a swirl of reddish hair, a fine nose between penetrating eyes, and a determined mouth. Fortinberry had been chairman and CEO of Ross Roy Communications until his death four days earlier, after a year-long scrap with leukemia. Obituaries appeared in newspapers ranging from The New York Times to the Lawrence County Press in Monticello, Miss. — Fortinberry’s hometown and final resting place.

“I can see him now at my front door — just standing there, tall and handsome, and always — and I mean always — in a tailored, tan gabardine suit,” Iacocca said. (Fortinberry was 6 feet 4 inches.) “In fact, we called him The Suit.”

Glenn Fortinberry, a legendary advertising executive who led Ross Roy Communications in Bloomfield Hills in the 1980s, was always impeccably dressed, earning him the nickname, The Suit.

BY RONALD AHRENS

Even as one of Lido’s best friends, Fortinberry would exhibit a little self-con sciousness before saying, “Here, Iacocca, I brought you some flowers.” Or it would be a bottle of Champagne. “He was there when I got fired from the only job I ever had in my life and my world was falling apart,” Iacocca said, remembering his dis missal from Ford Motor Co. after differences with Henry Ford II. “He was there holding my hand when my wife, Mary, died.”

A star during Detroit’s golden age of advertising, Ross Roy introduced scientific methods to marketing in 1926, and his agency became a full-service ad shop. Glen Fortinberry led Ross Roy Communications into integrated services in the 1980s. Then, corporate legerdemain made it all go poof.

ee Iacocca stood before mourners at Kirk in the Hills in Bloomfield Town ship on Aug. 21, 1993, and recognized plenty of familiar faces. Composing himself against tears, he invoked the memory of a man they all loved.

MaD MEn

Fortinberry came from the account side of the ad business; he called himself a “huckster.” Instead of building a reputation as the originator of a great slogan or campaign, his accomplishments had more to do with growing the agencies. As vice chairman of J. Walter Thompson, Ford’s agency at the time, he orches trated the move of 250 employees from offices in the Buhl Building to new

At the time of his death, Roy had been chairman of Ross Roy Communications, as it became known. Leaving his position as vice chairman of J. Walter Thompson, Glen Fortinberry took over in 1980 as

ARRIVE IN STYLE Detroit was a leading advertising town until 2000, propelled by the automotive industry. Some ad leaders like Ross Roy were picked up every weekday morning by a chauffeur, and for Roy, the car was a 1960 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron Southampton (above).

In the early 1980s, The Suit encouraged the Chrysler Corp. chairman to step into the role of auto industry spokesman. “I also encouraged you to speak out on national issues as well as industry issues,” he wrote in a letter to Iacocca on Sept. 15, 1986. “You’ve done that in spades and it’s obviously just one of the reasons you’re now perceived as a national figure.”

Two incidents from Loeffler’s experience reveal the agency’s family feel. One day he loaned his car to an associate to run a business errand. When an accident occurred, the company stepped in with an offer to pay for repairs. On the other occasion, during divorce pro ceedings, he found himself penniless, wiped out by his soon-to-be ex-wife, and thinking, “Holy crap, I don’t know what I’m going to do.” He went up the ladder to President John Pingel, and the head of finance, and was able to work out a substantial cash advance that was repaid through weekly allocations from his pay checks. “It was a huge relief. I finally got things straightened out.”

Fortinberry rose to the top in an era when an agency chief stood shoul der-to-shoulder with titans of industry. He shared a locker at Bloomfield Hills Coun try Club in Bloomfield Hills with another Chrysler exec, Bennet Bidwell, and he called Bidwell and Iacocca “Frick and Frack” after the Swiss comedy duo from the Ice

Roy’s formula worked in Janesville, Wis., where he succeeded in selling Dodge Brothers products. He came to Detroit, established his agency in 1926, and two years later, as Chrysler acquired Dodge Brothers in a $170-million deal, the fea ture-by-feature methods of comparing products spread to that brand, and subse quently to the new Plymouth and DeSoto divisions.

“So, I grew up in the home of one of Detroit’s most prominent Mad Men,” Ross Roy’s youngest son, Rex Roy, wrote in a LinkedIn post. The 1984 graduate of the University of Michigan attested, “I’m old enough to remember the cocktail parties, the glamour, him get ting picked up every morning in a limousine.”

Ron Loeffler, who studied at the College for Cre ative Studies, hired on as a Ross Roy art director in the mid-1960s and stayed 30 years. He found the company divided into two departments: “regular” advertising and the Chrysler group. “Ross Roy was very passionate about Chrysler,” the retired Loeffler says. “I didn’t do much for Chrysler. We had 20 or 30 different accounts.” He spent about 12 years of high involve ment on La-Z-Boy and remembers trips to the com pany in Monroe and to factories in North Carolina.

When he did his own driving, it was in the flashiest Chrysler. He ordered one or two new ones per year, selecting the biggest engine and always specifying his convertibles with air conditioning. When he died on Aug. 16, 1983, at the age of 85 after a short illness, his agency employed more than 500 people and exceeded $222 million in annual billings. At the visitation, he held in his casket a gold-plated Wilson T2000 tennis racket. A service was held at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church; his remains were cremated.

Ross Roy, who was 5 feet 6 inches tall, was known for walking the five floors of the headquarters building and chatting with employees, especially those who kept hard candy on their desks. Besides continuing to grow his company by acquiring other agencies, Roy served as president of the Mental Health Association and the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce (today the Detroit Regional Chamber), and as vice president of the United Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit.

BesidesFollies. the social prominence, Fortinberry and his family were in position to enjoy the spoils. Fortinberry’s son, Chuck, who was 29 years old in 1985, had the pre science to acquire a sleepy Chrysler-Plymouth-AMC-Jeep-Renault dealership in Clarkston. “It was in a sales locality that was 82 percent General Motors’ new-car registrations,” Chuck Fortinberry says. The next year, Chrysler broke ground for its new technical center 15 miles away, in Auburn Hills.

FORTINBERRYLANECOURTESY Focus September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 43

accommodations in Dearborn. Fortinberry led Ross Roy into providing inte grated marketing services, transforming it into a one-stop shop offering mer chandising, advertising, media buying, and even public relations services. But his biggest accomplishment may have been the push to get Iacocca into the national spotlight.

Satellite offices opened in Windsor as well as in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Among the new clients were American Steel Wool Manufacturing Co., Lake Central Airlines, and Eljer Industries Co., the maker of plumbing fixtures.

The chauffeured car was a 1960 Imperial LeBaron Southampton, in black, with stainless-steel roof inserts and custom blue wool upholstery. Rex Roy was commenting on the social channel about a photo of his father’s office. The large, paneled suite included a bathroom with a shower. Ross Roy would sometimes spend the night on the davenport, as he termed it, knowing that fresh linen and clean clothes were on hand. “If you look closely,” Rex explains, “you can see the staining on the pillow from the hair oil men used in the 1940s and ’50s.”

Ross Roy Inc. had started with a contrarian push against the trend of selling speed, freedom, sex, and prestige. Instead of poetic flair and hyperbole, Ross Roy relied on product knowledge. He may have been influenced by the precepts of Fred erick Winslow Taylor, the efficiency expert who published “The Principles of Scien tific Management” in 1911.

With so much to write about, Ross Roy Inc. set up at 2751 E. Jefferson (at Jos. Campau) in a building with an exterior distinguished by Corrado Parducci sculp tures. Besides sales training and merchandising materials such as catalogs and brochures, the agency produced educational and training films. In 1940, it became a full-service shop, picking up the Dodge Truck account for a campaign touting the Job-Rated theme. The tag line proclaimed, “Dodge job-rated trucks fit the job! Last longer!”

An Ad Age profile of Ross Roy Inc. counted a staff of 82 employees when the Jap anese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Chrysler became involved in produc ing for the World War II effort, which included operational, training, and service manuals. By the war’s end, the agency claimed 180 employees. By 1950, annual bill ings were $5.9 million but would more than triple in three years.

Ross Roy said phooey to all that and went with his product-knowledge method of a feature-by-feature comparison of automobiles. It was well-suited to Walter Chrysler’s emphasis on high-quality engineering.

A subsequent landmark ad was “Adhesive Type,” by David E. Davis Jr., who presided at Campbell-Ewald in Detroit in the early 1960s. Independent rear suspension was a notable feature of the new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, and Davis’ copy highlighted this advance with a tone of droll sophistication.

After 2000, print advertising began to receive less and less emphasis, and a great tradition gradually faded.

SOMEWHEREWESTOFLARAMIE

The best example of the second approach came from a writing session aboard a train crossing Wyoming.

Prior to the United States’ entry into World War I, he had started Jordan Motor Car Co. of Cleveland; by 1923, his hottest model was the Jordan Playboy. The roadster’s slinky shape warranted a promotional push. In “Somewhere West of Laramie,” Jordan defined the target customer. “The truth is — the Playboy was built for her. Built for the lass whose face is brown with the sun when the day is done of revel and romp and race.”

On Fortinberry’s first day, Bud Liebler was out bound after three years as senior vice president on the Chrysler account. “I had come from Ford,” recalls Lieb ler, who today is president of Liebler Group, a strategic communications firm he operates with his son, Pat rick, at another family enterprise, The Whitney restau rant in Detroit. “(At Ford) everything’s all buttoned up, every office looks like every other office, and all that stuff. Not Ross Roy. I mean, you’d hear screaming in the halls, every office was different, they were all per sonalized. It was a wonderful place to work.”

“He knew he wasn’t going to be chairman of J. Wal ter Thompson,” Chuck Fortinberry says. In accepting Ross Roy’s job offer, Glen said, “As long as I’m not answering to your kids. I’ve got to have autonomy.” Ross Roy responded, “It’s your baby. Here’s the keys. Have at it.”

BEFORE ROSS ROY SET UP SHOP IN DETROIT in 1926, two approaches were already established for car advertising. One was based on Theodoresnobbery.MacManus penned his classic, “The Penalty of Leadership,” in 1915. “In every field of human endeavor, he that is first must perpetually live in the white light of publicity,” the ad began. It warned the reader to be ready for envy and copycats. This ad ran once in The Saturday Evening Post, never even mentioning Cadillac Motor Car Co. — but everybody knew.

Entrepreneur Ned Jordan had just glimpsed a woman riding on horseback beyond the tracks and felt inspired.

“The New Dodge,” Dick Johnson’s BBDO campaign for the 1993 Dodge Intrepid, took a cerebral, postmodern approach, excluding the copy block and relying on the ad line. An example from late in the campaign was “Test Drive the Future.” Different, yes, but it clobbered the reader with the claim.

— Ronald Ahrens

LAST WORDS Excerpts from Lee Iacocca's eulogy, from "He Stood Much Taller Than Most," published by Ross Roy Inc.

Focus 44 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022

Liebler turned over his company car, a Chrysler Fifth Avenue, to Fortinberry and went on to run Chrys ler’s marketing and communications operations — by any measure, an incomparable 20 years of automotive showmanship. He also served as president of the Adcraft Club of Detroit, which boasted more than 4,000 members and was the oldest and largest chapter of that national organization.

By Liebler’s recollection, Fortinberry had mostly lost his Mississippi accent, but there was just enough of it for schmoozing. “He knew a lot of people, was friendly with a lot of people,” Liebler says. “He would stick his head in the door to say, ‘Hello, how are things going?’ He let his account managers run the accounts, and he ran the business — and he maintained the rela tionship with Lee.”

president and CEO. Before his employment at JWT, Fortinberry had already worked next door to Ross Roy Inc.; he was on the Heinz account for the agency founded by Lou Maxon, another Detroit ad daddy.

“All of this may have seemed pretentious coming from a company best known for churning out Chrysler brochures and Kmart commercials,” the Detroit Free Press jibed. The official cost was $8 million, although a com pany spokesman said that amount was “low.”

Two months after Fortinberry’s death, Copacia came over to Ross Roy as executive vice president. “Believe it or not, I was surprised about the shape of the company after I joined,” he says. “Really, it was a jewel, and regardless of the financial situation at the time, strategically, it meant an incredible amount to BBDO and Omnicom.” In 1995, the giant acquired the jewel in what Copacia saw as a good deal for stockholders.

One of the changes was Martin Levine’s move from vice president of the Chrysler-Plymouth-Jeep division to BBDO’s PentaMark subsidiary, created to coordinate media planning and buying. So-called “experiential” market ing would be an emphasis. According to Copacia, Levine “was the worst thing that could ever happen to the agency and certainly, in my opinion, was a key to what happened to me and InterOne.” Copacia was out by 2003; the agency was eventually dissolved. “Fast-forward a couple years after I left, all of it was gone and 2,200 people lost their jobs in Detroit.”

Glen Fortinberry said at the time, “Screw ’em, I’m moving to Bloomfield Hills.” Hobbs + Black, of Ann Arbor, designed the low-slung, granite-andglass, cubes-colliding-with-cubes building on a wooded parcel at Wood ward Avenue and W. Long Lake Road.

With 500 employees overflowing from the Detroit headquarters, Ross Roy Group was the second largest agency in Michigan, behind Campbell-Ewald, famed for its Chevrolet business. Renting office space here and there in the neighborhood resulted in “the Ross Roy Monopoly board,” as people joked.

ON THE MOVE

FORTINBERRYLANECOURTESY

In a bid to consolidate everyone on a campus, Fortinberry looked at six acres along the Detroit River that were owned by the city, but according to son Chuck, Mayor Coleman Young said, “No, we don’t want your office building. We’re going to build hotels andBetaWestcasinos.” Inc. in Denver got the option to develop the site, but nothing ever materialized and the land was eventually sold to General Motors Co. as part of its acquisition of the neighboring Renaissance Cen ter in 1996. Part of the property was used for the Detroit RiverWalk, operated by the Detroit River front Conservancy.

Unable to make a deal for newoffice space near the eastDetroit riverfront, Fortinberrymoved Ross Roy Communications to a new building nearWoodward Avenue and W.Long Lake Road in BloomfieldHills in August 1987.

Back at Ross Roy’s old Jefferson Avenue building, Parducci’s “Town Crier” sculpture had plenty of reasons to bawl.

Seeing changes in the industry, Copacia, today an executive vice president at J.D. Power in Troy, sold Omnicom’s leader, John Wren, on the idea of chang ing the agency’s name from Ross Roy to InterOne Marketing Group. It was presented as “a new name for a new millennium.” After unveiling the change of corporate identity in 2000, the next step was for InterOne to move from the Bloomfield Hills building to shared space with BBDO in Troy. At the same time, Bud Liebler was about to leave DaimlerChrysler amid a corporate-wide cost-cutting effort. “We consolidated all our advertising with BBDO — or Omnicom, whatever the hell it was called by that time,” Liebler recalls.

It’s a bitter tale of the emphasis on bottom-line results and of moving tar gets amid continuous reorganization. “You have a lot of individual special ists working together under this cohesive brand or brands, and supporting Chrysler business and all their brands,” Copacia says.

Focus September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 45

“We feel we can use his (Fortinberry’s) personal talent in helping us grow,” Calet’s co-chairman and CEO, Larry Spector, told The New York Times. “We need someone who talks the language of these guys.”

Before his death, Fortinberry had been negotiating with Omnicom Group about the sale of Ross Roy. Omnicom, a huge holding company in New York, had formed in 1986 with the merger of BBDO Worldwide and two other large agencies.

In the end, the accumulated value of their effort was stripped away, and those specialists were scattered to the wind. Lee Iacocca was ironi cally prophetic in his memorial of Fortinberry when he said, “A man doesn’t live for 65 years, and touch so many people, and then a curtain comes down, and that’s the end of it. It doesn’t work that way. There’s too much left. Too much of the business he built. Too many of the friends he made. Too much of what he was.”

In Detroit, BBDO was executing the brilliant campaign “The New Dodge.” Tim Copacia, BBDO’s former head of account services, says, “I worked very closely with Dick Johnson and the entire creative team to bring that new, revitalized Dodge brand to market in 1993 with the launch of the Intrepid. Because that vehicle was so unique (cab-forward design), we took a completely different approach, which was to focus on the indi vidual details.” Or not so different: It was Ross Roy’s product-knowledge tactic with red cars, white backgrounds, serif type, and the commanding actor, Edward Herrmann, as spokesman. “Dick did a masterful job,” Copacia says.

Meantime, especially after the “information superhighway” of the inter net opened up in 1996, he led the company on a mission to become “a digital force in America.” Adding a new, almost incomprehensible wrinkle two years later, Daimler-Benz acquired Chrysler Corp. in a move billed as “a merger of equals.”

Running the business entailed the hot pursuit of new properties and the formation of Ross Roy Group. Ross Roy had sold his stock back to the company, leav ing Fortinberry with a free hand. Until now, one of the biggest acquisitions had been in 1960, when Ross Roy merged with the Detroit agency Brooke, Smith, French & Dorrance. Pingel came along with the deal and took over as president in 1964. More acquisitions followed in the 1970s, and Ross Roy Inc. grew to be the 19th-largest agency in the Fortinberry’scountry.push for integrated services led to a 1987 headline in The Detroit News proclaiming, “Ross Roy, Franco tie the knot.” The stake in Anthony M. Franco Inc. — to be completed in 1990 with full own ership — gave Fortinberry the public relations com ponent that he sought. Meanwhile, in late 1985 and early 1986, Fortinberry landed Griswold-Eshleman Co. of Cleveland, the largest agency in Ohio, and staked a claim in New York by grabbing Calet, Hirsch & Spector, whose client roster included Alitalia, Clairol, and Toshiba.

2022 topics presented have included: Top Corporate Culture Awards, Commercial Real Estate Forecast, 30 in Their Thirties Award Show and Powered by Women.

Sponsored By

Breakfast Series

DBusiness Breakfast Series are bi-monthly panels and awards shows bringing you compelling business content and exceptional networking opportunities within metro Detroit with the intent to educate and inspire attendees. Guests enjoy strolling breakfast, comments from the groups and individuals being featured, and an exceptional opportunity to network with metro Detroit’s top business leaders.

UPCOMING EVENTS For more information and tickets to upcoming events: October: The Business of Cannabis December: 2023 Michigan Economic Forecast

INNOVATION BEGIN WITH Shifting perspective often unearths hidden potential. In our ever-changing world, Fishbeck helps you find your inspiration. fishbeck.com | info@fishbeck.com

he sound system was acting up, but Nathaniel Rose had a strategy for waiting until Soul Patch, the Traverse City roots-rock band, opened Northport’s 2022 Music in the Park series. In observance of his own 37th birthday, as well as the birthday of an associate and pal, Rose had carried along a 2010 AlthoughMerlot.thisbottling was one of the first under the Nathaniel Rose Wine label and had been sold out for years, he scrounged up a couple of leftovers from his “Ilibrary.wassurprised at how young it showed,” Rose says. “I haven’t had that in for ever.” When Soul Patch started their show, the audio mix remained on the murky side, but he was properly fortified and danced in front of the speakers. “It sounded great.”

BY RONALD AHRENS

Amassing a suite of winery equipment allowed Rose to become a winemaker and produce vintages at four startups. He always took a canny approach to his own ambitions: “I’ll come in with my own equipment. I’ll get you set up. I’ll make your wine — but I’m making my wine here, too.” Without his own tasting room, he kept aging and racking his wines, in the belief that Michigan products cannot be forced to market.

Showing heart, soul, and individualistic flair, the Michigan wine industry has become far more than a curiosity. There’s potential for even more growth, but challenges center on the development of talent and, in the northwest, finding places to live.

Red, White, and Ros

BEFORE ITS TIME Chateau Chantal opened in 1993 on the Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City. The region's microclimate near the 45th parallel is ideal for growing white grapes.

CHANTALCHATEAUCOURTESY Perspectives 48 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022

Rose got his start in the wine industry in 2005 with $150 in the bank and “a decent pile of student debt.” He has since been playing the part of enfant terrible within the Michigan wine industry. The Leland native tailored his own degree pro gram in Western Michigan University’s formidable biochemistry department and has worn pretty much every hat in the wine industry, from fieldhand to entrepre neur. “The only one I’m terrible at is accounting,” he notes.

CORKTOWN NORTH

Housing isn’t the only challenge in the Michigan wine industry’s race ahead. Finding well-qualified employees and supporting their careers is another. There’s also the issue of fitting into the neighborhood. The road traffic and social activity that wineries bring to constrained areas like the Old Mission Peninsula have led to localTworestrictions.yearsago, Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula filed a federal lawsuit against Grand Traverse County’s Peninsula Township over limits on the hours of service and types of events hosted at the 11 Old Mission wineries. In June, a district court judge decreed many of the limitations unenforceable. Immediate effects of the rul ing (beyond the resignations of the township’s attorney and supervisor) will find more wineries going ahead with plans to host “yoga in the vines” and to expand food menus in tasting rooms.

in 2017: “Leelanau winemaker grabs eight awards in California.” His double-gold Syrah-Shiraz was fetching $85 per bottle. Yet Rose faces the same problem that affects so many in northwestern Michigan: housing. He lives out the growing sea son in a travel trailer amid his vineyard. After harvest, a six-month rental is easy to snag as rates fall off.

FARMSSTARBLACKCOURTESY Perspectives September - OctOber 2022

The Traverse Wine Coast has two branches, one on the Leelanau Peninsula, the other on the Old Mission Peninsula. Events at the wineries range from music per formances to wine dinners. On Sundays through September, Bonobo Winery hosts “Bonobo on the Bay — A Wind Dancer Experience,” with two three-hour sails departing from Traverse City each afternoon.

For those who want to join the show, Black Star Farms, a 160-acre fami ly-owned estate near Suttons Bay, presents open-mic nights. As a special Leela nau Peninsula feature on October weekdays — and quite a good bargain at $10 per person — The Hunt for the Reds of October delivers a complimentary pour

If Rose seems to boast, consider his next delicious claim: “I have never crushed a grape not grown in the MittenEvenState.”before he made the deal of the decade, the Traverse City Record-Eagle had noted his achievements

“This was no mistake, which vineyard I selected. My goal is, and continues to be, to try to map out what are Michigan’s grand cru sites for particular styles. It was very clear that this was one of the best, if not the best, site for Bordeaux-style reds.” It didn’t “hurt in that it already had vines well over 30 years in age.”

An interesting coincidence to mark is that both Suttons Bay and France’s glorious Bordeaux region sit along the 45th parallel of latitude, halfway between the equator and the North Pole.

Figures from a 2017 wine-industry study by John Dunham & Associates showed a statewide economic impact of $5.4 billion coming from 195 wineries, more than $426 million paid in state and local taxes, and $323 million in federal taxes. With 3,050 acres devoted to wine grapes — Riesling being the most prevalent — the industry fostered 28,000 jobs and $773 million in wages. The 1.6 million winery visits per year resulted in tourist spending of $252 million.

All indicators point to continued growth well beyond the vision of industry pio neers of the 1980s such as Chateau Chantal, a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit. For one thing, as Rose suggests, “We’re probably utilizing, honestly, less than 1 percent of plant-able land.” For another thing, the huge wine industry of California has matured and finds itself facing astronomical land costs, irrigation issues, and weather and wildfire events. For Michigan, the buffering effect of Lake Michigan and the sandy, loamy clay soil offer a winning combination — especially consider ing the enhancement of beautiful scenery.

After hiring out for 13 years, Rose acquired an established vineyard and winery in 2018. Under the terms of the sale, he purchased 27 acres of land nestled against the north shoreline of Suttons Bay. He’s eyeing another 24 acres of land to acquire, as well. The first deal included an 1,800-square-foot production space and tasting room. With “quite the inventory” — and a land contract — he could fund further proceeds from out-of-the-box sales.

Set on the Leelanau Peninsula in Suttons Bay, Black Star Farms was founded in 1998 and today offers a winery, a luxury inn, event space, a distill ery, an equestrian facility, and hiking trails.

JENNIFER LAKE, founder and creative director of Brand Tonic, a Traverse City design studio, represents clients from the wine, tourism, food and beverage, and nonprofit sectors. She shares her insights about the evolution of the wine industry in northern Michigan in recent years, and what winemakers need to do to stay ahead.

SPILLING OVER

From the mid-1970s, northwest Michigan has dominated winemaking in the state. But now the industry is expanding and includes Cody Kresta, a family winery crafted from a vintage 1882 homestead in Mattawan, west of Kalamazoo.

VINEYARDKRESTACODYCOURTESYTONICBRANDCOURTESY

— Ronald Ahrens

A Marketing Splash

at each of more than 20 participating wineries. Cabernet Francs, Merlots, and Pinot Noirs head the tasting menus.

DB: For Circa Estate Winery of Lake Leelanau, you created flavor buttons?

more systematic. So, we went through their 30-some labels. When they’re all on the shelf together, you know the winery they’re coming from.

JL: We’ve been working with them for the past year and a half to change over their labels, and they’re just in production now. We went through this branding process with them to help understand who they are, what makes them different — and that experience for the customer who arrives at their place and tastes their wines. They wanted something a little

JL: For the collateral materials we did, one thing I loved was these little buttons at the winery. You could pick your flavor relative to a wine note: “I’m spicy” or “I’m buttery.” I would see (people) all over Traverse City wearing these buttons. That part of the whole packaging piece was fun. They allowed us to try some different things.

The wine industry isn’t confined to the northwest. The Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail is a collaboration of 15 wineries located in southwest Michigan, the region with 90 percent of Michigan’s vineyards. A small, family-owned stop on this wine trail is Cody Kresta Vineyard & Winery, near Mattawan, specialists in handcrafted wines such as a Cabernet Franc ($40) from the outstanding 2018 vintage.

DB: What changes have you seen over the past 15 years in the wine industry?

JL: We wanted to have these angles, and this way it came together, in this artistic form. It’s almost scientific. The shimmery fish you see, the paper’s not straight. Paper and the techniques you can use with printers for labels really enhance and bring things out.

DB: How do you address the needs of Chateau Chantal?

Perspectives 50 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022

DB: Off the wine trail, you did some buzzy stuff for Iron Fish Distillery of Thompsonville.

At the other end of the scale, St. Julian Winery, of Paw Paw, is the oldest and larg est winery in the state. Having celebrated its centennial last year, St. Julian has expanded storage capacity to a total of 1.4 million gallons. The portfolio encom passes 150 products, including not only a vast array of wines but also spirits such as brandy. Nancie Oxley, vice president of winemaking, now in her 21st year at St. Julian, was Michigan’s first female winemaker. Her Sweet Nancie sparkling wine ($12.99) took a double-gold award in the 2019 Indy International Wine Competition at Purdue University, and has claimed other awards.

JL: I’ve been following how the wines are improving, and I believe these vineyards are having to get more savvy in their labeling and packaging. The labels on the shelf, they need to pop out now. A lot of people are drawn just to labels. What I like to do is tell people, if you’re going to work with us, we’re making sure those things align with your brand’s message and we pull that label into a cohesive story.

It takes the support of educational institutions to supply talent to the wine industry, but Michigan State University dropped its viticulture and enology pro gram when Sam Simpson was a student there. “I was forced to get a finance degree,” Simpson says. Today, he perpetuates his family’s legacy at Good Harbor Vineyards, co-managed with his sister, Taylor, on the Leelanau Peninsula. Speaking of current trends and innovations leads Simpson to mention his company’s mobile bottling service, which helps smaller wineries achieve scale. Another trend is the drastic improvement in vineyard equipment. “For a long time, that equipment was pretty rudimentary,” he says. “They’ve really honed it.”

The third trend is the filling of the talent pipeline, and it shows in the quality of the wines. “Just being able to create careers for wine-focused professionals is one of the larger value propositions for our industry,” Simpson says. “And it’s really import ant that we’re able to recruit talent and hold onto it in the area.”

PALATE-PLEASER

Thinking Michigan’s production would be mostly fruit wines, Moyer demanded a recruitment carton of samples. The unexpected showcase included a Syrah, lead ing him to say, “Wow, if they can grow and ripen Syrah in southwest Michigan, they can do anything.”

September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 51

The soup-to-nuts education at LMC has led to immediate successes. The roster of graduates includes a lot of high-aspiring types. Moyer runs through the list: the daughter of a grape grower, the founder of Chill Hill Winery, and the founder of the newly opened Golden Muse Winery. (Both wineries are in Baroda.)

Tractor fumes may ultimately be less tolerable than horse fumes, and besides, as the Ca’ Musu website says, Buster is “funny.” But biodiversity in farming and production of biodynamic wines turn out to be part of an international move ment. Hearing about Ca’ Musu for the first time, Madeline Triffon says, “That’s something being done by a lot of people who are following biodynamic methods in Europe, and I can see why they would be inspired by that.”

In 1985, Triffon, also known as Detroit’s First Lady of Wine, became just the sec ond woman in the world to earn the rank of Master Sommelier. She worked in some of Detroit’s top restaurants including The London Chop House and The Rat tlesnake Club. Today she's director of events for Plum Market, the upscale super market chain and food service provider based in Farmington Hills.

ost of the world’s wine grapes are grown between the 30th and 50th parallels in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. But the very best wines tend to come from vineyards along the 45th parallel, which is halfway between the equator and the North Pole. The 45th parallel runs through the Piedmont Region of Italy, the Rhone Valley and Bordeaux in France, Oregon’s Willamette Valley, and the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas north of Traverse City. The location provides a certain sun angle and length of day, coupled with other soil and microclimate factors, that have proven ideal for wine grape cultivation.

In response to the need for talent, Lake Michigan College started its Wine and Viticulture Technology program in 2015. LMC’s main campus in Benton Harbor is right in the heart of the Lake Michigan Shore American Viticulture Area. In 2019, LMC inaugurated the $7 million, 14,000-square-foot Welch Center for Wine and Viticulture, which was the result of philanthropic giving. Program patrons lured the founding director, Michael Moyer, from Walla Walla, Wash., where he had been teaching as well as working with former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe’s Double back winery and with the influential Figgins family.

Parallels

FranceBordeaux, 45°

A woman-owned business, Golden Muse Winery in Baroda, south of Benton Harbor, celebrates the carefree lifestyle of the Golden Age of Paris. The winery offers a display of art.

Particularly intriguing are Mimmo and Elise Musumeci, masterminds of Ca’ Musu. Reflecting its owners’ individualism, this 70-acre property two miles south of Hart, in Oceana County, is all horse-powered courtesy of Buster, a rare 20-year-old Suffolk Punch draft horse. After buying the property in 2018, the Musumecis last year planted mildew-resistant Italian Fleurtai and Soreli grapes for dry sparkling wines, covering half the land. They told Michigan Wine Country they expect to open their winery and tasting room in 2024 or 2025.

WINERYMUSEGOLDENCOURTESY

Perspectives

MichiganLeelanau,

or ...

Wines for the Times

MT: Mari Totus Porcus 2018, Old Mission Peninsula

Bring this out when a non-vintage champagne is needed. It delivers elegant quality while making you chuckle at the name. Beautifully crisp and cleansing, with tiny bubbles. Made from the three Pinot varieties (Gris, Blanc, and Noir) grown in their Leelanau Peninsula vineyard. Owner and winemaker Mike Laing learned sparkling winemaking working alongside Larry Mawby — no better mentor for the category.

Attention natural wine fans. Here’s a “pet-nat” style bubbly with a fantastic aroma, like walking through a rose garden. It's a gently sparkling wine made from a surprising blend of Valvin Muscat, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer. Winemaker Dave Bos is pushing the envelope Up North with sustainable winegrowing practices and champions “Michigan leading the green way.”

DB: What Michigan wine will impress wine geeks and newbies alike?

Yes, “Whole Hog.” A playful, utterly delicious dry blend of Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Pinot Gris. Sean O’Keefe made his reputation crafting gorgeous dry Riesling but is equally successful at creative, tasty red and white blends. And bubbles — don’t miss Mari’s “Simplicissimus,” a sparkling Riesling. The label shows O’Keefe lugging his corgi.

DB: What white and red wines would pleasantly surprise Thanksgiving guests?

DB: What Michigan wines would you take to the beach?

One sniff tells you this Pinot is the real deal — layered, complex, with ripe strawberry fruit and clove spice. And the flavors follow through, with a very long finish. Balanced and showy, this wine could easily be the most consistent example of quality Pinot Noir in the state. Bel Lago was one of the first producers to champion “the heartbreak grape” — try growing it — in Michigan, planting specific Burgundy clones.

Move over, Austria! Northern Michigan is growing plenty of a grape variety that manages our climate well. This “Grüvie” has its signature ginger spice on the nose and palate, and it’s dry with a lush, easy texture. Winemaker Kasey Wierzba also makes fine Blaufränkisch, a red eastern European variety.

DB: How about for a dressy party?

MT: Modales Dry Riesling “Herman Farm” 2020, Fennville

Perspectives 52 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022

MT: BOS Wine Methode Agricole, Elk Rapids

MT: bigLITTLE C-3 Pinot Brut, Leelanau Peninsula

DB: On the way to the pool party, what bubbly would you bring?

MT: Bel Lago Pinot Noir 2018, Leelanau Peninsula

Shady Lane Grüner Veltliner 2020, Leelanau Peninsula

Black Star Farms Arcturos Cabernet Franc, 2019 Michigan

Here’s one for people who insist on looking for rich reds in cool growing regions. Has Cab Franc’s lovely aroma of dark berry fruit, violets, fresh ground coffee, and herbs. Medium-bodied with smooth tannins. Can dance easily with roast chicken, a lamb chop, or grilled salmon.

— By Ronald Ahrens

Gently dry white, sleek, and pretty. As good a Pinot Blanc as you’ll have from anywhere. Will happily take the place of un-oaked Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. From the deft hands of Bryan Ulbrich, one of Michigan’s star winemakers. (Just ask his colleagues.) or ...

An ambassador for how good Michigan dry Riesling can be — beautiful peachy aromas, with Riesling’s signature fruity-tart flavor and a rich mouthfeel. Quite rich, bringing to mind German trocken Rieslings. Made in Fennville in southwest Michigan wine country, with a warmer, longer growing season. Keep your eye on winemaker Andrew Backlin.

MT: Left Foot Charley Pinot Blanc 2019, Old Mission Peninsula

A conversation with Plum Market’s Master Sommelier Madeline Triffon.

DB: How about tailgating at a football game?

Bear in mind at 3:30 a.m. on a November morning after Thanksgiving, with the temperature in the mid-teens, the Chateau Chantal harvesting crew will be on Old Mission Peninsula likely fighting through a gale to bring in well-frozen Riesling grapes for Ice Wine ($90 per bottle). Estate hospitality director Brian Lillie says, “It’s truly what we consider liquid gold in the tasting room.”

Drew Ryan Wines in Detroit, which includes Matt Jones, Merrick Steele, and Peter King III, offers an array of white, red, and rosé wines sourced from grapes grown throughout the the region and state.

Besides the educational opportunities, further sup port comes from the Michigan Wine Collaborative, a nonprofit organization that enhances sustainability

All of which poses a question about industry scale: Away from the West Coast, what other state produces such a panoply of wines, in such abundance, as Michigan?

September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 53

Additional boosts to wine education and industry collaboration are found in various forms. MSU’s Insti tute of Agriculture Technology is a partner in the Viti culture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance. VESTA, as it’s known, brings together faculty gleaned from disparate universities, community colleges, and industry specialists throughout the country for either a certificate program or associate’s degree in viticulture, enology, or wine business ownership.

Students affiliate with a home institution to com plete online courses and gain hands-on field experi ence. MSU has partnered in VESTA with Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac and Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City.

and economic well-being within the industry. Board members come from vine yards and wineries statewide, but also from industry, restaurants, and tourism. Bob Utter represents southeastern Michigan on the MWC board. A mechanical engi neer for more than 35 years, Utter developed a love of wine while living and working in France. Upon his return, he studied viticulture and enology through VESTA, and in 2011 opened Flying Otter Winery near Adrian.

URBAN OASIS

Homegrown industry player Drew Ryan Wines — “Drew Ryan” is a combi nation of middle names — came together in 2015 when Merrick Steele and Matthew Jones, who were King’s classmates at Southfield High School, sam pled the contents of a 60-gallon French-oak barrel. King remembers that Steele and Jones put down their glasses and said, “‘Let’s get together and sell it.’ I’d never thought twice about it. That’s how we ended up forming Drew Ryan and making wine together.”

— PETER KING III, DREW RYAN WINES

WINESRYANDREWCOURTESY

Triffon says she observes a “collaborative spirit” and finds the industry “upward-moving in terms of recognizing that farming techniques are essential to making world-class wine.” On Aug. 25-26, Michigan State University Extension was set to host a confer ence for the Michigan wine and grape industry in Traverse City. “Dirt to Glass 2022: Elevating Michi gan Wine from the Ground Up” is the first-ever

Recent visits to both the northwestern and southwestern production regions of Michigan have left Triffon with enduring enthusiasm and a stack of tasting notes. She finds talent and innovation everywhere. “You see Grüner Veltliner made by a lot of wineries — not just a couple. Then you see up-and-coming grapes being planted aggressively, such as Gamay, which is — at least the ones that I’ve tasted — very exciting indeed.”

And consider his bold 10-year plan: “We will be one of the premier urban winer ies in the city of Detroit, and we should be one of the leading producers of sparkling wines and rosé.”

While Nathaniel Rose Wine is staking out grand cru sites in the northwest, Drew Ryan Wines now has 32 vines of Cab Franc on a lot along Manistique Street just south of East Jefferson Avenue. In their self-funded effort, they plan in 2023 to build a winery and tasting room. They'll continue to buy grapes from southwestern Mich igan, but Detroiters should look for local production of rosé. “We feel that Michigan can compete with any region in the world when it comes to sparkling wines and rosé.” To expand the volume, it would be possible to become a “custom-crush” cli ent, but King says, “I’m pretty passionate about making wine. If I don’t have my hands in it, it’s no fun.”

On their ribbon farms along the Detroit River, the early French settlers soon fig ured out how to grow wine grapes. Even before those first vines matured, wild grapes along the River Raisin — La Rivière aux Raisins, or The River with Grapes, in Monroe County — sustained brandy production. As today’s industry booms, the essential value of wine re-establishes itself. Wine is a source of delight, but it only comes about after people have invested their fortunes and their souls.

Another board member is Peter King III, an accountant by day, winemaker in his basement by night. His father, Peter King II, grew a few grapes in the backyard and made his own wine. When King III was 19 years old, he said, “Hey dad, why don’t you show me how to do it?” And then he kept in practice.

I'M PRETTY PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING WINE. IF I DON'T HAVE MY HANDS IN IT, IT'S NO FUN.”

Amanda Danielson, also a sommelier and a partner in Trattoria Stella in Traverse City, is involved in the conference. “We’re there — we’re making wine that’s that good,” Danielson says in a promotional video. “The idea is that we make more of it … and circle back to the farming and the importance of that farming, to increase the amount of Michigan-grown fruit that’s being made into these world-class Michigan wines.”

DAXTON Daxtonhotel.comHOTEL(248) 283-4200 sales@daxtonhotel.com THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS BUSINESS AS USUAL. LET OUR ASTOUNDING DÉCOR BE THE BACKDROP FOR YOUR NEXT BUSINESS EVENT. Redefining the Art of Business

+1 313 474 gbockart@savills.us5171

Choose the Right Partner.

Gregory J. Bockart Jr., SIOR Market Leader & Executive Managing Director

savills.us

For 160 years, Savills has been bringing real intelligence to global commercial real estate.

Commercial real estate, unlocked. Solutions that power people and growth

We understand how the automotive industry runs. We are multi-disciplinary experts in operations, supply chain, and ﬁnancial strategy. Our integrated team works with you on a local, national, and global level to develop the most e ective real estate strategy to position your business for long-term success.

Brycz leads GM’s people team, which collectively strengthens andengagementemployeeanddevelopsrecruitstalentto

relations, and sustainabili ty organizations and is a member of the GM senior leadership team. He’s responsible AdvisoryofalsosteeringCommitteePoliticalappointed2020,countries.fourmoreemployeesapproximatelyfor94,800representingthan118sitesoncontinentsin13InJanuaryJohnsonwastotheGMActionboardandcommittee.He’safoundingmemberGM’sInclusionBoard.

Barra became the first female chief executive to lead a major automaker when she was named CEO in January 2014. She was elected chairman of the

Reuss leads GM’s vision of a throughorganizationfutureequitable,sustainable,andall-electricwithintheandbeyonditsinnovative

Prior to this appointment, Parks was the VP, autonomous and electric

advance GM’s all-electric future. This role has afforded her the opportunity to focus her team on diversity and inclusion efforts, and to serve as a representative on GM’s AdvisoryInclusionBoard.As a member of GM’s senior leadership team, Brycz was instrumental in the implementation of the company’s COVID-19 protocols and the introduction of a new cultural philosophy: Work Appropriately.

company. Previously, he served as vice chairman, president, treasurer, CEO, and CFO of AmeriCredit Corp. Before that, Berce was an auditor with Coopers & Lybrand for 14 years and was a partner with the firm. He is a certified public accountant and is a graduate of Regis University in Denver. GM Financial’s origination mix consists of 75 percent prime credit customers with credit bureau scores of 680 and above in North America.

Senior Vice President, Global Communications

connected services brands in North America, including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, OnStar, ACDelco, and GM Genuine Parts. Prior to this role, he served as senior vice president and president, Cadillac. Carlisle began his GM career in 1982 as an industrial engineering co-op student at the Oshawa truck assembly plant. He has served as VP of global product planning, VP of U.S. sales, and president and managing director of Southeast Asia.

REUSSMARK

DBUSINESSFCA-NA,FORD,GM,SOURCES:2022;11,AUGUSTOFASAVAILABLEINFORMATIONLATEST Feature || GM - BIG THREE AUTO EXECUTIVES 56 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

Executive Vice President, Global Public Policy; General CorporateCounsel,Secretary

Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer

Based in Shanghai, Blissett oversees GM’s business in China. Prior to this appointment, as GM senior vice president,

Carlisle leads GM sales, service, and marketing across its full portfolio of automotive and

Senior Vice President and NorthPresident,America

Glidden was appointed to the global public policy role on June 1,

Executive Vice President and ChiefOfficerFinancial

2021. He’s responsible for appointing a new senior executive in charge of global public policy. He assumed the duties of 2021.secretarycorporateinOctoberGliddenjoined GM in 2015 as general counsel and continues to lead a team of attorneys who serve GM’s regional and operationsfunctionalinmore than 30 countries. Previously, Glidden was executive vice president and legal officer for LyondellBasell.

Senior Vice President President and CEO, GM Financial

Before joining GM in December 2020, Jacobson served as CFO of Delta Air Lines Inc.,

technologies, products, and initiatives. He also directs the company’s regional 2019.presidentHeseniormemberMotorsventure,boardReussoverseesInternational,andSouthincludingoperations,NorthAmerica,America,China,GeneralMotorsandGMDefense.servesontheofGMChina’sjointSAICGeneralLtd.,andisaoftheGMleadershipteam.becameGMinJanuary

STEPHENCARLISLEK.

BLISSETTJULIAN

executes its transforma tion to become a leader in mobility across electric vehicles, connectedtechnology,autonomousandservices.He’s a member of the GM senior leadership team. Before joining GM, Buchholz served as the narrativeframedrivingregionssixwhereforcommunicationschiefofficerProcter&Gamble,heledteamsacrossbusinessunitsandfiveresponsibleforcoremessagingtothecompany’swithconsumers.

Johnson leads GM’s global engineering,manufacturingmanufacturing,labor

International Operations – leading GM’s global operations outside of the Americas and China –Blissett operationsstreamlinedandrefined the global jointSAIC-GM,executiveBlissettfocusedsustainfinancialfoundationstrengtheningInternationalstrategiesgo-to-marketforGM’sOperations,thetoturnaroundperformanceandacustomer-organization.alsoservedasvicepresidentofGM’sflagshipventureinChina.

GM Board of Directors in January 2016. Under Barra’s leadership, GM envisions a world with zero crashes, to save lives; zero emissions, so future generations can inherit a healthier planet; and zero congestion, so customers get back a transformationworkingbusiness,vehiclestrengtheningcustomerfocusedcommodityprecious–time.She’sonimprovingtheexperienceandGM’scoreandserviceswhilealsotoleadtheofmobility.

Executive Vice President, Global Product Develop ment, Purchasing and Supply Chain

His objective is to deliver profitable growth in each of the markets in which GM competes. Amin succeeds Steve Kiefer, who retired. Previously, Amin was vice president, GM global purchasing and supply chain, and was responsible for the strategic direction of GM’s worldwide purchasing, supply chain, and logistics operations. He’s the lead executive chair of the board of directors for the GM Asian Connections Business Resource Group.

Since April 2022, Amin has been responsible for GM operations outside of North America and China.

GLIDDENCRAIG

Executive Vice President, President, GM China PresidentChairman and CEO

MARY BARRAT.

which he helped transform into one of Investortimesindustry’swassixAdmiredmagazine’sFortuneTop50MostCompaniesforconsecutiveyears.HenamedtheairlinebestCFOeightbyInstitutionalmagazine’spollofWallStreetanalystsandinvestors.JacobsongraduatedfromAuburnUniversitywithabachelor’sdegreeinaviationmanagementandlaterreceivedanMBAfromVanderbiltUniversity.

JACOBSONPAUL

Executive Vice President, Global Manufacturing and Sustainability

GERALD JOHNSON

DANIELBERCEE.

Senior Vice President and President, InternationalGM

Berce has held these positions at GM Financial since October 2010, when GM purchased the

BUCHOLZCRAIG

Buchholz is senior adviser to CEO Mary Barra and is responsible for GM’s overall global communica tions strategy as it

vehicle programs. In that role, he launched Super Cruise, the industry’s first hands-free driving technology for compatible highways, on the 2018 Cadillac CT6. He oversaw the engineering team behind the Cruise AV, a autonomousproduction-intentvehicle built from the ground up, without driver controls, that operated on its own. He led the electrification team responsible for developing GM’s all-new EV architecture.

DOUGPARKSL.

KIMBERLY (KIM) J. BRYCZ

SHILPANAMIN

operations, thermaldirectorservedPriorAVofdesigncongestionemissions,zeroinengineeringleadsbusinessothervehicledevelopment,componentsadvanceddevelopment,andengineeringinitiatives.SheaglobalteamofprofessionalsrealizingGM’svisionofcrashes,zeroandzerothroughtheanddevelopmentadvancedICE,EVandsystems,andvehicles.tothis,Gardnerasexecutiveofinteriorandcabincomfort.

GM’s worldwide tax and customs functions. She has more than 30 years of tax experience. Prior to joining GM, Curry served as vice president of tax for Deere & Co.

Appointed in April 2022, Bell most recently served as president and managing director of GM Canada. Under his

Harvey runs Cadillac’s day-to-day operations.

Aldred provides senior leadership and strategic direction for Buick and GMC sales, service, and marketing. His goal is to

Key focus areas include leading the brand’s transition to EVs, and

DANAHYJIM

Vice President, Product Marketing,Performance,Accessories,andMotorsports

MICHELLEGARDNER

Vice President, Global Buick–GMC

Vice President, Global Business Solutions and Chief Accounting Officer

directorBeforeKimberly-ClarkandCorp.that,shewasoftaxforDell Inc., senior tax counsel for GM, and senior tax counsel for the Internal Revenue Service. Curry received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Michigan State University.

service quality and customer experience, and reduce complexity and costs. He continues to serve as chief accounting officer, and is responsible for global leadership and oversight for external reporting, accountingtechnicalmatters, the development of new accounting policies, and internal controls. He’s also responsible for reporting financial results to the company’s senior leadership and the board’s Audit Committee.

Hatto manages a global team charged with optimizing GM business processes to improve

Basile was appointed to this role in April 2022. From 2019 to 2022, he was executive vice president of the

DUNCANALDRED

operations, and worldwide banking activities.

strategy, in addition to directing the development and marketing of specialty vehicles and performance variants of models.production-basedHealsoleads the product marketing strategy for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac portfolios, and planning and marketing of accessories performanceandparts for production vehicles. Previously, Campbell served as U.S. VP, Chevrolet marketing.

Vice President, Global Hardware Components and Subsystems

Vice President, Global Cadillac reaching targetsaggressiveCadillac’sgrowthwithoneof the freshest lineups in luxury. Harvey joined Cadillac in March 2018 as VP of Cadillac North America, managing sales, service, and marketing. Prior to that, he was chairman and managing director of Vauxhall Motors in the U.K. During his more than 30 years with GM, Harvey has held a variety of positions in Europe and the Middle East.

CHRISTOPHER T. HATTO

increase positive opinion for both premium brands and to transform those opinions into profitable sales growth. In 2013, prior to joining Buick and GMC, Aldred was named acting vice president of sales, marketing, and aftersales for Opel and Vauxhall, based in Germany. In 2010, he was chairman and managing director at Vauxhall. He joined GM in 1990 at EllesmereVauxhall’sPortplant near Liverpool, and worked in various positions there.

systems engineering, supplier quality, and performance across global vehicles. His group ensures safety, while exceeding governmentrequirementscustomerandregulations to deliver the best vehicles for a great andhardwareDanahyexperience.customerBeforethis,wasVP,globalcomponentssubsystems,where he led advanceddevelopment,operations,engineeringcomponentsandvehiclework.

highest-quality vehicles possible. In late 2017, his responsibilities expanded to include leadership over GM’s Excellence.OperationalHebrings to the role quality.directorincludinginvarietyFrancavillahissuppliering,experienceknowledgein-depthandglobalinmanufacturengineering,andquality.Priortocurrentposition,servedinaofseniorroleswiththequalityorganization,executiveofglobalsupplier

Francavilla is responsible for leading GM’s global quality efforts, which are aimed at providing the

Danahy, who took on this position in June 2021, oversees the implementa tion of safety, compliance,

Vice President,ChevroletGlobal

ROCKYGUPTA

HARVEYRORY

Senior Vice President, Strategy and Innovation

SCOTTBELL

FRANCAVILLATONY

SAIC-General Motors joint venture, based in Shanghai, China, where he was a member of the SAIC-GM vehicleAmerica,planningmanager2000,productinhis2016portfoliopresidentservedCommittee.ExecutiveBasilealsoasGMviceofglobalplanningfromto2019.HebeganGeneralMotorscareer1994intheU.S.inengineering.InhebecameofbusinessatGMNorththenadvancedplanningin2001.

Wexler leads GM’s Data and Customer Insights, Innovation, and Strategy teams. He has been working at the intersection

Curry joined GM in this position in 2017. She’s responsible for strategy and operations related to

Treasurer’sandengineeringjoinedmanagement.$70Bhandledsubsidiary.investmentManagementGeneralchiefinvestmentGuptabecomingBeforetreasurer,wasthechiefofficerandexecutiveofficerofMotorsAssetCorp.,GM’smanagementInthatrole,heapproximatelyofassetsunderGuptaGMasanco-opin1987,transitionedtotheOfficein1998.

MARGARETCURRY

of strategy, technology, and creative for more than 30 years. Before joining GM, Wexler served as chairman and CEO of Publicis Sapient, which helps clients innovate and compete more effectively in the digital age. He has also advised early-stage companies on how to compete with disruptive businesses models in University.MBAbachelor’sera.consumer-empoweredaWexlerholdsadegreeandanfromRider

leadership, GM Canada achieved profitable sales growth and built strong relationships with the Canadian dealer network. Bell also led GM Canada through the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic’s early days, including the production of 10 million face masks for the government of Canada. He also led the conversion of CAMI Assembly to produce BrightDrop’s electric delivery vans.

Vice President, Finance and Treasurer

SALVATOREBASILE(SAM)

Gardner was appointed to this position in June 2021. Her role and organization comprise engineering

Gupta is responsible for leading the company’s global treasury operations including capital planning, capital markets,

Campbell leads Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Hummer EV motorsports marketing

Vice President, Global Product Programs

Vice President, Tax and Customs, Chief Tax Officer

Vice President, Global Safety Systems and Integration

GM - BIG THREE AUTO EXECUTIVES || Feature SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 57

ALAN WEXLERM.

CAMPBELLJIM

Vice OperationalGlobalPresident,QualityandExcellence

HERRICKTIM

MCDOWELLDONEEN

business results positions her well to lead the labor relations team as it helps transform and prepare for GM’s all-electric future. Beginning in March 2020, McDowell led car and crossover vehicle manufacturingassemblyin GM North America across nine sites. From 2018 to 2020, she responsiblewasfor engine and manufacturingcomponentin North America.

Vice President, Global Research and Develop ment, Chief Technology Officer, and President of GM Ventures

MILLERSCOTT

Vice President, Software Defined Vehicle and Operating Systems

at more than 40 assembly, stamping, propulsion, and component operations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He was the lead executive on-site in Kokomo, Ind., in 2020, supporting partnershipGM’swith Ventec Life Systems to produce life-saving ventilators in response to the global coronavirus pandemic. He also played a strategic role in 2019 negotiations with the UAW. Previously he was VP of manufacturing, GM International.

HESTERTRAVIS

Vice President, Electric VehicleOperationsGrowth

Morrison, appointed in April 2022, is responsible for the strategic direction of GM’s purchasing,worldwidesupply chain,

Vice President, EV Launch Excellence

Hester is responsible for EV careerHesterBendigo,productsnontraditionalsupportingstrategies,EVinitiatives,EVgridenergydevelopment,infrastructureoff-boardmanagementandintegrations,dealerreadinessandtrainingcross-brandvehiclechargingandthegrowthofEVOriginallyfromAustralia,beganhisGMin1995atHolden.

Feature || GM - BIG THREE AUTO EXECUTIVES 58 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

KIENLEPHIL

Vice President, Global Information Technology and ChiefOfficerInformation

One of Miller’s deployingdevelopingresponsibilitiesmainisandUltifi,GM’s

electric drive units. He also oversees all electronic control systems and strategies, software, batteries.electrictransmissions,includingpropulsionresponsiblethatpropulsionolsontoproductshardwareassociatedandelectronicforallGMglobally.Priorthisassignment,NichwasVP,globalsystems.Inrolehewasforallproductsengines,fuelcells,driveunits,and

Vice President, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain

solutions in developmenttheof GM vehicles. He previously was GM’s executive director of global electrification and battery DetroitsplittingCTOwasNovembertodrivingpropulsion,overalldevelopmentelectrifiedresponsiblesystems,forGMvehiclehardwareandtheelectricvehiclecalibration,andperformance.PriorrejoiningGMin2016,HelfrichvicepresidentandatFlexAutomotive,histimebetweenandSiliconValley.

JEFFREYMORRISON(JEFF)

new end-to-end vehicle software platform. Ultifi will help enable the frequent and seamless delivery of software-de fined features, apps, and services to customers over the air. Miller has held many positions since joining GM in 1994, and most recently was executive director, vehicle software.chassis,blewhereembeddedmotioncontrols,hewasresponsiforallpropulsion,andthermal

Vice President, GM North America Labor Relations

NICHOLSONDAN

planning, and competi tive intelligence teams globally. He’s a key leader in planning GM’s transformation to an all-electric future.

Kuhl is responsible for leading GM’s product planning, research,forecasting,economics/marketmanufacturing

GM’s electric, autono mous, and fuel cell vehicle programs, electric drive units, battery systems, and fuel cell systems from inception to launch and beyond. He’s also responsible for the initiatives associated with the commercialization of EVs and AVs. Previously, Morris was vice president of global programs,productleading the global team that oversees conventional GM vehicle, engine, and transmission programs.

Helfrich is responsible for innovation and technology

This position was created to capitalize on the rapid transformation of the EV business, with a specific

Vice President, Global Electrification Controls, Software and Electronics

Kienle is responsible for the safety, productivity, and quality performance of over 67,000 employees

and logistics operations. His team collaborates with more than 19,000 global suppliers to deliver exceptional vehicle quality, innovation, and value to GM customers, along with a commitment to achieving acceleratingsustainabilitylong-termanddiversity and inclusion in the supply base. Under Morrison’s direction, GM is building a strong, resilient, and scalable EV supply chain to support its goal of electrification.

Killeen is responsible for enabling IT assets and solutions across the

objective to focus on customer EV solutions beyond the vehicle.

Previously, Kuhl had been vice president, advanced portfolio planning, where he was instrumental in defining the first modular battery electric studiesadvancedarchitecture,vehicleleadingconceptandproviding a framework for resourcebalancing efforts.

Hill oversees current cross-brand activities that strengthen GM’s brands and the company’s

Vice President, North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations

KUHLDAVE

McDowell’s passion for employee engagement, her commitment to GM behaviors, and her constant drive to deliver

enterprise in support of the company’s overall global business. He previously served as GM IT’s chief technology officer, and became chief productintegrationdirectorinprograms.andinformationcompany’soverseeingJanuarysecurityinformationofficerin2018,theglobalsecurityITriskmanagementHejoinedGMMarch2001asofsystemsforglobaldevelopment.

Appointed in January 2022, Herrick serves as the champion for start-of-regular-producstart-of-productionlimitedto

Vice President, Electric, Autonomous, and Fuel Cell Programs

Morris leads the global team of executive chief engineers and program managers who oversee

Nicholson is responsible for all includingpropulsionelectrifiedproductsbatteriesand

Vice President, Commer cial Growth Strategies and Operations

tion EV launch window execution. His focus is on supporting cross-function al alignment to ensure launch success across the entire EV portfolio. Prior to this, Herrick served as vice president, global product programs, where he led an international team in the design, GMprograms.andspecialty,portfoliovalidationdevelopment,engineering,andoftheGM—includingperformance,motorsportsHebeganhiscareerin1983.

position in the market. His group helps with the assessment commercializationand of future growthsupportopportunitiesbusinessthatGM’srevenuecommitments.

MORRISKEN

STEPHENHILL

Hill previously served as vice president of Chevrolet and vice president of GM’s Customer Care and Aftersales division. He also served as vice president for the Cadillac, Hummer, and Saab brands. Hill began his GM career in 1983.

HELFRICHKENT

KILLEENFRED

Vice President, Global Portfolio Planning

Phillips succeeds Peter Thom, who retired. He leads a global team of more than 5,000 experts ranging from

President and Managing Director, General Motors de Mexico, Central America and Caribbean

Vice President, Sus tainable Workplaces and ChiefOfficerSustainability

KUMMEREDWARD

DuMont leverages GM’s advanced supplycapabilities,world-classtechnologies,manufacturingandglobalchainforglobal

Vice President, Global Workplace Safety

fulfillment, Amazon robotics allocation.spearheadedprofitabilitying’sdirectedstrategyglobalashisPontiacincareeryearsPurtyJimoperations.sortableHesucceedsGlynn,whoretired.spentthefirst25ofhisprofessionalwithGM,beginning1994atGM’sformerassemblyplant.InlastassignmentatGMexecutivedirector,manufacturingandplanning,heGMmanufacturfootprintincostandandnewproduct

Motors to a future with zero emissions as the company continues to take actions against climate change, including a commitment to becoming carbon neutral in its products and operations by 2040. In her most recent role as executive director, global energy andcertification,strategy,compliance,testlabs,Siemenled a corporateresponsibleleadershipcross-functionalteamforsettingenergypolicy.

Tierney’s global team is responsible for all aspects of cybersecurity across GM including executing enterprise, product, and

RICHARDPHILLIPS

President, GM Defense, LLC

Vice President, ManufacturingGlobalEngineering

reducecybersecurityandresponsibleofficer,productservedhisandawarenessmanagement,response,management,testing,architecture,withcybersecuritymanufacturingprograms,afocusonsecuritypenetrationcyberriskincidentvulnerabilityintelligence,andtraining,governance.Priortocurrentrole,Tierneyasthechiefcybersecurityandledtheteamfordevelopingimplementingstrategiestorisks.

VARGASOMAR

Appointed to this role in June 2022, Purty returns to GM from Amazon, where he was vice president, North America

government relations roles with 3M, Praxair, and PepsiCo. In the early 2000s, Vargas was an appointee of President George W. Bush to the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served in a variety of capacities. His portfolio includes a broad range of law enforcement, civil rights, national security, and immigration policy matters, including violence against women and human trafficking victim services programs.

Vargas leads GM’s global engagement of government officials and public policy. Prior to joining GM, he held senior

MARCOSPURTY

DUMONTSTEVE

Global Vice President, Customer Care and Aftersales

DEBORAHWAHL Global MarketingChiefOfficer

GM - BIG THREE AUTO EXECUTIVES || Feature SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 59

domestic operations.marketPreviously, he was vice president, vehicle sales, service, and marketing for GM de Mexico, with responsibility for developing and implementing go-tomarket strategies for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac, and for managing and maintaining close relationships with dealers in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. He also served as managing director of Ally Credit Mexico.

TIERNEYKEVIN

defense and government customers. He joined GM Defense in 2021 after a 13-year stint at Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a business of Technologies,Raytheonwherehe led and implemented a focused strategy for global growth. Earlier in his career, duMont supported flight test, servedprivatePriorBoeingdevelopmentengineering,systemsandbusinesswithinandBAESystems.toenteringthesector,duMontintheU.S.Army.

icated digital team structured around GM’s digital lines of business, each with a WaltKummercustomer.speedremainingitstoadjacencies,andwillThisaspectswillcommercialdedicatedleaderwhobeaccountableforalloftheoperations.integratedapproachconnectvaluechainscapitalizeonenablingGMmovefasterandgrowdigitalbusinesswhilefocusedonofservicetothePriortoGM,workedattheDisneyCo.

Simcoe has been GM’s global design chief since 2016. His teams focus on all aspects of design including advanced,

Vice President and Head of Global Public Policy

production, and industrial design technologies.championingshiftexperiencesinnovatechallenginginSimcoeBrightDropHummerCadillacincludeSimcoe’sdesignsandsupportingoperationsGM’sbrandssubsidiaries.RecentdevelopedunderleadershiptheCruiseOrigin,Lyric,GMCEV,andtheEV600.playsapivotalroleGM’stransformation,histeamstoassocietyamassiveinmobility,new

dies, body, paint, and assembly, to controls, propulsion, and global program management. This team plays a critical role in responsibility.assignmentsprogressedapprentice,startingvehiclemanufacturingexecutive2018,thelaunch.operationsmanufacturingandproductPhillipsmovedtoU.S.fromAustraliainwherehewasdirector,engineeringsystems.SinceatGMin1987asanhehasthroughvariousofincreasing

Vice President, GM Global Design

Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer

FRANCISCOGARZA

Appointed to this position in February 2021, Sieman is helping to lead General

high-performing, inclusive culture at GM. Prior to this role, McGruder was director of atofMcGruderEarliermanagementmultipleenergyengineering,footprintSheworkplacesGM’soperationsengineeringworkplaceandsolutionsinsustainableorganization.supportedtheglobalforfacilitytechnologies,strategy,andfacilitystrategies.inhercareer,heldpositionsincreasingresponsibilityseveralGMlocations.

McGruder leads the development and execution of strategies that will ensure positive change toward a

Wahl is movementcapitaltechnology,investmentspioneeringindata,andhumantohelpinspireaandput

In this role, Kummer is empowered to drive commercial success and strategic investments to establish digital market leadership. He leads a ded

everybody in an EV. Her focus is on consumers.broughtall-electricpossibilitiesgrowthtransformationbringingandtoGMastheofanfuturearetolifeforWahlhas been named five times to the Forbes CMO Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the CMO Club Hall of Fame and Automotive Hall of Fame Industry Influencer awards. She previously served as the global chief marketing officer of Cadillac.

Garza is responsible for General Motors de Mexico’s export and

MICHAELSIMCOE

2018. GM’s Customer Care and servicemarketing,presidentRothmoreaftermarketdealersandistributesGenuinethenon-GMvehiclereplacementBlanc,business,AftersalesbasedinGrandMich.,suppliespartsforGMbrandsandvehiclesunderACDelcoandGMPartsbrands,andthemthroughextensivenetworkofandindependentpartnersinthan100countries.servedasviceofGMCanadasales,andfrom2013to2018.

ROTHJOHN

TELVA MCGRUDER

Chief CybersecurityOfficer

KRISTENSIEMEN

Roth has been president and managing director of GM’s Africa and Middle East operations since June

Chief Digital Officer

MARY T. BARRA

Chairman and CEO, General Motors Co.

JOSEPH JIMENEZ

Retired Executive Vice President and CFO, Walmart Stores Inc.

MARK TATUM

CAROL STEPHENSONM.

Deputy Commissioner and COO, National Basketball Association

Former President and CEO, eBay Inc.

truck programs. Before that, she was the chief engineer for next-generationthe full-size truck programs, where she was responsible for launching the 2020 GMC Sierra HD and the Chevrolet Silverado HD.

DEVIN N. WENIG

Appointed in April 2022, West was most recently executive chief engineer for the global mid-size truck and medium-duty

Co-founder, Co-CEO, and Chairman, Workday Inc.

Chairman, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Co.

THOMAS M. SCHOEWE

Retired Executive Vice President, Information Systems & Global Solutions, Lockheed Martin Corp.

Former CEO, Quibi Holdings, LLC; Former Hewlett-PackardCEO,Enterprises.

GENERAL MOTORS CO. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

GM’s board of directors can be viewed at: html.leadership/board-of-directors.gm.com/company/

MARISSAWEST

Retired Dean, Ivey Business School, The University of Western Ontario

ELECTRIC CHARGE General Motors Co. CEO and Chair Mary Barra is leading the Detroit-based automaker to an all-electric future.

Retired Chairman and CEO, Northrop Grumman Corp.

President and Managing Director, GM Canada

LINDA R. GOODEN

ANEEL BHUSRI

Retired CEO, Novartis AG JUDITH MISCIK CEO and Vice Chairman, Kissinger Associates Inc.

PATRICIA F. RUSSO

Feature || GM - BIG THREE AUTO EXECUTIVES 60 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

As vehicle chief engineer, she led the center.globalwasprograms.full-sizedevelopmentengineering,design,andoffuturetruckandSUVEarlier,shethedirectorofthenoiseandvibration

MEG WHITMAN

WESLEY G. BUSH

Vice Chair, PolicyExecutive Chairman, Chairman of the Board of Directors

HUNTSMANJONWILLIAM CLAY FORD JR.

experience of customers with products and services, many of them developed in-country for Chinese ofstrategicpresident,servedMarketsofAmerica,operationsresponsibleGroup,InternationalSouthPreviously,consumers.aspresident,AmericaandMarketsWatterswasforallFordinSouthwhichisnowparttheInternationalGroup.HealsoasCFOandvicefinanceandplanning,forFordEurope.

President and CEO

support of Ford Motor Co. sales. Prior to this, as vice president of Ford’s Mobility Business Group, he was responsible for the connected services businesses of Ford Commercial Solutions and FordPass, as well as Chariot and GoRide Health. Previously, Harris served as chief financial officer and treasurer at Ford Credit, responsible for the financial planning, analysis, and accounting operations.

Effective as of March 2022, Craig is responsible for leading the business unit operations — including dealers and distributor

Amend leads Ford’s Technology and Software Platform, TechnologyEnterprisecomprisingInformationalongwith

and is overseeing the conclusion of the restructuring of Ford’s South America business. Previously, as president of the Changan Ford joint venture in andFord’stransformedandasFordservedFordselling,manufacture,ArmstrongChina,ledthemarketing,andservicingofproducts.HealsoaschairmanofofEuropeandearlier,groupvicepresidentpresident,heandledEurope,MiddleEastAfricabusinessunits.

implementing the company’s global strategy and leading China’s future development. Chen is a 25-year auto industry veteran with extensive expertise in establishingtransformation,leadingalliances and joint ventures, and developing competitive products for China. He was CEO of Chery Automobile Ltd., China, as well as chairman of the board of directors for Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive, China.

AMENDMIKE

JAMES D. FARLEY JR.

FORD - BIG THREE AUTO EXECUTIVES || Feature SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 61

Appointed in March 2022, Rowley is responsible for driving quality as a reason that customers around the world choose a Ford,

Harris is responsible for a leading financial services provider for dealers and customers around the world in

Chief Transformation and Quality Officer

General Manager, Ford Passenger Vehicle Division, Ford China

ARMSTRONGSTEVEN

President, The Lincoln Motor Co.

Vice President, India & South TransformationAmerica

Prior to this role, which he took on in March 2022, Galhotra was president of the Americas & International Markets Group, with

ROWLEYSTUART

Farley became president and CEO of Ford in October 2020, and in March 2022 he took on the additional role of president, Ford Model e,

during a period of profound industry change, including the transition to zero-emission battery electric vehicles. He’s also a member of Ford’s board of directors. Huntsman works closely with company teams across a range of governmentrepresentsengineering.ment,sustainability,generalrelations;especiallydisciplines,governmenttheofficeofthecounsel;andenvironandsafetyHeFordwithofficials.

Chen leads the company’s operations in greater China, including all import and joint operations,ventureandis

FALOTICOJOY

the division created in March 2022 that specializes in electric and connected vehicles and services. He’s also a member of Ford’s board of directors. As CEO, Farley is focused on deployment of the ambitious, customerfocused Ford+ plan for growth and value creation. Primary elements of the plan include innovation and delivery anddevelopmentvehiclesbreakthroughofelectricandtheofsoftwareconnectedvehicles.

Ford has been a member of the company’s board of directors since 1988 and has been chairman since

and leading improved efficiency, regionalleadershipallEurope,president,vicefortopresidentreportsofenterprise.structurefullyachievementcomplexity,reducedandofalean,competitivecostacrosstheHe’salsochairFordofEurope.RowleytoJimFarley,FordandCEO.Priorhiscurrentassignment,threeyearshewaspresidentandFordofresponsibleforoperationalofthebusinessunit.

President, Ford Blue

responsibility for the profit and loss of its business units, including the newly sales,development;includingoperationsoverseeingpresident,business,NorthallNorthservedandbusinesscommercialestablishedvehicleunitfortheU.S.Canada.Hehasalsoaspresident,America,leadingaspectsofFord’sAmericanandgroupviceLincoln,allLincolnglobally,productmarketing,andservice.

markets — in more than 100 countries across Africa, ASEAN, India, the Middle East and Australia, and New Zealand. Prior to this position, Craig was CEO at FordDirect, where she led the ofpresidentShetoandbest-in-classtechnologydigital,togetherresponsibleteamforbringingtheworldsofdata,andtodelivermarketingadvertisingsolutionsFordandLincolndealers.alsoservedasandCEOofFordCanada.

Huntsman advises Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO, and Executive Chair Bill Ford as the company considers and implements strategic policy choices

GALHOTRAKUMAR

ANNINGCHEN

President and CEO, Ford China

President, International Markets Group, Ford Blue

Global Data Insight and Analytics. His team helps the company use data, software, and technology to drive growth and create value for customers and other stakeholders by translating the needs of those customers into engaging solutions. They work closely with Ford teams that handle product development and the hardware and software that goes into vehicles. Amend came to Ford from Lowe’s, where he was president, online.

WATTERSLYLE

MARIONHARRIS

operations globally, including Servicesthevehicles.theandthatfinancialforworldwideFordandwassupportingteamsales,development,productmarketing,andservice,andallmembersthebrand.Shepreviouslychairmanchiefexecutiveofficer,MotorCreditCo.,withresponsibilityleadingtheglobalservicesbusinesssupportsForddealerscustomers,alongwithsaleofFordandLincolnShe’sinvolvedinAmericanFinancialAssociation.

CRAIGDIANE

Armstrong was named to this post in March 2022. He leads the evaluation of capital allocations to India

Falotico is responsible for leading the continued evolution of Lincoln as a world-class luxury brand and oversees all Lincoln

Jan. 1, 1999. Under his leadership, Ford Motor Co. has taken aggressive steps to improve the efficiency and focus of its traditional automotive business. At the same time, it is accelerating its efforts to be the most trusted provider of smart vehicles and mobility services. Ford serves as chairman of the board’s CommitteeFinanceand was CEO from 2001 to 2006. During that time, he took the company from a $5.5 billion loss to profitability.

Chief TechnologyEnterpriseOfficer

President and CEO, Ford Motor Credit Co.

Watters and his team are accountable for broadening Ford’s appeal to and enhancing the

Chief EV and Digital Systems Officer, Ford Model e

Vice President, EV Industrialization, Ford Model e

in Ford’s business units in Europe, China, South America, and the International Markets Group to enhance and release the value within Ford’s brands. Previously, she was global chief marketing officer at eBay.

General Manager, Family Vehicles; President, Mexico and Canada, Ford Blue

Field was appointed to this position in March 2022.

Chief PlatformIndustrialOfficer

that oversees Ford’s internal workplaceprogressivebusinesssupportstrong,capabilitiesstrategicanddevelopment,2018resourcesFord’sassignment,EverestExplorer,vehicles,combustionincludingtheExpedition,andSUVs.Priortothissheservedasseniorhumanofficerfromto2022,leadingthealignment,applicationsofFord’senterprisethroughdiverseteamsinofthecompany’sprioritiesandemployeeandexperiences.

Set to retire Oct. 1, Thai-Tang has held this position since March 2022. He was Ford’s chief product platform

Chief ExperienceCustomerOfficer,FordBlue

commercial customers of all sizes to help accelerate productivity, improve uptime, and lower operating costs through connected services and work-ready gas and electric vehicles. As a one-stop shop, Ford Pro provides a platform of software, electrictransitionandallcommercialsupportfinancing,charging,andcustomertoservecustomersofsizesandindustries,willhelpleadthefromgastovehicles.

Truby leads Ford’s global communications and public relations activities, including building the company’s reputation

MARINGJAJA

LAWLERJOHN

Chief Financial Officer

Lawler has analysis,financialincludingfinanceresponsibilityoverallforFord’sfunctionsaccounting,planningandtreasury,tax,

ROBINSONKIERSTEN

As of March 2022, Drake reports to Doug Field, chief EV and digital systems officer, Ford

and privacy matters. Before coming to Ford, Croley was a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Latham & Watkins, where he assisted clients with legal policy and regulatory compliance, with an emphasis on energy and the environment. From 2014 to 2017, he served as general counsel for the U.S. Department of Energy. Croley spent the previous four years in the White House, and was a special assistant to President Barack Obama.

globally cations,viceAfrica;Europe,communications,forcommunicationshasrateasTrubytopolicymakers.governments,media,dealers,customers,amongemployees,suppliers,newscommunities,andHereportsJimFarley,FordCEO.joinedFordin2007directorofglobalcorpocommunications.HealsoservedasdirectorBillFord;VP,FordMiddleEast,andand,mostrecently,president,communiFordAsiaPacific.

the forward vision for Ford Model e. Since joining Ford in 2021, she has directed the company’s day-to-day marketing in North America, and she drives strategic direction and betweencollaborationmarketing teams

CEO, Ford Pro Global ChiefOfficerMarketing

Deering e-commerceoverseesand digital strategy, as well as go-to-market for Ford Blue while supporting

Robinson was appointed in May 2022 to Ford Blue, the global business unit

Chief CommunicationsOfficer

embedded systems officer, he was responsible for the Modeldevelopmentatpresidentthat,specialservedFordProforOvalimplementationdesign,organization,softwareembeddedandhardwaredrivingthedevelopment,andofBlueIntelligencefeaturesFord,Lincoln,andFordproducts.FieldjoinedfromApple,whereheasvicepresident,projects.BeforehewasseniorviceofengineeringTesla,whereheledtheofthe3.

Previously, as Ford’s chief advanced technology and

Chief People and EmployeeOfficerExperiences

As of March 2022, Ford leads the responsibleorganizationforcreating a world-class customer

strategic plan for growth and value creation by leading the development of a yearscompanies,highlyFord,JimFordinnovation.technologycapability,overalltalent,neededwithculture,high-performancerecruitingpeopleadditionalandnewkindsofandboostingorganizationalespeciallyinandShereportstoPresidentandCEOFarley.BeforejoiningWaldoledchangeinregardedspending10inSiliconValley.

Appointed in April 2022, Waldo contributes to the global deployment and success of the Ford+

investor economics,relations,andaudit, as well as the Ford Credit business. He succeeds Tim Stone, who left Ford to serve as COO and CFO at ASAPP Inc., an artificial intelligence software company. Lawler was previously CEO, Ford Autonomous Vehicles, LLC, and vice president. mobility partnerships. He also served as vice president, development,strategy,overseeingstrategy,corporatebusinessandmore.

sales, distribution, service, and charging. He’s part of the founding team at Ford Model e, and his team will work with Ford’s dealers globally to develop and deploy all aspects of the new customer experience for Ford’s electric vehicle portfolio. Many of the innovations and capabilities entireoverservicepersonalizedremotee-commerce,aroundpricing,testdriving,anddeliveryandwillbeappliedtimeacrosstheFordbusiness.

and operations officer since 2020. Earlier, as Ford’s chief F-150Bronco,Mustanglineupaward-winningdevelopmentThai-Tangpurchasingdevelopment,engineering,company’sforhadpurchasingdevelopmentproductandofficer,heglobalresponsibilityallaspectsofthedesign,andaswellasoperations.ledtheofFord’sproductincludingtheMach-E,Maverick,andLightning.

THAI-TANGHAU

TRUBY

Model e. Previously, as chief operating officer, North America, she was responsible for bringing enhanced focus to product launches, warran ty reduction, and material cost technicalareas,indirectacrossprocurementprocessescategorywasglobalEarlier,improvements.asvicepresident,purchasing,Drakeresponsibleforallmanagementandfunctionsdirectandpurchasingaswellassupplierassistance.

DRAKE

DOUGFIELD

Effective as of March 2, 2022, Gjaja leads Ford Model e’s includingexperiencecustomerorganization,marketing,

CROLEYSTEVEN

CANNISTED

Croley guides the company as it leverages and builds on its strengths in government relations, sustainability, safety, legal,

ELENADEERINGSUZYA.FORD

The global Ford Pro business and brand are dedicated to delivering the world’s most comprehen sive suite of solutions to government and

experience throughout the entire ownership cycle. She reports to Kumar Galhotra, president, Ford Blue. She has also been responsible for integrating the work of the Ford Customer Service Division, the organization.integratedcontinuesworldwide.Fordinteractionstightlydealermarketing,organization,qualitysalesandandtheglobalnetworktomoreconnectthebetweenanditscustomersShetobecloselywiththesales

Chief Customer Officer, Ford Model e

JENNIFERWALDO

Chief Policy Officer, General Counsel

Feature || FORD - BIG THREE AUTO EXECUTIVES 62 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

Vice President, Supply Chain

purchasing and supplier technical assistance, and was responsible for all production procurement, together with quality and launch performance of the supply base through the company’s supplier technical assistance program. Previously, as executive director, global commodity purchasing, Jennings costandplanning,purchasing,productionoversawcommoditystrategicmaterialcost,productionsupplierperformance.

chairman of the Ford Motor Credit Co. board of directors. Prior to this appointment, McClelland was CEO of Ford Motor Credit Co., Ford’s global provider of financial products and services for dealers and customers. He had served as Ford Credit executive vice president of marketing and Asia Pacific, overseeing global marketing and Ford Credit’s business in China and India. He joined Ford Credit Britain in 1993, then Ford Credit South Africa.

HOLYCROSSBOB

controls, he led the development of vehicle embedded software, vehicle andsafety,withFordcommitmentcentralsystemsvehiclewascybersecurity.anddrivertechnology,embeddedcontrols,connectivityadvancedassisttechnologiessystems,andvehicleEarlier,hevicepresidentofcomponentsandengineering,andtothecompany’stodevelopandLincolnvehiclesquality,fuelefficiency,smarttechnology,valueforcustomers.

FILIPEDAVID

KIERANCAHILL

Vice President, Design

ANDREWFRICK

BAUMBICKJIM

Vice President, Vehicle Hardware Modules market servicemarketing,includedearlierstrategicproductcommunicationofleddirector,directorcompany.MarkCanada.brandrelationscustomerrepresentation,care,anddealerfortheFordintheU.S.andHesucceedsLaNeve,wholefttheFrickalsowasofU.S.sales,andmarketing,andtheimplementationtheFordbrandandmarketingplan.Hisassignmentsmanagerofsales,andforLincoln.

customers expect smarter, designwascars.ofwasdesigncompany’sdevelopmentinstrumentalexteriormostforGroupevehicles.increasinglyconnected,increasinglyandelectricHeworkedatRenaultinParisthepast10years,recentlyasVP,design.HewasintheoftheCycleofLifestrategy,whichthebasisforaseriesaward-winningconceptFrom2004to2010,directorofadvancedforGMEurope.

hardware development and systems integration of exterior, anddirectorengineering.directorleadershiphasproductvariousofficer.mentchiefreportselectrifiedbustionunderbody,interior,internal-compowertrain,andmodules.HetoHauThai-Tang,productdevelopandpurchasingFilipehasheldpositionswithindevelopmentandbeeninseveralglobalrolesincludingofglobalengineHealsowasoftransmissiondrivelineengineering.

Prior to this appointment in March Louis-Victor2022,was vice president, new businesses platform, where he was responsible for developing

and executing comprehensivea strategic plan that included the company’s existing and emerging portfolio of capabilities in areas like autonomous vehicles and mobility services. His team nurtured new ideas through Ford’s incubator, Ford X, and accelerated the development of disruptive technologies in areas that enable and enhance always-on relationships with customers. Prior to joining Ford in 2021, he worked at Groupe Renault.

WEBBDAVE Treasurer

Webb is responsible for Ford’s global treasury strategy and operations. He reports to John Lawler, Ford’s CFO. From June 2017 to December 2018,

O’CALLAGHANCATHY

Gray’s current role became effective in March 2022. Previously, as vice president, embeddedvehiclesoftware and

Previously, as vice president, vehicle hardware modules, he led

Vice President, Industrial Operations Europe & International Markets Group, Ford Blue

MCCLELLANDDAVID

Vice President, New Business, Ford Next

Since joining Ford in 2021, Lo has been responsible for creating a lineup of products and services that are unique, authentic, and true to Ford’s values as

Vice President, EV Technology, Ford Model e

sustainable best practices throughout Ford and leading its global environment and safety, strategy, and policy. Previously he was director, regulations.withheEast,Fordsafetyty,presidentformerlycompliance.homologation,sustainability,andHolycrossservedasviceofsustainabilienvironment,andengineeringforofEurope,MiddleandAfrica,whereensuredcompliancegovernment

Frick took on this position in March 2022. Previously he was vice president sales, field operations,

Vice President, Sales, Distribution and Trucks, Ford Blue

Cahill, appointed to this position in March 2022, reports to

JONATHANJENNINGS

LOUIS-VICTORFRANCK

Baumbick has held this position since March of 2022. Previously, as vice

Vice President, Strategy and Partnerships

McClelland leads corporate strategy, business development, and global data insights and analytics. He’s also

CHUCKGRAY

As Ford’s top environment and safety officer, Holycross is responsible for implementing

he served as assistant treasurer for Ford and had responsibility for Ford’s global capital markets, banking, capital strategy, affiliate finance, risk management, and treasury operations. Before this, as director of funding, he responsiblewasforFord and Ford Credit’s global funding programs and issuance strategy. This included managing Ford Credit’s financingcommercialunsecuredpaperandprograms.

ViceControllerPresident,

Ford finance activities in Ford South America, including operations finance, profit analysis, treasury, tax, accounting, and internal control. Prior to working in South America, O’Callaghan held a number of key leadership positions at Ford of Europe, including finance director for product Shedirectorandmanufacturingcontrollerdevelopment,ofEuropeanoperationslogistics,andfinanceofFordofBritain.joinedFordin1990.

FORD - BIG THREE AUTO EXECUTIVES || Feature SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 63

Filipe has been in this role since March of 2022.

ANTHONYLO

O’Callaghan had served as chief financial officer, Ford South America, since 2015. In that position she was responsible for all

Vice President, Industrial Platform, Operations and New Model Launch, Ford Blue

Jennings has been in this position since March 2022. Beginning in 2020, he was vice president, global commodity

Vice President, Sustain ability, Environment & Safety Engineering

Kumar Blue.presidentGalhotra,ofFordPriortothis role, he was vice operations.Europedirector,Romania.ing,director,Fording,director,CahillFordnamedofmanufacturing,president,FordEurope,andwasboardchairforMotorCo.Ltd.alsoservedasmanufacturstrategicprojects,ofEurope,andmanufacturU.K.andHewasFordofpowertrain

president, Enterprise Product Line Manage ment, he was responsible for global product strategy and planning, as well as leading the global product line teams to deliver customersproductsreally want and value, and to drive end-to-end business results. Earlier, Baumbick served as executive director of Global Product Planning and Strategy, where he developed new capital allocation and cycle planning processes.

FORD MOTOR CO. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JOHN S. WEINBERG

BLUE CREW

Ford Motor Co. President and CEO Jim Farley and Executive Chairman William Clay Ford Jr. are working to modernize the Dearborn-based automaker.

Set to retire Dec. 1, Toney has been in this role since March 2022. He works with hundreds of Ford dealerships worldwide.

WILLIAM CLAY FORD JR.

ANTHONY F. EARLEY JR. DIRECTOR)INDEPENDENT(LEAD

Former Vice Chairman, Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

and vehicle programs, where he oversaw Ford’s global vehicle programs and was also responsible forproductservedWorthingtontheexpensescostscompetitiveresponsibilitymarket.todevelopmentcompany’scoordinatingfortheproductresourcesbringnewproductstoHehasfordrivingmaterialandengineeringthroughoutdevelopmentcycle.earlierasvicepresident,development,AsiaPacific.

Since March 2022, Savona has been responsible for Ford’s North manufacturingAmericanfootprint of

Feature || FORD - BIG THREE AUTO EXECUTIVES 64 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

LYNN RADAKOVICHVOJVODICH

Palmer’s current position became effective in March 2022. Previously, he was general manager, Ford

WILLIAM W. HELMAN IV

JON M. HUNTSMAN JR.

Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors

Battery Electric Vehicles, where he was responsible for leading the EV business in North America, billionimplementingincludinga$22transformation of the EV portfolio. He was a founding member of Team Edison, an internal startup created to determine where to play and how to win in electric vehicles. The first product resulting from this new approach is the Mustang Mach E, the all-new, ground-up electric car.

Prior to this appoint ment in March 2022, Worthington had led global developmentproductoperations

Non-Executive Chairman and Co-founder of Velocitas Partners

Vice President, Electrical Vehicle Programs, Ford Model e

Vice President, ICE Product Programs

Ford Motor Co.’s board of directors can be viewed at: about/leadership.html.corporate.ford.com/

WILLIAM KENNARDE.

Vice President, Americas Manufacturing and Labor Affairs, Ford Blue

WORTHINGTONTREVOR

Former Chairman, KPMG International

Chairman and CEO, KeyCorp

JOHN L. THORNTON

SAVONAJOHN

more than 30 plants. He succeeds Gary Johnson, who retired. Previously, as Ford’s director of global master’sdegreeSavonaWayneofficerFordHemanufacturingcompany’simprovementcontinuousresponsiblequality,manufacturingSavonawasforensuringqualityintheworldwidefacilities.beganhiscareerwithin1989asasecurityatthecompany’sassemblyplant.hasabachelor’sfromEMUandafromCMU.

He joined Ford in 2000 and has held leadership positions in logistics, operations, and parts and service. He served as executive director, global material planning and logistics. Before joining Ford, Toney spent 23 years at Caterpillar Inc. and American Honda. In 2012, Black Enterprise magazine named Toney one of the “100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America.” He has an MBA from the University of La Verne.

HENRY FORD III Member, Board of Directors, Ford Motor Co.

BETH MOONEY

General Partner, Greylock Partners

Vice President, Ford Customer Service Division, Ford Blue

JAMES D. FARLEY JR. President and CEO

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia

Chairman, Barrick Gold Corp., Lead Independent Director

JOHN MAY Chairman and CEO, Deere & Co.

KIMBERLY A. CASIANO President, Kimberly Casiano & Associates

ALEXANDRA FORD ENGLISH Director, Global Brand Merchandising, Ford Motor Co.

Executive Chairman of the Board, PG&E Corp.

FREDERIEKTONEY

JOHN VEIHMEYER

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Salesforce

Chief Executive Officer, Leasys; Head of FCA Bank

BOURGESOLIVIER

Chief Human Resources and TransformationOfficer

ment and production. He joined the mentmanagementprogramdepartforsevenyears and became program director of mid-range models designed for international markets. In 2010, Cherfan was named Groupedirector,asthejoinedRenaultParisdirectormanagingoftheeasternretailnetworkatRetailGroup.HeNissanGroupinMiddleEastin2012salesandmarketingandmovedtoPSAin2017.

VINCENT COBÉE

Brand Chief Executive Officer, Citroën

Chief Communication and Corporate ResponsibilitySocialOfficer

Cobée has international experience in strategic positions in Europe, North America, and Asia in the construction and automotive

COURTEHOUXBRIGITTE

Bourges joined PSA in 2014 as waspresidentplanningsecretary.generalHebecameexecutivevicein2018,andinchargeof

Brand Chief Executive Officer, Free2Move

Chief Planning Officer

Brand Chief Executive Officer, Free2Move

BONNEFONT

PHILIPPEROVIRADE

De Rovira joined Groupe PSA in 1998 and held various positions in

SAMIR CHERFAN

Cherfan started his career with Renault Group in 1992 and held management positions in research, engineering, and modules develop

Chief ManufacturingOfficer

TAVARESCARLOS

Chéreau joined Groupe PSA in 1994 subsequentlyandheld the position of employment

STELLANTIS - BIG THREE AUTO EXECUTIVES || Feature SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 65

CEO

Chief Software Officer

Carelli has experience in financial communicationproductRenaultBlaisejoinedbusinessmarketing,management,finance,andoperations.HeFiatGroupin1996beganhiscareeratin1990asandtechnologymanager,

and mobility manager for Europe. He has served as senior vice president, industrial and R&D division human Politiquesthemaster’sbachelor’scommittee.ofPSA,resourcespresidentment,resourcesdirectorresources,ofhumandevelopexecutiveviceofhumanofGroupeandasamembertheglobalexecutiveHehasanddegreesfromInstitutSciencesdeParis.

as a product marketing specialist for Fga Capital in Spain. He has served FCA Bank as Switzerland country manager, group head of marketing and sales, country manager for Greece, and Greece marketing and sales. Carelli was appointed CEO and general manager of FCA Bank and chairman of Leasys in July 2014. He has an MBA from the University of West London and a master’s from Rome’s La Sapienza University.

Between 2010 and 2013, as global project director, she successfully managed and launched the Peugeot Crossover “2008” in the European, Latin American, and Chinese markets. In incubator.PSA’stheresponsibilitiesbeginningcommittee.PSA’sandexecutiveCourtehoux2018,wasnamedvicepresidentamemberofGroupeglobalexecutiveAttheof2020,herincludedBusinessLab,Groupenewbusiness

including its mergerpreparationsdevelopmenthigh-endpresidentappointedInCEOlaterDSitsdeputywasbusinessconnectedanddifferentiationbrandstrategy,createdthevehicleunit.In2013,heappointedCitroënCEOinchargeofpremiumsub-brand,Automobiles,andservedasthefirstforDSAutomobiles.January2020,hewasexecutiveviceinchargeofbrandduringforthewithFCA.

Deboeuf’s background is in process purchasingdevelopment,manufacturing,engineering,programandinFranceand

industries. He began his career in France’s state public works depart ment, then joined Egis Projects in 1996 in Canada as new projects manager, then went to the Philippines in 1997, where he was promoted to project director for the Manila North Tollways. Cobée joined Nissan Motor Corp. in Tokyo in 2002, serving as head of purchasing for Nissan Europe and program director for Nissan in Japan.

NED CURIC Chief Technology Officer

CHÉREAUXAVIER

Courtehoux joined Groupe PSA in 1998 and held planning and quality manager positions on a variety of car projects.

Amazon, beganautomotiveAmazon’sspearheadingeffortsintheindustry.Hehiscareerin1996 in engineering systems at Northrop Grumman, a multinational aerospace and defense technology company. After a short stint in the financial industry, in 2000 Curic joined Microsoft. He entered the automotive sector in 2013 as group vice president and chief technology officer at Toyota Motor North America.

BERTRANDGIACOMOCARELLIBLAISE

served as chairman of the managing board of Groupe PSA. A native of Portugal, collecting,aboutTavaresRenault-NissanpartnersandGroupjoiningandGroupwithinheldCentralegraduatedTavaresfromÉcoledeParisandvariouspositionstheRenaultbetween19812004,beforetheNissanwhenRenaultNissanbecameintheAlliance.ispassionatecars,carandracing.

and was assigned to Japan in 1999 as head of the Renault liaison office in Tokyo to contribute to the start of the Renault Nissan Alliance. He was appointed Renault Group Asia Pacific communica tion VP in 2000, covering the corporate, product, and Formula 1 communi cations activities in South Korea. Blaise joined French train manufacturer Alstom Transport Division as VP in 2007, and in 2014 joined Groupe PSA as senior vice president.

company strategic planning and mentandresponsibleNissan,positionsPSA,activities.theexecutivewithinwasmanagement.andprogramsproductdevelopment,businessglobalplanning,vehiclemanagement,corporateCO2BourgesalsoresponsibletheglobalcommitteeforsalesfinancePriortojoiningheheldseveralinRenault.Athewasforplanningprogrammanage-inNorthAmerica.

Chief Affiliates Officer (Sales Finance, Used Cars, Parts and Service, Retail Network)

Bonnefont joined Groupe PSA in 2012 as executive vice president, corporate strategy, where he contributed to the group’s turnaround plan,

Appointed in August 2021, Curic manages all information technology resources for the group. Beginning in June 2017, he served as vice president, Alexa Automotive, at

Tavares was appointed the first CEO and execu tive director of Stellantis in January 2021. Previously, he

corporate and manufac turing finance before becoming financial controller in the Madrid and Poissy (France) plants. In 2009, he was named CFO for Latin America, and became controller of the PSA sales division in 2012. In 2013, he was appointed senior VP and took responsibility for B2B and used cars sales, developmentnetworkand quality of service, CRM and digital, outbound logistics, and car flow.

ARNAUD DEBOEUF

South Korea. He started his career at Renault in 1993 as powertrain process engineer. In 2002, he industrial2019joinedCEORenault-NissanseniorDeboeufDaciaFranceKorea.SamsungresponsibilitypurchasingjoinedtotakeatRenaultMotorsinSouthHereturnedtotodeveloptheDustercrossover.wasappointedVPoftheAllianceofficein2015.HeGroupePSAinasseniorVPforstrategy.

VP, interior design Jeep/ truck and specialty vehicles in 2006. He also served as president and CEO, presidentMotorsports;andCEO, SRT brand; and president and CEO, Dodge brand for FCA US, LLC. Gilles was named VP, design in September 2008, and he also led the FCA North America product design office beginning in June 2009. He is global head of design and was a member of the FCA Group Executive Council.

experience in the automotive industry and other industrial sectors. He has led global projects and teams across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. Delay began his career with Société Générale and General Electric in London, and spent seven years with Booz & Co. in Paris and Chicago, leading strategy and automotiveprojectstransformationforglobalclients. He joined Nissan in Tokyo in 2002.

EMMANUELDELAY

brand development. She joined the Renault Group in 1990 as audit quality manager doing plant audits, and then moved to product planning, where she served as chief of product, director of the upper range, and director of product planning for five brands. Foucher led the internationalization of the product range of the group. In 2012, she became vice president of the EV program, leading the development of four products.

Gilles joined Chrysler Corp.’s design office in 1992 and was appointed

Brand Chief Executive Officer, Opel and Vauxhall

Huettl leads the commercial development of the only German brand and the only British brand in Stellantis’ portfolio and

GRASSODAVIDE

experience in the automotive industry, beginning with Ford in 1990, where he was sales director for SwitzerlandFordand product manager and head of light commercial vehicle marketing in Germany. In 2001, he moved to Volkswagen as head of worldwide LCV SwitzerlandGermany,appointedhemovedHochgeschurtzmarketing.latertoRenault,whereeventuallywasCEOofRenaultAustria,andinJune2016.

included sales, marketing, product management, and profit and loss leadership at Ford Motor Co., Johnson Controls, and Honeywell, and she has a strong track record of delivering profitable growth frommarketingShesoftware,integratedthroughproducts,andservices.hasadegreeinandeconomicsMichiganState.

Brand Chief Executive Officer, Chrysler

Brand Chief Executive Officer, Alfa Romeo

Chief Design Officer, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Maserati, Fiat Latin America

Feuell is a well-recognized senior omni-channelexperienceexecutivemarketingwithextensiveinautomotive,supply

Hochgeschurtz was brand CEO for Opel and Vauxhall before joining Stellantis in September 2021. He has more than 30 years of

DUCHEMINXAVIER

Filosa has responsibility for Latin America. He succeeds Mike Manley, former head of Americas, who left the company to become CEO of

Brand Chief Executive Officer, DS Automobiles

FLORIANHUETTL

chain industries.buildingsystems,automationandsmarttechnologiesHercareer has

Foucher has 30 years of experience in quality, product development,program,planning,HRtalentandgeneral

Chief Operating Officer, Enlarged Europe

their transition into the electric era. Previously, he was head of sales and marketing for Opel and Vauxhall for Enlarged Europe. Huettl joined Stellantis in March 2021 after serving in numerous senior managementautomotivepositions in the U.K., Germany, and Russia. He is an international Germany.Bergisch-Gladbach,AppliedfrommanagementbusinessgraduatetheUniversityofSciencesin

Feature || STELLANTIS - BIG THREE AUTO EXECUTIVES 66 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

GILLESRALPH

Duchemin has an international background in sales and marketing. He started his career at Citroën in 1991 and served

Imparato’s 30-year career at Groupe PSA has focused on sales, quality, and retail activities. He was in charge of

GIORGIOFOSSATI General Counsel

FRANÇOISOLIVIER

performance and for driving its operating success across all global markets. He was appointed a member of the FCA Group Executive Council in July 2019.

JEAN-PHILIPPEIMPARATO

Senior Vice EurasiaPresident, CHRISTINEFEUELL

Chief PerformanceOfficer

Automobiles since 2011 and also was general counsel for FCA’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa region. Previously, he was general counsel for Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. He serves on the board of directors of FCA Italy S.p.A., Teksid S.p.A., Fiat Chrysler Finance S.p.A., Fidis S.p.A., PartecipazioniFCAS.p.A., Fiat Chrysler Risk Manage ment S.p.A., Abarth & C. S.p.A., FCA Poland S.A., and FCA Group Marketing S.p.A.

responsibility at Citroën, including CEO. He was the lead executive for the Lancia brand beginning in September 2005. From January 2009 to March 2013, François was the head of brand ChryslerChryslerpresidenthebrands.tioncoordinatingwithChryslercommunicationmarketingforFiatAutomobiles,responsibilityforcommunicaactivitiesforallInOctober2009,wasappointedandCEOforthebrandatGroup,LLC.

Brand Chief Executive Officer, Maserati

Fossati worked in positions of increasing responsibility in the legal departments at Fiat S.p.A. and Iveco S.p.A. He served as general counsel for Fiat Chrysler

Delay has built an international career in general management, finance, and strategy, with more than 20 years’

Brand Chief Executive Officer, Fiat and Abarth; Global ChiefOfficerMarketing

ANTONIOFILOSA

AutoNation Inc. Filosa has extensive experience in purchasing theRomeoHetheincludingFiatFilosaLatinpurchasingwasFiatandbusinessactivities,manufacturingandoperationsaswellasoverallmanagementstrategy.HejoinedtheGroupin1999andresponsibleforallactivitiesintheAmericaregion.heldpositionsatChryslerAutomobiles,plantmanagerofBetimfacilityinBrazil.wastheheadofAlfaandMaseratiforLatinAmericaregion.

Grasso joined Nike in 2001 and held positions with increasing responsibility, including chief marketing officer. He also served as CEO for Nike subsidiary Converse Inc., where he engineered the brand for long-term sustainable growth. Grasso holds a master’s degree.

BÉATRICEFOUCHER

Mercosur for Citroën in 1998 before joining the central corporate team in charge of organizationinternationalandaudit for Groupe PSA in 2000. Imparato was later appointed vice president in charge of quality in the Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën Automobiles joint venture in Wuhan, China, in 2003. He was named director of activitiessalesandinternationalPeugeotoperationsdirectorofEuropeanandmarketingin2012.

Before joining Fiat in 2005, François worked in positions of increasing

COO, South America

HOCHGESCHURTZUWE

Grasso was named chief operating officer of Maserati in July 2019, with responsibility for overall commercial and financial

as managing director for Citroën Austria between 2003 and 2005, and for Citroën U.K. between 2005 and Opel-VauxhallDucheminRetailwas2017Peugeotmanaging2012modelandbetweendirectorDuchemin2008.wasmarketingforCitroën2009and2012,launchedtheDSin2009.Betweenand2017,hewasdirectorforFrance,andfromuntilMarch2018heinchargeofPSAinEurope.joinedin2018.

Picat joined Groupe PSA in 1998. After various jobs in

Meunier began his career at Ford Motor Co. in France in key sales and marketing positions. He moved to Nissan in 2002,

manufacturing, he became forexecutivetoPeugeotwasinAutomobilesDongfengmanaging2011,Wuhan,manufacturingmanagingbeforeplantmanagermanufacturingatthegroup’sinSochaux,France,beingnameddirectorforthefacilityofChina,in2007.InhewasappointeddirectorofthePeugeot-CitroënjointventureChina,andin2012henamedCEOofthebrand.From2016January2021,hewasvicepresidentEurope.

Kuniskis served as president and CEO, Dodge and SRT brands, FCA North America, head of the Fiat and Jeep brands in North America, and head of Maserati. He was named global head of Alfa Romeo in February 2018 and head of passenger cars, North America, in June 2019.

Morel has spent his entire career in Groupe PSA’s research and development function. In May 2021, he also became head of

manager in Italy, and held roles within the sales and marketing areas in Spain and Italy. He has led the Spain and Portugal Business Center, EMEA fleet sales, and EMEA minor markets. Napolitano was appointed head of Fiat and Abarth brands for FCA’s EMEA region in 2017, having served as the head of the Fiat brand in EMEA from 2015. He has an MBA from the University of Rome.

Olivier started as a civil servant in the French

Palmer was appointed CFO and named a member of the FCA Group Executive Council in September 2011. He was responsible for all financial activities of the group. He was named head of business development in July 2018. In April 2019, he was appointed to the FCA board of directors.

KUNISKISTIMOTHY

KOVALMIKE

Deputy ChiefOfficerEngineering

JACKSONLINDA

GREGOIREOLIVIER

Koval joined the company in 2002 and has held a variety of positions in sales, brand, and purchasing, which

included being named head of Ram brand operations in 2016, where he handled vehicle and media mix optimization and pricing strategies. He was named head of Ram brand, FCA North America in June 2020, with responsibility for sales and marketing operations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He also oversaw internationalRam’ssales and marketing operations.

Brand Chief Executive Officer, Dodge and Chrysler (Interim)

where he served as division vice president of Infiniti global sales, marketing, operations;andsenior VP of sales, marketing, and operations for Nissan North America; chairman, Nissan Canada; and president of Canada and Brazil. He served as chairman and global president for Infiniti Motor Co. Ltd. Meunier was global president of the Jeep brand and a member of the FCA Group Executive Council.

company’s business center operations and marketing organization. He became a member of FCA’s Group Executive Council in October 2015.

Brand Chief Executive Officer, Jeep

then in the Ministry of Industry as industry general director chief of staff. In 1995, he served as an adviser in the Ministry of Agriculture. Koskas joined Renault Group in 1997 and served in sales and marketing roles. He moved to London as general manager of Renault London City branch, then to Hungary in 2000 as managing director of Renault NSC. In 2009, Koskas was appointed as program director for EVs.

served as CFO of FCA US, LLC from 2009 to 2017; CFO of Fiat AutomobilesGroupS.p.A. from December 2006; and CFO of Iveco from June 2005.

Chief Financial Officer

Brand Chief Executive Officer, Peugeot

Chief Operating Officer, China (interim, in charge of Dongfeng PeugeotCitroën Automobile Co.)

MAXIMEPICAT

Chief Purchasing and Supply Chain Officer

In January 2021, Picat replaced Michelle Wen, who left the company.

Ploué’s automotive career has included

STELLANTIS - BIG THREE AUTO EXECUTIVES || Feature SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 67

Koval holds a bachelor’s degree from CMU.

Brand Chief Executive Officer, Ram

Palmer served as finance manager for several business units at General Electric Oil & Gas, Price Waterhouse, and United Technologies Corp. He

Europe Middle East Africa technical centers. He joined Groupe PSA in 1992 and worked as electric and electronic project manager for Citroën Saxo, project cost leader for Citroën Saxo and Peugeot 106, and project leader for the reskin of the Peugeot Partner, Citroën Berlingo, and Citroën Xsara Picasso. In 2014, he moved to China to lead the design and R&D center in Shanghai. In 2019, he was made the group’s executive vice president of global R&D.

and held Benelux,Germany,Europe,of2009ofsenior2007,BelgiuminEuropeanvice1997,EuropemovedbrandpositionsmarketingfortheCitroëninFrance.HethentotheCitroënsalesdivision.InMusywasappointedpresident,headofimporters,and2000headofCitroënLuxemburg.Inhewasappointedvicepresident,headCitroënGermany,andinhewasnamedheadCitroënNorthernincludingtheU.K.,andScandinavia.

Chief Sales and Marketing Officer

Kuniskis joined the former Chrysler Corp. in 1992 and held a series of positions in the

Rover Group, where she went from regional financial manager for Rover Europe in the late ‘90s to European sales finance director for the MG Rover Group until 2004. She joined Groupe PSA in 2005 as finance director of Citroën U.K. and then of Citroën France from 2009 to 2010. She became CEO of Citroën U.K. and Ireland in July 2010. In 2014, Jackson was appointed the global CEO of the Citroën brand.

Musy’s career path is focused on the field of commerce in different sites and regions. He joined Groupe PSA in 1990

Ministry of Industry in 1984 and was appointed adviser to the prime minister for industry and environment in 1990. From 1992 to 1998, he worked for French aluminum firm Pechiney. He started at PSA in 2006 as CEO of Faurecia. In 2016, Olivier was named senior vice president, mobility services, and became general secretary for Groupe PSA in 2018, in addition to supervising Chinese activities since April 2020.

CHRISTIANMEUNIER

NICOLAS MOREL

After working in the Ford Italia sales organization, Napolitano joined the Fiat Group in 2000 as a business management

NAPOLITANOLUCA

JEAN-PIEREPLOUÉ

Chief Design Officer: Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Fiat Europe, Lancia, Opel, Peugeot, Vauxhall

THIERRYKOSKAS

Brand ChiefLanciaExecutive,

Koskas began his career in 1990 as a civil servant in France’s north region government office in charge of nuclear safety,

Jackson has built her experience across the auto industry with finance and commercial roles at Jaguar, Land Rover, and

Senior Vice ASEANPresident,

CHRISTOPHEMUSY

strategic roles at Renault, Volkswagen, Ford, Citroën, Peugeot, and DS Automobiles. He joined Groupe PSA in 2000, serving as Citroën’s design director, and became the group’s head of design in 2008. Ploué initiated the DS product line in 2006, which included the DS Automobiles premium brand in 2014. He became the senior vice president of design for Groupe PSA in 2016.

RICHARDPALMER

Feature || STELLANTIS - BIG THREE AUTO EXECUTIVES 68 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

She also served as the head of developmentbusinessfor FCA’s Europe Middle East Africa region beginning in 2009, and head of FCA Serbia from 2011. During this period, she also led the Fiat Group Auto Alliances Management and Strategic Planning function, where she managed alliances with key industrial partners.

ExecutiveChairman,Director

CARLOS TAVARES

NICOLAS DUFOURCQ

ANDREA AGNELLI

WAN LING MARTELLO

Non-executive MemberGovernanceEnvironmental,Director,SocialandCommittee

VERNETTISILVIA

CICCONI

Non-executive Director, Chairperson, Remuneration Committee, Audit Committee Member

Romeo, Lancia, and Mase rati brands. In 2007, he was named quality assurance director for Volkswagen South America, where he was responsible for the manufacturing quality of six plants in Brazil and Argentina. He also oversaw quality strategy and certification, supplier quality engineering, and product reliability. He rejoined FCA Group in 2016 and served as head of quality for the Latin America region.

Schwarzwald joined Fiat Automobiles in 2004 as the senior VP for quality, and supplier quality director for the Fiat, Alfa

Steyr including executive director, purchasing — Asia Pacific; vice president, operations and purchasing, Magna Powertrain – Asia; and president and board member, Magna Steyr— Asia. Smiley was named senior vice president and general manager for technology firm TE Connectivity for the Asia Pacific Region in 2012, and in 2019 he was appointed purchasingchiefand supply chain officer for FCA.

ROBERT PEUGEOT

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares oversees a multinational enterprise featuring 16 brands, from Abarth and Alfa Romeo to Ram and Vauxhall.

Stewart spent the first years of his career in manufacturing with TRW Inc., and later Tower Automotive Inc. He has been based in the U.S., Belgium, Germany, and China in a variety of positions in production, quality, and engineering.

STELLANTIS BOARD OF FIONADIRECTORSCLARE

Global Corporate Office

Smiley began his career at General Motors.

Senior Vice President for Human Resources, North America.

Williams is responsible for leading a regional team focusing on human resources strategy, talent

Vice

Non-executive Director

Non-executive Director, Chairperson, Audit Committee

STEWARTMARK

development and joint ventures coordination for Fidis, the consumergroup’sfinance unit.

KEVIN SCOTT

and careerWilliamsjoiningToledo,HealthcareGroupCareresourcespresidentPreviously,Darestrategyachievecompany’ssupportingtionaldevelopment,leadershiporganiza-effectiveness,andtheeffortstoitslong-termasoutlinedinitsForward2030plan.hewasviceofhumanfortheAcuteandPhysicianatProMedicaSystemsinOhio.BeforePromedica,hada35-yearatGeneralMotors.

Senior Independent Director, Chairperson Environmental, Social and CommitteeMember,Committee,GovernanceAuditCommitteeRemunerationMember

SMILEYCARL

WESTERHARALD

Stewart Americas,Manley,America,responsibilityassumesforNorthsucceedingMikeformerheadofwholeftthe

ANN GODBEHEREFRANCES

COO, India and Asia Pacific

concepts department from 1991 to 1995. He later joined Audi AG in Ingolstadt as program manager for the A2 models and special vehicles. Wester joined Ferrari S.p.A. at Maranello as director of product development, where he remained until 2002. He joined Fiat Group in 2004, and was appointed CTO in 2007 and COO of Maserati in 2018. He also served as head of Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and Abarth.

Chief Operating Officer, North America

Stewart was named vice president of operations for Amazon in 2017. He was appointed COO for FCA’s North America region in December 2018.

Chief ExperienceCustomerOfficer

Vernetti held consultant roles at Bain & Co. in Italy and Andersen Consulting prior to joining Fiat S.p.A in 2004, where she was responsible for business

TOBIN WILLIAMSJ.

Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director

company to become CEO of AutoNation Inc.

STARS ALIGN

Chief Engineering Officer

MemberRemunerationNon-executiveChairman,Director,Committee

JACQUES DE SAINTEXUPÉRY

Non-executive Director, Remuneration Committee Member, Environmental, Social and Governance Committee Member

SCHWARZWALDRICHARD

Non-executive MemberGovernanceEnvironmental,Director,SocialandCommittee

Wester started his profes sional career at Volkswagen AG in Wolfsburg, where he was general manager of the vehicle research and new

HENRI DE CASTRIES

The Stellantis board of directors can be viewed at: governance/board-of-directorsstellantis.com/en/company/

JOHN ELKANN

Beginning in 2006, he held a number of advancing roles at Magna

Door and trim systems, instrument panels, consoles and cockpits, flooring and acoustic systems, headliners and overhead systems, other interior and exterior products 20 22 Inteva Products 1401 Crooks Rd., Troy, 248-655-8886 Gerard Roose, President and CEO North American: $1.1B, Global: $3.3B Interior systems, roof systems, closure systems, motors and electronics 23 23 Visteon Corp. 1 Village Center Dr., Van Buren Charter 734-710-5000Township, Sachin Lawande, CEO North American: NA, Global: $2.8B Vehicle cockpit electronics 24 24 Cooper Standard 2110 Executive Hills Dr., Auburn Hills, 248-836-9400 Jeffery Edwards, CEO North American: $1.14B, Global: $2.3B Sealing systems, fuel and brake delivery systems, fluid transfer systems, anti-vibration systems 22 25 Bridgewater Interiors 4617 W. Fort St., Detroit, 313-842-3300 Ronald Hall Jr., President and CEO North American: NA, Global: $2B Automotive seating components and systems 25 Tier 1 Auto Suppliers In metro Detroit, ranked by global revenue* SOURCE: DBUSINESS RESEARCH TIER 1 AUTO SUPPLIERS || Feature SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 69

13 10

Doug Del Grosso, President and CEO

Heating, ventilation and air conditioners, radiators, driving control and safety, fuel pumps, instrument clusters, electronic fuel injection 3

Americas 1320 Pacific

Ray Scott, President and CEO

North American: NA, Global: $10.37B

17 18

NA,

North American: $16.7B, Global: $36.2B Body, chassis, exterior, seating powertrain, electronic, vision, closure and roof systems, modules

Continental AG 1 Continental Dr., Auburn Hills, 248-393-5300

Martin Brudermuller, Global Chairman and CEO

Body and security, driver interface, active safety, powertrain systems, electrical and electronic architecture

Dana Holding Corp. Telegraph Rd., Bingham 248-594-6227Farms,

Yazaki North America 38111 Van Dyke Ave., Sterling Heights, 586-268-4393

North American: $1.96B, $3.4B

Electric and hydraulic power steering, steer by wire, steering columns and intermediate shafts, driveline systems, e-drive, software solutions 21 21 IAC North America 28333 Telegraph Rd., Southfield, 248-455-7000 David Prystash, CEO

North American: Global: $3.3B

James Kamsickas, President and CEO

6 8

North American: NA, Global: $18B

30800

9 11

Frederic Lissalde, CEO

Tenneco Inc. International Dr., Monroe, 734-243-8000

23030

FORVIA Faurecia(formerly&Hella) High Meadow Cir., Auburn Hills, 248-724-5100

Serves customers with four business groups: motorparts, performance solutions, clean air, and powertrain

Lear Corp. 21557 Telegraph Rd., Southfield, 248-447-1500

North American: NA, Global: $8.9B

North American: $2.5B, Global: $8.2B seat belts, steering wheels, passive safety electronics N. Opdyke Rd., Auburn Hills, 248-364-7190 Gottel, CEO

19 20 Nexteer Automotive 1272 Doris Rd., Auburn

Patrick Koller, CEO

North American: NA, Global: $11.5B

Gasoline, diesel, chassis control, electrical drives, automotive electronics, starter motors and generators, infotainment, battery technology 1

Seerarama Kotagiri, CEO

RANK2021 1 BASF 26701

Chassis

Interior systems, seats, exhaust systems, hydrogen storage systems, lighting, vehicle electronics 49200 Halyard Dr., Plymouth Township, 734-254-5000

Components for autonomous driving, electric mobility, integrated safety, vehicle motion control, and digitalization and software 5

7 7

8 9 Adient

Seiji Maeda, CEO

Magna International Inc. 750 Tower Dr., Troy, 248-631-1100

Robert H. Lee, CEO

10 14

North American: $1.4B (est.), Global: $15.4B

16 15

3800

Lighting, powertrain, transmissions, electronics, suspension systems, shock absorbers, exhaust systems, plastic systems and components, aftermarket, mostorsports

Mahle Industries Inc. Mahle Drive, Farmington 248-305-8200Hills,

Engine components, filter systems, vehicle air conditioning, engine cooling

989-757-5000 Robin Milavec, President, CTO, and CSO

BorgWarner Inc. Automation Ave., Auburn Hills, 248-754-9600

Denso Denso Dr., Southfield, 248-350-7500

Coatings, catalysts, performance chemicals and materials, lightweighting components, 3-D printing, fuels and lubricants 2

North American: NA, Global: $15.6B

2800

Marelli 3850 Hamlin Rd., Auburn Hills, 248-418-3000

Mikael Bratt, President and CEO

Robert Bosch 38000 Hills Tech Dr., Farmington 248-552-9000Hills,

North American: NA, Global: $6.62B systems, structures, exhaust and engine applictions, engineering services Hills,

14 17

North American: $9.5B, Global: $45.1B

MICHIGAN ADDRESS TOP EXECUTIVE REVENUE* PRODUCTS Telegraph Rd., Southfield, 248-827-4670

18 19 Benteler Automotive Group 2650

ZF Group 15811 Centennial Dr., Northville Township, 48168

Battery systems, inverters, electric motors, integrated drive modules, thermal management, boosting technologies

Ryosuke Yazaki, President and CEO

North American: $25.9B (est.), Global: $80B

Aptiv 5725 Delphi Rd., Troy, 248-813-2000

15 16

Drivetrain products (axles, transmissions), sealing products, thermal management technologies, fuel cells

David Slump, President and CEO

11 12

RANKCOMPANY2022

Brakes, components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, electronics, tires and technical elastomers 4

North American: NA, Global: $20B Automotive seating components and systems

North American: NA, Global: $39.94B

12 13

North American: NA, Global: $14.8B

Scott Ferriman, President

Autoliv Dr., Auburn Hills, 248-475-9000

Mike Mansuetti, President

North American: NA, Global: $19.3B Seating and electrical power management systems

Martin Fischer, President North $10.45B,American:Global: $42.7B

Aisin World Corp. of America Centennial Dr., Northville, 734-453-5551

Scott Turpin, President and CEO North American: $5.4B, Global: $33.4B Body, brake, and chassis systems, drivetrain and engine components, information/electronic systems

AmericaInternationalInc. 24777

Glen De Vos Sr. VP, William Pressley Sr. VP

North American: $6.21B, Global: $25.88B

Wiring harnesses, connectors, junction and power distribution boxes, instrumentation, high-voltage systems

Brian Kesseler, CEO

Airbags,

Ralf

15300

Global:

North American: $11.5B, Global: $79.22B

Subaru

71/77 Russ Milne Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 799/1,055 Sellers Subaru CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 357/125 DickRichmondHuvaere's Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 351/1,657 GollingRosevilleChrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 169/821 Jeffery Acura Honda Kia Nissan CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 444/476 St. Clair Shores Genesis Cadillac CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 109/87 Mercedes-Benz of St. Clair Shores CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 81/42 Roy O'Brien Ford Inc. CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 269/515 Sterling Heights Crest Lincoln CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 157/338 Dealership Amenities Buy/Lease Serra Whelan Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 739/2,315 Sterling Heights Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 475/1,435 Suburban Ford of Sterling Heights CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 1,248/1,310 Vyletel Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 396/666 MeadeUtica Lexus of Lakeside CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 130/56 Galeana'sWarren Van Dyke Dodge CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 149/228 Golling Toyota of Warren CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 200/172 Hamilton Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 380/766 Jim Riehl's Friendly Chrysler Jeep CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 231/816 Prestige Cadillac CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 131/43 Washington

Hodges CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 247/136

Matick Toyota CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 206/202

Macomb

CountyMacombCountyLivingston CountyOaklandCountyMacomb AUTO

Ford of Romeo CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 498/714 Jim Riehl’s Friendly Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 315/563 Serra Buick GMC Cadillac Kia CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 574/542 FredBirminghamLaveryCo. CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 155/183 Bloomfield Hills Erhard BMW of Bloomfield Hills CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 8/18 Golling Alpha Romeo Fiat CL, P&S, A, R, S 36/213 Golling Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 386/1,759 Mercedes-Benz of Bloomfield Hills CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 187/146 Page Honda of Bloomfield CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 39/537 FeldmanClarkstonDodge Chrysler Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 223/464 John Bowman Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 572/1,144 Commerce Township LaFontaine Subaru CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 279/140 SellersFarmingtonBuick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 391/562 Farmington Hills BMW of Farmington Hills CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 194/118 Jaguar Land Rover of Farmington Hills CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 83/113 LaFontaine Volvo Cars of Farmington Hills CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 98/94 Suburban Honda CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 292/259 Suburban Imports of Farmington Hills CL,

Elder P&S, R, S, UC P&S, A, R, S, UC 302/305

Causley Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 478/1,352

Parkway Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 512/2,615

377/547 Suburban Toyota of Farmington Hills CL,

Nissan of Macomb CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 85/97

Some pandemic-affected but overall sales still dropped from

CL,

183,031 vehicles in 2020 to 156,243 in 2021 due to a shortage of computer chips and near-record inflation. “Not only are customers squeezed by higher costs, they will become more reluctant to borrow as interest rates rise, and more fearful about the future if the emerging recession worsens,” says Patrick Anderson, principal and CEO of Anderson Economic Group in East Lansing. “We are in for some consumer belt-tightening in the U.S., and that’s not good for the auto industry.” AMENITIES KEY: CL: Customer lounge P&S: Parts & service on-site A: Accessories on-site R: Rentals (based on availability) S: Shuttle Service UC: Used cars Feature || DEALER SALES REPORT 70 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

Jaguar Land Rover of Macomb CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC HeidebreichtTownshipChevrolet

Suburban Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 36/52

Jim

Jim P&S, A, R, S, UC 396/474

Moran Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 791/2,042

Riehl's Friendly Cadillac Honda CL,

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 238/256

Genesis Alfa Romeo-Fiat CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 92/115

Holzer Ford CL,

auto dealerships in the Detroit metropolitan area rebounded from the

Dealership Amenities Buy/Lease BrightonBrighton Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 453/318 Champion Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 206/196 Champion Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Brighton CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 120/214 Serra Honda-Mazda CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 225/122 ChampionFowlerville Chevrolet of Fowlerville CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 39/56 Dick Scott Motor Mall CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 53/101 Fowlerville Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 66/52 BobHowellMaxey Ford of Howell CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 346/370 Champion Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 149/259 PinckneyPinckney Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 169/159 Center Line Crest Ford — Center Line CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 237/532 Ed Rinke Chevrolet Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 587/1,632

Township

DunningFerndale Ferndale P&S, A, R, S, UC 38/40

Clinton

Elder Hyundai CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 196/182

Summit Place Kia East CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 695/332

numbers of 2020,

Mike Dorian Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 527/1,096

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 420/908

Township

Suburban Ford of Ferndale CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 123/257 CONSUMERDEALERSHIPGUIDE

Tom P&S, A, R, S, UC 612/807

Porsche of The Motor City CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 6/1

GenesisEastpointeChevrolet

Honda of

Highland

Hines

RandyOrtonvilleWise CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 154/118

Mercedes-Benz of Ann Arbor CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 99/33

Amenities Buy/Lease

Cadillac Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 923/1,212

BMW of Rochester Hills CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 121/137

Dean Sellers Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 549/577

Rochester Hills

Suburban Cadillac Buick CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 148/100

Mike Savoie Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 238/848

Automotive Group CL,

S, UC 291/515

Varsity Ford CL, P&S, A,

Mercedes-Benz of Rochester CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 76/70

LaFontaine

Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Dealership

Ann Arbor Infinity CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 1/1

Suburban Exotic Motor Cars of Michigan CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 44/20

Fox Ann Arbor Nissan CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 64/64

M-59 Dodge CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 188/240

Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 175/476

Suburban Imports of Troy CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 220/185

Avis Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 372/794

Edgar Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 316/918 New FeldmanHudsonChevrolet of New Hudson CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 240/306 Feldman Hyundai of New Hudson CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 166/106

Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 159/322

Suburban Infiniti of Troy CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 17/59

Chevrolet of Highland CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 456/386

Suburban Hyundai CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 205/216

Suburban Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Troy CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 105/207

Fox Ann Arbor Acura CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 33/21

Tamaroff P&S, A, R, S, UC 387/477

Fox Ann Arbor Hyundai CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 164/156

Sesi Lincoln Volvo Mazda CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 167/204

Suburban Chevrolet Cadillac of Ann Arbor CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 172/172

Crestview Cadillac CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 162/278

Shelton Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 170/307

AcuraTroy of Troy CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 41/56

LaFontaine Buick GMC of Ann Arbor CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 220/195

Porsche of Ann Arbor CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 44/13

Lamborghini Maserati Troy CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 10/0

ArtSouthfieldMoran

Charter Township

Glassman Automotive Group CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 485/398

of Novi CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 202/137 Feldman Chevrolet of Novi CL, P&S,

Serra Southfield CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 366/549

Toyota

Ford

Feldman

Fox Toyota of Rochester Hills CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 321/277

Serra Ford of Rochester Hills CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 564/607

Elder Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 797/383

Palace Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 210/1,065

Bill Fox Chevrolet Inc. CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 310/748

Walled LaFontaineLakeChrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 329/677 Waterford Township Joe Lunghamer Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 344/795 Lunghamer Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 298/374 Suburban Ford of Waterford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 810/953 Summit Place Kia CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 736/248 Szott M-59 Toyota CL, P&S, A, S, UC 226/90 Waterford Mitsubishi CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 161/29 West Bloomfield Township Cauley Ferrari CL, P&S, A, UC 4/1 White Lake Charter Township Szott M-59 Chrysler Jeep CL,

Jaguar Land Rover of Troy CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 91/151

BMW of Ann Arbor CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 104/238

Mercedes-Benz of Novi CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 119/235

Village Jeep CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 71/154

Rochester Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 254/789

Feldman Kia of Novi CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 223/156

Lincoln

Star CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 111/420

Suburban Toyota CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 102/143

Ann Arbor

Suburban Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Ann Arbor CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 35/70 S, UC 672/886

Page CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 170/146

Suburban Infiniti of Novi CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 43/113

Oak NorthlandPark Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 77/214

Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 233/191 Lake GollingOrionBuick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 221/496

Motor CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 62/41

Meade Lexus of Southfield CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 169/410

City Mini

Wally

Lincoln of Troy CL, P&S, A, S, UC 210/319

Suburban Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 201/314

Serra Highland Nissan CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 85/96

Audi of Rochester Hills CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 98/100

CadillacNovi A, R, S, UC 637/1,480

Dealership Amenities Buy/Lease

Royal Matthews-HargreavesOak

Szott

Tony

Park Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 477/604

Royal Oak Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 308/703

Varsity Lincoln CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 98/632

Southfield CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 159/649

Troy Honda CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 161/201 P&S, R,

Milosch's

Dunning Toyota Subaru of Ann Arbor CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 564/983

LaFontaine Kia of Ann Arbor CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 192/44

Art Moran Mitsubishi CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 2/1

Germain Honda of Ann Arbor CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 64/44

Chevrolet of

Lexus of Ann Arbor CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 107/108

Skalnek

Volkswagen of Ann Arbor CL, P&S, A, S, UC 72/80 ArtChelseaMoehn Chevrolet Buick CL, P&S, A,R,S, UC 61/39 Chelsea Chevrolet Buick CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 20/17 Golling Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Chelsea CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 68/95 LaFontaineDexter Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, S, UC 237/201 VictoryMilan Chevrolet Buick CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 100/71 BillSalineCrispin Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 180/175 Briarwood Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 214/287 LaFontaine Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 134/186 CountyOakland CountyWashtenawCountyOakland AMENITIES KEY: CL: Customer lounge P&S: Parts & service on-site A: Accessories on-site R: Rentals (based on availability) S: Shuttle Service UC: Used cars DEALER SALES REPORT || Feature SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 71

SzottHolly

Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 319/395

Kia Canton P&S, S, UC 152/102 Canton CL, P&S, R, S, UC 56/53

Nissan of Dearborn CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 117/89

Ford

Bob Maxey Lincoln CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 61/198

Canton

Westborn Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 104/517

AtchinsonBelleville

Jorgensen Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 48/94

CL, P&S, A, S, UC 92/112

Fischer Honda CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 123/174

Jack Demmer Lincoln CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 155/350

CL,

Ray Laethem Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 127/177

LaFontaine Honda CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 292/278

Les Stanford Chevrolet Cadillac CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 533/1,639

Flat CrestRockFord of Flat Rock CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 293/588 Garden City Gordon Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 311/895 Suburban Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Garden City CL, P&S, A, S, UC 196/798 Highland Park Bill Snethkamp Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, R, S, UC 69/699 BillLivoniaBrown Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 1,378/3,066 Feldman Chevrolet of Livonia CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 498/591 Livonia Chrysler Jeep CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 74/178 Ralph Thayer Automotive CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 199/125 Plymouth Township Blackwell Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 385/752 Bob Jeannotte Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 190/331 Dick Scott Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 174/499 Fox Hills Chrysler Jeep CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 107/358 Hines Park Lincoln CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 204/645 Lou LaRiche Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 156/374 Suburban Cadillac of Plymouth CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 351/181 Victory Honda of Plymouth CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 296/216 Redford Township George Matick Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 709/578 Pat Milliken Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 629/1,706 Snethkamp Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 115/699 DickSouthgateGenthe Chevrolet CL, P&S, A,

Southgate Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 547/1,739

LaFontaine Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 7/43

James Martin Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 116/193

A, R,

Nissan of

Ray Laethem Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 104/429 R, S, UC 173/642

Dealership Amenities Buy/Lease

Victory Toyota CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 231/169

Jeep P&S, S, UC 152/225

FairlaneDearbornFord

Ford Sales CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 391/1,006

LaFontaine Volkswagen CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 92/199

Dodge Ram CL,

CueterYpsilantiChrysler

Dealership Amenities Buy/Lease MoranTaylor Buick GMC CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 392/519 Taylor Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 379/817 Taylor Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 734/2,350 Telegraph Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 277/1,109 JackWayneDemmer Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 530/1,018 Mark Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 137/353 NorthWestlandBrothers Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 225/690 Todd Wenzel Buick GMC of Westland CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 291/606 FeldmanWoodhavenChrysler Dodge Jeep Ram CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 411/930 Gorno Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 378/1,027 Michael Bates Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 372/796 AMENITIES KEY: CL: Customer lounge P&S: Parts & service on-site A: Accessories on-site R: Rentals (based on availability) S: Shuttle Service UC: Used cars PURCHASED VEHICLES 1. Bill Brown Ford, Livonia // 1,378 2. Suburban Ford, Sterling Heights // 1,248 3. LaFontaine Toyota, Dearborn // 1,187 4. LaFontaine Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Highland //923 5. Suburban Ford, Waterford // 810 6. Russ Milne Ford, Macomb Township // 799 7. Serra Whelan Chevrolet, Sterling Heights // 739 8. Summit Place Kia, Waterford // 736 9. Taylor Ford // 734 10. Feldman Chevrolet of Novi // 637 LEASED VEHICLES 1. Bill Brown Ford, Livonia // 3,066 2. Parkway Dodge, Clinton Township // 2,615 3. Taylor Ford // 2,350 4. Serra Whelan Chevrolet, Sterling Heights // 2,315 5. Moran Chevrolet, Clinton Township // 2,042 6. Golling Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Bloomfield Hills // 1,759 7. Southgate Ford // 1,739 8. Dick Huvaere’s Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Richmond // 1,657 9. Les Stanford Chevrolet Cadillac, Dearborn // 1,639 10. Ed Rinke Chevrolet Buick, Center Line // 1,632 CountyWashtenaw Dealer Top 10 Totals CountyWayne CountyWayne 2020PurchasedLeasedTotals202118% 36% 82% 64% 33,295 56,530 183,031149,736 99,713156,243 SOURCE: CROSS-SELL Feature || DEALER SALES REPORT 72 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

Village Ford CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 559/891

BobDetroitMaxey

Jefferson Chevrolet CL, P&S, A, S, UC 37/106

Genthe Honda CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 122/99

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 121/249

Southgate Lincoln CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 67/240

Gene Butman Ford CL, P&S, A, S, UC 204/196

LaFontaine Toyota CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC 1,187/745

A, R,

Township

Find out how we can help propel your business forward with customized support at michiganbusiness.org/pure-partnership

DISCOVER BUSINESS.FORPOSSIBILITIESNEWYOUR

No matter what stage your business is in, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation is here to help you succeed. By connecting you to the resources your business needs, granting access to necessary capital and introducing you to the right partners, the MEDC helps your business reach new potential.

ightning Lightning

GUSHUETED 74 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022 Cover Story

BY PAUL EISENSTEIN

That idea didn’t play well with Jim Farley. Newly returned from an assignment in Europe, he was now in charge of global markets, making him one of the key overseers of Ford’s product lineup. Pressing his case with Ford’s then newly named CEO, Jim Hackett, Farley brought the project to a halt. What came next was the creation of Team Edison.

But it’s proved to be one of the best moves Ford has made in years. The Mach-E has become one of the best-selling EVs on the market. And demand for the next all-electric model in the lineup, the new F-150 Lightning, is running four times what the company initially forecast, Farley said during a late July interview.

CO.MOTORFORDCOURTESY Cover Story September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 75

“I remember coming back from Europe,” Farley said in a podcast earlier this year, “and I said to the team, we need to get emotion. We need to put Detroit swagger in our electric car.” That wasn’t a difficult sell. The controversial step was naming the newly redesigned EV the Mustang Mach-E. There were a number of Ford insiders who couldn’t buy in. And once the project was announced to the public, there were plenty of Mustang loyalists who took the idea as an almost personal affront.

In December 2017, Ford revealed plans to move some of its high-tech operations into a century-old building known as “The Factory” in Detroit’s revitalized Corktown neighborhood. “They got together in Corktown, only a few blocks away from my great-grandfather’s old factory,” recalled Bill Ford Jr., executive chairman of Ford. But the move wasn’t about nostalgia. By stepping outside of the automaker’s main cam pus in Dearborn, the goal was to echo tech giant Apple’s grammatically challenged mantra, “Think Different.”

xpectations were low when Ford Motor Co.’s product development team set out to work up a new battery-electric SUV nearly seven years ago. Intentionally so.

“Just when we finished the walls” at the new Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, “we had to knock them down,” says Darren Palmer, Ford’s head of elec trification. The facility is expected to boost capacity to 150,000 F-150 Lightning pickup trucks annually when the expansion is completed. But it will soon be dwarfed by Blue Oval City, the electric vehicle production center near Memphis that Farley — now Ford’s president and CEO — announced last autumn. At five square miles, this will be the automaker’s largest manufacturing complex ever when it opens in three years.

The Dearborn-based automaker had little success with its earlier model, the Focus EV, and sales of all-electric vehicles, in general, seemed to be going nowhere. Ford knew it needed to meet California’s increasingly strict zero-emission vehicle standards, but the plan simply called for what was derisively known in the industry as a “compliance car.”

“It didn’t have a personality. There was no swag ger,” recalls one senior Ford insider familiar with the program. As planned, the all-electric SUV was likely to require hefty incentives to sell just enough of them to meet the ZEV mandates set by the California Air Resources Board, or CARB.

SpEed SpEed Eed

COMPRESSION RATIO Away from the office, Jim Farley, president and CEO of Ford Motor Co., can be found with his Ford GT40. In July, he and his racing team had a podium finish at the Le Mans Classic in France. Above, Farley helps debut the F-150 Lightning, the first all-electric pickup in the marketplace.

CO.MOTORFORDCOURTESY Cover Story 76 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022

This transformation will happen fast and at a pace much quicker than Ford has experienced in more than a century, Farley contends. He doesn’t deny that it will be “painful,” but the payoff, he promises, will be significant. Farley forecasts a large increase in sales, especially EVs, while Ford, as a whole, will see its adjusted EBIT margins climb from a reasonably solid 7.3 percent in 2021 to at least 10 percent by 2026.

While this bifurcation might seem more than enough for one CEO to work on during his tenure, Farley says it’s really just the beginning of what he envisions — a re-creation of the creativity that helped Ford become the industry leader in its ear liest days. “We’re in the first inning of this Ford transformation, which I see as the biggest opportunity to increase value since the Model T scaled (up)” with the debut of the moving assembly line at Ford’s old Highland Park plant in 1913.

That might seem hard to swallow for some indus try observers and Ford investors. After all, EVs have been perpetual money-losers. The late Sergio Mar chionne, the former CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (part of Stellantis today), went so far as to plead with potential customers not to purchase the company’s first all-electric model, the Fiat 500e. “I hope you don’t buy it, because every time I sell one it costs me $14,000,” Marchionne said during a May 2014 presen tation to the Brookings Institution.

BlueCruise is just one of the many services and features that Ford plans to add to future vehicles in an era of what’s come to be known as the “soft ware-defined vehicle.”

However,costs.unlike rival General Motors — which has announced plans for 30 EVs by 2025 — Farley and his team have been reluctant to offer more details about what’s coming next. But, he hinted during a phone conversation, we can expect to see electric versions of all “icon” models with products like the Explorer SUV and Ranger pickup to soon follow.

This is where the real transformation comes into play, Farley explains. “This transition isn’t about EVs. It’s a much bigger, much more fundamental shift … to a digital product,” he says.

More significantly, says Farley, the added soft ware is opening up the opportunity to provide a wealth of new services and features. For example, Ford will be able to remotely improve the perfor mance of a vehicle’s electric motors, increase range, and speed up charging. It will be able to add new safety features and stream movies and other forms of entertainment to its vehicles — something that could become quite popular as more sophisticated versions of BlueCruise are introduced and motorists don’t need to pay attention to the road anymore. While some virtual updates will be free, others — like BlueCruise — could carry a premium.

In fact, today’s vehicles have become computers on wheels. It’s not uncommon to have 100 or more micro processors on board. “Once, the focus was on mechan ical systems, but cars are becoming more and more complex. Consider that the Ford F-150 has 150 million lines of (software) code to make it go,” says Kristine Coogan, a managing direction with consultancy KPMG. Today, the automaker is able to update much of that code using smartphone-style, over-the-air updates. When Ford launches its next-generation electric architecture mid-decade, there won’t be a sin gle line of code it won’t be able to refresh.

STEERING AXIS

Along with the Mach-E and Lightning, Ford has introduced an all-electric ver sion of its popular Transit van. And that’s given the automaker a huge head start in the commercial sector, which is expected to see a rapid shift to battery power over the coming decade. Companies like Amazon Prime, FedEx, UPS, and even the U.S. Post Office see a potentially substantial reduction in energy and overall operating

What Farley has publicly laid out is a massive growth plan. Where it was just an asterisk on the EV sales charts two years ago, it’s now selling every vehicle it can build — currently about 14,000 a month. By this time next year, Farley says the goal is to reach 60,000 EVs a month. His forecast for 2026 is an annual 2 million. And that’s not a far stretch, according to John Murphy, longtime analyst from Bank of America Research. His annual “Car Wars” study, released in June, predicts Ford will capture a 15 percent share of the U.S. EV market by mid-decade, surpassing Tesla in theToprocess.givethis process momentum, Farley revealed in March plans to split Ford’s automotive operations in two. Ford Blue will focus on a lineup of vehicles using internal combustion engines, while Ford Model E will be charged with electrifying everything else. “Our legacy organization was holding us back,” Farley said during a March 2 webcast from Ford headquarters. “We had to change,” he added, calling the move “one of the biggest changes in our history.”

The price for the BlueCruise system varies by model. On the base version of the Mach-E, for exam ple, it goes for $3,200 up front. And while most vehicles will get three years of free service, owners will then have to re-up at $600 for another three years.

Ford’s BlueCruise is one example. The “Level 2+” driver assistance system is being installed on an expanding list of vehicles, including the new Light ning. Currently, it allows motorists to operate handsfree on more than 100,000 miles of U.S. and Canadian roadways. Like GM’s similar Super Cruise technology, Ford plans to rapidly expand that mileage total while adding still more features, such as the ability to change lanes simply by tapping the turn signal.

Ford will begin offering its new BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system to customers later this year after 500,000 miles of development testing and fine-tuning the technology on a journey across the United States and Canada.

Cover Story September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 77

As any racer knows, it’s a risky sport — and Reuss had an “incident” a few years back driving the pace car at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle. But he was back out on the circuit a year later, piloting the C7 Grand Sport pace car during the IndyCar races.

VICTORY LANE

One of the most serious executive racers is Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis. “Like most successful CEOs, Carlos Tavares isn’t afraid to take risks,” says David Cole, director emeritus of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.

Done up in classic Ford livery, with a white stripe on a dark blue body, Farley has raced the GT40 on a number of Europe’s grand circuits, including the Goodwood Revival in the U.K. and the Spa 6 Hour event in Belgium, as well as the annual classic race at WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif. He also counts a rare 1978 Lola 298 and a 1966 Ford Cobra among the vintage racers he routinely takes out on the track.

The two began working together on Toyota’s newly formed Gazoo Racing. Still, some people inside and outside of the company fretted about the risks he was taking on the track. That led Toyoda to adopt the name Morizo — a nickname given to a green shrub used as the mascot of the 2005 World Expo in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, where Toyota is based — before running the 24-hour endurance rate at Germany’s challenging Nürburgring in 2007. Toyoda has returned to the German track on a number of occasions, and even at 66, he continues to squeeze in time on tracks whenever possible, even though his pseudonym is now widely known.

— By Paul Eisenstein

It took a little bit of persuading to continue racing after he reached the executive suite at Ford. Most automakers tend to restrict the risks senior leaders take.

Tavares squeezes in about 20 track events annually. By his own count, he’s logged well over 500 races. He often downplays his skills, telling Automotive News, “You quickly discover that the limit is the driver, not the car.” Perhaps, but Tavares is a serious contender in the European touring car endurance series and has logged a long string of victories, including the Barcelona 24-hour race in 2014.

In addition to his GT40, Farley has raced on tracks with a Ford Mustang Boss 302, a 1964 AC Cobra, and a Lola T298, among others.

CONSTANT RADIUS Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corp., often races in public road rallies, and he takes part in the automaker’s 5 Continents Drive.

Farley had been a “gearhead,” never afraid to get his fingernails dirty, for as long as he can remember, and almost turned down a chance to work in the industry because “I was scared about going into the auto business because I thought it would ruin my interest in cars.” His first job out of college had him working at the Los Angeles classic car restoration shop run by legendary Formula One racer Phil Hill, which only encouraged Farley’s passion for motorsports.

MAIN BEARINGS

HEMI HEAD Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, has competed in multiple road tournaments including the RCZ Racing Cup, EuroBoss, and Classic Endurance Racing.

If a driver named “Morizo” ever shows up on track, here’s a little secret: that’s the nom de circuit of Akio Toyoda, president and CEO of Toyota and the grandson of the company’s founder.

WHILE SOME OVERWORKED CEOS are happy to relax by a swimming pool over the weekend, you’re just as likely to find Jim Farley, president and CEO of Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, wearing a fire-resistant jumpsuit as he heads out on the racetrack.

Like GM’s Reuss, Toyoda has reserved for himself the title of “master driver,” the carmaker’s top test track driver. But his skills were honed relatively late, after returning to Japan at the age of 40 from a U.S. assignment. Toyota’s legendary chief test driver, Hiromu Naruse, often kidded the executive about his lack of experience. But he discovered a formidable talent after taking Toyoda under his wing.

Farley is by no means alone. While the typical senior executive might fall into the “bean-counter” category, Detroit-based General Motors Co. President Mark Reuss is another top executive who craves time on the track. Reuss previously served as the automaker’s global product development chief and still makes regular forays to the GM Proving Grounds in Milford Township to pilot new products under development. In his off time, he’s also logged plenty of laps racing.

CO.MOTORFORDIMAGES,STELLANTIS,APVIASASAHARAKOJI

There’s an advantage to having track cred, Toyota insiders say. It’s given the automaker more credibility while serving as a proof point for the CEO who has made a mantra of driving his product development teams to put more “performance” into their products.

And Farley may have missed his real calling, if the results of the biennial Le Mans Classic this past July 4 weekend are any indication. Driving his own 1965 Ford GT40, Ford’s leader managed to turn in a second-place podium finish. “A dream come true ... Three hours of flat-out racing against some of the best drivers I know,” he tweeted after the race.

Growing demand for BlueCruise, Super Cruise, and similar technologies sug gests that software and data services will become a big revenue-enhancer for Ford and the rest of the industry.

CO.MOTORFORDCOURTESY Cover Story 78 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022

From Farley’s perspective, there’s really nothing that the digital revolution won’t transform, including the retail side of the business. Carla Bailo, head of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, agrees. “There’s going to be a dramatic shift and customers are asking for it,” she says. “The traditional dealership model isn’t very pleasant, and most people are going online to do their homework before they buy. They’d be happy to just go pick up (their new vehicle) when they’re done, or even have it delivered to their home.”

The automaker is already generating software and service revenues through its Ford Pro unit. “We’re entering the always-on digital age, and running a fleet has never been more complex. Ford Pro makes it easy for businesses to boost their productivity, with a onestop-shop solution delivered by a brand they can trust,” Ted Cannis, CEO of Ford’s commercial unit, said in a statement last April. Ford Pro fleet customers can use computers or a smartphone to track not only the location, but the status of their vehicles. They also can monitor fuel economy or an E-Transit’s state of charge, among other things. The unit is targeting revenues of $45 billion by 2025, and much of that will come from software and services.

The auto industry lagged the rest of the retail sector in migrating to online shop ping until the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Suddenly, with showrooms forced to close, dealers turned to remote shopping — and that was a key reason why sales recovered far more quickly than anyone had forecast. The shift to remote buying “came on at least three years faster than I expected before the pandemic,” says Mark LaNeve, the industry veteran who retired as Ford’s head of sales, service, and mar keting at the beginning of 2021.

The automaker isn’t the only manufacturer that sees the potential of raking in fresh profits from digital technology. During a March presentation, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares forecast software and data ser vices will generate revenue of 4 billion euros, or $4.5 billion, annually by 2026, and jump to 20 billion euros, or $22 billion, by 2030.

During her own fireside chat in February, GM CEO Mary Barra cited company research showing buyers are ready to spend an average $135 a month, including $85 for subscription and other services, for the neces sary hardware. Like Stellantis, GM’s software and ser vice-related revenue could be as much as $25 billion annually by 2030.

Mention the phrase “software-defined vehicles” to CEOs at pretty much any automaker, from Mer cedes-Benz to Kia, and you’ll likely see dollar signs dance in their eyes.

But will the auto industry be able to mirror the suc cess of streaming entertainment services like Netflix? “There’s absolutely an appetite for some of this,” says Sam Abuelsamid, principal auto analyst with Guide house Insights. “The question is how far along con sumers will go.” He calls some of the numbers from executives like Tavares and Barra “unrealistic.”

That’s echoed by a study released in April by Cox Automotive. Fully three-quarters of the motorists

ALTERNATING CURRENT Farley is funding the cost of introducing new EVs by using the profits from the automaker’s established products like the Explorer, Mustang, Bronco, Ranger, Maverick, and more.

“We can make big money” from software-defined vehicles, Farley says, and those revenues already “are growing at 40 percent to 50 percent (annually), and the margins are much better than vehicle (sales) margins. So that’s the most important thing hap pening at Ford.”

surveyed said they wouldn’t pay annual or monthly fees for new, in-vehicle services, especially if it meant paying for features that today are included in the price of the vehicle itself. Indeed, Toyota faced a harsh backlash when it suggested it might start charging owners to use their remote vehicle start function. BMW fared no better when it announced plans to start charging to use vehicle seat-heaters — although it quickly issued a disclaimer saying that wasn’t in the works for the U.S.

The process of purchasing a vehicle is undergoing the most rapid transforma tion since the first franchised dealers came on board more than a century ago. Tesla, in fact, has gone to an entirely factory-owned sales model. That has paid off in sev eral ways. For one thing, studies show buyers are much more satisfied with the

— JIM FARLEY, FORD

luxury brands like Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo, as well as ancillary car services operations. Hoping to keep the company from going broke as the Great Reces sion approached, Alan Mulally sold off those ventures and shifted the focus to the core “Blue Oval” Ford brand. They all had various levels of success achieving long-term change.

During his interview, Farley was quick to dismiss reports he’s looking for ways to abandon the dealership model. “We believe the franchise system will work, (but) the way for it to succeed is to have a great e-commerce platform.” This will allow customers to shape the purchase process to fit their own needs and desires, he explains, whether they want to shop at home, in the showroom, or find a blended experience.

Jim Farley’s automotive roots run deep. Although his father was a banker — working in Buenos Aires when Farley was born in 1962 — his grandfather had gone to work at Ford in 1913. Moving frequently, the young Farley earned a bachelor’s degree at Georgetown University and an MBA from UCLA. With it came plenty of offers, ones from Chevrolet and Ford among them. But Farley initially steered clear, going to work for the legendary Formula One driver Phil Hill, who operated a classic car restoration shop in Los Angeles, where Farley got to work on some truly rare automobiles. He subsequently took a job with IBM, but, after two years, the siren song of the auto industry was too alluring. He signed on with Toyota in 1990. It was a perfect moment, as the Japanese giant was intent on giving chase to the dominant Detroit manufacturers. Farley quickly impressed his bosses and was given the chance to prove himself when, in 2003, he helped launch the Scion brand aimed at attracting the young buyers who, back then, were sidestepping Toyota. It was an initial hit, though it later faltered after Farley moved on.

He’s also taken a tip from Elon Musk, the Twitter-crazed CEO of Tesla. Farley is likewise fond of tweeting — and podcasting — although he’s avoided the increas ingly wild and politicized bent of his counterpart. Nonetheless, the emphasis on social media has helped Ford shift itself in the public eye, both with consumers and investors, suggests Anthony Johndrow, founder and CEO of Reputation Economy Advisors. “He’s positioning the company differently, not as a company from the last century,” Johndrow says.

OUR PURE EVS WILL BE A MUCH SIMPLER LINEUP, WITH VERY BROADLY APPEALING PRODUCTS.”

With products such as the Mach-E, Lightning, and E-Transit gaining traction now, Farley himself acknowledges that the transition he’s laid out for Ford will take years to come to fruition. And, having turned 60 in June, it’s a question of how long he’ll be around to shepherd it through. With so many balls in the air, Farley says there’s plenty of “execution risk.”

The split into Ford Blue and Ford Model E is a key step. As older workers retire, over the long term many will be replaced by those who, Farley believes, will bring to the company a very different mindset. “It’s all about talent,” he emphasizes. That starts at the top with folks like Doug Fields, who, until recently, was running the mysterious Apple car program and previously worked for Tesla. Ford will hire “the best, and,” adds Farley, “often the most expensive talent.”

Cover Story September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 79

For one thing, look for Ford to pare back the extensive lineup of vehicles it tradi tionally offers. “We can’t afford that anymore. Our pure EVs will be a much simpler lineup, with very broadly appealing products,” he maintains.

Taking advantage of recent supply chain delays, the ongoing semiconductor shortage has left Ford showrooms all but bare. Farley plans to use that as opportu nity to trim down inventories, even when production finally catches up to demand. Meanwhile, when it comes to marketing and advertising, he says, “You don’t need to do all that promotion. We need to get in line with Tesla.”

His strategy for winning in the changing automotive world also requires a bit of hindsight, and Farley is turning back the clock, borrowing a page from corporate founder Henry Ford’s playbook. As he opened the massive manufacturing Rouge Industrial Center in the late 1920s along the Rouge River in Dearborn, Ford was determined to produce virtually everything he needed in-house, from glass to steel, motors, transmissions, and other components. Over the decades, Ford and its rivals have shifted to outsourcing virtually everything but the most critical components, likeBut,engines.going forward, says Farley, “We’re taking in-house … the batteries, the motors, the electrical architecture, the software.” The automaker is also lining up its own sources for raw materials, including the lithium and other metals needed for Farleybatteries.isby no means the only CEO who has tried to transform Ford in recent times. Alex Trotman attempted to combine global operations into a unified “One Ford.” Jacques Nasser went on a spending spree, investing billions of dollars in

upstart automaker’s purchase process. Equally significant are the cost savings. The traditional franchise model is “super-expensive,” Farley says, adding as much as $2,000 to the price of a typical automobile. Just filling dealer lots full of unsold cars, trucks, and SUVs adds an average $700 per vehicle, while advertising — something Tesla eschews — “is another $500, $600, $700 a vehicle.”

Joe Phillippi, the head of AutoTrends Consulting, says the Ford CEO is spot-on. “Farley has a long track record with a lot of successes,” Phillippi points out, but “the proof will be in the execution.”

How much that has helped sell Mustangs, pickups, and battery-electric vehicles is uncertain, but Ford has been gaining respect on Wall Street, Johndrow adds. “It’s difficult to talk about the future when you’re a publicly traded company,” he says, “but Farley has clearly been trying to do that, to break out of the penalty box and get Ford’s stock looked at differently.”

In 2008, Farley signed on with Ford. He quickly proved himself a disruptor and landed one promotion after another, becoming president in February 2020. Six months later, CEO Hackett announced plans to retire, and among the several senior execs positioned to succeed him, Farley was the one left standing.

Detroit automakers have traditionally been an insular group, and General Motors is routinely cited as Ford’s most direct competitor. But Farley dismisses what he sees as an outdated concept. To him, the real challengers are the “pure EV” companies, with Tesla at the fore, and an array of electric startups transforming the massive Chinese market. “They’re highly profitable and they don’t see themselves as just car companies. For them, it’s software and data,” as much as their vehicles. Far ley is intent on learning from those new entrants, Tesla in particular.

It came as no real surprise the two men were close and Farley clearly shared Hackett’s vision for a high-tech future, but what the younger executive added to the table was the ability to lay out a clear path going forward and setting marching orders.

80 PROMOTIONAL CONTENT THE FACE OF GLOBAL COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ADVISORY 2111SAVILLSWOODWARD AVE., STE. 700, DETROIT, MI 48201 | 313-474-5170 | SAVILLS.US

2022 AUTOMOTIVE 2022 AUTOMOTIVE

Gregory Bockart is the executive managing director and market leader of Savills’ Detroit office, which he established for the firm in 2019. Savills is a top-five global real estate advisory firm and, under Bockart’s leadership, the local office has grown substantially, adding 12 professionals while winning multiple industrySavillsawards.Detroit’s capabilities encompass all asset classes of commercial real estate. Bockart focuses on office and industrial brokerage for local, national, and global organizations. He has

Bockart will continue to make a local impact and has plans to double the firm’s Detroit presence.

an extensive list of clients including Fortune 500 companies, Tier 1 automotive suppliers, logistics companies, private equity firms, law firms, and technology companies. In 2021 alone, he executed transactions totaling over $150 million in value while representing tenants in more than 2.3 million square feet of leasing, including several of the largest transactions of the year.

Pictured fourth from right on second page: Gregory Bockart.

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

buying experience. Headquartered in metro Detroit, with staff throughout the U.S. and its team has built a collaborative, innovative, supportive, and agile environment to quickly respond to the swiftly-moving market.

Twenty years ago, RouteOne was founded as a FinTech joint venture to improve the finance and insurance process for dealerships and their customers. Still jointly owned by Financial, Ford Motor Credit Co., Auto Finance, and Toyota Financial Services, it remains focused on serving the dealer, finance source, and OEM auto finance market with itself to meet the modern technology expectations for the car-

Canada,

Ally

auto

THE FACES OF AUTOMOTIVE FINTECH 31500ROUTEONENORTHWESTERN HWY., STE. 300, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 | 866-768-8301 | ROUTEONE.COM 82

innovativeRouteOnesolutions.israpidly reinventing

2022 AUTOMOTIVE PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

At its core, RouteOne is the technology that connects dealerships and finance sources at the point of sale for auto finance. Its network expands to hundreds of integrated industry partners to deliver robust financial technology solutions where they can create the greatest impact.

consumer’s

Take this FREE 60 second

Sandler Training by Gerry Weinberg & Associates has helped hundreds of sales organizations turn the tide on their sales performance and we have found that there are 4 S's (Growth Blockers) impacting 90% of sales organizations. Knowing your growth blocker(s) is the first step to growing your sales organization and finally having repeatable and predictable sales results. quiz to 4030

find out "What's Your #1 Business Growth Blocker?" HaveQuestions?Contactus. GerryWeinberg&Associates gwa@sandler.comor248 353

Plus! Get this FREE report explaining your unique results! ClickheretotaketheFREEQuiz!

What'sBlocking YourBusiness Growth?

www.gerryweinberg.sandler.com

• SALES@TRAVERSECITY.COM • TRAVERSECITY.COM

One of the key benefits of offsite meetings is that being in a different environment often improves professional relationships by providing an opportunity for

The following advertisers offer unique events and retreats for your company. 

Other visitors to Traverse City have found that it’s more than a place to hold a successful meeting; it’s also a place to build a loyal team.Participation in one of the

If you plan to have off-site meetings or leadership retreats, Element Detroit is downtown’s newest hotel housed in the historic Metropolitan Building. There are numerous restaurants and other attractions all within walking distance of the hotel.

The historic Gem Theatre, located in Detroit’s theater district, has event spaces for corporate meetings and

Did you know that Traverse City is home to one of the largest meeting properties in Michigan?

with the right venue, the best room rates, and activities that can ensure the success of your meeting or event. Contact Sarah Barnard at Sarah@TraverseCity.com for more information, or visit traversecity.com MI 800-940-1120

More than a place to hold a successful meeting, Traverse City is recognized as one of the top getaway destinations in the Midwest.

For many companies, off-site meetings can be a valuable way to communicate with their team.

TRAVERSE CITY TOURISM 101 W. GRANDVIEW PARKWAY, TRAVERSE CITY,

Experienced meeting professionals at Traverse City Tourism are available to help with your planning. They can connect you

employees to learn more about the people they work with in a relaxed and new environment.

area’s community give-back programs can help you do just that.

49684 •

Being in the workplace, day after day, can stifle creativity. Holding a meeting off-site can spark ideas and lead to stronger, more meaningful business relationships.

WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A location for a small corporate retreat or a large convention, Traverse City has you covered, with seven full-service meeting properties and nearly 5,000 hotel rooms. In fact, Traverse City is home to one of the largest meeting properties in Michigan, with more than 86,500 square feet of meeting space — and there’s more.

Off-site Meetings Promote Communication and Creativity

networking events. Their team knows how to make your event the perfect experience.

  

Traverse City is recognized as one of the top getaway destinations in the Midwest. Incredible natural resources along the shores of Grand Traverse Bay are perfect for sailing adventures, golf outings, fall color tours, wine-tasting excursions, and team hikes or bike rides. There’s also a new climbing wall to get your heart pumping! Just a short drive away, you can take a ride along what the viewers of ABC’s “Good Morning America” called the Most Beautiful Place in America: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

YEAR-ROUND MEETINGS. With four seasons of adventure and 86,500 square feet of event space, the team at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa will show you how a small-town meeting can make a big difference. Custom event design, an award-winning meeting staff, and indoor and outdoor spaces to choose

A GRAND LOOK. Bring the beauty of northern Michigan into your next meeting. “As northern Michigan’s largest convention center, we’re thrilled to offer state-of-the-art upgrades and features in every one of our meeting spaces,” says Katie Leonard, director of sales. “Located off the lobby, the 10,000square-foot Michigan Ballroom is seen by so many, and its chic design and natural colors are eye-catching.” The “lake effect” theme continues in the Resort’s 19,000-square-foot Governors’ Hall, as well as the Tower, Mackinac, and

Updated meeting space restrooms include all touchless features, while airwalls offer increased sound-dampen ing. Outside of all meeting rooms, guests will find easy-to-read, 21-inch digital reader boards. All rooms are furnished with linenless classroom tables and Michigan-made banquet chairs. The meeting spaces are also equipped with a state-of-the-art Crestron sound system, lighting, and increased bandwidth.

To learn more about holding a meeting or event at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, visit grandtraverseresort.com/meet.

from ensure the Resort isn’t like other hotel event venues. If you want to mix business with pleasure and bring a relaxing element to meetings and events, check out the options at the full-service Spa Grand Traverse.

Peninsula ballrooms. All of the spaces were inspired by the natural beauty of the Traverse City area.

GRAND RESORTTRAVERSEANDSPA231-534-6150•SALESMANAGER@GTRESORT.COM•GRANDTRAVERSERESORT.COM   

Looking to work on your short game? The Resort is home to three champion ship golf courses, including Jack Nicklaus’ The Bear. Engage in positive team-building at The Den, Traverse City’s entertainment hub. Located off the main lobby, The Den features axe-throwing, boutique mini-bowling, an escape room, and more. Whether it’s a summer meeting at the Resort’s private beach, alongside the Governors’ Pool, or in a ballroom with space for 2,500, all that and more awaits at the Resort’s conference center.

WHERE TO MEET. WHERE TO STAY. At Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, the entire property is your home. With 86,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, endless dining options, plus opportunities to relax or have fun, the Resort is your one-stop meeting spot.

“We love working with clients hosting a national or regional meeting in Detroit who are excited to showcase the city to their attendees,” says Allison Sigler, director of sales and marketing. “Local planners are as proud of the city as we are, and enjoy surprising their attendees visiting Detroit for the first time with all the city has to offer.”

MEET IN YOUR ELEMENT IN DETROIT. Balancing old and new, comfort and style, Element Detroit is downtown’s newest hotel — and one of its oldest landmarks. Housed in Detroit’s historic Metropolitan Building, which opened in 1925, this neo-Gothic architectural gem was rescued from demolition and lovingly renovated to meet the needs of today’s travelers. Element Detroit features 110 guest rooms with nine one-bedroom suites. It’s the perfect choice for weekend getaways, extended stays, or your next Elementmeeting.offers2,800 square feet of event space for small meetings, leadership retreats, board meetings, and strategy sessions. It provides an inspiring backdrop with historic details and charm throughout the building, breathtaking city views, and the vibrancy of a downtown location. The Metropolitan Building is also home to a rooftop bar, The Monarch Club, with private event space and unparalleled views of Detroit and Comerica Park.

TripAdvisor rates the hotel’s walkability as

ELEMENT DETROIT AT THE METROPOLITAN BUILDING

The Gem’s features and amenities include four unique event spaces in one location, up to a 450-person capacity, full-service catering and bar services, turnkey event rentals and linens on-site, a striking outdoor garden and patio, full audio/visual capabilities, and convenient parking.

From the minute you step into the Gem, there’s a palpable sensation of excitement,

GEM THEATRE

  

Centrally located on Madison Street in the heart of Detroit’s theater district, the Gem Theatre is comprised of two main venues: the Century Theatre, built in 1903, and the Spanish Revival-style Gem Theatre, built in 1927. With ornate Spanish Revival and Arts & Crafts architecture, warm hand-painted dining rooms, and an exquisitely landscaped garden patio, the Gem Theatre complex offers some of Detroit’s most beautiful and dramatic settings for weddings, private social celebrations, nonprofit fundraisers, corporate meetings, and networking events.

history, and sophistication. Their mission is to ensure that each occasion and happening they host is a singular experience that you and your guests won’t soon forget.

With more than 30 years of hospitality experience and expertise, Forbes Hospitality, operator of the Gem complex, isn’t only a full-service hospitality solution;

With beautiful and dramatic spaces inside and out, the historic Gem Theatre is unlike any other event venue in Detroit.

SIMPLY UNFORGETTABLE.

100/100, with 107 restaurants and 38 attractions within 0.3 miles. Evening activities and team-building experiences abound, with four professional sports venues, 13,000 theater seats, and the Detroit RiverWalk all within walking distance.

Take a virtual tour at bit.ly/TourElementDetroit, or connect with the sales team at 313-650-3116.

it’s a collaborative partner that knows how to make your occasion the perfect experience. Their team looks forward to discussing your unique and special event with you. For more information about the Gem Theatre, the Colony Club, and the Elwood Bar & Grill, please visit forbesdetroit.com.

33 JOHN R ST., DETROIT, MI 48226 • 313-306-2400 • INFO@DETROITELEMENT.COM • MARRIOTT.COM/DTWEL

333 MADISON ST., DETROIT, MI 48226 • 313-463-4215 • SALES@FORBESDETROIT.COM • FORBESDETROIT.COM

And while Mission Point is a great place to spend your vacation, have you considered booking an event at MPR? Their Promenade Deck Pavilion is Mackinac Island’s most requested outdoor event space, offering unparalleled views of the Straits of Mackinac and ample room for events, meetings, and

• MISSIONPOINT.COM

The Daxton Hotel is a passion project of local entrepreneur Mark Mitchell, and part of

creating those engaging events, the best possible meeting experience comes from a team that’s driven by the culture it fosters and the community it serves.

receptions. Mission Point is also home to the island’s only dedicated conference center, where work and play combine for the perfect event every time. Extraordinary Mackinac Island experiences await with an event at Mission Point Resort — inquire today to start planning!

ONE LAKE SHORE DR., MACKINAC ISLAND, MI 49757 • 800-833-7711

298 S. OLD WOODWARD AVE., BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 • SALES@DAXTONHOTEL.COM • DAXTONHOTEL.COM

MISSION POINT RESORT

THE DAXTON HOTEL

MODERN MEETINGS

his vision was ensuring that the hotel would be a place for refined experiences — and that community members would appreciate every time they set foot inside. “It’s about the passion of creating something that’s authentic and attentive to the community it serves,” Gagnon explains.

CULTURE AND COMMUNITY

For your next meeting, or to learn more about hosting an event at Daxton Hotel, please visit daxtonhotel.com/meetingsspaces.

“At our core, we believe in helping your event create that lasting moment for your guests,” Gagnon says.

MISSION POINT RESORT ON MACKINAC Island transcends time. Recently voted the No. 1 Island Destination in the Continental United States by Travel + Leisure magazine, there’s an instant sense of nostalgia the moment you step off the ferry — it’s a place where no cars or worries are allowed. Just as you notice the glistening waters on the horizon, you’re warmly greeted by staff who welcome their guests to experience the tranquility of Mackinac Island. For families and world travelers, Mission Point is the resort you go to when you want to discover Michigan’s crown jewel. It’s so special, you have to take a ferry to get there.

At Daxton Hotel, they encourage thinking outside of the normal constructs of a meeting.

“Meetings don’t need to be the boring and robotic programs of the past,” says Suzanne Gagnon, director of sales and marketing at Birmingham’s Daxton Hotel. “Dare to host bold events, full of bravado, that leave your guests boasting about their experience. These are the events we curate for our clients.”

  

Perched on 18 acres overlooking the water’s edge, Mission Point attracts travelers craving to reconnect with themselves, their passions, and their surroundings. Mission Point is Mackinac Island’s largest familyowned resort hotel and features 241 guest rooms and suites, including dog-friendly guest rooms, six restaurants and eateries, ample activities including bike rentals and putt putt golf, and 38,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space.

The modern meeting is full of high tech but complemented by a high-touch experience. Technology has modernized meetings, yet people still yearn for an experience that leaves them with a moment of astonishment. That moment can consist of impeccable décor, a refined experience, or the sense of establishing a new tradition.

With the goal for immersing oneself into

DetroitBureau

Big things are happening at MarxModa

As a MillerKnoll dealer we have access to the most certifieddifferencecontinueWe'rebrandscollectioncomprehensiveofdesignintheindustry.thrilledtomakingaasMichigan'sdealer.the QR code to learn more.

As Eastern Michigan’s Certified MillerKnoll Dealer, MarxModa is determined to make a difference in everything we do.

Scan

marxmoda.com

Mychel “Snoop” Dillard grew up on Detroit’s west side before eventually moving to Atlanta, where she now leads several companies in the restaurant, entertainment, and personal services sectors.

09 10.22 EXEC LIFE p. 100p. 92 p. 108p. 98 p. 110 TopRestaurantsBusinessExecs and Their Pets OpinionReturn Investmenton The Circuit 98 p. 106Patents PHOTOGRAPHYKIRKCAM September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 91

MOTOR CITY ROOTS

Execs and Their Pets More businesses are supportive of pet-friendly offices to help relieve stress. PROFILES

hen the COVID-19 pandemic caused more companies to send their employees home to work, pet adoptions went through the roof. Now, as more people return to their workplaces, they’re bringing a furry friend or two with them.

The trend has caused many companies to add or adjust their workplace policies to accommodate pets. In fact, a recent survey of employee demands shows pet-friendly offices are more important than hybrid work schedules or paid sick leave.

Still, metro Detroit often ranks among the lowest pet-friendly regions in the country. Michigan Humane, a nonprofit animal welfare organization in Detroit, is working with area businesses and others to add more green spaces and programs for pets. BY JAKE BEKEMEYER AND TIM KEENAN BY JENNY RISHER

PHOTOGRAPHY

FURNISHINGS COURTESY OF HICKORY CHAIR AT THE MICHIGAN DESIGN CENTER Trends in Employee Demands Over Five Years BENEFIT YEAR ON INCREASEYEAR 1 Menopause Leave 1,300% 2 Hybrid Working 820% 3 Four-Day Workweek 809% 4 Signing Bonus 124% 5 Pet-Friendly Office 86% 6 Hybrid Role 83% 7 Subsidized Gym Membership 53% 8 Dog-Friendly Office 51% 9 Paid Sick Leave 50% 9 Pawternity Leave 50% Source: Lensa SOLUTIONSSTAFFINGSTRATEGICCOURTESY Exec Life 92 DBUSINESS || SePteMBeR - OctOBeR 2022 PAW-FICE ASSISTANTS Chica, Gizmo, and Jameson rule the walls and halls at Strategic Staffing Solutions’ headquarters at the Fisher Building in Detroit’s New Center.

Breed: Bishon Frisé

HOW OLD IS SNUGGLES? She’s 6. I call her grandma. She’s my best friend; I love her so much.

Exec Life SEPtEMBEr - OCtOBEr 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 93

ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL PET ACCOMMODA TIONS IN THE OFFICE? (Snuggles) has a bed, she has her little toys, she has her tennis ball. I have a bag of food for her. I keep extra water. It’s like she lives there.

Founder, President, and CEO

TEMERIA HEARD

events, and when we can, we donate half the proceeds back to (them). Every month, SWAG GLES donates to local and national rescues.

ARE THERE ANY RULES FOR PETS IN THE WORKPLACE? (Although my employees aren’t in the office), I would allow them to bring pets in. I’d maybe have them rotate, like one person per week or every other week. Something like that. I don’t want to have too many dogs in the office. Sometimes some dogs are a little unruly.

Snuggles is really well-behaved. But, yeah, the more the merrier.

COULD THE CITY AND REGION DO ANY THING TO BE MORE PET-FRIENDLY? Definitely more dog parks, and even just more parks in general would be great. Maybe having a dis penser for doggy bags and things like that. Just making things more pet-friendly. Even activi ties for people and their dogs. I think it can all be done.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU BRING HER TO THE OFFICE? All the time. She’s a great officemate.

Employees: 4

Pet’s Name: Snuggles

ARE EITHER OF YOUR COMPANIES INVOLVED IN ANY PET-RELATED CHARITIES OR ORGANIZATIONS? SWAGGLES partners with Michigan Humane in Detroit and across the region. We’ve been vendors at some of their

— Jake Bekemeyer

Corporate 52

DetroitGroup/SWAGGLESMarketing

HAVE THERE EVER BEEN ANY INCIDENTS AT THE OFFICE INVOLVING PETS? About five years ago, I had two brother huskies who have since passed away. Someone left the door open and they got out. We found them 10 minutes later in the woods, a quarter mile from the office.

Breed: Siberian Husky

TroySUBTA 16

HOW OFTEN DO YOU BRING YOUR DOG TO THE OFFICE EACH WEEK? On average, I bring Mamas to the office once a week.

HOW MANY OTHER EMPLOYEES BRING THEIR PETS TO THE OFFICE? No one else (brings their pet in) regularly.

CHRIS GEORGE

WHAT ARE MAMA’S FAVORITE ACTIVITIES? We take two or three walks every day, and she loves her toys. She always wants to play fetch and tug-of-war.

ARE THERE ANY RULES FOR PETS IN THE OFFICE? We’re pet-friendly, but it’s less common since COVID-19. Pets are wel come, and we ensure that all employees feel comfortable and don’t have any known allergies.

Employees:

Exec Life 94 DBUSINESS || SepTeMBer - OCTOBer 2022

IS THE COMPANY INVOLVED IN ANY PET-RELATED CHARITIES OR ORGANIZA TIONS? Not currently, but SUBTA as a company has volunteered at local res cues to support the animals, and I per sonally donate to a variety of shelters and rescue organizations every year.

— Tim Keenan

Pet’s Name: Mamas

HOW OLD IS MAMAS? She’s 10. WHAT OR WHO IS SHE NAMED AFTER? I got her from someone else when she was 5 years old and she already had the name Mamas.

DO PETS IN THE OFFICE EVER CAUSE A DISTRACTION? No. Everyone seems to enjoy having pets around.

Co-founder and Chairman

Employees: 60

HOW MANY OF YOUR 60 EMPLOYEES BRING THEIR PETS TO THE OFFICE? Since our six cats live at the Fisher Building, our team members all enjoy their company. Most of them even vie for the cats’ attention with treats, cat beds, toys, and lots of petting.

Name: Dorney

IS THE COMPANY INVOLVED IN ANY PETRELATED CHARITIES OR ORGANIZATIONS? S3 for years has supported and championed Michigan Humane. My partner, Paul Huxley, S3’s chairman of the board, is a past board chair, and I’m its current chair. S3 has sponsored the Detroit Police Department’s Mounted Police Unit since

PAW-FICE ASSISTANTS? We have six office cats — Jameson, Chica, Gizmo, Joe, CTO2, and Marky. The last three are new. Joe and Marky are named after two of our team members, Joe Mox low and Mark Van Duyne, both of whom sadly passed away in 2021.

Detroit

Breed:

Founder, President, and CEO

CINDY PASKY

ARE THERE ANY RULES FOR PETS IN THE OFFICE? Although they don’t have access to our kitchen, they’ve become quite adept at sneaking in to check it out. They also don’t have access to our front lobbies, which open into the elevator lobby, for obvious reasons.

DO PETS IN THE OFFICE EVER CAUSE A DIS TRACTION? Except for the occasional spilled water glass or stolen snack, the distractions are all good ones. Pets provide comfort and help to lower stress levels, and they have an innate sense (of) when someone is stressed or even sick, and will always be there to soothe that per son. Some of our cats are quite the clowns, and while it’s easy to be distracted by their antics, our work is only improved by their presence.

HOW OLD IS DORNEY? She’s about 7 years old. WHAT OR WHO IS SHE NAMED AFTER? Dorney is named for the Royal Dornoch Golf Club in Dornach, Scotland, the hometown of golf course designer Donald Ross.

Mixed Spaniel Exec Life SEPtEMbEr - OCtObEr 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 95

— Tim Keenan

Strategic Staffing Solutions

ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL PET ACCOMMODA TIONS AT THE OFFICE? All our “paw-fice” assis tants have beds, sheltered litters, blankets, toys, an artificial grass-covered wall with mounted cat beds, and nearly free reign throughout our spaces.

2015, when it faced closing the unit because of lack of funding.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU BRING YOUR DOG TO THE OFFICE EACH WEEK? I typically would bring Dorney to work at least once a week; however, until our newest batch of “paw-fice” assistants grow accustomed to Dorney, she’s staying at her mom’s home office.

ARE THERE ANY COMPANY-WIDE PET ACTIVI TIES SCHEDULED? S3 just sponsored a “Bring Your Dog to the Movies” night at Grand Circus Park, produced by the Downtown Detroit Part nership, and we also provide discounted boarding and grooming at Canine to Five. One of S3’s favorite projects every year is producing our annual pet calendar, in which team mem bers from all over the globe submit photos to be included; there’s a lot of competition for the monthly cover pages. Not only do we use them internally, but they’re given as gifts to our cus tomers and community partners. People look forward to them every year.

Pet’s

could just tell) it’s part of their culture. I remember remarking how many dogs there were. I spend a lot of time out in Saugatuck, on the west side of the state, and my girlfriend owns one of the big restau rants in town, and I was there with her one eve ning, and we remarked on how nearly every one of her outdoor dining tables had a dog attached to it. I think it depends on location, culture, and weather plays a role in it. On the west side of the state, dogs are quite out and about. A lot of the restaurants are pet-friendly when it comes to outdoor dining, and I think people are embracing that. Pets provide great joy to people, and to some people, they’re part of the family.

WHO IS BOWIE NAMED AFTER? David Bowie, one of my favorite singers and musicians. His full name is David Bowie Uetz, but he goes by Bowie.

ARE THERE ANY RULES FOR PETS IN THE OFFICE? There are labor and employment lawyers at Foley & Lardner who have provided advice to clients on this very subject. Because there are things that you have to observe — not just as being part of good etiquette and a good workplace, but frankly, under the law, and post-COVID-19 especially, it’s getting a little bit more attention. I would say, broadly, that every com pany needs to decide for itself what its culture is and how pets in the workplace may or may not fit into that culture.

COULD THE CITY DO ANYTHING TO BE MORE PETFRIENDLY? I was in Laguna Beach this spring, and I think every single person in Laguna Beach has a dog. And they’re out with their dog every single day; (you

Exec Life 96 DBUSINESS || SePTemBer - OCTOBer 2022

Partner and Vice Chair

DO YOU BRING BOWIE INTO THE OFFICE? I’m based in the Detroit office, and I travel. We have 25 offices across the country, and it’s a global law firm with about 1,200 lawyers, so I travel pretty regularly to the other 25 offices in my role as vice chair of litigation. Bowie has visited two of our offices and has been very well-received.

National Litigation Department Foley & Lardner

ANN MARIE UETZ

Detroit

HOW OLD IS BOWIE? He’s 5. He’ll actually be 6 (soon), his birthday is at the end of September.

Pet’s Name: Bowie Breed: Teacup Toy Poodle

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT BOWIE? He likes to listen to rap music. We leave YouTube videos on loop in the background, so he always has music playing.

— Tim Keenan

— Jake Bekemeyer

Exec Life SEPTEMbEr - OCTObEr 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 97

Pontiac Employees: 8

IS THE COMPANY INVOLVED IN ANY PET-RELATED CHARITIES OR ORGANIZATIONS? The studio does a whole line of animal-themed work. We make cats, and dog bones, and birds, and donate a portion back to Michigan Humane.

ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL PET ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE STUDIO? I give them free reign to go in and out. One of the things we did this year was put in cat doors, so the cats can go in and out as they please.

APRIL WAGNER

HOW OLD IS JACK WHITE? Jack is a feral cat that adopted me. He showed up at the studio one day and never left, and brought a colony with him. There are three of them right now. I’m not sure how old he is, but he’s been hanging around here since at least 2017. With feral colonies, that means I’m their caretaker — which means I take them to the vet, I spay and neuter them, and I feed them. One is MK and the other is Winston. We love having them around; they’re such great cul ture-builders for our team here. Everyone looks after them and we love to post about them on social media.

DO PETS IN THE STUDIO EVER CAUSE A DISTRAC TION? They’re really super distracting. But when you’re having a day and you’re talking to a client and it’s not going very well and you just need a minute to get out of that mindset, animals are the best way to get unbridled love. They just love, they don’t care (about our challenges). I think they’re a health distrac tion, too, because you interact with them and it’s not like scrolling through social media on your phone, or kind of zoning out. They respond to you. They’re reacting to you, and they’re just really pure.

Owner, Master Glassblower, and Lead Designer Epiphany Studios

WHAT COULD THE AREA DO TO IMPROVE PET FRIENDLINESS? I’m one of the board members for

Michigan Humane (in Detroit). I’m very passionate about animal welfare, and one of our missions is to increase the access for pets to be included in peo ple’s lives. More and more people want their pets to exist with them in their day-to-day life — going out to restaurants, or being able to take them to work, or to a hotel — and I think that’s how our community is going to be able to distinguish itself from other com munities. Some of those things aren’t in place just yet, but the trend is going to be seeing more and more of that.

Pet’s Name: Jack White Breed: Tuxedo Cat

DO ANY EMPLOYEES BRING PETS TO THE STUDIO? There’s one dog that comes here regularly but doesn’t interact with the cats very much. We’re eight people, and the studio is 4,000 square feet. There’s another building next door that’s 2,000 square feet. There’s more than enough room for everyone.

Dillard’s father clearly made the rules, dangerous and dysfunctional as they were.

“Onceagain.she got on her feet, we moved to Taylor, out in the suburbs a little bit. I was 7 or 8, and I was responsible for helping raise my brothers,” she says. “I remember a lot of kids living in the neighborhood and us making friends with everyone. We went out side a lot and rode bikes, played in the creek, and played hide and seek with the neighborhood kids.”

And that’s when Dillard’s true age and curious grade level were finally revealed. “They wanted to put me in a grade appropriate to my age, and they made me do a test, and I actually scored so high they wanted to double-promote me,” she says. “And my mom said no, she can be in the grade she’s supposed to beDillardin.” continued to excel as a student, with no specific idea of what kind of career she wanted to pursue.“When my mom or my teachers asked me, What do you want to be when you grow up?, my response was that I wanted to own a bunch of businesses and take care of my mom. So the want was there. I didn’t specifically know how I was going to do it.”

“Of course, Snoop Dogg is a role model, and I wanted to have a nickname to go by,” Dillard admits with a throaty laugh. “We’re pretty similar as far as what we like to do with our extracurricular activities and our laid-back nature, OK?”

After Dillard graduated from Vanderbilt in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in economics, she worked as a financial adviser, dabbled in real estate, and hit her stride when she launched a modeling company.

“I started kindergarten at 3, and my mom actually changed my birth certificate to do it,” she explains. “She really didn’t want to have to put me in daycare, which was pretty expensive, and I was already exhibit ing some things which showed her I was a little above

“One night some people my dad got into it with on the streets came to my house looking for him,” Dillard recalls. “He wasn’t home, but they shot our house up. My mom left him after this.”

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

By the time Dillard turned 10, there was one final move for the family to make. “My mom really wanted to separate my brothers from my father’s side of the family, and show them a different way to be brought up. So that was how we ended up moving to Nashville, Tenn.”

efore another word is written about the restauranteur and entrepreneur Snoop Dillard, it’s essential to make clear her first name isn’t the one she received when she was born, which was Mychel. And she’s quick to point out that it was, indeed, the renowned entre preneur, rapper, songwriter, media personality, and actor who inspired her to make the switch.

DEAL MAKER

Exec Life 98 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

Dillard may be laid-back now, but her early years in Detroit were anything but. “I grew up on Murray Hill,” she recalls. “It’s a street on the west side. It was a tough upbringing and there was always a lot going on.”

Within a few years, the family was on the move

West Side Story

After growing up on Detroit’s west side, Mychel “Snoop” Dillard built a restaurant-and-lounge enterprise in Atlanta that’s branching out across the Midwest and beyond.

BY TOM MURRAY

the curve. I was pretty advanced for my age as far as reading, and I believe some of the questions I was ask ing showed that I was pretty bright. So I was two years ahead of everyone else.”

She unhesitatingly offers the startling details: “My dad sold drugs, and so there was always a lot of people in and out of our house,” she says, blithely. “My dad’s family was pretty much known for dealing drugs. It was a generational thing.”

As Snoop and her mom forged ahead in their respective classrooms, the situation in the family home continued to deteriorate until, inevitably, the see-no-evil-hear-no-evil approach to all the nefarious activity finally ran its course — and in a terrifying way.

That may well have been because Dillard was focused on something far more important. “I got pregnant at 14,” she reveals. “I was a junior in high school, and I had my only child at 15.”

It wasn’t until Dillard arrived on the campus of Vanderbilt University in her new hometown that she began to hone in on what would become the early steps of her life path. “My eyes were wide open, and that was the first time I was introduced to the party lifestyle and developing this alter ego that loves to have a good time and throw parties,” she says.

Despite an early childhood on Detroit’s west side filled with challenges, Mychel “Snoop” Dillard navigated her way through the roadblocks to build a successful lounge and entertainment business in Atlanta.

“Back then my mom was very spiritual and meek, as far as her personality, and she wasn’t involved with my dad or his family members,” Dillard explains. “She was busy getting her nursing degree.”

In fact, Dillard’s mom was so busy, she came up with a truly novel idea to keep her daughter occupied while she was at nursing school.

Dillard was 5 years old at the time. Initially her mother moved Snoop and her two younger brothers in with her aunt and uncle. After several years, the matriarch moved her family again, this time to Oak Park. “What stood out for me while we were there is we went to a Catholic school for a little bit called St. Michael’s (in Livonia). My family is Baptist, but we went there,” Snoop says.

Apart from co-owning and operating lounges and restaurants, Dillard launched Remedy Spa & Salon Suites, a franchise operation that today has three locations in Atlanta, with more outlets planned.

“They’re absolutely recession-proof because peo ple always have their beauty needs and (care about) how they look,” Dillard says. “Restaurants aren’t like that at all, and are one of the biggest industries that get hit when it comes to a recession or a pandemic. The salon suites industry is phenomenal because it combines two multibillion-dollar industries — beauty and real estate. Essentially you’re just the land lord to beauty professionals.”

Cool, and undoubtedly an indication that it’s only a matter of time before the two Snoops not only meet, but get down to business. Literally.

CHAIN REACTION

Two more Remedy Spa locations are on the way in Atlanta, and Dillard has lined up franchisees in Chi cago and Decatur, Ill., and is looking for other oppor tunities in the United States and beyond. “Oh, yes, we’re definitely looking to make some more moves globally,” she

Exec Life SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 99 PHOTOGRAPHYKIRKCAM

That expansive experience led Dillard to another business idea.

“I ended up doing a calendar for the business and I was also managing the models that were in the calendar. So, in order to push it, we started hosting different nights at various nightclubs, lounges, and restaurants.”

That was six years ago. Today, Dillard and 2 Chainz are partners in several more Atlanta restaurants, and have a franchise for one of them opening this fall in Columbus, Ohio. In addition, Dillard is the sole owner and operator of her own dining establishments and clubs, including Members Only, an exclusive VIP lounge catering to Atlanta’s celebrities and promi nent business owners.

“I wanted to be an owner and open up my own lounge, but I didn’t have a lot of experience and I was working with people who were not good business partners,” she says. “We ended up getting shut down for not having the proper licenses. I mean, there were just all types of different things we weren’t doing right about running a successful operation. I lost every penny that I sunk into that thing, about 40 grand.”

Since arriving in the city she now calls home, the 37-year-old Dillard has established herself as one of Atlanta’s leading African-American entre preneurs. She’s come a long way from Murray Hill, but she credits every bit of her success to those roots in her “Growinghometown.upinDetroit,” she says, “I wasn’t spoiled. I grew up in a hard-knocks life, and the grit and tough-as-nails personality and character helped

make me more resilient in business and instilled tenacity in me.

A meeting was quickly set up. “We sat down and talked, and I realized since he was already a wellknown national star, he could bring in instant cus tomers. We could spend less on marketing, and I could focus on the operations of the restaurant.”

Several more missteps in other business ventures followed. Undaunted, Dillard decided what she needed more than anything was a fresh start — and a new location. In 2008 she moved to Atlanta from Nashville and, soon after arriving, she launched a party bus business that was an immediate success. That venture gave her the confidence to give the lounge idea another shot, with a twist: Named the Hookah Hideaway, the neighborhood gathering spot offered karaoke and hookah, a water pipe used for smoking sweetened and flavored tobacco.

Meanwhile,says.Dillard’s foray into the beauty industry led to what is known as DHG University, where she hosts a series of webinars ranging from “Restaurant Ownership 101” to establishing and maintaining business credit, gaining approval for home and busi ness credit, and addressing and resolving issues that could negatively impact a credit score.

“That definitely helps when it comes to running my own business and being able to pick myself off the ground, or when I come across various challenges and I’m not as successful, or people have let me down in business. I think that’s one of the reasons why I’ve been able to continue to push forward, because I’ve had to do that all my life.”

“Oh, yes, believe it or not, he actually contacted me on Instagram,” Dillard exults. “He just said, ‘Hey Snoop, it’s Snoop. I just wanted to let you know I’ve been seeing all of the great business things you’ve been doing and we’ve got to connect one day.’ I thought that was pretty cool.”

She’s also branched out into the beauty business, launching three locations for her Remedy Spa & Salon Suites franchise, each of which provide 22 fully leased salons offering a wide array of services. It was this part of Dillard’s rapidly growing portfolio that provided a valuable lesson when the COVID-19 pan demic broke out in March 2020.

“It was phenomenally successful,” Dillard says, “and I wanted to do a second location somewhere. And so, my Realtor ended up finding a location that 2 Chainz (a popular rapper and Atlanta native) just so happened to own. And he told me that 2 Chainz had heard of me and was interested in being business partners.”

It should be no surprise that the woman who was inspired to change her name to Snoop has caught the attention of the man who gave her the idea in the first place.

This steakhouse, accompanying a menu complete with aged prime beef and fresh

RESTAURANTS in metro Detroit TOP BUSINESS

Enjoy a sophisticated twist to the classic gastropub experience with an inviting ambi ence that’s casual and comfortable, with luxe touches and urban chic details. 555 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248-885-8108, B&L Sun., L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sun. / 36 / 300 / / The Sunset Room can seat up to 60 guests and has standing room for 70. It overlooks South Old Woodward Avenue and features a full bar and open-air views.

TO COVID-19, RESERVATIONS ARE OFTEN NEEDED. PLEASE CALL AHEAD FOR AVAILABILITY. 100 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022 Exec Life

This Italian restaurant is known for its filet mignon with zip sauce, a 32-oz. porterhouse, and tableside Caesar salad. Originally located in Detroit. 885 Opdyke Rd., Auburn Hills, 248373-4440, L & D Daily / 50 / 350 / / / Located in a high-profile part of the restaurant, the tables by the bar are highly requested.

2022

Southern fried whole catfish platter, rainbow trout, or Alaskan halibut. 2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor, 734-663-3663, B, L, D Daily / 33 / 65 / / NA

The popular downtown venue offers both traditional and specialty steaks, including dry-aged reserve prime offerings, as well as shrimp and lobster tail. 201 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248-594-4369, D Mon.Sat. / 70 / 60 / / / The plush red Gotti booth is a customer favorite, but for more privacy the Board Room seats 8-10. Other popular areas of the restaurant include six rooms for private dining, and stained glass-ornamented Room 11, which includes a flat-screen TV and a fireplace.

A unique and refined menu for Middle East ern cuisine, inspired by Old World Beirut. Owner Sameer Eid selects the finest cuts of meat every morning and uses them in spe cialty dishes such as the baba ghanoush and hashwi with lamb confit. 588 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248-644-3122, L Mon.-Fri., D Daily / 25 / No private meeting room, but the dining area can comfortably accom modate parties of up to 10 people. / / Booths 1, 2, and 21 are popular for meetings. The two most private booths can seat up to six people and are located beside the wine cellar.

THE CHOP HOUSE

PAESANO RESTAURANT & WINE BAR

An elegant steakhouse destination featuring grain-fed beef like filet mignon and New York strip — usually a great spot before or after a U-M football game. 322 S. Main St., Ann Arbor, 888-456-3463, D Daily / 40 / 81 / / The Chef’s Table. Seats 10-12 people at the front of the restaurant, with a view of Ann Arbor’s Main Street.

Located in the elegantly restored 1886 Michi gan Central Depot railroad station, the Gandy Dancer specializes in seafood, steak, and pasta dishes. 401 Depot St., Ann Arbor, 734769-0592, B Sun., L Mon.-Sat., D Daily / 33 / 270/ / / Window tables with a scenic view of the train tracks.

BIRMINGHAM

BIRMINGHAM PUB

FLEMING’S STEAKHOUSEPRIME&WINE BAR

DUE

GANDY DANCER

The new downtown establishment, located inside the Daxton Hotel, serves American cui sine and beverages. Entrées include scallops,

AUBURN HILLS

BEST TABLE IN THE HOUSEVALETWI-FIMEETING ROOM CAPACITYAVERAGE PRICE OF DINNER ENTRÉES

seafood, offers a renowned wine list with more than 100 selections. 323 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248-723-0134, L Sat.-Sun., D Daily / 50 / 400 / / / The Captain’s Table seats eight people in large, comfortable chairs.

This restaurant offers fresh crustaceans and fish flown in daily from Italy, Greece, Sicily, Portugal, Spain, and the Pacific and Atlantic oceans with a menu crafted around the land and sea that offers Mediterranean cuisine, some of which is prepared table-side. 115 Willits St., Birmingham, 248-940-5525, D Tue.-Sat. / 44/Market Price / 35 / / / N/A

FOREST

flat iron steak, and steelhead trout. 298 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248-2834200, B, L, D Daily / 27 / 12 / / / With an open floor plan and the large expansive space, every table is as advanta geous as the next.

MARE MEDITERRANEAN

Located in Birmingham’s Triangle District, the culinary team prepares charcuterie and tradi tional bistro dishes. The chef emphasizes fresh, local ingredients. 753 Forest Ave., Bir mingham, 248-258-9400, L Sat., D Tue.-Sat. / 43 / 65 / / / The restau rant’s corner booth seats up to 14 people and provides ample privacy.

A down-to-earth establishment, Zinger man’s serves fresh regional American foods. Entrées include Uncle Joe Burroughs’

RUGBY GRILLE

A cozy atmosphere featuring rustic Ital ian dishes with an emphasis on regional preparations. The menu also boasts vari ety, offering dishes such as duck ravioli and barbequed ribs flavored with orange molasses and vinegar. 3411 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, 734-971-0484, L&D Daily / 26 / 250/ / N/A

ZINGERMAN’S ROADHOUSE

ANN ARBOR

Tucked inside Birmingham’s Townsend Hotel,

LELLI’S OF AUBURN HILLS

MADAM

HYDE PARK PRIME STEAKHOUSE

PHOENICIA

/ The VIP Room. This plush and pri vate room, equipped with a 20-foot-long captain’s table and captain’s chairs, has a widescreen TV with a DVD player.

This family-owned restaurant sticks to its tra ditional Italian roots and uses family recipes. For example, their polenta consists of corn meal topped with Italian sausage and meat sauce. 9924 Dix Ave., Dearborn, 313-8422100, L&D Daily / 12 / 110 / / A round table in the center of the room.

/ The Bloomfield Hills location seats up to 250 people, with several prime locations.

DEARBORN

EDDIE MERLOT’S

ANDIAMO BLOOMFIELD

ANTONIO’S CUCINA ITALIANA

CANTON TOWNSHIP

BEST TABLE IN THE HOUSEVALETWI-FIMEETING ROOM CAPACITY

MARE MEDITERRANEAN Birmingham

Joe Muer Seafood in Bloomfield Hills is the second Muer seafood restaurant in the region. The menu is the same, and the décor is distinc tive with a central bar, black-and-white marble floors, live acts, and an extensive wine collec tion. 39475 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, 248-792-9609, D Daily / 49 / 80 / /

CLARKSTON

THE BREWERY RESTAURANT

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

JOE MUER SEAFOOD

This bar and grill is retro-themed and spe cializes in everything from burgers, ribs, and fish and chips to steaks and seafood. 1727 S. Telegraph Rd., Bloomfield Township, 248858-7270, D Daily / 20 / 40 / Tables on the patio are the most requested.

ANTONIO’S CUCINA ITALIANA

VIA BOLOGNA

This is the first and only Eddie Merlot’s in Michigan and, in keeping with the restaurant’s mantra, it provides top-of-the-line steaks and seafood. 37000 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, 248-712-4095, D Tue.-Sat. / 47 / 600 / / / Table 441, located in the center of the restaurant, seats up to eight people and offers views of the entire restau rant and the wine wall. Table 119 is also highly requested for a more private setting.

ROADSIDE B&G

the Rugby Grille offers steaks, seafood, and racks of lamb. Or sit outside on the expansive sidewalk patio, which offers a great view of who’s coming in and out of the main entrance doors. 100 Townsend St., Birmingham, 248642-5999, B, L, D Daily / 52 / NA / / / Tables 71 and 74 have unparalleled vantage points of the restaurant.

Located in downtown Birmingham, this American bistro serves up everything from lobster rolls to footlong cheesesteaks, and has an extensive alcohol selection. 180 Pierce St., 248-792-5241, D Tue.-Sun., B&L Sat.-Sun. / 34 / N./A / / N/A

Designed to remind customers of the roman tic atmosphere of European dining, this Ital ian restaurant specializes in pastas, veal, chicken, and fish entrées. 7071 Dixie Hwy., Clarkston, 248-620-8500, D Daily / 20 / 50 (only before 3 p.m.) / / Table 14 is tucked away by a window.

This location, just as the Rugiero family’s other locations, produces its own pasta daily. Apart from ravioli Florentine or mann icotti, pair their fresh gnocchi with the house special pancetta and mushroom sauce. 26356 Ford Rd., Dearborn Heights, 313-2786000, L&D Daily / 16 / 110 / The secluded south room, with its few tables, is reminiscent of old school Italian restaurants and is located away from the main room’s hustle and bustle. It’s private and quaint.

DEARBORN HEIGHTS

586-286-3020, D Tue.-Sat. / 26 / 30 / / A corner table by the patio that seats up to eight people and offers plenty of privacy.

ROMAN VILLAGE CUCINA ITALIANA

TOWNHOUSE

Family recipes feature authentic Italian cui sine like linguine primavera, ravioli, and can nelloni, that truly reflects the Old Country. 2220 N. Canton Center Rd., Canton, 734981-9800, L&D Daily / 16 / 140 /

CLINTON TOWNSHIP

Popular year-round, the Italian eatery offers a range of traditional dishes such as ravioli and lasagna, along with premium cuts of beef. 6676 Telegraph Rd., Bloomfield Hills, 248865-9300, L Mon.-Fri., D Daily / 30 / 150 / / / Table 40 is at the center of the restaurant near a fireplace. With a low wall to one side and a high wall to the other, this secluded table offers ample privacy for a group of eight.

A casual American restaurant featur ing upscale, world-class cuisine includ ing steak, chops, fresh seafood, and daily specials. 39950 Hayes, Clinton Township,

Exec Life September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 101 SIMONOVBECKY

AVERAGE PRICE OF DINNER ENTRÉES

Set in MGM Grand Detroit, featuring a modern twist on flame-grilled steaks, sig nature cocktails, and a fresh atmosphere, D.PRIME offers its take on a Detroit steak house. 1777 3rd St., 313-465-1645, D Wed.Sun. / 58 / N/A / for hotel guests / / NA

The Caucus Club, which originally opened in 1952 and then closed in 2012, is enjoying new life and new ownership in the Penob scot Building. House favorites include tenderloin steak bites, roast prime beef, and pan-seared halibut. 150 W. Congress, Detroit, 313-965-4970, D Daily/ 55 / 22 / / / Table 53, a cor ner booth that’s right in the middle of the restaurant, is the most sought-after spot, but table 31, a “Vegas-style booth,” is the favorite of owner George Sboukis.

THE APPARATUS ROOM

GIOVANNI’S RISTORANTE

/ The Chef’s Table, a 15-seat space on the lower level that features its own lounge.

RATTLESNAKE CLUB

With sweeping views of the Detroit River and a modern interior, the menu offers various sea food dishes, sushi, and classics such as Dover sole, whitefish, and surf and turf. There’s also a piano bar and a small patio. 400 Renaissance Center, 313-567-6837, L Mon.-Fri., D Daily / 49 / 130 / / / A table in the main dining room, next to floor-to-ceiling windows

PRIME + PROPER

BESA

in a 1917 building featuring cuisine inspired by the Adriatic Sea. 600 Woodward Ave., Detroit, D Mon.-Sat. / 36 / 55 / /

THE LONDON CHOP HOUSE

JOE MUER SEAFOOD

DETROIT

CAUCUS CLUB

Set in New Center, this quaint French-Amer ican restaurant is located inside a residential manor and offers seared sea scallops, beef tenderloin, and roasted Alaskan halibut. 670 Lothrop St., Detroit, 313-872-5110, D Tue.-Sat. / 59 / 100 / By request / /

with views of the river, the RiverWalk, and Windsor.

102 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022 Exec Life COVERAGE THAT FITS YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR BUDGET BCB144885_MSG_DBusiness_half_Page Spread_9-1-22_Ins_F1.indd 1

CUISINE RESTAURANT

Tables 15 and 16 are on the old porch overlooking Lothrop Street.

ANDIAMO RIVERFRONT

Enjoy Maine diver sea scallops and a host of seafood and steak selections on the covered

D.PRIME

/ The Chef’s Table, a 10-seat space that offers a multi-course tasting menu, and also serves as a home for visiting chefs and pop-ups.

Located on the Detroit River in the Renais sance Center, this scenic eatery offers authentic Italian dishes including ravi oli and lasagna, and has numerous wine selections. 400 GM Renaissance Center, Detroit, 313-567-6700, L Mon.-Sat., D Daily / 29 / 200 / / / The Gal leria. Accommodating up to 90 guests, the elegant room offers plenty of privacy for meetings both small and large.

A recipient of a DiRoNA award for being among the best restaurants in North Amer ica, Giovanni’s is a cozy Italian eatery offering ravioli, lasagna, and gnocchi. Guests have included Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. 330 S. Oakwood, Detroit, 313-841-0122, D Tue.-Sat../ 25 / 24 / / The Sew ing Machine Table, in a corner that overlooks the entire restaurant, seats up to four people.

An exceptional modern dining experience

Housed in the former Detroit Fire Depart ment Headquarters that is now the 100room Foundation Hotel, the Apparatus Room features regional riffs on traditional American dishes. Entrées include braised farm chicken, lamb shank, and seafood bourride. 250 W. Larned, Detroit, 313-8005600, D Wed.-Sun. / 36 / 10 / /

Aiming to be Detroit’s premier steakhouse, Prime + Proper dry-ages all meats in-house and offers 100 percent USDA prime beef and lamb, as well as seafood. In the lower level is a truly private bar called Cash Only. 1145 Gris wold, Detroit, 248-294-0700, L Sun., D Tue.Sun. / 40 / 30 / / / Table 1 is one of the restaurant’s most private and sought-after tables, while Table 2 offers the chance to see and be seen.

Renovated and paying homage to the original restaurant, The London Chop House is like din ing in private luxury. Also harkening back to the original restaurant, the new establishment serves old favorites like a porterhouse steak. 155 West Congress, Detroit, 313-962-0277, D Mon.-Sat./ 43 / 40 / / / Booths 1 and 2. In the restaurant’s early days, and even today, these booths hosted celebrities and auto luminaries.

BISTRO

SELDEN STANDARD

serving filet mignon with zip sauce, bone-in filet mignon, and veal marsala. 27925 Golf Pointe Blvd., Farmington Hills, 248-994-1111, D Tue.-Sun. / 43 / 200 / / /

WRIGHT & CO.

FARMINGTON HILLS

With more than 80 years of combined expe rience, the chefs at Hong Hua offer guests authentic Chinese cuisine like Peking duck in an upscale setting. Other selections include stir-fried choice rib-eye, king of the sea, and Phoenix nest. 27925 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills, 248-489-2280, D Tue.Sun./ 21 / 200 / Private meeting rooms are available.

GROSSE POINTE FARMS

Exec Life September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 103 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonproﬁt corporations and independent

HONG HUA

At Blue Cross, we know you want the best for your employees. That’s why we offer plans designed to fit any budget, and coverage you can use almost anywhere. With benefits that cover pharmacy, dental, vision, mental health and no-cost programs for you and your employees, Blue Cross adds up to smarter care and better coverage.

DIRTY DOG JAZZ CAFÉ

and Blue Shield Association.

This restaurant offers contemporary American food, small-plates style, along with craft cock tails. The menu typically features nine plates and three desserts, which change with the seasons. 1500 Woodward Ave., Second Floor, Detroit, 313-962-7711, L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sun./ 15 / 16 / / Table 40. The round table underneath the chandelier is by the front window and overlooks Woodward Avenue. It comfortably seats a minimum of five people and a maximum of eight.

Tables in the Red Room or the Cham pagne Room are very private.

TABLE IN THE

THE BRONZE DOOR

Temporarily closed due to water damage. Located at Copper Creek Golf Course, Lelli’s Inn continues the tradition started in 1939,

AVERAGE PRICE OF DINNER ENTRÉES licensees of the Blue Cross

THE STATLER FRENCH AMERICAN

This restaurant offers a modern reimagining of several classic dishes including shrimp scampi, stroganoff, fried chicken, and burg ers alongside a lineup of classic steak, pork, and lamb chops. 123 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms, 313-886-8101, L Tue.-Sat.. D Daily / 33 / 180 / / / N/A

Conﬁdence comes with every card.®

ANTONIO’S CUCINA ITALIANA

Detroit’s most iconic mansion, this historic eatery retains all of its charm and refinement while appealing to contemporary tastes with offerings such as bourbon beef Wellington, bourbon-glazed salmon, and crispy panroasted duck. 4421 Woodward Ave., 313-8325700, B,L,D Sat.-Sun., D Wed.-Sun. / 75 / 400 / / / Table 28 is in the center of the bay window area and overlooks Wood ward Avenue. The table seats two and looks out over a colorful, expansive garden.

STEVEN LELLI’S ON THE GREEN

pizzas — all in an Italian countryside setting. 37646 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills, 248994-4000, L Tue.-Fri, D Tue.-Sun. / 20 / 45 / NA

This Farmington Hills restaurant may be the best-kept secret in metro Detroit. A gar den provides fresh ingredients like arugula, basil, eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes for the Northern Italian cuisine. 30715 W. 10 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills, 248-474-3033, D Tue.Sun./ 47 / 185 / / / When weather permits, the ideal table is one by a fireplace on the patio, with a scenic view.

/ For entertainment, Table 4 offers an up-close view of the live music, but for a qui eter and secluded setting, the Board Room is a private room with a 64-inch screen and speakers that allow guests to see and hear the band, yet still conduct a private meeting.

This seasonally driven restaurant allows guests to enjoy flavors born on local farms and captured at the peak of the season, for ultimate taste and quality. The eatery offers meals such as seasonal flatbread, grilled trout, and charred octopus, as well as local brews and craft cocktails. 3921 2nd Ave., Detroit, 313-438-5055, D Thu.-Sun. / 25 / 88 / The chef’s counter seating area is highly requested and very interactive.

In an intimate pub atmosphere, this restau rant provides live music along with entrées such as Vietnamese short ribs, confit chicken fettuccine, and braised pork chops. 97 Ker cheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms, 313-8825299, L&D Tue.-Fri., D Sat. / 30 / 80 /

7/21/22 9:14 AM

terrace, when weather permits, and take in the views of the Detroit River. 300 River Place, 313-567-4400, D Tue.-Sat. / 42 / 25 / / / Any table along the riverfront provides a wonderful view for guests.

Attracting the best talent means having the best benefits. Visit bcbsm.com/employers to see what a Blue Cross plan can do for your business.

Nestled in the center of Detroit’s entertain ment district, this French bistro and mar ket offers classic French-influenced cuisine with a slightly modern twist, crafted by Certified Master Chef Daniel Scannell, one of only 72 certified master chefs in the U.S. 313 Park Ave., Detroit, 313-463-7111, D Daily / 40 / 150 / / / N/A

THE WHITNEY

CAFÉ CORTINA

BEST HOUSEVALETWI-FIMEETING ROOM CAPACITY

Signature dishes include gnocchi Rita, chicken Antonio, various veal dishes, and

Fish so fresh, the menu is printed twice daily. Mitchell’s provides a wide array of fish, and their crab cakes are a guest favorite. 17600 Haggerty Rd., 734-4643663, L&D Daily/ 32 / 40 / / / NA

FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE

An ideal setting for entertaining clients, this restaurant offers award-winning steak and

Serving prime steaks and seafood in an ele gant setting, this Novi establishment located inside the Crowne Plaza Hotel is known for its live Maine lobster and generous cuts of beef. 27000 S. Karevich Dr., Novi, 248-3085100, D Mon.-Sat. / 50 / 600 / /

PLYMOUTH

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP

The Grille offers pollo alla picatta and an array of steak and seafood such as a 16-oz. New York strip and salmon al griglia. All steak is certi fied Piedmontese beef. 39405 Plymouth Rd., Plymouth, 734-254-0400, D Tue.-Sat. / 37 / 100 / / / Table 11 is tucked away in the corner of the dining room off the beaten path, giving you a full view of the room. Table 22 is more private, in an area where diners don’t see many others.

CANTORO TRATTORIA

104 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022 Exec Life SIMONOVBECKY

Any of the oversized luxury booths.

GROSSE POINTE WOODS

Family-owned by the Barbieri family for more than 25 years, Da Edoardo offers rich Italian cuisine like fettuccine Alfredo, tuna au poivre, and veal saltimbocca. 19767 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods, 313-881-8540, D Tue.-Sun./ 35 / 75 / Fireside booths, with elegant mahogany and leather features, offer an impressive and intimate setting.

ANTONIO’S RISTORANTEPICCOLO

NOVI

DA EDOARDO

Opentable.com’s Diner’s Choice winner for 2016. Chefs Steve Allen and Chuck “Rocky” Rachwitz offer local American favorites including filet mignon, shrimp Provencal, and lake perch sauté. 43150 Grand River Ave., Novi, 248-374-0688, L Mon.-Fri., D Sat. / 26 / 250 / / The perimeter tables offer the most privacy.

This authentic Brazilian steakhouse offers a vibrant atmosphere and 17 types of unlim ited meats including filet mignon, rib-eye, and lombo com parmesao. 39550 W. Seven Mile, Northville, 248-380-7770, L Fri., D Daily / 55 / 40 / / Table 7 is located in the second dining room and, conveniently, near the salad bar. This table offers privacy, and one of the restaurant’s waterfalls accen tuates the surroundings. There’s also a pri vate dining room that seats up to 30 people.

STEVE & ROCKY’S

specialty steaks, including dry-aged reserve prime offerings, as well as shrimp and lobster tail. 17107 Haggerty Rd., Northville Township, 248-679-0007, D Tue.- Sat./ 47 / 60 / / / NA

THE STATLER FRENCH AMERICAN BISTRO, Detroit

MITCHELL’S FISH MARKET

NORTHVILLE GAUCHO STEAK HOUSE

NO. SIX PRIME

Located in the Baronette Renaissance Hotel next to Twelve Oaks Mall, the upbeat restau rant offers an array of steak and seafood prepared in-house, including grilled pizza,

Lake Huron trout, local grass-fed rib-eye, and Creekstone Farms tenderloin. 27790 Novi Rd., Novi, 248-277-6000, B, L, D Tue.-Sat., Brunch Sat.-Sun. / 25 / 50 / / A private dining room is available that can extend near the fireplace. With its doors shut, the room holds approximately 26 people.

This new upscale casual, family-owned restaurant is decorated with oil paint ings and mosaics on its walls and serves its fan-favorite linguine with white clam sauce, as well as a fresh, steamed mussels appetizer, and spaghetti carbonara. A full carry-out menu is available. Everything, including the gelato, is made in-house in this authentic Italian restaurant. 31735 Plymouth Rd., Livonia, 734-513-8000, L&D Tue.-Fri. D Sat.-Sun. / 16 / 15 / / NA

This restaurant offers a selection of home made gelatos, cannoli, breads baked fresh daily, and a cheese room. Hundreds of wines complement appetizers, salads, fish, meats, seafoods, pastas, and pizzas. 15550 N. Haggerty Rd., Plymouth Township, 734667-1199, L Tue.-Sun., D Tue.-Sat. /

HYDE PARK PRIME STEAKHOUSE

LIVONIA

The venue offers both traditional and

LA BISTECCA ITALIAN GRILLE

TOASTED OAK GRILL & MARKET

seafood, including New York strip, bone-in rib-eye, and double breast of chicken. Des serts can easily be shared. 17400 Haggerty Rd., Livonia, 734-542-9463, D Daily. / 55 / 60 / / / A table in the main dining room, next to the reserve wine room.

Enjoy cuisine infused with Chinese, Japa nese, Thai, Korean, and Vietnamese influ ences, a lengthy sushi list, and a lively atmosphere. Menu selections include cashew chicken, Mongolian rack of lamb, and spicy Korean pork chop. 1515 E. Maple Rd., Troy, 248-689-2332, D Daily / 23 / 60 / / / The patio is spa cious, and can be rented for private events.

ROCHESTER

A tradition in dining excellence for more than 40 years, Filippa’s offers quality steaks

PRIME29 STEAKHOUSE

L&D Mon.-Fri., D Sat. / 45 / 182 / / / The larger booth in the back cor ner of the restaurant.

An upscale steakhouse specializing in hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood selections, signature salads, and house specialties. Lunch and dinner specialties include steak and biscuits, wild mushroom meatloaf, and burgers, sandwiches, and bistro chicken. 155 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 248-925-4730, L&D Daily / 40 / 40 / / / NA

All restaurants are reviewed anonymously, and all expenses are paid by Hour Media. The listings have no relationship to advertising in the magazine.

REFLECTION

STONEY STEAKHOUSERIVERAND GRILL

DBusiness

TAYLOR

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE

TROY

PARK 600 BAR + KITCHEN AT THE ROYAL PARK HOTEL Park 600 bar + kitchen is a well-appointed restaurant that has memorable flavors and locally sourced foods. The expansive menu features Indian Brook rainbow trout, Asianstyled pork shank, and pasta carbonara. 600 E. University, Rochester, 248-4538732, B Daily, L Wed.-Fri., D Wed.-Sat. / 26 / 118 / / / Booths near the fireplace or half-booths along the back wall are recommended.

OCEAN PRIME

This contemporary version of a rich Amer ican supper club is an award-winning steakhouse that offers prime beef and seafood on its made-from-scratch menu. 2915 Coolidge Hwy., Troy, 248-458-0500, L Mon.-Fri., D Daily / 50 / 95 / / / Table 10 is highly requested for parties of eight. An all-glass room that seats up to eight people is a popular setting.

A contemporary steakhouse featuring prime cuts of seafood and beef aged for 29 days. The 24-oz. bone-in rib-eye is a restaurant specialty. 6545 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield, 248-737-7463, L&D Tue.-Sun. / 45 / 152 / / A table inside a glass-partitioned room adjacent to the main dining area.

Fish so fresh, the menu is printed twice daily. Mitchell’s provides a wide array of fish, and their crab cakes are a guest favorite. 370 N. Adams Rd., Rochester Hills, 248-340-5900, L Tue.-Sun., D Daily/ 26 / 32 / / / Tables 91, 92, 93, and 94 are horse shoe-shaped booths that are semiprivate, and located in the back of the restaurant. Each one seats up to six people.

BACCO RISTORANTE

UTICA

With more than 40 years of rich history, Ruth’s Chris boasts an extensive offering of steak and seafood, and an award-winning wine list. Steak selections include filet, New York strip, and porterhouse. Well located near I-75. 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 248-2698424, D Daily / 55 / 125 / / / Table 50, a special round table that accommodates 10.

The flagship location of a bustling Italian franchise. Joe Vicari’s Andiamo Italian Steak house features cuts of premium beef and seafood, and tableside Caesar salad, cordials, and a dessert cart. It has all the ambience of an upscale steakhouse. 7096 E. 14 Mile, War ren, 586-268-3200, L Mon.-Fri., D Daily. / 28 / 650 / / / Tables in the main or west part of the restaurant allow din ers privacy.

SILVER SPOON RISTORANTE

35 / 280 / / Table 19 is the most popular. The restaurant can’t guaran tee reservations for it, but takes requests.

Located inside The Westin at Detroit Metro politan Airport, Reflection offers a contem porary setting with a modern American menu that provides a wide array of options including pasta, salads, and soups. 2501 Worldgateway Place, Detroit, 734-2296782, B, L&D Daily / 35 / 10 / / /

The restaurant is temporarily closed while repairing fire damage. A reopening date has not been announced. Located at Somerset North, the Capital Grille offers prime steaks and seafood, accompanied by an extensive wine list. 2800 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 248649-5300, L&D Daily / 47 / 60 / /

and seafood, but the hand-rubbed, sweetsauced ribs are a favorite. 45125 Mound Rd., Utica, 586-254-1311, L&D Tue.-Sun. / 27 / 400 / / Table 5 and 91. Table 5 is in a corner by a window and faces the main dining room area. Table 91 faces the bar and is near a bulk counter. With the terrace to the right, this is a great option for guests looking for a serene setting.

A new location that embraces the culture and feel of dining in Italy. There are plenty of homemade dishes to satisfy any palate. 534 Main St., Rochester, 248-652-4500, D Mon.-Sat. / 25 / 15 / / / Will accommodate upon request.

ROCHESTER HILLS

SOUTHFIELD

A Wyandotte riverside landmark for almost 40 years, the restaurant’s menu is current, with seafood and pasta being the main focus. Lunch and dinner are available all day. Specialties include Italian cuisine like sea food, pastas, baked Italian sausage pasta, and authentic Italian desserts. “Small Plate” offerings include ahi tuna, shrimp and grits, lobster crab cake, and calamari steaks. “Big Plate” selections offer filet mignon, New York strip, chicken marsala, gnocchi, and more. 3455 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, 734-281-6700, L Wed.-Sun., D Tue.-Sun./ 26 / 200 / / / The August Room seats up to 18 Compiledpeople.by

ROSEVILLE

WARREN

Table 29 is next to the tranquility pond in the atrium, and provides an intimate and

248-649-7319, D Daily / 48 / 48 / / / The V Lounge offers live jazz every night in a comfortable, secluded area.

ROMULUS

/ / / Tables 40 and 44. Private rooms are also available upon request.

BEST TABLE IN THE HOUSEVALETWI-FIMEETING ROOM CAPACITYAVERAGE PRICE OF DINNER ENTRÉES Exec Life September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 105

MR. PAUL’S CHOPHOUSE

PORTOFINO

FILIPPA’S WINE BARREL

Eddie V’s, which opened its first Michi gan restaurant in June 2017, offers fresh seafood, a wide selection of steaks, jazz played by local musicians, and more than 300 wines. 2100 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy,

MORTON’S STEAKHOUSE

Enjoy an intimate setting among lush wood tones and unique caricatures — it’s as close to an Old World steak and seafood club as you can get, and famous for its large portions. 888 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 248-404-9845, D Daily / 48 / 226 / / / Booth 70 is often requested, and is set against a brick wall. Table 51 is highly requested for parties of eight. The round table encourages interaction between guests.

The Kruse and Muer restaurant offers great, affordable steaks, chops, and seafood such as Maine lobster tails, stuffed shrimp, and Australian lamb chops. 306 Main St., Rochester, 248651-2266, L&D Mon.-Fri., D Sat.-Sun / 28 / 60 / / / Table 210 is highly requested and is located in the center of the restaurant. The table is half-moonshaped and near the piano, providing a nice view of the restaurant.

WEST BLOOMFIELD

WYANDOTTE

relaxed setting. A great way to relax before or after a flight.

THE CAPITAL GRILLE

ROCHESTER CHOP HOUSE

MON JIN LAU

This family-operated restaurant offers steaks, seafood, pasta, and classic dishes in a club-like setting with brick-lined walls. A mainstay on the east side, the restaurant has been operating since 1968. Beef and fish are delivered to the restaurant twice daily, in order to keep meals fresh. 29850 Groesbeck Hwy., Roseville, 586-777-7770

Fresh food and great service has been the motto for the past 30 years. A new addi tion has taken the motto a step further to include 40 draft beers, 26 of which are Michigan craft beers. The menu includes an array of salads, sandwiches, pasta, and more. 12245 Telegraph Rd., Taylor, 734374-0088, B, L&D Daily / 11 / 40 /

/ A large high-top table seats up to 10 people and is highly requested by larger parties.

/ Table 64 is the most secluded table, and 61 is great for romantic occasions such as anniversaries and engagements.

EDDIE V’S PRIME SEAFOOD

Classic Italian cuisine meets a contempo rary ambience. The restaurant boasts an impressive selection of authentic Italian dishes made with fresh ingredients. 29410 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield, 248-3566600, L&D Tue.-Fri. D Sat. / 44 / 70

MITCHELL’S FISH MARKET

PETE’S PLACE

ANDIAMO WARREN

By then the aircraft should be a staple in urban air transit for passengers, cargo, and police and

BY NORM SINCLAIR

part of our future.”

Soon after, while in a two-week quarantine because of his exposure to the virus, Rimanelli sur vived by doing what he does best — he fired up his computer and began working on his latest flying machine, an electric vertical take-off and landing air craft, or eVTOL, in common parlance.

The ASX team is planning to introduce Sigma-6, a full-scale concept aircraft, to the public at this year’s North American International Detroit Auto Show at Huntington Place, which runs from Sept. 14-25.

The swappable pods seamlessly connect to the fixed wing using a ground robot. A pod designed for

cargo can ferry up to 2,000 pounds a distance of 100 miles (and more as battery range improves), while the passenger module will seat five to seven passengers, including a pilot.

Imagine flying in the morning from Oakland/ Troy Airport to Traverse City, a 60-minute trip, and spending the day enjoying a winery tour, playing a round of golf, or hiking. Heading back in the late afternoon, there’s plenty of time to make a dinner in downtown Birmingham or see a concert at the Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit.

Those days of despair two years ago sparked what he hopes is the next chapter in the Motor City’s his tory of personal mobility. His company, Airspace Experience Technologies, or ASX, has offices and design space on the second floor of the former public terminal that overlooks the entire airfield at Detroit City Airport. To the south is ASX’s machine shop and assembly area, which is housed in two connected bays of an historic hangar designed by noted Detroit architect Albert Kahn in 1929.

he expects the fully loaded aircraft will have a range of 150 miles. “At scale and produc tion, we’ll see moving one ton of cargo come down in price to about 64 cents to 65 cents per mile, which is competitive with a Class A truck. But we can make a trip much faster,” Rimanelli says. “It’s not a toy or a tool for the rich. Ride-sharing is a big

backward, sideways, or in circles, and is capable of carrying a pod full of cargo, loading it into position, and attaching it at the center of the aircraft wing.

ith the economy tanking under the stress of the COVID-19 pan demic in March 2020, the largest investor in Jon Rimanelli’s elec tronics and aerospace business at Detroit City Air port withdrew his $10 million support, and Rimanelli was forced to lay off 15 employees.

PATENTS

“This ground vehicle — and we’re applying for a patent on it — will have the ability to deliver and plug in different pods automatically,” Rimanelli says. “The ground robot has the potential to tug, or move, the aircraft into positon, perform pre-flight testing, and recharge the battery in the aircraft.

SWING ON A STAR

The Sigma-6 eVTOL aircraft, developed by ASX in Detroit, can fly up to 400 nautical miles as a hybrid machine. The aircraft has several pending patents.

ASXOFCOURTESYIMAGES Exec Life 106 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022

“Personal air mobility is still reserved for the wealthiest,” Rimanelli says. “We’re developing a sys tem that will be affordable to most people. It will cost as much as a ride share to get to and from an airport, your home, an office, or wherever your final destina tion (may Eventuallybe).”

Rimanelli and his team have big dreams of the company boosting the fortunes of the airport and the community around it. He anticipates hiring 50 new employees within a year, with another 1,000 jobs com ing online as the company expands. By the end of the decade, he predicts the company can build 12,000 air vehicles and create 60,000 new jobs in the city.

“Detroit has been a leader in mobility for 100 years, and here’s an opportunity for our community to take a novel approach to mobility and make it the stan dard for the future,” Rimanelli says. “Our expectation is our volumes will achieve a level where it’s econom ically accessible for the mass traveling public.”

He believes passengers will use the aircraft like an Uber ride, in this case for quick hops over heavy traffic between airports and population centers, commutes across town, or to a second home.

“In the future, an aircraft will fly into a dedicated terminal, connect to a ground robot, and it will guide everything along, swap out different payloads from, say, a passenger cabin to a cargo container, and then the aircraft flies away to its next destination. If you’re in a cabin, the pod could take you to a gate where you safely disembark. The cabin is cleaned and charged, and put back into service. It’s very efficient.”

Rimanelli believes Sigma-6 will be the next big breakthrough in mobility, as it will shorten the transit of cargo, passengers, military payloads, and first responders via fleets of tilt-wing, six-engine aircraft that can pick up, transport, and land swappable pods — including passenger cabins — in safe, confined, and protected areas.

The next generation of aircraft being developed by ASX in Detroit seeks to transform the transit of cargo, passengers, military payloads, and first responders.

Almost as import ant is a transporterTheRimanellitionalfour-wheelcomplementaryomnidirecgroundrobotinvented.squat,6-by-18-footrollsforward,

“It’s a tilt-wing aircraft that takes off vertically like a helicopter, transitions to plane mode flight, and flies forward like a plane,” says Rimanelli, founder and chairman of ASX. “When you arrive at your destina tion, the wing transitions again and lands like a heli copter — but remember, the engine is electric, so there’s very limited noise. And it can be five times faster than driving, for the same cost.”

forPrepareTakeoff

The company has a dozen employees, but they’ve received major help along the way. “What’s unique about us is we’re a very small team partnering with very large companies and their (respective) R&D departments. Those R&D departments have had as many as 70 more people working on our projects at different times,” Rimanelli says.

“We’ve taken automotive electric vehicle architec tures and plugged them into an aircraft, so I always like to say we don’t build flying cars, we assemble car parts so you can fly,” he says.

EMS — and, when and where needed, remote and covert military activities. Initially, the aircraft will have a pilot on board, but at some point in the next decade autonomous systems will take over, first in the cargo sector. Already, aircraft, including com mercial passenger jets, are highly automated.

Just like a startup, ASX personnel hoarded scarce capital and shortened production times using cus tom off-the-shelf automotive electric motors, invert ers, batteries, high-voltage cabling, and switches.

FREE AS A BIRD Shown in ascent mode, the main wing of Sigma-6 can rotate 90 degrees to provide for horizontal flight. To see a flight video, visit iflyASX.com

highly automated eVTOL aircraft for Lockheed Mar tin; they were used by a range of customers in the law enforcement and commercial markets.

Exec Life September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 107

A graduate of Albion College, west of Jackson, Rimanelli has spent three decades designing and building complex electronics and robots. He’s also an instrument-rated seaplane pilot with more than 1,000 hours of flight time in various aircraft.

The first unmanned aircraft he built 10 years ago was made out of balsa wood, zip ties, hobby grade electric motors and batteries, and an open source auto pilot. From there, he built, tested, and distributed

Another partner is commercial aircraft manufac turer Spirit Aero Systems, with which Rimanelli signed an agreement to eventually build and certify the Sigma-6 aircraft.

The remote piloted aircraft, for which Rimanelli received one of his two patents, can land atop a sum mit or a roof. From there, the vehicle, equipped with small cameras, can be directed to disengage its rotors, activate the treads, and maneuver to see what’s on the other side. It also can be flown next to a tunnel open ing, land, and then enter the channel and look for explosive devices or undertake an inspection.

The company plans to phase in the aircraft by offering it to the U.S. military first, before developing commercial cargo fleets. EMS, including med-vac operations, will be the third stage of service, followed by passenger flights.

“I try to take a very conservative approach to spending cash. We’re very efficient with our capital,” Rimanelli says. “When I can use somebody else’s tool ing, somebody else’s facility, somebody else’s machines, I do that. It pays to be efficient and resourceful.”

In 2017, Rimanelli co-founded ASX with the vision of designing and mass-producing an electric aircraft that took off like a helicopter and cruised like an air plane. With term sheet backing and development support from Uber Technologies Inc., ASX built and flew six smaller prototypes before developing the fullscale Sigma-6 aircraft.

Among the longest-serving partners is the inter national power management company Eaton Corp., with sales of $19.3 billion last year. “They help us with thermal management systems of the motors, the inverter, and the battery,” he says.

“As we go through each of these segments, we learn and develop efficiencies. And this, effectively, is our four-step plan to mature the aircraft to where we can move people and product in the national air space system safely, quickly, and quietly,” he says.

Along the way, Rimanelli designed and built what can best be described as a small flying tank, with the rotors set between the tracks.

These announcements provided the impetus for the governor and legislative leaders to collaborate and find ways for the state be more competitive, win new jobs, and attract new businesses. They made good progress with the bipartisan $1 billion Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve fund.

JEFF DONOFRIO

Win” plan provides a framework for increasing and strengthening our competitiveness, including the flexible economic development tools needed to help close deals and the fundamentals we need to be con sidered in the first place.

gan can absolutely compete to win. We just need to get to

President and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan, the state’s business roundtable. The organization is dedicated to making Michigan a Top 10 state for jobs, education, widely shared prosperity, and a healthy economy. Members drive nearly 40 percent of the state’s economy, generate more than $1 trillion in annual revenue, and serve nearly half of all Michigan public university students.

Michiganians have always prided themselves on being home to the auto industry, so seeing other states win such large investments was a wakeup call.

• Marketing and outreach: Detroit at Work held marketing events at hundreds of local community centers and churches, preparing individuals for the process of applying for these jobs.

Competing to Win

The investment offers important lessons for Michigan. Ohio beat out 40 other states that fought for the project. State leaders pledged to work with the company to provide skilled workers and gave Intel $2 billion in incentives. Intel cited a number of factors in announcing the project — things echoed in our “Compete to Win” strategy — including having a shovel-ready site, strong coordinated government support, and talent availability and quality.

BY JEFF DONOFRIO

Consistent competitiveness means evaluating our competition and making sure we’re always one step ahead. Business Leaders for Michigan’s “Compete to

As evidenced by Intel’s nod to talent, we must focus new resources on Michigan workers to better prepare them through training and skills-building. We must capitalize on successful programs to solve talent gaps, such as the inclusive plan devel oped to help Stellantis (then Fiat Chrysler Automotive) find qualified local work ers for its new automotive assembly plant in

• Skills preparation: Where there was a basic skills gap, Detroit at Work provided training to prepare people for the rigorous application exam.

SOAR, which is designed to attract and incentivize business investment in Michigan, subsequently has helped the state land new investments by Ford and General Motors. Now our elected leaders must con tinue working across the aisle to create a persistent economic development strategy that includes fund ing for shovel-ready site development, talent solu tions, customer service improvements at the Michigan Economic Development Corp., and a sus tainable funding mechanism that will transcend the politics of the day.

One year after our wakeup call, Michigan is in a better competitive position, but what it takes to win new jobs and investments isn’t a static set of tools or funding. To be sure, we need to create a competitive business climate, but we also need to be flexible and quick to seize opportunities in an ever-changing economy.

TO BE SURE, WE NEED TO CREATE A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS CLIMATE ...”

MayorDetroit.Mike Duggan and the Detroit workforce team, Detroit at Work, partnered with the auto maker and put in place a unique model that both helped Detroiters connect with good-paying jobs while providing high-quality talent to meet the needs of a global employer.

Similar to what the best states offer, Detroit at Work identified and prepared individuals through:

• Removing barriers: Detroit at Work provided transportation and other support, as well as prac tice interviews, to prepare candidates for success.

early a year ago, Ford Motor Co., a home town leader, announced it was investing more than $11 billion to develop two new electric vehicle operations in Kentucky and Tennessee. A few months later, EV truck maker Rivian announced a $5 billion battery and assembly plant investment near Atlanta.

Look no further than Ohio to see how its longterm strategy led to what will be the largest single, private-sector investment in that state’s history. Intel’s $20 billion commitment to develop a new semiconductor manufacturing plant just outside of Columbus will employ up to 7,000 people during construction and create 3,000 Intel jobs — many of them highly skilled. The move is expected to help create a new technology hub in central Ohio as related businesses open new facilities and bring expertise to the region.

The fact is, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, and oth ers have been planning on how to beat Michigan for decades with the expansion of shovel-ready sites, innovative incentives, the development of talent, and world-class customer service. A year ago, Michigan wasn’t able to compete.

Does Michigan have what it takes to be more competitive for economic growth in an ever-evolving environment?

As of December 2021, 5,100 Detroiters were offered jobs with Stellantis through the Detroit at Work program and a dozen more companies have signed up to participate in it. These types of pro grams are a benefit for both economic development and the Economiccommunity.development is work. Hard work. Is Michigan more competitive today than we were a year ago at this time? Absolutely. Are we where we should be to be a Top 10 state for growth? Not yet. It will take a concerted effort from local, regional, and state government and busi ness leaders to create and maintain a flexible economic development and talent strategy built on the strengths of the entire state and active collaboration

OPINION MICHIGANFORLEADERSBUSINESSOFCOURTESY Exec Life 108 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022

FOR DIGITAL ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS CALL COMPASSMEDIA.COM248-268-8026FOR DIGITAL ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS CALL COMPASSMEDIA.COM248-268-8026

The Parade Co., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Detroit, hosted its annual Rooftop Party on June 27 for the Ford Fireworks on the roof of the Center Garage along the riverfront. More than 2,000 people enjoyed cuisine from Andiamo, beverages, games for kids, and live entertainment by Your Generation in Concert. Proceeds from the event go to the fireworks show, along with America’s Thanksgiving Parade and the Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot. Bud Denker, Tammy and Rod Alberts, Michael Montri Lori Singleton, Denise Brooks Williams, Corri Wofford, Stephanie Fries Watkins Mike and Mary

PATRICK GLORIA

9. Leora

10. Paul

STRICTLY BUSINESS

11. Ben Celani, Vicki and Tom Celani, Vinnie Celani 12. David

Steve

15. Matt

GOLF CLASSIC

Paul W.

Paul W. Smith, host of The Paul W. Smith Show weekday mornings on WJR Radio, hosted his 19th annual golf classic on July 11 at the Detroit Golf Club. The event raised funds for four Detroit nonprofits that focus on the academic, mental, physical, and nutritional wellbeing and growth of the city’s children. The organizations are Variety — the Children’s Charity of Detroit, The Children’s Center of Wayne County, Children’s Foundation, and Detroit PAL. Greenwood, Merritt, Grigorian, Mayle, Schwarzkoff, Mittelbrun Simoncini, Smith,

Darron

Elizabeth Kraft, Brad Carroll 14. Mark

Tony Frabotta Exec Life 110 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022 12 34 5 67 89 10 1112 1314 15

CHRISTINE MJ HATHAWAY

(3)

PATRICK GLORIA

Tom

Murri 4. Dr. Sonia Hassan, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan 5. Tony Michaels, Marcy and John Fikany

JVS Human Services and Kadima, which has since merged to form Gesher Human Services, a 501(c) nonprofit located in Southfield, hosted its 25th annual Strictly Business event on June 22 at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit. Funds from the event went to services that assist job seekers from all backgrounds and life circumstances. The event featured a luncheon followed by keynote speaker Jason Raznick. Paul Nemchick, Kevin Szachta Huntley Chamberlain, Mohamed Awan, Laura Biery, Gabe Bedoya Brown, Michael Maddin, Mariel White Bernard, Dennis Bernard, Joshua Bernard Blatt, Jason Raznick, David DeVine

FORD FIREWORKS

Fred Hunter 13. Josh

8. Kaitlin

TradeFirst Keeping Communities Strong byKeeping Local Businesses First. SINCE 1978 ( 248 ) 544 - 1350 www.tradefirst.com Keeping Communities Strong by Keeping SINCE 1978 ( 248 ) 544 - 1350 Join Today!Join Today! *EDR Scorekeeper STAY ON TOP ENVIRONMENTALOF RISK pmenv.com Scan to learn more. LANSING 517.321.3331 BAY CITY 989.459.1020 BERKLEY 248.336.9988 GRAND RAPIDS 616.285.8857 OAK PARK 800.313.2966 PM Environmental is your risk management partner with the resources and expertise to handle any size project since 1992. • Phase I & II Environmental Site Assessments • Brownfield Redevelopment • Industrial Hygiene Services • Environmental Compliance Audits • Underground Storage Tank Management & Remediation • #1 due diligence provider in Michigan* SAVE THE DATE! 2022 ANNUAL PHILANTHROPYNATIONALDAY

The 31st Annual National Philanthropy Day is the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Detroit Chapter's premier event, to celebrate and honor the passion, commitment and leadership of Southeastern Michigan's philanthropists, distinguished volunteers and those in the fundraising profession. For the first time since the 2019 National Philanthropy Day, we will be hosting this event in person on November 3 at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit.

Please visit www.npddet.org for more information about the program, becoming a sponsor, or submitting your distinguished volunteers!

7. Alexandre

6. Alicia

The Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit association, hosted its second annual Midsummer Night Affair on July 19 at the Detroit Athletic Club. The event featured food, drinks, a presentation, and an appearance by legendary singer Martha Reeves, former Miss Michigan Stacie René Zotkovich, and James Tarasca, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. The event was sponsored by Survey Instrument Sales, Fakhoury Global Immigration, Treasured Moments Booth, Gerych’s Greenhouse, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Washington, and Kimmie Horn.

11. Pierre Boutros, Laurie Tannous, Ghassan Abdelnour 12. Nada Charara, Marci Mahssney, Wassim Mahfouz 13. Eddie Murray, Bill Kowalski 14. Martha Reeves, Rita Yousif 15. Sara and Mike Mazloum Exec Life 112 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022 12 34 5 67 89 10 1112 1314 15

CHAMBER CONNECT

8. Dan

1. Jodie Eickhoff, Bre Biondo, Amanda Brotz, Victoria Morin 2. Mohammad Qazi, Tina Taylor, Sarai Skowsen, David Cohen 3. Audrianne St. Germain, Angela McMillan, Lauren Roth 4. Lorron James, Andrew Dunlap, Dale Watchowski, Keri James 5. Tanya Gunn, Terry Judge MIDSUMMER NIGHT

PATRICK GLORIA

Niekamp, Patrick Rode

Photo

9. Julien Mourou,

PATRICK GLORIA

GLORIA

PATRICK

The Leaders for Kids advisory board of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Detroit, hosted the eighth annual Summer Recess on July 16, at M1 Concourse, a private garage community in Pontiac. All proceeds from the event support specialized services within Child Life Services at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan and the Leaders for Kids Endowment Fund.

Chad Johnson 10. Kim Harlan,

The European American Chambers of Michigan gathered on July 21 for the 11th annual Meadow Brook: Connect event at Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester Hills, which drew nearly 300 people. Members of the French American Chamber of Commerce Michigan Chapter, British American Business Council of Michigan, German American Business Council of Michigan, German American Chambers of Commerce Midwest, Italian American Business Council of Michigan, Italian American Chamber of Commerce of Michigan, and the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce Detroit enjoyed a car display, networking, cuisine, and the tasting of French wines. Funds raised during the event supports Le Detroit Scholarship. Masse, Cindy Niekamp, Patrick Rode, Kim Harlan, Ed Kim, Blanca Fauble Mallebay-Vacqueur, John Akouri, Adam Baron, Jean Mallebay-Vacqueur Glisky, Christel Gaillard Burks, Jennifer Smith Bertrand Rakoto, Cindy

SUMMER RECESS

THE CONSULATE OF ITALY IN DETROIT & DANTE ALIGHIERI SOCIETY OF MI | LOVEITDETROIT

The Dell for Startups pitch competition celebrates eight Michigan startups that will be chosen to compete for prizes.

- First-Place Winner: $15,000 in Dell products through Dell Advantage Rewards

Friday, September 16

FORD MOTOR COMPANY | AUTOGLOW, BENEFITTING THE CHILDREN’S CENTER

Thursday, October 6 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Garden Theater 3929 Woodward Ave., Detroit bloodcancerfoundationmi.org/70th-anniversary-gala

PANEL AND PITCH COMPETITION, SPONSORED BY DELL FOR STARTUPS & STARTUPNATION

Presented by Meade Lexus, this special night celebrates the 70th anniversary of The Blood Cancer Foundation of Michigan, formerly The Children’s Leukemia Foundation. Guests will enjoy cocktails and dinner. The evening will also include an unforgettable program that recognizes BCFM’s founders and patients, as well as honor community leaders who have made significant contributions in the success of BCFM’s mission. The gala will set a foundation for the next chapter of continued blood cancer support, with all proceeds directly benfitting BCFM services. BCFM is proud to have spent 70 years keeping the promise of its founders: walk alongside Michigan blood cancer patients and families on each journey by providing critical emotional, financial, and social support. Join them in celebrating this milestone!

Enjoy “Imagine With Me,” a theme that is reimagined and infused with high energy. Hosted by Lisa and Bill Ford along with Lia and Jim Farley, AutoGlow has long been considered the premier party of North American International Auto Show evening festivities. Sponsored by Ford Motor Company, it has raised nearly $6 million net for The Children’s Center. This year will feature the pre-event cocktail reception, complemented with a new small plates menu, full bar service, decadent desserts, along with music from DJ Prevu, and an opportunity to create original artwork alongside Detroit artist Trae IsAAc. Every ticket includes complimentary valet parking and private transportation service between this soiree and the NAIAS Charity Preview at Huntington Place. Charity Preview tickets are sold separately. The dress code is black-tie.

This nonprofit, tasked with promoting Italian culture and language, presents “LoveITDetroit,” an important project taking place in September for Detroit Month of Design. This exciting experience will offer a permanent installation of Made in Italy products, a parallel presence in the metaverse, and a series of events (in the physical world and in the ether) that takes this from local to global. This is a platform from which to connect anywhere in the world. It highlights Italian philosophy, while showcasing the great city of Detroit, though often overlooked, as effervescent and vibrant. Design is the medium to building more bridges in highly collaborative, dimensional, multisensory, and passion-fuelled ways. For the love of Italy, for the love of Detroit, and for the love of Design.

Wednesday, September 28

- Both first- and second-place winners will be able to move on to the next round of pitching for a chance to win another $40K in prizes. Free and open to the public. Join us for a day of networking and learning. The Dell Technologies rally truck will be on hand, giving entrepreneurs the chance to interact with the latest technology. Registration is required for attendance and pitch participation. Registered attendees will be entered to win a Dell product. The founder must be available to pitch in person on September 28, 2022, in Birmingham.

THE BLOOD CANCER FOUNDATION OF MICHIGAN | 70TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

34300 Woodward Ave. Birmingham, MI 48009 bit.ly/3PZQKcZ

Program Details: 10 a.m.: Meet and greet. 11:15 a.m.: Panel presentation on small business funding will be held with Q&A. 1 p.m.: Pitch event starts with first- and second-place winners announced.w 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Networking. Sponsored by StartupNation and DBusiness. Vendors include Dell Financial Services and Targus.

- Second-Place Winner: $10,000 in Dell products through Dell Advantage Rewards (crowd favorite)

10 a.m. – 5 StartupNationp.m.Media Group/Platform Offsite

EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES SPONSORED BY DBUSINESS ADVERTISEMENT

4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Pre-Event Cocktail Reception 8:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.: Midnight AutoGlow Main Celebration

1001SeptemberWoodward Ave., Detroit loveitdetroit.com

Ford Field 2000 Brush St., Detroit thechildrenscenter.com/autoglow-2022

Diane and

10. T.L. and Shaun Summerville MOTOWN REVEAL

PATRICK GLORIA

9. Tom and Sandy

Shelly

The Detroit Zoological Society hosted its annual Sunset at the Zoo fundraiser on June 24 at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak. Guests enjoyed a variety of cuisine, drinks, entertainment, and a silent and live auction along with access to the Detroit Zoo’s expansive animal habitats. The event raised funds to support animal care and programming at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center, and was sponsored by Strategic Staffing Solutions, AM Higley, Beaumont, the Cotton Family, and more. and Shaun Patterson, Sarah and Tony Earley Nancy Carley (standing), Ken and Marilyn Way John Decker Pierce, Bob Farris

3. Matt

2. Ricky

ANNIVERSARY

Kenneth

4. L’Rai

LINDSAY

SCHWEICKERT

Zena

PATRICK GLORIA

J.D.

7. Garry and

Bruce

Signal Restoration Services, a large commercial and residential restoration service in Troy, hosted its 50th anniversary celebration at the Michigan Science Center in Detroit on Aug. 4. The event included a strolling dinner by Encore Catering, beverages, live entertainment, and an anniversary presentation. The event supported the Michigan Science Center.

5. Ethiopia

SUNSET AT THE ZOO

GOLDEN

Dr.

Jeff

8. Alex and

Dominique

1. Ron

11. Carrie Broussard, Marie Neal, Shannon Hauser 12. Frank Torre, Barb and Chris Ammann, Mark Davis 13. Mike W. Carr, Katrina Kelly 14. Michelle and Matt Westcott 15. Vince Viviano, Mark A. Hackel Exec Life 114 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022 12 34 5 67 89 10 1112 1314 15

Otis

6. Katie

The Motown Museum in Detroit, celebrated the grand opening of Hitsville NEXT and the Rocket Plaza on Aug. 8. Hitsville NEXT is a community platform designed to further the museum’s role in nurturing the next generation with access to education and resources designed to support emerging artists and entrepreneurs. The Rocket Plaza was funded by a $5 million contribution from Rocket Cos. and the Gilbert Family Foundation. Freeman, Darnell Shirley Kaigler, Wardford Street, Caldin Street Elliott, Simpson, Stubbs III Arthur-Mensah, Luker, Howard Habtemariam, Williams, Resnihoff, Berger, Morisseau

Levi

and

1901 St. Antoine St. 6th Floor at Ford Field Detroit, 313-259-777748226

Total IP attorneys: 12

13. DINSMORE AND SHOHL 900 Wilshire Dr., Ste. 300 Troy, 248-647-600048084 dinsmore.com

5. HOWARD & HOWARD

1. BROOKS KUSHMAN

Total IP attorneys: 17

Total IP attorneys: 16

1000 Town Center, 22nd Floor Southfield, 248-358-440048075

3. DICKINSON WRIGHT

500 Woodward Ave., Ste. 4000 Detroit, 313-223-350048226

fishstewip.com

Total IP attorneys: 30

Total attorneys nationwide: 336

Total attorneys nationwide: 125

honigman.com

dickinsonwright.com

21500 Haggerty Rd., Ste. 300 Northville, 248-380-930048167 quinniplaw.com

Total attorneys nationwide: 13

cantorcolburn.com

8. CARLSON, GASKEY AND OLDS

6. BODMAN

Total IP attorneys: 22

Total IP attorneys: 20

Total attorneys nationwide: 42

150 W Jefferson, Ste. 2500 Detroit, 313-963-642048226 millercanfield.com

Total attorneys nationwide: 212

27777 Franklin Rd., Ste. 2500 Southfield, 248-351-300048034

4. HONIGMAN

Total IP attorneys: 14

Total attorneys nationwide: 71

10. QUINN LAW GROUP

Total attorneys nationwide: 20

11. REISING ETHINGTON

Total IP attorneys: 46

Total IP attorneys: 4

16. BEJIN BIENEMAN 2000 Town Center, Ste. 800

2290 First National Building 660 Woodward Ave. Detroit, 313-465-700048226

17. JAFFE, RAITT, HEUER, AND WEISS

12. BUTZEL

Total attorneys nationwide: 91

brookskushman.com

400 W. Maple Rd., Ste. 350 Birmingham, 248-988-836048009

Total IP attorneys: 23

Total attorneys nationwide: 148

15. THE DOBRUSIN LAW FIRM 29 W. Lawrence, Ste. 210 Pontiac, 248-292-292048342 patentco.com

Southfield, 313-528-488248075

Total IP attorneys: 5

From the Top September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 115 WRIGHTDICKINSONCOURTESY

755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 1850 Troy, 248-689-350048084

2. HARNESS, DICKEY AND PIERCE 5445 Corporate Dr., Ste. 200 Troy, 248-641-160048098 hdp.com

7. FISHMAN STEWART

Total attorneys nationwide: 114

Total attorneys nationwide: 21

800 Tower Dr., Ste. 610 Troy, 248-594-060048098

Total IP attorneys: 42

9. YOUNG BASILE

Total IP attorneys: 2 Totally attorneys nationwide: 387

DICKINSON WRIGHT, ALLY DETROIT CENTER

Total attorneys nationwide: 17

Total IP attorneys: 40

3001 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 624 Troy, 248-649-333348084 youngbasile.com

18. CANTOR COLBURN 201 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 1101 Troy, 248-524-230048084

Total attorneys nationwide: 477

150 W. Jefferson Ave., Ste. 100 Detroit, 313-225-700048226 butzel.com

Total IP attorneys: 15

bodmanlaw.com

howardandhoward.com

14. MILLER CANFIELD

Total IP attorneys: 24

b2iplaw.com

METRO DETROIT’S TOP INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRMS

450 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak, 248-645-148348067

Total IP attorneys: 66

Total attorneys nationwide: 23

Total IP attorneys: 13

Total attorneys nationwide: 110

Source: DBusiness research

Total attorneys nationwide: 165

reising.com

Total attorneys nationwide: 12

cgolaw.com

19. DYKEMA 400 Renaissance Center Detroit, 313-568-680048243 dykema.com

Total IP attorneys: 23

Total attorneys nationwide: 93

jaffelaw.com

2023 Motor City Meltdown 4/21/23 4/23/23 17,500 Taylor Sportsplex

Youmacon 11/3/23 11/5/23 25,000 Huntington Place

2023 Michigan Realtors — The Convention 9/18/23 9/23/23 1,600 Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center

2022 Junior Volleyball Boys Tournament 12/10/22 12/11/22 12,000 Huntington Place

Hyatt Place Detroit Novi at the Suburban Collection Showplace

2023 Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning Annual Conference 3/15/23 3/18/23 4,000 Huntington Place

2023 Association for Iron & Steel Technology AISTech 5/6/23 5/11/23 10,000 Huntington Place

2023 CIT International Conference 8/14/23 8/17/23 1,300

2022 MANS Education Conference & Expo 10/20/22 10/21/22 2,000 Huntington Place

Detroit Mariott at the Renaissance Center

Rocket Mortgage Classic 6/26/23 7/2/23 NA Detroit Golf Club

2023 Lean Construction Institute Lean Congress 10/22/23 10/28/23 2,850 Huntington Place

2022 Motown (Hockey) Classic 10/21/22 10/23/22 13,500 Suburban Ice Macomb

EVENT ARRIVAL DEPARTURE ATTENDANCE FACILITY

North American International Auto Show 9/21/22 9/25/22 500,000 Huntington Place/Downtown Detroit

Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center

2023 North American Roller Hockey National Championships 6/24/23 7/1/23 5,834 Taylor Sportsplex

2023 American Business Association Annual Meeting and Marketplace 1/30/23 2/8/23 3,500 Huntington Place

From the Top 116 DBUSINESS || September - OctOber 2022

2022 IEEE ECCE and IAS 10/7/22 10/15/22 1,400 Huntington Place

2023 IWF World Leadership Conference 10/1/23 10/8/23 1,200

2023 Automate Conference 5/20/23 5/25/23 2,500 Huntington Place

2023 Association of Records Managers and Administrators International Annual Meeting 10/4/23 10/13/23 2,000 Huntington Place

2023 ASM Heat Treat/IMAT 10/14/23 10/20/23 8,000 Huntington Place

2022-2023 Largest Conventions in Metro Detroit (AS OF AUG. 10, 2022)

Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix 6/3/23 6/5/23 NA Downtown Detroit

2023 SAE WCX 4/17/23 4/20/23 12,000 Huntington Place

UAW Collective Bargaining 3/24/23 3/31/23 1,500

Sources: Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau and individual organizations All attendance figures are estimates.

National Science Teaching Association 2023 STEM Conference 7/16/23 7/24/23 3,000 Huntington Place

Youmacon 11/4/22 11/6/22 25,000 Huntington Place

2023 Silicone Expo 6/2/23 6/8/23 3,000 Huntington Place

Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2022 10/26/22 10/28/22 6,000 Huntington Place

2023 Michigan DECA Career Development Conference 3/7/23 3/11/23 5,000 Huntington Place

2022 Battery Show 9/13/22 9/15/22 10,000

Macomb Community College 14500 E. 12 Mile Rd. Warren 586-445-7561 tinyurl.com/macomb-college-events 175,000

The Parade Co. 9500 Mount Elliott St., Studio A Detroit 313-923-7400 theparade.org 200,000

Little Caesars Arena 2645 Woodward Ave. Detroit 313-471-7000 313presents.com 163,501

Detroit Institute of Arts 5200 Woodward Ave. Detroit 313-833-7900 dia.org 46,940

Eastern Market 2934 Russell St. Detroit 313-833-9300 easternmarket.org 53,000

1526 Broadway St. Detroit 313-961-3500 michiganopera.org 150,000

From the Top September - OctOber 2022 || DBUSINESS.COM 117

The Detroit Zoo 8450 W. 10 Mile Rd. Royal Oak 248-541-5717 detroitzoo.org 35,000

GM Renaissance Center 100 GM Renaissance Center Detroit 313-567-3126 gmrencen.com 41,000

Ford Piquette Avenue Plant / Model T Automotive Heritage Complex 461 Piquette Ave. Detroit 313-872-8759 fordpiquetteplant.org 57,510

Hyatt Place Detroit Novi at the Suburban Collection Showplace 46080 Grand River Ave. Novi 248-513-4111 novi.place.hyatt.com 349,000

VENUE ADDRESS CITY TELEPHONE WEB ADDRESS SQ. FT.

Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center 3711 Woodward Ave. Detroit 313-576-5100 dso.org 50,000

Macomb Center for the Performing Arts 44575 Garfield Rd. Clinton Township 586-286-2141 macombcenter.com 32,600

Largest Meeting Venues in Metro Detroit

Atheneum Suite Hotel and Conference Center 1000 Brush St. Detroit 313-962-2323 atheneumsuites.com 30,000

One Washington Blvd. Detroit 313-877-8777 huntingtonplacedetroit.com 2,400,00

JD Racing 44225 W. 12 Mile Rd. Novi 248-773-8777 jdracing.com 32,000

Ford Field 2000 Brush St. Detroit 313-262-2000 fordfield.com 200,000

Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center

MGM Grand Detroit 1777 Third Ave. Detroit 313-465-1777 mgmgranddetroit.com 30,000

Macomb Community College, Sports & Expo Center 14500 East 12 Mile Rd. Warren 586-498-4198 macomb.edu/eventservices 75,000

MotorCity Casino-Hotel 2901 Grand River Ave. Detroit 866-782-9622 motorcitycasino.com 67,000

The Henry Ford 20900 Oakwood Blvd. Dearborn 313-982-6001 thf.org 38,950

Detroit Opera House/ Michigan Opera Theatre

Westin Hotel, Detroit Metropolitan Airport 2501 Worldgateway Place Romulus 734-942-6500 tinyurl.com/westin-dtw 32,727

400 GM Renaissance Center Detroit 313-568-8000 detroitmarriott.com 100,000

Comerica Park 2100 Woodward Ave. Detroit 313-471-2000 313presents.com 325,213

Huntington Place

St. John's Resort 44045 5 Mile Rd. Plymouth Township 734-414-0600 theinnatstjohns.com 42,000

Crowne Plaza, Detroit Downtown Riverfront 2 Washington Blvd. Detroit 313-965-0200 tinyurl.com/cpdetroit 32,000

Westin Book Cadillac Detroit 1114 Washington Blvd. Detroit 313-442-1600 bookcadillacwestin.com 35,000

Avis Enterprises President Patricia Kalmbach said of her boss that “his hobby was business, making the deal.” He stayed active in his other interests, equestrian and aquatic activities, nearly until his death in 2007, and he enjoyed friendships with celebrities. He bragged that at Casa La Barranca, his Acapulco vacation home, he could “entertain 150 guests at the drop of a hat.” Indeed, in 1981, he married the French actress and chanteuse Yanna Elbim there — his second marriage — and political fixer Roy Cohn was the best man.

The Saunders Drive-It-Yourself System started in Omaha, Neb., in 1915, and within 12 years had branches in 85 cities. Meanwhile, in Chicago, Walter Jacobs fielded an initial fleet of 12 Ford Model T cars and, by 1923, had grossed $1 million. Jacobs later sold out to another Chicagoan, John Hertz, who ran Yellow Taxi Cab Manufacturing Co., a business that purchased components and assembled them on a chassis of its own making, to offer sturdy cabs.

BY RONALD AHRENS

Hire Power

Quite the philosopher, Avis published seven books, starting with “Corporate Darwinism” in 1966. Twenty years later, his autobiography, “Take a Chance to Be First: The Secrets of Entrepreneurial Success,” drew praise from Publishers Weekly. Yes, money, power, and status could motivate the entrepreneur, as the book review explained, but “filling a public need is a corollary satisfaction.” Besides boldness, one should have “a product or service consumers are waiting for” — just like rental cars at the airport.

In 1925, Yellow merged with the truck division of General Motors, soon moved to Pontiac, and Hertz pursued his motoring-for-hire scheme.

With fresh capital in hand from the sale of his company, Avis went on to buy and sell factories, hotels, and a bank. He had interests in a bakery, auto parts, selfhelp seminars, and the global delivery of flowers. Avis Enterprises invested in tech companies, purchased sporting goods distributors, and developed office buildings on a 300-acre farm south of Ann Arbor.

After Avis found success at Willow Run, he opened a second location at Miami International Airport. Some of his breakthrough practices included national franchise licensing, accepting corporate credit cards, and providing enhanced customer service. By 1950 there were 75 franchises, and many of the locations were Ford dealers. Only Hertz was bigger, even after Avis bought the Saunders System in 1955. By then, Avis had sold his namesake company the year before to Massachusetts businessman Richard S. Robie for $8 million.

Avis graduated from Bay City Central High School in 1933, and his early career included stints in pharmaceutical sales and checking up on car dealers for the State of Michigan. Wartime service brought official decorations to go with his gain of insights about the future, and he rose to the rank of major.

Closing Bell 118 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 ARCHIVESMEDIAFAIRFAX

WHIZ KID

The answer: In drivers’ hands. Avis already had an interest in Frost-Avis Ford (now Avis Ford in South field). In 1946, he used $10,000 of his savings and bor rowed another $75,000 to open Avis Airlines Rent-A-Car at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti Town ship. No longer would it be necessary to take a taxi to the train station or a grimy garage in the city to pick up a Therental.idea, Avis said, was to “give the customer an option I never had.” Avis offered new cars for rent and restocked its fleets yearly. This alone was a big depar ture from the industry’s pioneering days.

Finding and filling customer needs took Warren Avis through ventures that started with a Ford dealership in Southfield, followed by car rentals, a bank, and more.

Avis Car Rental, founded by Bay City native Warren Avis, got its start in 1946 at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti Township. In 1972, the company debuted Wizard, the first reservationcomputer-basedsystemto be used in the United States car rental business. Many customers today still have a unique “Wizard number.”

A s a World War II bomber pilot, Warren Avis could see the future of commercial aviation. But although it was faster than rail travel, he found the time savings were squandered in long waits for airport taxis. Avis had the idea to open a car rental operation at the air port itself, meeting a previously undefined need. “Nobody thought it would work,” he told The New York Times in 1985. “There was incredible trouble. You had to get all the airlines to cooperate. Where did you put the cars?”

TUSHAR CATHY LOCHIRCO

VAKHARIY A & ASSOCIATES AVA SHARRAK