Dennis Archer Jr., founding principal and president of Archer Corporate Services, and CEO of Ignition Media Group, is celebrated in business circles around Detroit and the metropolitan region for his ability to connect small businesses and large corporations in a manner few can. Archer credits his strong business relationships and his talent for identifying promising business opportunities for making him a household name in local markets. “I guess I would consider myself an opportunistic entrepreneur. And I have been very good at growing and maintaining relationships. I learned from my father there is no one you can meet who is insignificant,” says the 2016 Mackinac Policy Conference Chair.
Archer admits he is enjoying his role as Conference Chair more than most, since the serial entrepreneur has a solid track record in marketing, with event production and brand development being the lynch pins of his own business success. “One of the fun things for me is that … I have been able to participate a little bit deeper than some have in the past on the logistics and conference events,” says Archer, adding that he has been able to leverage his business relationships to attract industry heavy hitters like “Shark Tank’s” Daymond John, Intel Corporation’s Brian David Johnson and broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien. “Even some of the things that have not been announced, I was able to be a part of,” he says flashing his signature smile.
Archer spoke in the days prior to the Mackinac Policy Conference with the Michigan Chronicle about his perspectives on business challenges and opportunities.
On economic challenges for minority owned businesses …
I am fortunate enough to be vice chairman of the Detroit Regional Chamber, but I also sit on the board of the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce. I think high atop the list is access to capital. If you asked 100 business owners, 100 business owners would make [access to capital] the number one priority. I think access to opportunity is the next priority. We’re in the top four or five markets in terms of the number of African American owned businesses. As a single market — even maybe more than New York — out of the Black Enterprise 100, we have the most top 100 African American businesses in our area, with 25 being located in and around Detroit. … Our challenge or opportunity is to take the mom and pop shops and give them the where withal to become a larger business.
On being an entrepreneur …
One of the beautiful things is that I had the good fortune of always working for African American entrepreneurs, and then working for myself. So I started Archer Corporate Services with my partner Mike Carr in 2004, and we were headquartered in Belleville and have been since then. That’s a marketing services firm so we do warehousing and distribution of marketing collateral. Our client base is the Fortune 100, including General Motors, Johnson and Johnson, Procter and Gamble and Michelin. We employ 20 people at the Belleville headquarters, with a few people in Minnesota, we’ve got on-site people in Florida, and a couple of people who work for us on-site at general Motors downtown.
On new businesses …
Ignition Media Group is a business I have had technically since 1996 in different iterations. However it’s most recent matured status probably occurred over the past five or six years where we have become a full service marketing and PR firm. It kind of evolved out of me doing events and then doing experiential marketing and representing clients, who were looking to promote with the press and out of that came public relations. So we do traditional marketing and PR, branding. We have a strategic matchmaking practice which makes us unique where we help align our clients with the individuals and organizations they need to meet with to move their agenda forward.
Central Kitchen and Bar opened in August and it’s been going very well. We’ve received phenomenal critical acclaim from the food critic community and we’re doing well financially for ourselves, and our investors. We’re looking to do more in the greater downtown area.
On his political future …
I’m very supportive of people desirous of holding office, but I have zero political aspirations.
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