The last two Detroit Auto Shows have engrained much more of the “Detroit Spirit” than any others in recent memory, and that’s thanks in large part to the leadership and direction of Sam Klemet.
He was tapped to head the Detroit Auto Show in 2024 as longtime director Rod Alberts transitioned from leadership. As executive director, Klemet led the show’s return to its traditional January timing after the decision to move the annual show to September fell flat.
Bu Klemet, on Thursday, April 30, announced that he would step down as executive director of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association and the Detroit Auto Show, effective immediately.
“It has been a privilege to serve the DADA and work alongside its leadership and members,” Klemet said in a statement. “At this time, I’ve made the decision to pursue other professional opportunities, and I wish the organization continued success in the years ahead.”
Speaking with the Michigan Chronicle, Klemet said that he loves the city of Detroit as much as anything outside of his family, and that he would be sticking around the city in the future.
“We thank Sam for his service to the DADA and his contributions to the continued evolution of the Detroit Auto Show,” said Katie Coleman, president of the association. “As we move forward, our focus remains on supporting our dealer members, strengthening our organization, and continuing to elevate the Detroit Auto Show as a premier automotive event.”
The search for its next leader has begun with an executive committee overseeing the transition.
Klemet came to the DADA from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, where he was President and CEO since 2021. There, he led advocacy initiatives, continuing education, and awards programs on behalf of 285-member commercial TV and radio stations and 30 public TV and radio stations. In this role, he was also responsible for coordinating legislative initiatives in Washington D.C. and Lansing.
Previously, Klemet spent six years with the Indiana Broadcasters Association and Indiana-based Arland Communications, where he was charged with overseeing advocacy and compliance initiatives for more than 270-member TV and radio stations.
Prior to his career in association management, Klemet was a broadcast journalist, producer, and news director at a number of commercial and public stations in Indiana, Minnesota and Illinois.
Michigan Chronicle partnered with Klemet and the Auto Show in both 2025 and 2026, as the media organization hosted a panel discussion ahead of the 2025 Auto Show and did red carpet coverage of the Charity Preview event in both years. In 2026, Michigan Chronicle hosted a special iteration of Pancakes & Politics at Huntington Place in the week of activations at Huntington Place.
Ahead of the 2026 Pancakes & Politics kickoff at the Auto Show, Hiram E. Jackson, Publisher of the Michigan Chronicle, emphasized the legacy and impact of the Pancakes series: “For 20 years, Pancakes & Politics has built a reputation as the space where leaders come to exchange bold, unfiltered ideas that ultimately shape policy and move communities forward. To have the Detroit Auto Show recognize the value of this platform and invite us onto such a prominent stage is an honor. This partnership underscores the weight of these conversations, not just for Detroit, but for the entire nation.”
Klemet went on to foster several other strong partnerships with local and national organizations in his time leading the curating of the January Classic, including partnerships with local businesses, the Detroit Public Schools Consolidated District, and the local chapters of the Black Greek Letter Organizations for the show’s annual Day of Service events. He was intentional about making the show once again feel like an authentic Detroit experience – one that was inclusive and progressive in nature.
Klemet graduated in 2007 from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism.
