MEET OUR DEDICATED TEAM
Who We Are
At DBG, we don’t believe young people need to be empowered—they already have the power. Our role is to nurture it, protect it, and clear the path where we can.
We’re educators, mentors, creatives, and community leaders who came to this work to make a difference and stayed because we’ve seen what’s possible when youth are given real opportunity.
We don’t just run programs. We model mindsets. Every member of our team is committed to doing the inner work: examining our beliefs, shifting how we lead, and holding ourselves to the same growth we expect from our students.
We’re building more than a program. We’re building a community where young people are seen, supported, and trusted to lead. That work starts with us.
What We Believe
Since 2007, we’ve taken a long-view approach to youth development—one rooted in trust, real-time responsiveness, and the belief that success is measured over years, not moments. Every member of our team plays a role in that process: helping students dream big, stay the course, and build lives they’re proud of.
Our Shared Power Framework guides everything we do:
We lead with, not for, our students. Youth voice isn’t a box we check—it’s a compass.
We center families and long-term connection. Our relationships don’t end at graduation.
We evolve alongside our community. Programs are shaped by listening, and adapted through feedback.
We hold both care and rigor. We celebrate our students’ full humanity while pushing them toward their highest potential.
Youth leadership academy

Kayla Davis

Michael McCants

Tyrone Mitchell

Kourtney Prater

D'aire Snell

Uriel Bath-Yaweh
Parent Committee
the DBG team
Board of Directors
Officers

Jeri Fishman
Board Chair
Jeri brings a wealth of experience in casework, community leadership, and education advocacy to DBG. A former Michigan Department of Corrections Caseworker and Court Assigned Probation Officer, she has since dedicated herself to volunteer work, serving on multiple school boards and as president of two. Passionate about community service, Jeri is a board member at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Jewish Family Services, and more. A Savannah State University graduate, she values DBG’s urgent mission to uplift Detroit youth. Born and raised in the city, she is deeply committed to bridging educational gaps and uplifting students and families.

Gary Wilson
Vice chair
Gary Wilson is a Vice President at First Merchants Bank, where he serves as a local ambassador, building relationships across the business and nonprofit sectors to promote civic engagement. With over 20 years in the banking and finance sector, he is actively involved in community leadership, including serving on an advisory panel for the Mayor’s Office in the City of Detroit. Gary holds degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy and a master’s from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He resides in West Bloomfield, Michigan, with his son Logan.

Joe Schmidt
Treasurer
Joe Schmidt is a Deals Director at PwC. With a background in both transaction services and external audit, Joe has provided a variety of services for both public and private companies. As a member of the Deals team, he has worked on a variety of projects across industry sectors, company size and geographies. Joe is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Michigan and received his bachelor's degree in Economics and Management with an emphasis in accounting from Albion College. As an individual with a passion for athletics and continued learning, Joe strongly believes in the mission and community built at DBG. Joe has been actively involved with the Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program since 2017

deidra wilson
Secretary
Deidra Wilson is a passionate and accomplished legislative counsel with a deep commitment to healthcare advocacy. As the Corporate Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy at McLaren Health Care Corporation, Deidra oversees advocacy efforts across multiple states, securing significant state and federal appropriations for healthcare initiatives. A recognized leader, she has earned accolades such as Crain’s Detroit 40 under 40 and Diversity Magazine’s Top 100 under 50. Deidra's dedication to shaping healthcare policy and her ability to bridge political divides make her a vital force in advancing public health.
Board Members

Jeff Addison

Jaylen Bradley

Clifford Brown

Michael Hale Jr
Michael Hale Jr. is Business Development Lead for Atomic Object's Ann Arbor office, focused on growing the firm's presence in Detroit. Before joining Atomic, he helped run Detroit's USDOT-funded MODES program through the Office of Mobility Innovation, managing AI-enabled mobility pilots and multi-agency collaborations. He co-leads the Federal Mashup Lab: Michigan, working with NASA, USPTO, and Brown Venture Group to help founders commercialize federal IP.
In 2018, Michael and his wife, Victoria, founded Beyond Hashtags, a mentoring program at Dove Academy that built life and leadership skills in young men through an afterschool curriculum. He also helped launch the Future Corps program at the Neutral Zone, helping young adults navigate the transition into adulthood.
He's a member of Leadership Detroit Class 47 and was named a Mackinac Future Leader by the Detroit Regional Chamber. He has spoken at CivStart's State of GovTech, ITS World Congress, ITS America, USDOT's SMART Summit, MOVE America, Micron HQ, Black Tech Saturdays' Digital Empowerment Summit, Right to Start Michigan, and the IEDC Annual Conference.
Michael lives in Detroit with Victoria and their daughter, Zuri, and serves at an Associate Minister at Central Baptist Church Detroit. Outside of work, he's chasing down a good latte, tracking sneaker releases, and rooting for friends building something new.

Kim Hoyle
Kimberly Hoyle is a strategic growth architect and business development executive with more than two decades of experience building sustainable revenue, expanding market presence, and aligning organizations around long-term strategy. At DBG, she leads corporate growth and strategic partnerships, advancing national, multi-year relationships that strengthen the organization’s impact while supporting DBG’s long-term sustainability. Her background spans capital markets, real estate, infrastructure, and the built environment, where she has led complex business development efforts across highly regulated, multi-stakeholder landscapes.
Prior to DBG, Kimberly served in senior growth leadership roles across the marketing, architecture, engineering, and municipal consulting sectors, where she built high-performing teams, strengthened sales and CRM systems, and guided organizations through periods of expansion and integration. She brings a disciplined, outcomes-focused approach to partnership development, one rooted in shared value, trust, and long-term alignment.
Kim holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Japanese Language from Eastern Michigan University. Based in Metro Detroit, she is deeply engaged in civic and community leadership, with service across organizations including Centers for Family Development, Inc., the Urban Land Institute, and the Detroit Institute of Arts. Outside of work, Kim is a devoted wife and mother of three, an avid cook, and a lifelong admirer of architecture, design, and city landscapes. She is driven by the belief that when communities invest in young people, everyone benefits.

Casey Iaccino
Casey Iaccino is a strategic business leader, mentor, and investor with over twenty years of experience driving growth across consumer products, technology, and early-stage ventures. He currently serves as Director of Innovation at the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA), where he works to strengthen cross-border innovation, support founders, and connect startups to capital, partners, and scalable go-to-market strategies
Casey is also the Founder of Nebulous Concepts Strategic Advisors, advising startups and growth-stage companies on commercialization, fundraising, and strategic planning. His career includes senior leadership roles at E. & J. Gallo Winery and national distributors, where he managed large teams, multi-state operations, and significant revenue portfolios.
Casey brings a deep commitment to community impact, youth development, and mentorship—helping guide the organization’s long-term strategy, partnerships, and sustainability. He is an active angel investor, startup advisor, and mentor, with a passion for building ecosystems that create opportunity and lasting economic and social value.

David Moss

Cedrick Mutebi

Peter Remington
Peter created The Remington Group in 1995 as a full-service consulting firm in order to provide strategic partnerships and expertise in various philanthropic areas. Remington also recognized the need for a new type of fundraising organization that would be local in proximity and national in scope.
An industry leader celebrating more than 40 years of philanthropy-related experience, Peter has served in several key leadership positions. His experience includes tenure as the Vice President of External Relations at the University of Detroit, Chief Development Officer with The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Unit Director for the United Foundation.
Over the years, Peter has served on more than 40 Boards and Commissions, including the Chairman of Neighborhood Housing Organization as well as personally participated in many efforts to continue the advancement for the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan, especially its children.
Peter currently resides in Beverly Hills, Michigan with his wife, Peggy Daitch.
healthcare and beyond. to helping others and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities.

Matt Rossetti
Matt Rossetti refers to himself as a "Chief Architect of Serious Fun." He is a third-generation architect and president of ROSSETTI, a globally-recognized architecture and design firm headquartered in Detroit. Matt holds bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture from the University of Michigan and a sculpture degree from the University of Florence, Italy. He worked at firms in New York and Los Angeles before returning to Detroit to join his father's firm in 1989.
ROSSETTI's architectural portfolio of award-winning projects consists of a broad range of unique and inspiring spaces including sports and entertainment venues, training and recreation facilities as well as hospitality, residential, workplace and retail. Notable projects include: reimagining One Campus Martius and Ford Field, the Henry Ford Health System Detroit Pistons Performance Center, The Corner Apartments, Michigan State University Munn Ice Arena, and many more.
But most notable to us at DBG, ROSSETTI donated full design services to create our current 27,500 square foot facility on Detroit's east side. The team repurposed a former bookbinding factory into the safe, functional and inspiring space where our students learn, grow, and thrive every day.

Todd Sachse

MARVIN WILLIAMS
Marvin Williams is the founder and owner of Logical Owl, a Detroit-based technology firm that designs, installs, and manages IT infrastructure for businesses across the country. He is also a founder of Logical Storm, a vendor-neutral technology advisory firm that helps owners evaluate vendors and negotiate technology contracts. Marvin invests in and advises small businesses across a range of industries, and mentors owners on using technology to operate and grow. He is a recurring guest speaker at TechTown Detroit’s Retail Boot Camp and has served as a guest lecturer at Michigan State University and Central Michigan University.
Advisory Board

Rakesh Aneja

Dennis Blender

John C. Carter
John C. Carter has worked for 35+ years in commercial banking for JPMorgan Chase and predecessor organizations, serving as a manager or executive in charge of various lending and corporate banking groups which provide operating and capital raising services/products to corporate clients. He serves on various internal bank committees and has involvement in several outside organizations, as either member or director: YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit (Director and Past Chairman of Board), YMCA Foundation (Director), Forgotten Harvest (Board and Executive Committee Member), Judson Center (Past Chairman of the Board and Trustee), Judson Center Foundation (Director), Business Leaders of Michigan (Director), Detroit Chamber of Commerce (Director), Detroit Historical Society (Director), Downtown Detroit Partnership (Director), Detroit Riverfront Conservancy (Director), Detroit Economic Club (Director), and Detroit Workforce Development Board.

Dr. Farshad FOTOUHI
Dr. Farshad Fotouhi is currently Dean of the College of Engineering at Wayne State University. He received his Ph.D. in computer science from Michigan State University, College of Engineering in 1988 and joined the faculty of computer science at Wayne State University in August 1988. He served as the department chair from January 2004-February 2011. Before joining WSU in 1988, he was a faculty member of the Lyman Briggs School, Michigan State University, while earning his Ph.D.
Dr. Fotouhi’s current research interests include biomedical informatics, semantic web and multimedia systems. He has published over 180 papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings. His research has been supported by NSF, NIH, National Institute of Drug Abuse, Michigan Life Sciences Corridor, Ford Motor Company and many other industries.

Ron Fournier
Ron Fournier is the President of Truscott Rossman, where he leads a high-caliber team of experienced strategists, journalists, public affairs specialists, digital media experts, writers and communicators. He was formerly the associate publisher for Crain’s Detroit Business. Fournier Ron led editorial content strategy and worked to expand new business and audience opportunities for the publication. Prior to joining Crain’s, Fournier served as editor-in-chief of the National Journal for two years and as senior political columnist for the National Journal and The Atlantic. Fournier has won many journalism awards, including the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award and the White House Correspondents’ Association Merriman Smith Memorial Award. A graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy, Ron began his journalistic career in Hot Springs, Arkansas moving to Little Rock to cover then-Governor Bill Clinton. Fournier is the author of Love That Boy: What Two Presidents, Eight Road Trips, and My Son Taught Me About a Parent’s Expectations, which became a NYT bestseller. He serves on the senior advisory board of the Harvard Institute of Politics.

Jennifer Hammond
Jennifer Hammond is a beloved television sports anchor/reporter at Fox 2 News in Detroit. For more than two decades she has covered the Detroit Lions, Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons along with Michigan and Michigan State sports.
Among the many things she does to support the Downtown Boxing Gym, Jennifer hosts an annual fundraiser called "Hammer's Bar Stars." This high-energy event includes local athletes and celebrities serving as bartenders, helping to raise dollars and awareness about our Books Before Boxing program.

Jody Kohner
Jody Kohner is the Executive Vice President of Global Enablement at Salesforce. In this role, Jody inspires a culture of learning at every level of the company. She and her team build world-class learning experiences that are relevant, actionable, measurable and predictable; enabling all employees to pursue their own growth and ultimately fuel the growth of the company.
Jody started with Salesforce in 2011 and is proud of the diverse and eclectic journey that she’s taken with the company, which includes leadership across Product Marketing, Human Resources and Sales.
Jody has established a track record of developing innovative new programs and building high-performing teams. Prior to Salesforce, she spent 10 years at Robert Half International, where she worked in brand marketing. She also oversaw the development, implementation and management of the company’s first marketing automation system.

Bruce Nyberg
Bruce Nyberg joined Flagstar Bank’s board in March 2015, after serving as interim director of Community Banking. As a board member, he serves on the company’s risk committee.
Prior to Flagstar, he was regional president-East Michigan for Huntington Bancshares Incorporated for six years. He had a 28-year career at NBD Bancorp (now Chase Bank), where he led Michigan Commercial Banking, Retail Banking Operations, Marketing, Information Technology, and Electronic Banking. Among his board memberships are the Bowling Green State University Board of Trustees, Forgotten Harvest, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion.

Jennifer Miller Oertel
Jennifer Miller Oertel is a member of the law firm Bodman, PLC, where she co-chairs the firm’s Tax-exempt Organizations and Impact Investing practice group. Jennifer chairs the Nonprofit Corporations Committee of the State Bar of Michigan (Business Law Section) and is certified in nonprofit governance by Georgetown University. Jennifer utilizes her corporate & securities law and governance skills to serve tax-exempt clients, impact investors and social entrepreneurs in all aspects of their activities. She is the first-ever Impact Investing Expert in Residence for the Council of MI Foundations, working on developing and furthering the impact investing ecosystem in Michigan and beyond.

John Owens
John Owens held Senior Management positions in Marketing and Communications with major Midwest financial institutions. He was privileged to complement his career experience with an “encore” stint as a Director of Communications at Forgotten Harvest, a metro Detroit human services organization.
He is involved in his local community as a Precinct Delegate in Bloomfield Township.

Matthew Roling
Matthew Roling is a professor and chair of Wayne State University’s Accounting Department. Prior to joining Wayne State, Matthew worked in a variety of management consulting and entrepreneurial roles – most recently serving as the CEO of a venture-backed financial technology start-up. A CPA and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Matthew loves to cook, travel and read in his free time.

Hubert Sawyers, III

Tahir Whitehead

Julie Lodge-Jarrett
leaving a legacy

Stephen Luigi Piazza

TAiwo "TIKE" hall

Jim Ryan

Teasha Andrews
For over seven years, Teasha greeted every student, parent, and visitor with a warmth that could turn any day around. Her journey with DBG began when her oldest daughter joined as a student, quickly leading Teasha from volunteer to an essential part of our team. Teasha’s impact will never fade. It lives on in the lives she touched, the students she lifted up, and the spirit of love and community she instilled in all of us.
