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| March 14-20, 2018
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michiganchronicle.com
AT&T Michigan gets new president AT&T recently named David Lewis as the president of AT&T Michigan. Lewis is a near 10-year veteran of the company’s external, government, and public affairs efforts. A native of Indianapolis, Lewis joined AT&T Indiana in 2009 as the company’s Director of External and Corporate Affairs. In addition to his service to AT&T, Lewis has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Central Indiana, the Hispanic Business Council, Fort David Lewis Wayne Urban League, and the NAACP state education committee. “We are absolutely thrilled to have someone of David’s background and professional experience leading our team in Michigan,” said Paul La Schiazza, AT&T North Central Region president. “Michigan has an impressive track record of implementing forward-thinking public policy when it comes to communications and technology, and I am confident that David’s leadership will continue to position AT&T as a leader in this effort.” AT&T has more than 6,000 employees working and 13,000 retirees living in Michigan, and the company has invested more than $1.4 billion in its best-in-class wired and wireless networks in Michigan between 2014 and 2016. “AT&T’s reputation around the State Capitol and in communities across Michigan is strong, and the work we are doing is bringing greater investment and innovation to benefit everyone,” Lewis said. “I am excited, honored, and eager to lead the AT&T Michigan team and to make Michigan my new home.” Lewis began his distinguished career in public service as an Indiana Governor’s Fellow. Following his fellowship, David worked for the Indiana Department of Commerce in the Community Development Division before joining the Office of Lieutenant Governor as special assistant for legislative affairs. In 2001, David joined U.S. Senator Evan Bayh’s office as his Regional Director for Central Indiana, and in 2003, was appointed as Indiana’s Clerk of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Tax Court, making him the 4th African American in the history of Indiana to serve as a state-wide elected official and the 2nd African American to serve as Clerk. Lewis is an undergraduate of Ball State University, with a Masters of Public Affairs from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Honigman invests in Detroit’s youth through Partnerships with United Way and TutorMate Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP has underscored its commitment to the community with the formation of the Honigman Academy, an innovative program that provides local public high school students with a broad overview of life at a corporate law firm. The inaugural eight session program, which is the first of its Khalilah V. Spencer kind in Detroit, was made possible through a partnership with United Way for Southeastern Michigan and their College and Career Pathways work with Cody Academy of Public Leadership High School. The partnership was spearheaded by Honigman’s Chief Community Officer Fritz Morsches, Inclusion, Equity & Social Responsibility partner Khalilah V. Spencer, and Vice Community Involvement partner Gabrielle L. Sims. Joining United Way was a natural fit due to the close ties between the organization and Honigman’s leadership team. The firm’s Chairman and CEO David Foltyn has been a member of United Way for Southeastern Michi-
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All aboard the QLine … but no free ride
By Donald James Special to the Chronicle
It’s hard not to admire the relatively new and futuristic looking QLine streetcars in Detroit that appears to glide effortlessly up and down Woodward Ave., between New Center and downtown. Yet, for some QLine riders on the 6.6 round-trip route, it is apparently a problem to pay the required fare. Like most transit systems across the United States, there’s a segment of individuals who want to ride free for various reasons. Cities with mass transit systems, like New York, Chicago, and Atlanta among others, have faced fare evading riders for decades. However M-1 RAIL, who owns and operates the QLine, is hoping to slowdown and stop offenders for fare evasion, with a newly enforceable method. Qline officials say they however, first intend to give people every chance to
purchase tickets to ride.
According to Dan Lijana, communications officer for M-1 RAIL, there are three ways in which riders can purchase QLine tickets: pay cash on the respective streetcar, purchase tickets through a mobile app or purchase tickets with a credit card at one of the QLine stations. Lijana said there are ambassadors on the streetcars to assist riders needing to purchase tickets, especially during peak travel times such as morning and evening rush hours, as well as when major events are happening downtown. The ambassadors help make the entire QLine ride experience enjoyable in multiple ways. While there are several methods to assist riders for ticket purchases, there are still riders who can’t, don’t or won’t pay. So what happens when a rider refuses to pay to ride the QLine? “The transit police become in-
volved,” said Lijana, if the ambassador is at an impasse with the passenger. “Last week, transit police issued 17 fare evasion tickets, which are misdemeanors. The fare evader is required to make an appearance before 36th District Court, where the court sets the punishment, which can be anywhere between no fine at all, or a fine of up to $500.” Lijana said the 36th District Court also has the authority to sentence a fare evader to jail. He emphasized that M1/QLine does not set the punishment, nor did it make the determination that fare evasion is a misdemeanor. In addition, he says he doesn’t understand why people don’t or won’t pay to ride one of Detroit’s newest attractions. The QLine opened to the public on Friday, May 12, 2017, and offered free rides until Tuesday, Sept. 5, the day after Labor Day. During the free-ride
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Business great Faye Nelson takes the stage for WIN By Roz Edward
troit Riverfront Conservancy. During her 10-year tenure at the conservancy she worked to develop strategies and implement the transformation of Detroit’s riverfront. She served on the Board of Directors for Compuware Corporation for 14 years. Her current board service includes the; Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Q-line, New Detroit, Midtown Inc., Henry Ford Hospital & Health Network and the Sphinx Organization.
When accomplished business and civic leader Faye Nelson speaks, people do more than listen, they learn. Faye Nelson, former DTE Energy VP, board chair and president of the DTE Energy Foundation, and currently a 2018 Sojourner Truth Fellow at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, is one of the nation’s most respected experts on public- and private-partnerships. In addition, she is one of Michigan’s most admired champions of business ethics, philanthropic responsibility and civic engagement.
Nelson is the recipient of numerous awards and in 2016 was named to Crain’s Detroit Business’ list of the 100 Most Influential Women in Michigan. She is also the recipient of the Damon J. Keith 24th Annual Soul and Spirit Humanitarian Award and is a lifetime member of the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference. Nelson is a member of the International Women’s Forum, the Executive Leadership Council and the State Bar of Michigan.
Nelson, who implores women in business to “be present, be prepared and be grateful,” will deliver the keynote address at the Women’s Informal Network (WIN) Women’s History Month Luncheon on Saturday, March 31 at the International Banquet Center in Greektown. “I am extremely honored to have been given such a prestigious opportunity, which I do not take lightly,” said Nelson of the invitation to speak at the annual WIN luncheon. “The theme for this year’s luncheon — Nevertheless, She Persisted: Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination Against Women — is quite appropriate for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the importance of highlighting the continuation of challenges that women face in the work place, and the importance of lifting our collective voices in sisterhood and support of each other,” explained Nelson. The Women’s Informal Network established by czarina of commerce, Patricia Cole, stemmed from Cole’s insistence on more equitable representation for women in Detroit’s business arena. In 1995, Cole brought together 57 women who shared her vision of celebrating, supporting and nurturing African American businesswomen to establish the organization. “Over the many years, I have been a supporter and admirer of WIN, specifically its leadership, founder Patricia
Faye Nelson Cole and president Malinda Christian; and the organizational accomplishments and its overall mission of supporting women of color in the Detroit region,” said Nelson, also a WIN honoree. WIN continues to promote the highest standards of achievement in education, social and economic awareness and civic leadership for women competing in Detroit’s business arena. The organization has been called a vanguard for advancing the role of women in the city’s bourgeoning business climate. Nelson a long-time advocate of women in business, successfully launched the Board Ready Women Program to promote ethnic and gender diversity in corporate cultures and encourage women to secure public board seats. Prior to joining DTE, Nelson was the first president and CEO of the De-
Since its inception, WIN has honored the contributions of nearly 500 African American Women representing all areas of professional vocations. WIN supports several programs and initiatives including: Heads-Up, a girl mentoring program; Holiday Gift Card Program for families; the Detroit Area Agency on Aging Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program; St. Patrick’s Senior Center; the AugMe Foundation which makes prostheses for breast cancer patients and the North End Youth Improvement Council. WIN is currently researching and creating a Female Veteran Resource Center for returning female veterans, and the WIN Closet, an upscale retail store with a special feature called the Celebrity Corner, with gently used clothing from TV and Radio personalities as well as community leaders. For more information on the WIN Women’s History Month Luncheon from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 at the International Banquet Center, 400 Monroe Street email: info@womensinformalnetwork. com or call 313-963-4946.