Detroit Regional Chamber > Leadership Detroit > Chamber Announces Leadership Detroit 45, Meet the New Class 

Chamber Announces Leadership Detroit 45, Meet the New Class 

September 9, 2024

Today, the Detroit Regional Chamber announced the participants of Leadership Detroit 45, a nine-month transformational leadership program designed to challenge emerging and existing leaders from Southeast Michigan to bring about positive change in their communities. 

Leadership Detroit is a Chamber-led community leadership program for executives in Southeast Michigan with more than 2,000 alumni. Launched in 1979, it raises awareness of key issues affecting the Detroit Region and develops the next generation of changemakers. 

“I’m thrilled to be kicking off another one-of-a-kind program year with the 45th Leadership Detroit class. These exceptional individuals will embark on a unique journey outside their comfort zones to challenge long-held assumptions and to embrace diverse perspectives on crucial issues in the Detroit Region,” said Devon O’Reilly, Senior Director of Community Engagement and Leadership Development. “Through carefully curated sessions, this class will have an opportunity to better connect with each other, hear directly from experts across multiple sectors, and enhance the intangible skills that will make them more impactful leaders.” 

Leadership Detroit 45 features nearly 80 executives, representing a cross-section of the community, including business, organized labor, government, education, media, civic groups, health services, and community organizations. 

Leadership Detroit provides opportunities for participants to foster and spark problem-solving discussions while providing new views on key issues to foster regional social and economic progress. As it has since 1979, Leadership Detroit will continue its role in creating an environment of more informed leadership for the Detroit Region. Learn more about the program by visiting detroitchamber.com/leadership-detroit.

A complete Leadership Detroit 45 class roster is available below. 

Leadership Detroit 45 Class Members

  • Fathi Abdelsalam, Executive Director, Intellectual Property and Economic Development, University of Rhode Island
  • Trevor Baker, Chief Operating Officer, Emagine Entertainment, Inc.
  • Cassandra Baptiste, Partner, Educator Program and Partnerships, Teach For America – Detroit
  • Jason Barnett, Senior Vice President, Lending, Invest Detroit
  • Barry Blackwell, Manager, Community Relations, Henry Ford Health
  • Alexandra Borngesser, Director, Fund Development, TechTown
  • Jaylen Bradley, Policy and Program Advisor, Community Violence Intervention, Mayor’s
    Office, City of Detroit
  • Brynn Bryant, Director, Care Center, Community Financial Credit Union
  • Rachel Campbell, Small Business Financial Analyst, Accounting Aid Society
  • Kathleen Cieslik, Partner, Trusts and Estate Planning, Varnum LLP
  • Jasmine Cooper, City Director, PeacePlayers Detroit
  • Andrew Danaher, Principal, Albert Kahn Associates Inc.
  • Kyle Degiulio, Senior Manager, Economic Development Policy, Amazon
  • Jennifer DeNeal, Director, Policy and Research, Education Trust – Midwest
  • Christina Drake, Partner, Renaissance Venture Capital Fund
  • Molly Engel, Director, Engineering, Rocket Homes
  • Lesley Fairrow, Administrative Law Judge, Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules, Michigan Public Service Commission
  • Jon Farley, President, Access Point Towing
  • Daniel Ferris, Attorney, Kerr Russell
  • John Foss, Senior Vice President, Plante Moran Realpoint
  • Maria Franklin, Executive Director, L!FE Leaders
  • Amanda Goodspeed, Director, Business Development, Granger Construction Company
  • Katie Gordon, Area Manager, Public Affairs, Michigan, Waste Management of Michigan Inc.
  • Christian Greer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Michigan Science Center
  • Sarah Gregory, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Talent Solutions, Detroit Regional Partnership
  • Brandi Haggins, Vice President, Opportunity Hubs, Life Remodeled
  • Bilal Hammoud, Executive Director, American Arab Chamber of Commerce
  • Ashley Hall, Operations and Communications Manager, Washtenaw County
  • Sharnese Harris, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, The Konnection
  • Seth Haug, Director, Business Unit and Manager, Business Analytics, Clark Hill PLC
  • Ashyra Haynesworth, Manager, Revenue and Economic Analysis, City of Detroit
  • Kaci Jackson, Senior Real Estate Manager, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
  • Ashley Johnson, Program Officer, Education, Kresge Foundation
  • Michael Kennedy, Treasurer and Director, Finance, City of Dearborn
  • Lori Kitchen-Buschel, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, First Step
  • Sam Klemet, Co-executive Director, Detroit Auto Dealers Association
  • Cayce Kosch, Manager, Integrated Communications, Franco
  • Martin Lavalle, Senior Business Economist, Economic Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago – Detroit Branch
  • Adrian Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, Forgotten Harvest
  • Rob Lockett, Team Leader, National Housing Stability, Rocket Community Fund
  • Christyn Lucas, Senior Director, Business Research, Detroit Regional Chamber
  • Kyra Luyckx, Manager, Engagement and Partnership, Ancor Automotive
  • Elizabeth Lyon, Assistant Director, Business Development, Roncelli, Inc.
  • Michelle Martin, Manager, System and Community PR, Corewell Health
  • Nick Mattar, Associate Director, Marketing, Wayne State University Graduate School
  • De’Andrea Matthews, Vice President, Diversity and Community Engagement, Detroit Zoological Society
  • Katharine McLaughlin, Senior Communications Officer, Health and Human Services, The Kresge Foundation
  • Leona Medley, Executive Director, Joe Louis Greenway Partnership
  • Mariam Mohamed, Director, Customer Service, DTE Energy
  • Jennifer Moore, Director, Strategic Alliances, Ally Financial
  • Stephen Ocaña, Project Executive, Barton Malow
  • Felicia O’Connor, Senior Counsel, Foley & Lardner LLP
  • Allyson Parker, Chief Ethics Officer and Executive Director, Ally Financial
  • Nancy Parker, Executive Director, Detroit Justice Center
  • Olubunmi Parks, Vice President, Talent and Culture, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
  • Kate Partington, Program Associate, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
  • Sean Quigley, Director, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
  • Brandon Reed, Director, External Affairs, Michigan Black Business Alliance
  • Melanie Richards, Director, Kids-TALK Children’s Advocacy Center, The Guidance Center
  • Shanese Ross-Pierrie, Director, University Partnership and Community Engagement, Central Michigan University
  • Bilal Saeed, Vice President, Brand and Marketing Strategy, Pistons Sports and Entertainment
  • Anjana Schroeder, Director, Marketing, Downtown Detroit Partnership
  • Alissa Sevrioukova, Chief of Staff, Community Affairs, DTE Energy
  • Kirstie Staelens, Senior Advisor, Community Engagement, Great Lakes Region, Enbridge
  • Raquel Sulaiman, Chief Development Officer, MCHS Family of Services
  • Dexter Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Black Legacy Advancement Coalition
  • Catherine Susko, Director, Talent Solutions and Strategy, Workforce Development, and Workforce Diversity, Henry Ford Health
  • Eddie Theut, Director, Business Development, Siwek Construction
  • Emily Thompson, Senior Director, Regional Competitiveness and Impact, Wayne State University
  • Cody Tousignant, Senior Director, Finance, Administration, and Site Management, Henry Ford Estate, Fair Lane: Home of Clara & Henry Ford
  • Stephanie Trotter, Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, The Henry Ford
  • David Turner, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, MotorCity Casino Hotel
  • Parrish Underwood, President and Chief Executive Officer, YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit
  • Naimah Wade, Director, Teacher Pathways Fellowship, Degree Forward
  • Madeline Wyatt, Director, Client Relations and Consultant, The Remington Group
  • Tariq-Tommy Ziadat, Senior Vice President, Consumer Banking Market Leader, Bank of America