Frederick D. Hunter
Monica DeJesus
David Greenwood
Karen Hall
Stefanie Smith
Joyce Johnson-Maples
Andrew Mac Intosh
Sgt. Bryant George
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Dr. E'lois Thomas
BOARD CHAIRPERSON
President, SEEL LLC
Debbie Kenyon
VICE CHAIRSPERSON
SVP/Market Manager, Audacy, Inc.
Jerome Henson
TREASURER
Senior Vice President, Bank of America
Steve Grigorian
SECRETARY
President & CEO, Detroit Economic Club
Wendy McIntyre-Peard
GOVERANCE & LEGAL COMMITTEE CHAIR
Former VP & GC – Enterprise Operations Secretary & Chief Complaince Officer, ITC Holdings Corp.
Mike Patterson
FINANCE & AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIR
Partner, Ernest & Young
Detroit PAL
Board & Advisory Board
Meet our Board & Advisory Board Members
Board Members
Alan Huddy — VP, Advanced Analytics Center of Excellence, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
April Diez — Vice-Chair, The Diez Group/J.I.T. Steel
Brian Facchini — Senior VP Chief Communications and Brand Officer, Detroit Lions
Chuck Wilson — Senior VP Chief Security, Rock Security, & Sr. VP Community Growth & Development, Bedrock Detroit
Dan Ngoyi — Senior VP, Client Experience Operations, Rocket Mortgage
Danny Jaroshewich — Sr. Director of Sports Events & Business Development (retired), Detroit Lions
David Femminineo — Managing Partner, Femminineo Law
Dwight Brown, Jr. — Director of MEP-PMO, DTE Energy
Franklin Hayes — Assistant Deputy Chief, Detroit Police Department
Jeff Truant — Treasury Management Group, Comerica Bank
Jessica Berry — Platform Director, Adient
Joe Provenzano — Director, Mobility and Employee Volunteerism, Ford Philanthropy
Raphael Washington — Sheriff, Wayne County
Sterling Littlejohn — Manager, Community & Social Responsibility, Detroit Pistons
Todd Bettison — Chief of Police, Detroit Police Department
Advisory Board
Anne Doyle — Global Speaker, Journalist, Podcast Host, Powering Up Women, LLC.
Autumn McKay — Program & Data Systems Coordinator, Detroit PAL
Cindy Eggleton — Co-founder & CEO, Brilliant Detroit
Crystal Bailey — Engineer, GM Owner, Shine Productions LLC
Dan Varner — President & CEO, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit
Darron Merritt — CEO, The Danlin Group
Dr. Glenda Price — Celebrated Leader, Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame, Women of Excellence
Dr. Joyce Suber — Board Member, Brilliant Detroit
Dr. Laurel Whalen — Clinical Assistant Professor, Wayne State University
Gerry Boylan — Founder, Boylan Holdings, Advisory Board Chair
Jason Tinsley — Chair, JP Morgan Chase Michigan Leadership Team
Jennifer Hammond — Sports Reporter, FOX 2 News
Jerry Volas — Former CEO, TopBuild Corp.
Jonathan Frank — Co-Founder & Partner, Frank and Frank Law
Karen Hall — Deputy Athletic Director, Detroit PAL Co-Founder, Track Life University
LaShinda Stair — Senior Consultant, Motorola Solutions
Laura Berman — Writer and Editor
Matt Williams — Community Impact Manager, Detroit Tigers
Michelle Sherman — COO/CFO, MiSide
Mike Tenbusch — President, International Samaritan
Omar Thabet — Athletic Director | PE Teacher, Hanley International Academy
Paul Buckhaulter — CEO, PBJ Consulting and Events
Rachel Allen — CEO, Operations School + OPSIDIA Co-Founder, Centric Place
Robin Kinnie — President, Motor City Woman Studios, Audio Engineers of Detroit
Ron Hall — President & CEO, Bridgewater Interiors
Rosalia Plasencia — Administrator, Mexican Food Specialties
Scott Seabolt — Partner, HHBJS Law
Shawn Thompson — Director of Strategic Partnerships, Detroit PAL Former PAL Board Member
Terence Thomas — Former Board Chair, Detroit PAL | Co-Founder, Thomas Group Consulting
William Weir — Detroit PAL Coach, DPSCD Educator (retired)
Our Great Model
Teaching G.R.E.A.T.ness
G • Goal-Setting
R • Resilience
E • Embracing A Healthy Lifestyle
A • Accountability
T • Teamwork
G • Goal-Setting
Goal-Setting
Goal-Setting is an important skill set to learn all throughout life. If a child can learn how to implement effective goals, they are more probable to succeed in the future. Goal setting can influence kids to lead and be more independent, according to, “Academic culture: A promising mediator of school’s leader’s influences on student learning” in the Journal of Educational Administration. Students do better when they feel like they are in control and have a purpose in what they’re doing.
R • Resilience
Resilience
Participants learn how to properly react to conflicts due to the capacity of individuals, families, and the communities around them. According to “Promoting Student Resilience in School Contexts” in the Adolescent Mental Health Journal, “The teaching context also provides opportunities to enhance student’s personal qualities or assets such as intrinsic motivation, learning strategies, and problem-solving skills.”
E • Embracing A Healthy Lifestyle
Embracing A Healthy Lifestyle
Having a healthy diet directly correlates with aging, physiological status, and functional abilities according to a study done on Canadian youth in the J Public Health Journal. The 2017 Detroit Food Metrics Report stated that 48% of households are food insecure and 40% of households are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 18% of households who are not enrolled are eligible.
A • Accountability
Accountability
Participants understand that their actions have consequences for not only themselves but the people around them. Accountability is shown to be useful through growing up and in the workplace it also helps build bonds between professional, personal, and family relationships. Participants know how to task, delegate, and lead other team members while still maintaining positive relationships. All activities have an aspect of accountability in any team environment.
T • Teamwork
Teamwork
Teamwork is a lifelong skill, helping people understand how to navigate relationships, resolve disagreements, and ultimately work together in an effective way. As described by Marks in the Academy of Management Review, teamwork includes the ability to work together and anticipate others’ needs and actions. In turn, this can inspire confidence and respect within the group.