Detroit Regional Chamber > Chamber > Chamber Announces Leadership Detroit Class 46 Participants

Chamber Announces Leadership Detroit Class 46 Participants

September 16, 2025

Today, the Detroit Regional Chamber announced the participants of Leadership Detroit Class 46, 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 2,500 alumni. Launched in 1979, it raises awareness of key issues affecting the Detroit Region and develops the next generation of changemakers. 

Dorian Grey headshot

“I’m honored and excited to launch my inaugural program year with the 46th Leadership Detroit class. As my very first class in this new role, this journey is especially meaningful. Together, with this group of emerging and established leaders, we will learn from each other, embark on a shared journey of discovery, explore fresh perspectives on the issues shaping our region, and create meaningful value through carefully designed and refreshed experiences. My hope is that every individual leaves this program with new connections that last well beyond this program year, and with new tools, insights, and inspiration to make them stronger leaders in both their professional and personal lives, and better equipped to lead in the Detroit Region and beyond.”

Dorian Grey, Senior Director, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, Detroit Regional Chamber

Leadership Detroit Class 46 features 77 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. The program 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 46 class roster is available below. 

  • Brooke Adams, Director, Philanthropy, Life Remodeled
  • Tara Aldea, First Vice President, Mercantile Bank
  • Richard Allman, Principal, Innovo
  • Taylor Alpert, Manager, Government Relations, Michigan Health and Hospital Association
  • Janelle Arbuckle-Michael, Associate Director, Talent Development, Pre-K-12 Initiatives, Michigan Central
  • BrieAnn Bell, Programs Director, East Warren Development Corporation
  • Laila Bell, Vice President, Learning and Impact, The Skillman Foundation
  • Charlotte Bewersdorff, Vice President, Community Engagement, Merit Network Inc.
  • Curtis Blackwell, President and Co-founder, Sound Mind Sound Body
  • Bri Brookins, Assistant General Manager, Detroit Athletic Club
  • Hodari Brown, President, Jasiri Enterprises LLC
  • Travis Brown, Director, Fund Development, Communities First Inc.
  • VeAndrea Brown, Director, Matrix Human Services
  • Chiara Clayton, Director, Communications, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries
  • Melanie Depcinski, Director, Guest Relations, Michigan Science Center
  • Adam DesJardins, Program Officer, Arts and Culture, Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation
  • Kelli Dobner, Chief Growth Officer, Samaritas
  • Chris Economeas, Senior Director, Community and Social Responsibility, Pistons Sports and Entertainment
  • Erik Edoff, Senior Executive Director, Michigan Education Association
  • Anthony Eid, Director, Policy and Advocacy, Coalition On Temporary Shelter (COTS)
  • Liesa Finazzo, Director, Individual Giving and Special Campaigns, The Guidance Center
  • Tamara Flake, Vice President, Government Banking, Mercantile Bank
  • Cristina Frendo, Assistant Vice President, Alumni Engagement, Eastern Michigan University
  • Rachel Frierson, Chief Operating Officer, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Inc.
  • Angela Gabridge, Executive Director, MiGen – Michigan LGBTQ+ Elders Network
  • Justin Gendler, Manager, Corporate Development, Pistons Sports and Entertainment
  • Michael D. Gutierrez, Manager, Digital Content, EL CENTRAL Hispanic News
  • Aaron Hall, Vice President, CHN Housing Partners
  • Randi Hamilton, Chief Experience Officer, Detroit Zoological Society
  • Dan Harrah, Director, Sales, Waste Management of Michigan Inc.
  • Jacqueline Hayduk, Senior Associate, Foley and Lardner LLP
  • Irma Hayes, Deputy Director, Economic and Community Development, City of Harper Woods
  • Wendy Holmes, Vice President, Inclusion Engagement and Manager, Strategic Partnerships, Comerica Bank
  • Jennifer Huebel, Senior Manager, Marketing, Clark Construction Company
  • Michele Jackson, Vice President, Primary Care and Ambulatory Footprint, Henry Ford Health
  • Jennifer Jambor, Director, Community Impact and External Affairs, Comcast – Hartland Region
  • Anu Jawanda, Senior Manager, Clinical, Feinberg Consulting Inc.
  • Michelle Johnson, Senior Program Officer, Detroit Team, The Kresge Foundation
  • Paul Johnson, Community Relations Ombudsperson, SMART
  • Donna Kerry, Teacher Certification Officer, University of Michigan – Dearborn
  • Brian Kilkelly, Vice President, Strategy, The Children’s Foundation
  • Marques King, Director, Detroit Studio and Senior Architect, Pure Architects
  • Anne Kuhnen, Policy Director, Kids Count, Michigan League for Public Policy
  • Brandon Lanning, Senior Manager, Tech and Data Platforms, Ancor Automotive
  • Spencer Lucker, Director, Strategic Talent Initiatives, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
  • Anita Marinelli, Principal, Miller Canfield
  • Mya Mason, Chief of Staff, CNS Healthcare
  • Jeffrey McMichael, Partner, Cohen and Company
  • Andre Mello, Vice President, Engagement, REGROUP
  • Andrea Meyer, Executive Director, Center for Success
  • Crystal Perkins, Director, General Services Department, City of Detroit
  • Sean Reed, Account Manager, Business Development, Detroit Thermal
  • Jacob Robinson-Suarez, Senior Managing Director, Educator Program and External Affairs, Teach For America – Detroit
  • Jonathan Roffe, Attorney, Member and Business Litigation, Clark Hill PLC
  • Catia Sabak, Director, Communications, Detroit Regional Chamber
  • Shibu Samuel, Director, Product Growth and Governance, Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan
  • Meghan Schmidbauer, Senior Director, Detroit Drives Degrees, Detroit Regional Chamber
  • Yusef Bunchy Shakur, Executive Director, Michigan Roundtable for Just Communities
  • Greg Shea, Chief Executive Officer, Campbell Marketing and Communications
  • Diop Shumake, Founder and Principal, Kairos Research
  • Kwame Simmons, Founder and Chief Strategist, The Simmons Advantage
  • Jai Singletary, Executive Director, Woodbridge Neighborhood Development Corporation
  • Rosalyn Slade, Senior Specialist, Community Relations, Priority Health
  • Misha Stallworth West, Program Officer, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
  • Larenz Studavent, Senior Loan Officer, Black Leaders Detroit
  • Denise Taliaferro Baszile, Dean, College of Education, Wayne State University
  • Glynis Talley, Partner, Honigman LLP
  • Paul Thomas, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Medical, Plum Health
  • Jennifer Wallace, Audit Partner, KPMG LLP
  • Teia Wallington, Chief Executive Officer, Love Publicity
  • Kaniqua Welch, Vice President, Communications and Marketing, Community Foundation For Southeast Michigan
  • Jeanne Whalen Barber, Member, Dykema
  • Maria Willett, Director, Philanthropy and Grants, City of Dearborn
  • Emily Williams Guffey, Reverend, Christ Church Detroit
  • Alton Williams, Manager, Real Estate, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
  • Jill Wilmot, Director, Corporate Communications, DTE Energy
  • Asa Zuccaro, Executive Director, Latinx Technology and Community Center