Tonight, live on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” Cestus Management’s undefeated Super Middleweight contender, Donovan “Da Bomb” George (20-0-1, 17KO’s) will have the opportunity to win his first title as a professional when he fights for the vacant WBO/NABO Super-Middleweight Title against tough and rugged, power punching Mexican, Francisco “Ponchito” Sierra (21-3, 20KO’s) at the Buffalo Run Casino, in Miami Oklahoma.
George, of Greek decent, is coming off a impressive and highly entertaining win in his last fight against once beaten Osumanu Adama. It was George’s 2nd win in 2010, and an another win tomorrow night on the nationally televised broadcast will be a yet another major step forward towards Super Middleweight supremacy for the Chicago native.
George said, I can’t describe the incredible feeling i have; my manager (Cestus) made this title fight possible and i have the chance to fight for a title, its a dream come true and the victory will be even more sweeter. George added, I know that Sierra can punch, but so can i and if he fights hard like he said; i will fight even harder, I have never been more ready in my life the title is mine.
The power punching Francisco Sierra, is a ferocious all action fighter who has won 20 of his 21 victories by way of knockout. Sierra is an all action fighter who puts non stop pressure on his opponents and grinds them down before he knocks them out. At the end of the day both fighters know what’s at stake and the fight fans are guaranteed to see a barn burner.
Mike Michael, who is Cestus Management’s Chief advisor, said, Everyone at Cestus worked overtime to give Donovan this opportunity to fight for the NABO Title. We believe that Donovan is the real deal and we are backing him 110% and tonight Championship fight is the beginning of big thing fto come in the future. Michael added, For Cestus this is a special time as Donovan is a Greek American and our Company is also a Greek American. So tonight Donovan will be representing every Greek across the world. Michael further added, “I want to thank Jimmy “ZEEK” Hartofilis for his undeniable support, our Promoters, the fabulous Buffalo Run Casino, and ESPN for this great opportunity.
Most Connected.(Company overview)
Crain’s Detroit Business December 13, 2010 Beginning here are profiles of the first 25 of 52 most-connected people among civic, nonprofit, educational and cultural boards. The full list can be found at www.crainsdetroit.com /mostpowerful.
1. Jim Nicholson, 66 President and CEO PVS Chemicals Inc., Detroit A much-sought after board member, he’s considered a role model and a “go-to” person by many in the nonprofit community for his effective and disciplined leadership. A political and nonprofit donor, he has also been active in local and national Republican politics and once ran for the U.S. Senate. His company distributes chemicals for wastewater treatment and other uses.
Civic involvement: Business Leaders for Michigan director, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan trustee, Detroit Economic Club director, Detroit Public Television vice chair, Detroit Symphony Orchestra chairman emeritus, McGregor Fund trustee, The Parade Co. trustee, Digital Detroit director, Michigan Colleges Foundation trustee, Republican Leadership Council director, Amerisure Cos. chair, PrivateBancorp Inc. director, Cooper Natural Resources director, American Chemistry Council director, Council of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago.
2. ThomasOgden, 61 President, Michigan market Comerica Bank, Detroit Named head of Comerica Bank’s Michigan market in 2007 after the bank’s headquarters exodus to Texas. Observers say he’s done a good job walking the tightrope of maintaining market share while cutting some loan customers loose, and he serves on some of the most prominent local civic boards.
Civic involvement: Business Leaders for Michigan director, College for Creative Studies trustee, Detroit Economic Club director, Detroit Regional Chamber vice chair, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute director, United Way for Southeastern Michigan director, Downtown Detroit Partnership director, Michigan State University Center for International Business Education and Research advisory member.
2. Cynthia Pasky, 50 President and CEO Strategic Staffing Solutions, Detroit Has taken a strategic approach to both the building of her IT-oriented staffing company and of her public involvement and profile. Her newest challenge: Succeeding Roger Penske as head of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. (See story, Page 12.) Civic involvement: Business Leaders for Michigan director, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan trustee, Detroit Economic Club director, Detroit Medical Center director, Downtown Detroit Partnership chair, Metropolitan Affairs Coalition director, United Way for Southeastern Michigan director, Detroit Institute of Arts director, Detroit Youth Foundation director, U.S. Baltic Foundation director, Detroit Regional News Hub chair.
4. Florine Mark, 77 President and chair The WW Group, Farmington Hills One of metro Detroit’s most physically fit corporate leaders, Mark is noted for wide-ranging civic leadership and generous personal philanthropy.
For example, an opportunity to fund a $2 million fitness center at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield complemented Mark’s life work of getting people to exercise and be healthy. Mark built The WW Group from scratch to become the largest franchise of Weight Watchers International and perhaps its best-known face. She’s also a motivational speaker and radio host.
Civic involvement: Business Leaders for Michigan director, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan trustee, Detroit Economic Club executive committee, Detroit Regional Chamber vice chair, Inforum Center for Leadership director, Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit/United Jewish Fund director, Detroit Institute for Children director, Jewish Women’s Foundation trustee, Michigan Fitness Foundation board member.
5. Anthony Earley, 61 Executive Chairman DTE Corp., Detroit Stepping aside from the CEO post may allow Earley more time to work his influence. (See story, Page 15.) His for-profit boards include Ford Motor Co. and Masco Corp.
Civic involvement: Nuclear Energy Institute, executive committee; director, Business Leaders for Michigan, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Cornerstone Schools; chair, Henry Ford Health System, Downtown Detroit Partnership; Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan, trustee; Detroit Economic Club, executive committee; Hudson-Webber Foundation, trustee; advisory board, College of Engineering, University of Notre Dame.
6. Alan E. Schwartz, 84 Founding Partner Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, Detroit Schwartz and his wife, Marianne, were guests of honor at the Detroit Institute of Art’s 125th birthday party last month in recognition of their nearly six decades of involvement and seven figures worth of contributions. Was a founding director of Detroit Renaissance Inc., the predecessor of Business Leaders for Michigan.
Civic involvement: Business Leaders for Michigan trustee, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan vice chair and trustee, Interlochen Center for the Arts trustee, New Detroit Inc. trustee, United Way for Southeastern Michigan director, Economic Alliance for Michigan director, Detroit Economic Club executive committee, Detroit Symphony Orchestra executive committee.
7. Matt Cullen, 54 President and COO Rock Ventures LLC, Detroit Considered part of Detroit’s inner circle of leaders, having served on or chaired most of the organizations that work to improve Detroit’s downtown.
When he was general manager of economic development and enterprise services for General Motors Corp., he was credited for inspiring GM’s purchase of the Renaissance Center and subsequent $500 million in improvements and was a driving force for riverfront improvements. He also served as CEO of M1 Rail, a consortium of businesspeople pushing to build a light-rail line on Woodward Avenue. go to web site detroit institute of arts
Community involvement: University of Detroit Mercy trustee, Hudson-Webber Foundation trustee, Downtown Detroit Partnership vice chair, Detroit Zoological Society director, Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau director, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan trustee, College for Creative Studies trustee, The Parade Co. immediate past chair, Invest Detroit chair, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy chair, YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit director.
8. Deborah Dingell, 56 President D2 Strategies, Dearborn The former head of the General Motors Foundation hasn’t slowed down since taking a buyout in 2009.
As an elected member of the Wayne State University board of governors, she’s credited with recruiting Alan Gilmour to be interim president. She’s also recruited top labor leaders to the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition board that she chairs. (See story, Page 12.) Civic involvement: Chair, Metropolitan Affairs Coalition; member, Democratic National Committee; Wayne State University board of governors; Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan trustee; Detroit Regional Chamber director; Karmanos Cancer Institute director.
9. Sandra Pierce, 52 President and CEO Charter One Bank, Michigan and Indiana Wins kudos from community leaders for moving into top leadership once she joins an organization and leads actively while there. She has chaired the Detroit Regional Chamber board and now chairs The Parade Co.
Said one local leader: “She speaks out about issues no matter what their sensitivity and has no hesitation about being a change agent. In her mind, leadership is not about a name on a letterhead, but rather about making a difference.” Civic involvement: Business Leaders for Michigan vice chair, Detroit Economic Club director, Henry Ford Health System trustee, New Detroit Inc. director, University of Detroit Mercy trustee, Wayne State University School of Business Administration board of visitors.
10. Alfred Glancy III, 72 Chairman Unico Investment Co., Seattle Retired energy executive Glancy remains one of the heaviest hitters with leading local nonprofits and organizations that support regional economic growth.
He was the CEO of Michigan Consolidated Gas Co., then MCN Energy Group. He retired when it was purchased by DTE Energy Co. Seattle-based Unico Investment Co. owns nine million square feet of properties in the western United States.
Civic involvement: Business Leaders for Michigan director, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan vice chair, Detroit Symphony Orchestra chair emeritus, Hudson-Webber Foundation treasurer, Detroit Institute of Arts director emeritus.
10. John Rakolta Jr., 63 Chairman and CEO Walbridge Aldinger, Detroit Rakolta is noted for speaking his mind and seeing the big picture on the region’s challenges. He’s focused on groups engaged in change in the areas of job creation, education, race and health care (See story, Page 12).
Civic involvement: New Detroit Inc. board member, Downtown Detroit Partnership director, Detroit Economic Club director, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan trustee, College for Creative Studies trustee, Business Leaders for Michigan board member, Henry Ford Foundation board member, Henry Ford Hospital Orthopedic Advisory Board member.
12. Chris Ilitch, 45 President and CEO Ilitch Holdings Inc., Detroit Has emerged as the next-generation leader of his family’s diverse holdings — and also has become a far more visible civic presence than his parents, Mike and Marian. He’s also credited with transforming the company’s management structure to befit its $2 billion in revenue. (See story, Page 15.) Civic involvement: Chairman, Ilitch Charities; director, Detroit Economic Club; past chairman, Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors; member, Business Leaders For Michigan; vice chair, Detroit Regional Chamber.
12. Daniel Loepp, 53 CEO Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Detroit A former Lansing insider, Loepp has led Michigan’s Blues since 2005 and through some heady challenges and changes ranging from battles with Attorney General Mike Cox over rate increases to the current rollout of health care reform.
The Blues also are making a statement as one of the city of Detroit’s largest employers: 3,000 staffers will move into the RenCen next year, a move expected to save the organization $30 million.
Civic involvement: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan director, Business Leaders for Michigan director, Detroit Economic Club director, Detroit Regional Chamber vice chair, Downtown Detroit Partnership director, The Parade Co. director.
14. Gary Torgow, 52 President Sterling Group, Detroit Evolved from a career in law to become one of Detroit’s leading real estate developers and community leaders. His company was part of the partnership that developed the commercial buildings of Campus Martius. Sterling Group also purchased the Guardian Building in 2003, renovated it, and then sold it to Wayne County in 2007. Also is very active in Jewish charities and education.
Civic involvement: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan director, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan trustee, Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau director, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit vice president, Downtown Detroit Partnership director.
15. Kieth Cockrell, 49 Regional executive and president of the Michigan market Bank of America, Troy Has argued for initiatives to support business growth in Michigan while working a truly thankless job. Bank of America took over LaSalle Bank in 2007, and in 2008 it began merging operations. In Michigan, that has meant cutting lots of jobs and cutting loose loan customers in troubled sectors.
Civic involvement: Business Leaders for Michigan director, Detroit Economic Club director, Detroit Regional Chamber vice chair, United Way for Southeastern Michigan director, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History trustee, Detroit Institute of Arts director.
16. Albert Berriz, 54 CEO McKinley Inc., Ann Arbor A Cuban immigrant who is noted for a strong track record of local community service, including critical fundraising for an Ann Arbor teen center. He was recruited to Michigan by McKinley founder Ron Weiser in 1989 and since then has helped the diversified real estate company grow to a $2.4 billion, 31.6 million-square-foot real estate portfolio. Civic kudos range from a 2008 March of Dimes honoree for Community Leadership and Philanthropy, 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, 2007 Ann Arbor News Citizen of the Year and Crain’s Detroit Business American Dreamer Award.
Civic involvement: Business Leaders for Michigan director, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan trustee, Ann Arbor Spark director, Neutral Zone Teen Center capital campaign chair, Michigan Theater Foundation chair.
16. William Pickard, 66 Chairman and CEO Global Automotive Alliance LLC, Detroit Pickard is passionate about helping minority businesses achieve their potential. He has a long history of business ownership and investment that now is centered on joint-venture automotive suppliers. He is one of the partners of the MGM Grand Detroit, has been an investor in the Michigan Chronicle and is the owner of McDonald’s restaurants locations and a related management company, Minority Plas Inc. He serves on the boards of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. and Flagstar Bancorp Inc., as well as the Bank of America advisory board, in addition to his civic contributions.
Civic involvement: Business Leaders for Michigan director, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan trustee, Detroit Economic Club director.
18. William Clay Ford Jr., 53 Executive chairman Ford Motor Co., Dearborn The Ford family scion continues a tradition of community involvement. For-profit commitments include serving on the board of eBay Inc. (Ford was a classmate of former Ebay CEO Meg Whitman at Princeton University.) Earlier this year, he co-launched Fontinalis Partners, a transportation technology venture fund, with former Ford executive Mark Schultz and Ralph Booth II, CEO and chairman of Detroit-based Booth American Co. Also was a public and enthusiastic supporter of incoming governor Rick Snyder.
Civic involvement: Business Leaders for Michigan director, Detroit Economic Club chair, The Henry Ford trustee, Detroit Lions vice chair, eBay Inc. director, Ford Motor Co. executive chair.
19. Stephen Polk, 53 Chairman, president and CEO R.L. Polk & Co., Southfield Leads the organization that bears his great-grandfather’s name, but with a forward-looking vision — a case study on making bold decisions to avoid corporate inertia. The automotive information company, under Polk, is smaller today but more specialized. It has sold less-profitable businesses, developed new products and sharpened its focus. go to site detroit institute of arts
Civic involvement: Business Leaders for Michigan director, College for Creative Studies trustee, Detroit Economic Club director, Detroit Zoological Society vice chair, Detroit Symphony Orchestra director, Automotive Hall of Fame chair.
20. Roger Penske, 73 Chairman and CEO Penske Corp., Bloomfield Hills Now the name that comes first to mind when leadership is mentioned, racing superstar Penske wasn’t civically conspicuous locally until being recruited by William Clay Ford Jr. to head the host committee for Super Bowl XL.
After that he became the go-to person in tangible downtown improvements and in rallying regional leadership. Those projects range from a Clean Downtown program that developed out of his work preparing for Super Bowl XL to come to town, a homeless outreach program, and financial support for Woodward light rail. He’s one of the biggest auto dealers and renters of trucks via his Bloomfield Hills-based company, and he’s a huge local corporate success story.
Civic involvement: Business Leaders for Michigan director, Detroit Economic Club executive committee, Detroit Medical Center trustee, Downtown Detroit Partnership vice chairman (immediate past chairman), Universal Technical Institute Inc. director, Penske Automotive Group Inc. and Penske Corp. chairman, General Electric Co. director, Super Bowl XL committee chairman.
21. Phillip William Fisher, 60 Principal Fisher Group, Southfield The son of Max Fisher has a wide variety of corporate and civic involvement that includes advocating for increasing AIDs awareness; his sister, Mary, contracted HIV from her second husband and has been a leading advocate for AIDS awareness.
Fisher’s corporate involvements include serving as chairman of Pontiac-based Edcor Data Services. He was chairman of Lapeer-based Durakon Industries in the 1990s and also was a board member of Charter One Bank in Cleveland before its 1994 sale.
Civic involvement: United Jewish Foundation/Federation of Metropolitan Detroit vice president, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan trustee, Detroit Symphony Orchestra executive committee member, United Way for Southeastern Michigan director, Starfish Family Services vice president, Max M. and Marjorie Fisher Foundation trustee, Fisher Business College, Ohio State University.
22. Glenda Price, 71 President Emeritus Marygrove College, Detroit She has stayed busy since her 2006 retirement, serving as interim president of the Michigan Colleges Foundation in 2008 and as a current board member of Compuware Corp.
Before becoming Marygrove president in 1998, her background included work as a clinical laboratory scientist and provost at Spelman College in Atlanta. She also was a member of an appointed reform board for Detroit Public Schools and has remained a public voice for improving the quality of DPS schools.
Civic involvement: Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan trustee, Detroit Institute of Arts director, Detroit Symphony Orchestra secretary, Focus: HOPE chair, The Center for Michigan director, Michigan Colleges Foundation trustee.
23. Mary Sue Coleman, 67 President University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Has led UM’s culture change to be far more entrepreneurial. The university is expected to be one of the engines of the state’s economic recovery.
Civic involvement: Ann Arbor Spark director, Business Leaders for Michigan director, Detroit Economic Club director, University Musical Society director, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation trustee, Gerald R. Ford Foundation trustee, Johnson & Johnson director, Meredith Corp. director, the Presidents Council State Universities of Michigan director, Michigan Strategic Economic Investment and Commercialization Board director, National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship co-chair.
23. Kenneth Whipple, 76 Retired chairman and CEO CMS Energy Corp., Dearborn Active in retirement in a number of for-profit and nonprofit boards.
He currently is nonexecutive chairman of Los Angeles-based Korn/Ferry International. He stepped down in May as chairman of the board of Jackson-based CMS Corp. after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.
A past president of Ford Credit and chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Co., he went on to lead CMS Energy as CEO for two years in addition to serving as chairman. In 1995, Whipple engineered the merger of Detroit’s two largest human service agencies, United Way and United Community Service.
Civic involvement: Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan trustee, Detroit Economic Club director, Detroit Public Television vice chair, United Way for Southeastern Michigan director.
25. W. Frank Fountain Jr., 66 Retired senior vice president Chrysler LLC, Auburn Hills Since retiring in 2008 has devoted considerable effort to the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, which launched a $10 million fundraising drive earlier this year. The campaign’s first major fundraiser, the Walter P. Chrysler Legacy Gala on July 24, raised more than $1 million.
Fountain, who also was the former president of the DaimlerChrysler Corp. Fund and, subsequently, the Chrysler Foundation, directed the automaker’s support of Detroit’s major cultural institutions, the Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats festival, the Detroit Grand Prix, the Michigan State Fair and a host of nonprofits serving children and education.
He was also the public face of Chrysler during the merger with Daimler in his role as senior vice president overseeing external and government affairs and public policy at DaimlerChrysler Corp.
Civic involvement: Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan secretary, Detroit Economic Club officer, Hudson-Webber Foundation trustee, United Way for Southeastern Michigan director, Walter P. Chrysler Museum Foundation chair, Invest Detroit director, Africare chair, International Visitors Council of Metro Detroit honorary board member.
