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Speakers
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Robert Ficano
Wayne County Executive
Robert A. Ficano served with distinction as Sheriff for nearly 20 years before being elected to his current office in January 2003. County Executive Ficano presides over 2.1 million citizens in the largest county in the state of Michigan and the eleventh largest county in the nation. Overseeing an annual budget of $2.2 billion, Mr. Ficano provides innovative leadership for the region and state, delivering services that citizens expect while aggressively pursuing investment, economic growth and jobs creation opportunities. >>> More
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Ellen Hughes-Cromwick
Chief Economist, Ford Motor Company
Ellen Hughes-Cromwick is the Chief Economist for Ford Motor Company. Her role is to oversee the corporate economics and strategic issues group at Ford Motor Company with responsibility for the company’s global automotive industry analysis and forecasts used to support planning. The group’s responsibilities also include economic policy analysis, exchange rate forecasts, and other factors important to the automotive and financial sectors. >>> More
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Paul W. Smith
Radio Host at News/Talk 760 WJR
Paul W. Smith is the morning drive host at News/Talk 760 WJR – the only News/Talk station serving metro Detroit and beyond. The Paul W. Smith Show broadcasts weekday mornings from 5:30 – 9:00 a.m. from the Golden Tower of the Fisher Building, in Detroit’s historic New Center, as well as from around the world, including Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Jerusalem, Dubai, Paris, Frankfurt, Geneva and where ever news is happening. >>> More
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Rick Snyder
2010 Republican Gubernatorial Candidate
Richard D. (Rick) Snyder is CEO, Chair of the Board and co-founder of Ardesta LLC, a high tech venture capital firm located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Since 1991, his primary business activities have focused on the technology industry and the development of emerging and high growth companies. In 1997, Rick founded and led Avalon Investments, Inc., a venture capital company targeted at investments in technology-oriented ventures. >>> More
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Joseph O. Serra
President, Serra Automotive
When Team Management became Serra Automotive in 1992, Joe was named President and he led the company into a 15-year period of unprecedented growth. And, in the year of 2000, Joe negotiated the purchase of 100% of Serra Automotive, which currently ranks in the top twenty dealership groups in the nation according to Automotive News. Joe Serra currently owns 22 dealerships and 38 franchises throughout the United States. >>> More
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Dr. David Cole
Chairman of CAR: the Center for Automotive Research
Dr. David Cole was formerly the Director of the Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation (OSAT) at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. He has worked extensively on internal combustion engines, vehicle design, and overall automotive industry trends. Dr. Cole’s recent research has focused on strategic issues related to the restructuring of the North American industry and trends in globalization, technology, market factors, and human resource requirements. >>> More
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Jeffrey Schuman
Senior V.P./Senior Client Manager for Bank of America
Jeffrey Schuman is a Senior Vice President and Senior Client Manager in Bank of America’s Midwest Commercial Real Estate Division. He has built a diversified career in the financial services industry with approximately 15 years at Michigan National Bank, 6 years at Comerica Bank in Commercial Middle Market Lending; approximately 2 years in the residential mortgage lending business with a privately owned company and 1 year in commercial real estate development with a Michigan based developer all prior to joining LaSalle Bank (now Bank of America) in 2001. >>> More
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Lisa Dancsok
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, MEDC
Lisa Dancsok is Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). In her current role, she is responsible for the corporate marketing and communications functions, including advertising, events, business marketing research, entrepreneur strategy and Web development/graphics. Dancsok also is responsible for Travel Michigan, the State’s tourism office and marketing entity. >>> More
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Patrick Fehring
Chairman, President, & CEO of Level One Bank
Patrick Fehring has over 28 years experience in the financial services industry. He is CEO and Co-Founder of Level One Bank. The bank, which is located in Farmington Hills, Michigan, is a full service Commercial Bank servicing Southeast Michigan. The bank clients are primarily professional firms and emerging businesses. Level One Bank has been successful in providing a wide range of financial services to meet the credit and treasury management needs of growing businesses. >>> More
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John J. Ferchill
Chairman/CEO, The Ferchill Group
Founded in 1978, The Ferchill Group grew dramatically in the 1990s after John Ferchill started capitalizing on the construction of new ballparks and sports arenas with the development of hotels. John’s innate ability to determine ‘the next big thing’ in the real estate market has allowed the team to be ahead of the game and develop projects that meet the needs of the market, while adding value to the region. >>> More
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Mark Petroff
President/CEO, Marketing Associates
Mark is fully committed to being a Detroit business and community leader and lends his considerable energies in support of a growing, vibrant downtown business district. Prior to joining Marketing Associates, Mark was a Partner in the Deloitte & Touche Corporate Finance LLC Financial Advisory Services practice where he was global leader for their automotive industry segment as well as a General Securities Principal in the Investment Banking Group. >>> More
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Peter Brown
Publisher and Editorial Director, Automotive News
Peter Brown became editor of Automotive News in February 1989. Since then, he has led the expanding Automotive News Group to dramatic growth and greater global prominence. Today, as publisher and editorial director of the Automotive News Group, he oversees 50 automotive reporters and editors around the world, from Detroit to Munich to Tokyo. The Automotive News Group is the world’s leading source of industry news, analysis and data for automotive executives. >>> More
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Marc Gardner
President/CEO, North American Bancard
Marc Gardner is founder and President/CEO of North American Bancard, ranked as one of the industry’s top 50 acquirers. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, North American Bancard is a multi-faceted payment solutions provider dedicated to delivering the latest technology as well as the highest levels of service. That dedication comes from the commitment and vision of its leader, Marc Gardner. Born and raised in a middle class working family in Detroit, Michigan, Marc was taught a strong worth ethic at an early age. >>> More
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Dan Stern
Partner, Lormax Stern Development Co.
Daniel L. Stern earned his reputation as a leader in shopping center acquisition, financing, development and leasing. He is responsible for overseeing the planning, pre-leasing and financing of retail space in approximately 40 major retail shopping centers, and personally negotiated over 500 anchor tenant leases. Daniel is primarily involved in financing, development and leasing of shopping centers in the development stages ranging in size from 15,000 square feet to 800,000 square feet. >>> More
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Mark Schostak
President & Chief Operating Officer, Schostak Brothers Company Inc.
Executive Chairmen, TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants
In November 2008 Mark was named the President and COO of SB&Co., a diversified commercial real-estate company operating in 20 states in the United States. In this leadership role Mark directs the operational and strategic planning for the entire organization. In January 2009 transitioned from the President and CEO role to serve as the Executive Chairman of TSFR. In the Executive Chairmen role, Mark will oversee the high level strategic decisions of the restaurant group. >>> More
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