I say it’s a 10-way tie!
Crain’s Detroit Business recently named their 10 finalists for the “2009 Newsmaker of the Year.” In my mind, there were no surprises on the list because the 10 finalists are, and have been, great leaders and all deserve to be where they are for the hard work and commitment they have for our community.
The nominees were:
- Paul Anger, Editor and Publisher Detroit Free Press
- Dave Bing, Mayor, City of Detroit
- Robert Bobb, Emergency Financial Manager, Detroit Public Schools
- David Brandon, formerly CEO of Domino’s Pizza, now Athletic Director for the University of Michigan
- Beth Chappell, CEO Detroit Economic Club
- Randal Charlton, Executive Director, TechTown Detroit
- Richard Dugas Jr., CEO, Pulte Homes, Inc.
- David Egner, President, Hudson Webber Foundation; Executive Director, New Economy Initiative, Detroit
- Mike Ilitch, Owner, Detroit Tigers, Co-owner, Detroit Red Wings, founder Little Caesar Enterprises Inc.
- Chris Rizik, CEO and fund manager, Renaissance Venture Capital Fund
And the votes are in…Mayor Dave Bing and Robert Bobb were selected as co-newsmakers of the year. This is the first time two people have received this award in the same year.
So, I’d like to send a note to Mary Kramer, publisher of Crain’s Detroit Business.
Mary: Thanks for selecting both these great leaders. I don’t know how you could have selected “one newsmaker of the year” for our community. All 10 of these individuals deserved the recognition and we all need to thank them for their commitment and hard work. Our region will survive and will thrive again because of the efforts of these folks and others like them. If I had a vote, I’d have settled on a ten-way tie.
Thanks to all the nominees and special thanks and congratulations to Mayor Bing and Robert Bobb.
