PAST LAUREATES

2020

Frank Venegas, Chairman and CEO, The Ideal Group

2019

Mitch Albom; Journalist, Radio Personality, Philanthropist

Marcy Klevorn, EVP Ford Motor Company & President Ford Mobility

2018

Matt Simoncini, President & CEO of Lear Corporation

(Hiatus 2008-2017)

2007

Ronald E. Hall, President & CEO, Bridgewater Interiors, LLC

Cynthia J. Pasky, President & CEO, Strategic Staffing Solutions, Inc.

William C. Young, Chairman, President & CEO, Plastipak Holdings, Inc.

2006

Don H. Barden, Barden Cablevision

Richard E. Dauch, American Axle Manufacturing

Robert M. Thompson, Thompson - McCully

2005

Gail Duncan, President, Sterling Collection & Jerome-Duncan Ford

Sam Logan, Publisher, Michigan Chronicle/Michigan Frontpage

Larry Yost, Retired Chairman & CEO, Arvin Meritor, Inc.

2004

J. T. Battenberg, III, Chairman, CEO & President, Delphi Corporation

Donald A. Coleman, Chairman & CEO, GlobalHue

Yousif B. Ghafari, Chairman, Ghafari Companies

2003

Mr. Daniel Gilbert, Founder & Chairman, Quicken Loans, Rock Financial

Mr. William Odom, Retired Chairman & President, Ford Motor Credit Company

Mr. O’Neil D. Swanson, Founder & President, Swanson Funeral Home, Inc

Impact Award Recipient
Ms. Yvonne W. Mayfield, Principal, Bellevue Elementary Schools

2002

Mr. Albert Kahn, Sr., Albert Kahn & Associates

Mr. Eugene A. Miller

Mr. Harold “Red” Poling

Mr. Walter C. Watkins, Jr., Chief Development Officer, City of Detroit Planning & Development

2001

Mr. Keith Crain, Chairman, Crain Communications Inc.

Fr. William T. Cunningham, Focus:HOPE

Mr. Max Fisher, Fisher Building

Ms. Eleanor M. Josaitis, Executive Director, Focus:HOPE

2000

Mr. Robert Eaton, Retired Chairman, DaimlerChrysler Corporation

Mr. Alfred R. Glancy III, Glancy GKW Enterprises

Mr. Frank D. Stella, Chairman & CEO, F. D. Stella Products Company

Mr. David Stronski/Pam Aguirre, Director Community Relations, Mexican Industries

1999

Mr. Mel Farr, Sr., President, Farr Automotive Group

Mr. James B. Nicholson, President & CEO, PVS Chemicals

Mr. Heinz C. Prechter, Chairman & Founder, ASC Incorporated

Mrs. Waltraud Prechter, Chairman, Prechter Holdings

Mr. Kenneth Way, Chairman & CEO, Lear Corporation

1998

Mr. Philip Caldwell

Ms. Irma Elder, President, The Elder Group

Mr. Peter Karmanos, Jr., Chairman & CEO, Compuware Corporation

Mr. William J. Pulte, Chairman of the Board, PHM Corp.

1997

Mr. Charles Kettering, General Motors

Ms. Florine Mark, President & CEO, The Weight Watchers Group

Dr. William F. Pickard, President & CEO, Vitec

Mr. Ross Roy, Ross Roy Communications

1996

Mr. Harry B. Cunningham, S. S. Kresge

Mr. John A. James, President & CEO, James Group International

Mr. Edward M. Knabusch, La-Z-Boy

Dr. John Psarouthakis

Mr. Edwin J. Shoemaker, La-Z-Boy

1995

Mrs. Beverly Beltaire, Senior Counsel, PR Associates

Mr. Dave Bing, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, The Bing Group

Mr. Walter P. Chrysler

1994

Mr. John W. Barfield, Chairman Emeritus, The Bartech Group

Mr. Walker Cisler

Mr. Eugene Power, University Microfilm International

Mr. Alfred Sloan, General Motors

1993

Mr. Michael Ilitch, Chairman of the Board, Little Caesar Enterprises Inc.

Ms. Mary Stratton, Pewabic Pottery

Mr. A. Alfred Taubman, Chairman of the Board, The Taubman Company

Mr. Henry Ford, Ford Motor Company