Young Leader

CEO SERIES MEETINGS

“I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ESTABLISH DIALOG WITH SOME OF THESE HIGH RANKING EXECUTIVES THAT IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM WOULD THERE HAVE EVER BEEN A FORMAT PROVIDED FOR ME TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF ACCESS.” – CAMERON HUTCHERSON, YL BOARD MEMBER

The DEC Young Leader CEO Series is a special speaker series offered exclusively to DEC Young Leader (YL) members (under 40 years of age). YL meetings offer exposure to the insight and expertise of Detroit Economic Club’s distinguished executives.

In these meetings, DEC YLs engage in vital discussions with our region’s prominent leaders and also have the opportunity to network with their peers.

To maintain an intimate dialogue between YL participants and the speaker, meeting attendance is capped at 50.

Previous CEO Series Meetings:

• Sandy K. Baruah @ Detroit Regional Chamber
• David Lewis @ Jefferson East, Inc. Neighborhood Resource Hub
• Mary Culler & Carolina Pluszczynski @ The Book Depository
• Michael Bickers @ The Marygrove Conservancy
• Jeff Donofrio @ MotorCity Casino Hotel, Iridescence - 16th Floor
• Mark Douglas @ Detroit Golf Club
• The Honorable Jocelyn Benson @ BasBlue
• Manny Amezcua @ Pistons Performance Center
• Linda Hubbard @ The Carhartt Workshop
• David Parent @ Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
• Rich Homberg via Zoom
• Rod Alberts via Zoom
• Sandy Pierce via Zoom
• Wright L. Lassiter III via Zoom
• Peter Bhatia, Tim Gruber, and Gary Miles via Zoom
• David Foltyn via Zoom
• Dr. Virinder Moudgil via Zoom
• Mark Mendola via Google Meet
• Michelle Acciavatti via Zoom
• Mike Ritchie via Zoom
• Carolyn Cassin @ POST Detroit
• Rick Hampson @ Emagine Royal Oak
• Tom Lewand @ Shinola Headquarters
• The Honorable Dave Bing @ Bing Youth Institute
• The Honorable Debbie Dingell @ University of Michigan - Dearborn
• Betsy Meter @ Cobo Center during NAIAS
• Angie Kelly & George Lenyo @ Rebel Nell Studio in Ponyride
• Chris Lambert @ Durfee Innovation Society
• Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz @ Oakland University – The Oakland Center
• Linda Apsey @ ITC Holdings
• Dr. M. Roy Wilson @ Wayne State University – Tierney Alumni House
• Gerry Anderson @ DTE Energy
• Ric DeVore @ Detroit Historical Museum
• Tony Michaels @ The Parade Company
• David Cohen @ Waterview Loft
• Matt Elliott @ Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
• Sandy Baruah @ Detroit Regional Chamber
• Patricia Mooradian @ The Henry Ford
• Rod Alberts @ Cobo Center during NAIAS
• Joseph Mullany @ Detroit Medical Center
• Florine Mark @ The WW Group, Inc.
• Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival @ Wasserman Projects
• Ben and Ryan Maibach @ Barton Malow
• Keith Pretty @ Northwood University Troy Campus
• The Honorable Mark Hackel @ Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
• Joyce Jenereaux @ Detroit Free Press
• Heather Paquette @ NAIAS

Check out our Speaker Archive for more meeting photos.

Professional Development Seminars

DEC Young Leaders (YL) are encouraged to sharpen their professional skills and build their member network with exclusive Professional Development Seminars throughout the year.

• How to Engage in Healthy Conflict
• Take Command
• The Future of Collaboration and the Leader's Role in Societal Change
• Creating and Sustaining a Positive Work Life
• Empower Your Team Through Innovation Culture
• Leading with a Growth Mindset
• Achieve More with Less Stress, Anxiety, and Burnout
• Mental and Emotional Wellness
• Emotional Intelligence
• Women in Leadership Panel
• Own, Control and Protect Your Time
• Develop Personal Resilience & Resolve
• What It Means to Be a Leader Today!
• Networking to Succeed
• Get on Board! Basics of Nonprofit Board Service
• Ask Questions That Get Results!
• Confident Communication
• Optimizing LinkedIn
• Personal Finance for Millennials
• Negotiations – Developing Personal & Professional Influence

Networking Events

DEC Young Leaders (YL) build their member network with exclusive Networking Events for YLs throughout the year.

• River Cruise @ Freedom Boat Club, Harrison Township
• Go-Karting @ Full Throttle Adrenaline Park, Novi
• United Shores Professional Baseball Game @ Jimmy John's Field, Utica
• Punch Bowl Social, Detroit
• Topgolf, Auburn Hills
• Holiday Mix & Mingle @ Great Lakes Culinary Center, Southfield
• A Healthy Tailgate Demonstration Kitchen @ Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, Southfield
• Detroit Axe, Ferndale
• Home Alone @ The DSO, Detroit
• Annual Detroit Tigers Game @ Comerica Park, Detroit
• Sunset Cruise on the Detroit River @ Detroit Port Authority, Detroit
• Farewell to the Joe! @ Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
• Holiday Mix & Mingle @ Detroit Beer Company, Detroit

Service Opportunities

“THE CAREER READINESS ACADEMY WAS FANTASTIC.  NOT ONLY WAS I ABLE TO CONNECT ON A PERSONAL LEVEL WITH OTHER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY OUR TEAM CONNECTED WITH A GREAT GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.  SEEING THEIR GROWTH FROM THE FIRST CLASS TO ACADEMY “GRADUATION DAY” WAS AN UNBELIEVABLY REWARDING EXPERIENCE.” – DEREK SHINSKA, YL BOARD MEMBER

DEC Young Leaders (YL) have many unique volunteer opportunities for service.

Career Readiness Academy (CRA): YLs can volunteer to mentor high school students in the DEC’s Career Readiness Academy.

CRA is a seven-month program where teams of DEC Young Leaders provide career mentorship to the same students at Southeast Michigan high schools.

For more information or to become a volunteer please send an email to Joanie Wiggins at jwiggins@econclub.org.

Share Your Career Path Story: YLs can volunteer to talk about their career paths and answer questions about their industry.

At every DEC meeting 80 high school and college students attend a Student Reception where they have a special Q & A session with the DEC speaker of the day. At the conclusion of the Q & A session, YLs can share their career path experiences with the students prior to the lunch. Students love hearing anecdotes and stories from people not that far removed from their age. It’s a terrific way for you to invest 30 minutes that might end up changing a student’s life!

For more information or to become a volunteer please send an email to Derian Shaffer at dshaffer@econclub.org.

"Day of" Volunteer: YLs can volunteer to assist DEC staff with set-up, registration, directing guests, etc. at regular DEC meetings.

For more information or to become a volunteer please send an email to Joanie Wiggins at jwiggins@econclub.org.

Young Leader Conference

“The Young Leader Conference is the premiere event on the Young Leader calendar. It’s the culmination of a year of hard work and it showcases what the DEC YLs are all about- creating excellent opportunities for personal development, professional development, and networking- all in one place. If you’ve ever been curious about what we do, the YL Conference is the perfect time to meet us and get a feel for all of it, all at once.” – Charley Marcuse, 2022 YL Conference Chair

DEC Young Leaders (YL) can participate in the annual YL Conference whose goals are to develop, inspire and connect. The conference is typically held in the fall in Detroit.

This one-day professional development conference created and programmed by YLs, allows attendees to:

• Develop: Hear powerful keynotes and breakout sessions delivered by successful C-suite executives and civic leaders.
• Inspire: Nourish and motivate the leadership skills within yourself as you learn new and effective ways for personal development.
• Connect: Over 400 YL’s are waiting to expand and strengthen their networks by meeting their YL peers who are also eager to learn and expand their networks together.

This is one conference you won’t want to miss!

2024 Conference

Thursday, September 26, 2024, at MotorCity Casino Hotel

YL Board of Directors

YL Board Chair

Angie Perkins

Associate Relationship Manager, AVP

PNC Financial Services Group

YL Board Members

YL Board Eligibility Considerations

• Must be a DEC Young Leader Member for a minimum of 1 year and current on DEC membership dues (YLs must be under the age of 40)
• Serve as a volunteer on a Career Readiness Academy Team and/or serve as a frequent “day-of” volunteer for regular DEC meetings (minimum of 1 year)
• Serve as a volunteer for DEC YL Conference Planning Committee (by invitation only)
• Attend and support DEC YL programming

YL Board Commitment

• Attend 75% of DEC YL board meetings to remain in good standing (4 - 6 meetings per calendar year)
• Join and actively participate in one of the following subcommittees:
  • Professional Development
  • Membership/Marketing
  • Networking
• Maintain an active YL membership
• Attend and support DEC YL programming