The Michigan Chronicle 40 Under 40 Award identifies and awards young leaders making decisions that will ultimately equip Detroit to compete and thrive in the global market. We received over 100 nominations. Our esteemed selection committee checked references and debated merits before identifying a new cadre of emerging leaders who deserved to be recognized.
I am honored to introduce the 2013 Michigan Chronicle 40 Under 40 honorees. These hardworking individuals are committed to the city of Detroit and stand in opposition to the often talked about “brain drain.” They come from varying professional backgrounds including the arts, engineering, medicine, education, business and politics. They demonstrate having sound values and strong moral character.
At the Michigan Chronicle, we are committed to engaging a diverse community and highlighting the outstanding members of our readership. Please join us Friday, October 25, at the Charles H. Wright Museum as we celebrate the success of the 2013 class. For tickets or mre information, please visit michiganchronicle.com.
Advertising and marketing are in her blood. At the age of 17 Marlita Blackman owned and operated Just Communications, a very successful paging and cellular phone store located in Detroit. As evidenced by her ability to successfully nurture the company, Blackman’s creative and strategic marketing and advertising ideas grew and sustained the business for six years. Imaginative and innovative concepts began to flow even more as she completed a communication program at Wayne State University, graduating with a degree in Mass Media Communications.
A short time later at the age of 20, she was hired as the marketing director for Mammoth Video Stores in two locations in the Michigan and Ohio markets. She competed with Blockbuster, the largest video store in the U.S. at the time, and improved membership sales and increased the overall profits. Later, she was employed by Visteon as a marketing analyst, and eventually ventured into radio advertising sales. After an extended, successful career in radio advertising sales with national radio broadcasting affiliates, she launched Direct Media Connection, known today as DMC Worldwide.
DMC Worldwide is a full-service multicultural marketing and advertising agency created out of Blackman’s desire to offer clients a complete campaign package that could include print, radio, Web design, social media, events, and television, and based on the client’s multicultural goals. Her goal has never been to sell the client, but to make every client a spirit of influence within their target consumers.
“This Pisces is an aspiring businesswoman who loves to help her dad operate their stores.” Those were the words written at age five in her dance studio’s program. Now a Wayne State University graduate, she has worked for The Parade Company for over seven years as Special Events director. She produces multiple marketing and branding events and is the lead event director on event consulting projects for Cornerstone Schools, Detroit Grand Prix and Detroit RiverFront Conservancy.
DeForrest is program manager for the Skillman Design contest. In 2010, she launched the organization’s first youth arts summer camp. In 2013, three of her programs won Gold IFEA Pinnacle Awards.
In 2007, she launched WordPlay Inc. an online novelty T-shirt company with positive messaging. She also believes in “family first” and enjoys mentoring younger family members with a strong yet loving support system. She also proudly accepts “The Best Sister in the Universe” title given by her younger brother.
Tara Edwards joined WXYZ in June 2011. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri but spent her middle school and high school years in metro Detroit. She graduated from West Bloomfield High School and University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.
After school, she got her start in Flint, Michigan. She worked behind the scenes at WJRT and went on to report and anchor at WSMH and WNEM. In 2007, she moved to Pittsburgh where she worked as a reporter/fill-in anchor at WTAE.
While at WTAE, Edwards got a chance to meet many remarkable people and cover stories of a lifetime. In 2009, she reported on the Steelers Super Bowl win as fans celebrated in the streets and just a few months later she did it again as the Penguins won the Stanley Cup. Edwards points out that she was rooting for the Red Wings. That same year, she found herself surrounded by riot police on live TV covering a protest during the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.
Though Tara Edwards made many friends in Pennsylvania, she is ecstatic to be back home and thrilled to be part of the WXYZ family. When she is not working, she enjoys kickboxing, pilates and reading. She spends a lot of time with her family.
Adam Hollier was born in Detroit and raised on the North End, where he and his wife, Krystle, are restoring a formerly vacant home. He is the son of Carl (retired Detroit firefigher) and Jacquelene Hollier (retired social worker). He is a graduate of Renaissance High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in Industrial and Labor Relations, where he played varsity football and was a decathlete. His commitment to service includes volunteer firefighting and disaster response. While working in Biloxi, Miss. post-Katrina, he was inspired to pursue a master’s in Urban Planning at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. After graduating in 2009, he returned home with creative ways to fight blight and promote economic development.
While serving as Senator Johnson’s chief of staff (2009-2012), Hollier was instrumental in major pieces of legislation: Regional Transit Authority, Utility Shut-Off Protections for seniors and the partial repeal of the Drivers Responsibility Fee. As the mayor’s liaison to the City Council, he shepherded the creation of the Public Lighting Authority, a $180 million investment in neighborhoods. He recently won the primary election for City Council in District 5. In his free time the enjoys Brazilian jiu-jitsu and coaching youth football.
Evette Hollins is Urban Initiatives manager at the Detroit Regional Chamber where she is responsible for managing the Chamber’s urban strategy. In this role she fosters relationships with Detroit-based organizations and programs with an emphasis on small business and entrepreneurship. She works closely with Detroit government officials on economic development advocacy issues and manages programming for the annual Detroit Policy Conference.
Before joining the Chamber, Hollins was a senior financial analyst at Comerica Bank where she performed analysis on a $50 billion portfolio and took on a range of projects dealing with profit enhancement, risk profiling and strategic planning.
Hollins is also very committed to her involvement in the community. A few of the organizations she works with are the United Way for Southeast Michigan, the Belle Isle Conservancy, and Boys Hope Girls Hope.
In 2013, she was named one of Crain’s Detroit Business “20 in their 20’s.” She earned bachelor’s in Business Administration in finance and corporate strategy from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. She resides in downtown Detroit and looks forward to being a change agent in the resurgence of Detroit
Dr. Curtis Lewis is founding principal of Henry Ford Academy: Elementary School, a public charter school serving students in grades K-5 in Detroit’s greater Boston-Edison area. An accomplished urban educator, Dr. Lewis came to HFA: Elementary School from Teach for America – Detroit, where he was a manager of Teacher Leadership Development. During that time, he was also a visiting instructor at the University of Michigan and a contracted Student Services Specialist with the Lansing School District.
Dr. Lewis earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Michigan State University. He was a 5th grade teacher, middle school math teacher, and an alternative education teacher at the secondary level. After seven years of teaching, he returned to school to obtain his PhD from Michigan State University. During his time as a graduate student, Dr. Lewis taught classes at Michigan State University, coordinated an intervention program for first-time youth offenders, and was director of a mentoring program for young males of color.
“Expect the best from yourself, and you will meet your expectations.” Shanika A. Owens is quite familiar with this quote. As a native Detroiter who attended Detroit Public Schools, she continuously challenges herself and often exceeds the expectations of others.
A sharp, astute public policy professional with a passion for the city of Detroit, Owens has made great strides in her career. Her tireless work ethic took her from being an intern with Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh to his director of Policy & Legislative Affairs within two years. To her colleagues, she exudes the skill set of a seasoned veteran.
Remaining civically engaged outside of the confines of city hall, Owens is a staple in her community. She serves on the West Village Association Board and is an active member of Central Baptist Church in Detroit. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Michigan State University in 2010. She enjoys public service and has cultivated a keen interest in law. She currently assists Councilman James Tate as a policy analyst and will begin the pursuit of her juris doctor in the fall of 2014.
Shani J. Penn accepted the number two decision- making position in Detroit in April 2013. She brings dynamic leadership and over 12 years of corporate experience to her position of chief of staff to emergency manager Kevyn Orr. Some of the key initiatives she is leading in this role are blight removal and the city’s solid waste restructuring.
Previously, Penn served as dealer relations manager at Chrysler Financial Corporation (CFC) where she was the liaison between the dealership owners and Chrysler. Working for CFC gave her the opportunity to work in both New York and Chicago in various management positions which helped her build the skills to begin serving in her prior role as chief of staff to Detroit City Councilman James Tate at the age of 32.
Shani Penn is a graduate of Western Michigan University, active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., a 2010 Congressional Black Caucus Boot Camp alumnae, and 2011 Michigan Political Leadership alumnae. She is a member of the Southwest Solutions Housing Board and the Detroit Institute of Arts Authority Board.
A Detroit native, Annis Stubbs was inspired by her experience in the Detroit Public Schools to become a teacher.
After earning her degree at Michigan State, she joined Teach For America as a corps member in New York. Later, she returned to Michigan State to obtain her PhD in Curriculum, Teaching and Educational Policy.
Stubbs’ investment in the city of Detroit also led her to become invested in numerous initiatives since her return. She has participated in the Future Teachers for Social Justice program and currently serves as a board member for the Public School Academies of Detroit and the Michigan Association of Public School Academies. As executive director, she is poised to live out her passion and comittment to Detroit’s kids.
Dr. Nutrena Tate received her Bachelor’s and Masters of Science degrees from the University of Michigan and a Doctorate of Philosophy degree from Wayne State University. As a Post Doctoral Research fellow, her research interests include factors affecting obesity in adolescents of color. She has co-authored journal articles and more. She has presented her research on local, national and international levels.
Dr. Tate has teaching experience as an assistant professor at the University of Detroit Mercy. Among her awards are the Ellen H. Toporek Award for Excellence in Pediatric Nursing, Nurse Educator of the Year from National Black Nurses Association, and Children’s Hospital of Michigan Nurse of the Month.
She currently serves as president of Lambda Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., a professional nursing organization, and chairman of the board for Teen H.Y.P.E, a teen empowerment organization as well as serving on other various community based advisory boards. She is a proud member of Detroit Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Triumph Church. She is happily married to Councilman James Tate.
Chrystal Wilson, account executive, joined Berg Muirhead in 2010 and provides extensive communications expertise in media and public relations, crisis communications, community outreach, event planning and social media marketing.
She has worked on numerous campaigns including the Education Achievement Authority of Michigan, The Knight Foundation’s BMe Community, Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Sodexo Detroit, HAP, Detroit Public Schools and many more.
Prior to joining Berg Muirhead, Wilson provided communications consulting services to various clients, including the Motown Museum, Real Times Media, Handprint Entertainment, Daimler Financial Services and the Wayne County Chapter of the Links, Inc. She has a background in journalism and worked at several newspaper outlets including the Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Automotive News and the Observer and Eccentric’s Mirror newspapers and as a city manager for the nationally-distributed Rolling Out Urban Style Weekly magazine, Detroit edition. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Wayne State University and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
Monique Vann-Brown is a native of Detroit. She attended Cranbrook Kingswood School in Bloomfield Hills. She earned a BS in Industrial Engineering with a concentration in Manufacturing Engineering from Purdue University as well as an MBA with concentrations in Operations and Manufacturing Technology Management from the Krannert Graduate School of Management at Purdue University.
Her career evolved from various summer internships at Intel Corporation, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation to manufacturing engineering and production supervision at General Motors. She held positions of increasing responsibility in purchasing management for various commodities at Visteon Corporation. At the time of her departure from Visteon, she managed over $175 million spend for metal commodities. She negotiated multi-year agreements with suppliers that resulted in 3% year-over-year cost reductions on value-added content.
Since her smooth transition from her successful career in the automotive industry to McDonald’s franchise ownership, Monique has demonstrated the ability to operate a profitable portfolio of restaurants, which have achieved year-over-year sales growth. She also volunteers her time as a panelist to many organizations including the NAACP and is a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs.
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