DBG’s dynamic board of directors has selected a new slate of leaders to take us into 2025 and beyond. We are pleased to welcome Jeri Fishman as our new board chair along with longtime DBG board secretary Gary Wilson as vice chair. Gary is a Senior Branch Manager at JP Morgan Chase. Joe Schmidt, Deals Director at PwC is staying on as board treasurer, and Diedra Wilson, Corporate Senior VP of Government Relations for McClaren Health Care Corporation, will take on the role of board secretary.
Jeri previously worked as a caseworker with the Michigan Department of Corrections and later with Recorder’s Court conducting background investigations. She also served on the boards of the American Civil Liberties Union and Capuchin East Jefferson Alcoholism Treatment Center before leaving the workforce to raise her family and serve as a board member in leadership roles at all of her children’s schools.
“A majority of Jeri’s career has involved working with kids. She definitely has a heart to make an impact and make the world and our community better,” said Khali Sweeney, DBG’s founder and CEO. “To have someone with her passion and commitment who’s willing to jump in with both feet and help get DBG to our next level of growth is exciting and an honor.”
Jeri first learned about DBG from fellow board member David Moss. Unbeknownst to him, she was looking for a volunteer opportunity to benefit Detroit students when he arranged for her to meet DBG’s leadership team. The minute she walked in the door, she could feel the positive energy.
“The children and staff were engaged with excitement about what was happening inside those walls,” she says. “DBG’s mission is why the program is such a success. A program that is able to meet the individual needs of each student regardless of their level is really a game changer. After that first visit, I knew this was the program for me.”
Jeri takes the reins from Rakesh Aneja who joined the DBG board in 2017 and has served as board chair since COVID. Aneja, VP and Chief of eMobility for Diamler Truck North America, will stay on as a member of our advisory board. We are truly grateful for his years of leadership and helping us seamlessly navigate the uncertainty of the pandemic.
“I am honored and excited to be the board chair of DBG and to work with so many other dedicated professionals who share our mission and values,” Fishman said. “I want a working board with all of us playing an integral part in the success of this program to benefit current and future children. I look forward to working with the board and staff to make this happen.”
Thank you to the Board of Directors from all of us at DBG for all you do.