Proceeds from the October 10 dinner event will support Michigan’s leading non-profit executives
Media Contact: Barbara Fornasiero; EAFocus Communications; 586.817.8414;248.651.7536; barbara@eafocus.com
Bloomfield Hills, MI —September 13, 2013 — The Harvard Business School Club of Michigan announces that Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Detroit-based Quicken Loans, Inc., has been selected as the Club’s annual Business Leader of the Year. A dinner to honor Mr. Gilbert will take place on Thursday, Oct. 10, at Qzine at the Chase Building in Detroit. The announcement was made by Harvard Business School Club of Michigan board chair, Richard Shapack.
“The Harvard Business School Club of Michigan supports the Harvard Business School mission to train business leaders to make a difference in their communities. Dan Gilbert is the standout recipient for this year’s award. His business success is internationally recognized as is his unwavering commitment to support Detroit in its comeback efforts,” said Shapack. “Mr. Gilbert is harnessing the energy and potential of Detroit and the region, particularly among young adults, and reflects the benefits of private/public partnerships and the good that can be accomplished in business and the community when outstanding leaders are in charge.”
The honorary chair of the Business Leader of the Year event is Matt Cullen, president & CEO of Rock Ventures, LLC. Proceeds from the event will be used to fund scholarships for Michigan non-profit leaders to attend the 2014 Strategic Perspectives for Non-Profit Management (SPNM) program, an intensive six-day course presented each July at the Harvard Business School in Boston. SPNM scholarships are offered through a nomination/application process for candidates who exemplify dedication, commitment and pursuit of excellence within the non-profit sector. The 2013 recipients of the SPNM scholarship were Sharlonda Buckman, CEO of the Detroit Parent Network; Cheryl Johnson, CEO of the Coalition on Temporary Shelter; Perry Ohren, CEO of Jewish Family Services of Metropolitan Detroit; and Alice Thompson, CEO of Black Family Development, Inc. Including the 2013 class, 35 Michigan non-profit leaders have participated in SPNM since scholarships were first presented by the Club in 1999.
“Members of the Harvard Business School Club of Michigan have a passion for helping those in our community and so do Sharlonda Buckman, Cheryl Johnson, Perry Ohren and Alice Thompson,” said Shapack. “Our Club is proud of these exceptional, dedicated individuals and our opportunity to support their efforts with this important training. The Strategic Perspectives for Non-Profit Management program provides significant opportunities for these outstanding and committed non-profit community leaders to join with their national and international peers and further expand their skills for the benefit of the thousands of Michigan citizens they collectively serve.”
In addition to SPNM participation, scholarship recipients meet together, and with Harvard Business School Club of Michigan members, on a regular basis to collaborate, to be a resource for each other and to continue their exposure to various management and social enterprise concepts, such as performance measurement and the balanced scorecard. SPNM alumni and Harvard Business School Club of Michigan members also serve together as liaisons with the State of Michigan to collaborate in the application of private sector and non-profit management solutions to state agency issues. For a complete list of all scholarship awardees, please visit http://www.hbsmi.org/article.html?aid=109.
Harvard Business School Club of Michigan Business Leader of the Year
What: Harvard Business School Club of Michigan’s annual Business Leader of the Year event honoring Dan Gilbert; strolling dinner with Michigan-themed food, beer and wine
When: Thursday, October 10 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Qzine at the Chase Building – 611 Woodward Avenue, 8th floor, Detroit
Registration: Tickets begin at $125 and can be purchased online at http://www.hbsmi.org/article.html?aid=231; for questions, please contact Amanda Schubeck at schubec4@gmail.com or 248.930.4614
Sponsorship opportunities, including Crimson sponsorships, for the Business Leader of the Year event are available and inquiries should be directed to Doug Allen at dallen@gbngroup.net or 734.213.5318.
About the Harvard Business School Club of Michigan (HBSMI)
With a 70+ year history, the Harvard Business School Club of Michigan (HBSMI) offers diverse business, educational and social activities, including opportunities to network and collaborate with local and national business and civic leaders. Learn more at www.hbsmi.org.
