National Mentoring Month brings us the opportunity to recognize the power of one-on-one relationships that help young people find and follow their passions, identify interesting career paths, and pursue their dreams.
While our mentors all come from the Metro Detroit community and represent a wide range of industries, there’s one common thread that unites them; sincere desire and dedication to inspiring our students and teaching them the tools and skills they’ll need to be successful.
Joshua Berg, director of innovation ventures, Magna International, joined our mentoring team in 2014 at Cass Technical High School in Detroit and currently mentors a student in our new College Success Mentoring program. Through the mentoring experience, Joshua found that the journey of going back to the basics energized him about his own career. Today, he mentors because it makes him feel good and he believes in giving back.
Michael Matthews is the travel and corporate card administrator at Shinola Detroit. He’s been mentoring students at Harper Woods High School since 2017. He remembers the positive influence his high school coaches were on him and knew early on he wanted to be that for others.
“I bring my life experiences and hope to impart some tools for them to become the best versions of themselves,” said Michael.
The past two schoolyears have proven difficult, even for the best students. The continued uncertainty brought on by the pandemic has made it especially difficult for local high school students to stay focused and see a bright future.
Alexis Hammerle, vice president, cross product digitalization, digital and strategy, BNY Mellon, has been a coach and mentor in our program since 2019. She sees the current environment as a great way to help students learn how to deal with ambiguity. “We are blessed to be a blessing to someone,” says Alexis.
“Our mentors are simply amazing,” said Kris Marshall, our president and CEO. “They’re people, just like everyone else. They have jobs. They have friends and family. And, they also have something that’s very special – they understand the importance of helping today’s high school students learn the knowledge and skills they’ll need to be successful, and they dedicate themselves to doing just that. We are very grateful for who they are, and more so, for what they do!”
Joshua, Michael, and Alexis are only three of our awesome 143 2021-22 mentors. Take a moment to review the list of this year’s mentors below. You might see the name of someone you know, or perhaps someone who you’ve heard of. If you do, send them a quick email or text, thanking them for their important work. After all, it’s National Mentoring Month and they deserve a pat on the back!
Learn more about mentoring and other volunteer opportunities.
Our Awesome 2021-22 Mentors
Muhammad Abdulghani, Underwriter, Rocket Pro TPO
Sami Abu-Soud, Engineering Supervisor, Flex
Brian Agar, 2nd Shift Wing Engineer, Stellantis
Chinonso Agubosim, Resident Physician, U Of M Hospitals
Steven Ahomed, Security Solutions Architect, Verizon Business Group
Rasha Al-Naji, Director, Program Management, Flex
Bailey Altman, Internal Audit Manager, Ally Financial Inc.
Dimitar Angelov, Program Buyer, General Motors
Lilian Asmar, Aministrative Assistant II, AmeriHealth Caritas
Gerard Baltrusaitis, Internship/Employment Specialist, Jewish Vocational Services
Brittany Banks, Talent Management Specialist, HARMAN International
Kelly Banks-Cobbin, Compliance Manager, Ally Financial Inc.
Brianna Batton, Senior Marketing Specialist, Ally Financial Inc.
Joshua Berg, Director of Innovation Ventures, Magna International
Ruaa Bibi, Financial Analyst, Stellantis
Nicole Blacksher, Asst. Manufacturing Integration Manager, General Motors
Kelly Bolman, Human Resources Manager
Jeffrey Bradley, Credit Administration Officer, Comerica Bank
Shuantia Brown, Vehicle Electrical Systems Manager, General Motors
Chris Cahill, Director of Operations, Winning Futures
Sophia Calabretta, Debt Accounting And Securitization Operations Analyst, Ally Financial
Jessica Carlson, Senior Buyer, General Motors
Danyael Cheairs, Team Lead, United Wholesale Mortgage
Harold Clay, Business Manager, Gilbane Building Company
Michael Colias, Reporter, Wall Street Journal
Lacey Cornell, Marketing And Education Associate, Extra Credit Union
Ellyn Davidson, President, Brogan & Partners
Scott Dawson, Investor, SMD Investments And Capital Partners
Rose Deliu
Chiara Delporto, Vice President Sales North America, Cubic Telecom
Sarah Deramo, Program Director, Aktive Minds
Julie DiCicco, Project Manager, TD Auto Finance
Brian Donohoe, Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley
Taryn Dover, Senior Underwriter, United Wholesale Mortgage
Robert Doyle, President and CEO, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
Sakiya Duncan, Events & Volunteer Coordinator, Winning Futures
Norma Early, Area Manager – US accounting and Consolidations, General Dynamics Land Systems
Charles Ellias, Owner / Designer & Gemologist Appraiser, Charles Michael Designs / North American Lapidary Laboratory
Brianna Ellison, Director, State Government Affairs, Verizon
Kinikia Essix, Court Administrator, U.S. District Court
Christopher Ethridge, Field Operations Manager, State Of Michigan
Pamela Ferrara, Program Management Analyst, Ford Motor Company
Ashley Fordyce, School and Community Relations Coordinator, Extra Credit Union
Colleen Fournier, Community Health Navigator (CHN), Blue Cross Complete Of Michigan
Cassandra Gilliam, Finance, Stellantis
Brigitte Gillis, Product Analyst, White Glove
Elise Goulbourne, Vice President of Behavioral Health, Black Family Development
Sara Grillo, Manufacturing Engineer, General Motors
LaNeisha Gunn, Program Manager, DEI and Talent Management, HARMAN
Alexis Hammerle, Vice President, Cross Product Digitalization, Digital and Strategy, BNY Mellon
Peter Haniak, Systems Engineer, DCS Corp
Gavin Haque, Educational Consultant, Gavin Haque Enterprises
Brian Harris, Executive Director, Global Sales, Nexteer Automotive
Colleen Hau, Director of Global Product Innovation, Carhartt
Jason Henige, Business Strategist, Quicken Loans
Linda Hockney, Human Resources Manager, Extra Credit Union
Jason Hurley, Customer Account Specialist, McNaughton-McCay Electric Company
Jenifer Janhevich, Community Health Educator, Blue Cross Complete of Michigan
Ashley Johnson, Coordinator, Corporate Giving, General Motors
Amanda Keys, Culture & Well-Being Consultant, Marsh & McLennan Agency
Tallette Kitchen, TeamLead, Leidos
Danielle Kluz, Marketing Coordinator, Winning Futures
Lida Kuehne, Supplier Quality Development, General Motors
Iris Lane, Director of Student Affairs, Baker College
Robert Lenz, President, Peak Management
Brandon Leslie, Vice President of Industrial, Barton Malow
Brenda Lever, Director, Provider Network Management, Blue Cross Complete of Michigan
Michelle Lewallen, Sr. Director, Human Resources, Veoneer
Dave Lewan, National Account Service Manager, Kelly Services Inc.
Christopher Lubowicki, Account Manager, Texas Instruments
Dawn Lyman, Foundation Manager, Barton Malow Company
Ashley Mabbitt, Communications Consultant, Blue Cross Complete
Beverly Maddox, Director, Signature Events, Detroit Regional Chamber
Abigail Mahaffy, Community Health Navigator, AmeriHealth Caritas
Andrew Makar, Sr. Manager -Services Program Management, Marketing Cloud, Salesforce
Michael Malaga, Vice President, Comerica Bank
Amy Markus, Account Manager, Kelly Services
Clarence Martin, President, Eypex
Michael Matthews, Travel and Corporate Card Administrator, Shinola Detroit
Michael McBride, Retired
Nancy Meconi, Partner, Plante Moran
Besima Mello, Treasury Manager, Ally Financial Inc.
Matthew Michayluk, Director of Sales, Complete Prototype Services
Kathleen Michealson, Registered Nurse, Hennepin Healthcare
Gail Miciuda, Business & Product Development Manager, Thermoflex Corporation
Cheri Mitchell, Human Resources, Brilliant Detroit
Rana Mohamed, Director Of Operations, Amatis Controls
Dorian Moore, Sales Agent, Humana
Tonya Moore-Bouchard, Sr Supplier Quality Engineer Global CT Lead for switches, General Motors
Emily Moorhead, COO, Henry Ford Health Systems
Katherine Morgan, Community Engagement Specialist, Corporate Responsibility, Flagstar Bank
Brian Morrison, Business Development Consultant, Marsh & McLennan Agency
Cassandra Mulcahy, Senior Buyer, Ford Motor Company
Ryan Nieves, Application Engineer, Continental
Kevin O’Connell, Advanced Energy Systems Manager, Michigan CAT – Power Systems Division
Babarinde Ogunyoye, Design Program Manager, Flex Ltd.
Kevin O’Keefe, President – North America, Robert Bosch Automotive Steering LLC
Angela Oleksiak, Director Of Workforce Integration And Talent Development, Samaritas
Mark O’Malley, Commodity Buyer, ZF Group
Leonardo Orozco, Project Engineer, Barton Malow Company
Julie Owens, Operations Supervisor, U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Michigan
Laura Phillips, Retired, IKEA
Bruce Pierce, Retired, Ford Motor Company
Janise Plata, Manager, Provider Network, Blue Cross Complete of Michigan
Nicole Ploshehanski, Mentor, Amrock
Tony Popovski, Purchasing Manager, General Motors
April Reed, Corporate Operations, Jet’s America – Jet’s Pizza
Tamika Richardson-Carden, Manager, Payroll Tax and Accounting, Tenneco-Federal Mogul Powertrain
Anitra Riddle, Credit Analyst, TD Auto Finance
Donna Rochester, Professor, Washtenaw Community College
Kenneth Rogers, Business Resource Manager, Stellantis
Reggie Roland, Principal- Director Of Partnerships, Interior Environments
Todd Russell, Veterinarian/Owner, Pet Menders Animal Hospital
Vanita Sanders, Senior Director Of College & Career Access And Success, Strategic Community Partners
Ana Sandoval, Credit Analyst, Tenneco
Prayush Saraswat, Sales Manager, Autodesk
Kelly Savela, Senior Connections Manager; Tier 3 Social Media, VMLY&R
Dan Schmelzer, Marketing Supervisor, Lear Corporation
William Schrage, Sr Client Partner, Twitter
Idon Shaman, Lead UX Designer, Amazon Web Services
Donald Slominski, Manager, Ernst & Young
Phillip Smith, Director, Operational Technology, DTE Energy
Catherine Smith, Vice President Population Health, HAP
Tomika Snodgrass, CEO & Founder, Confident Heart Coach
Andrea Spade, Business Enablement Strategist, Professional Industrial, Kelly Services
Ashley Steele, Speech Language Pathologist, Detroit Public Schools Community District
Mark Strayhan, VP – Sales Executive, Marsh
Jennifer Sutherland, Leader, Learning & Development, Trustwave
Rim Tamim, Buyer, General Motors
Gregory Thompson, Senior Quality Manager For Powertrian, Stellantis
Benny Vann, General Manager / Engineering Director, BCS-Automotive Interface Solutions
Sharon vanSpronsen, Marketing Coordinator, Phillips Service Industries
Senthil Vivekanandan, Accounting Director, Lear Corporation
Loria Walker, Archive Technician, University of Detroit Mercy
Carlton Watson, Senior Attorney, DTE Energy
Valencia White, Technology Compliance Program Manager, Rock Central LLC
Taylor Willbanks, Grant Writer, Winning Futures
Aubin Williams, President, Ekklesia Building Corporation
Lyndon Williams, Director, Business Development, Powertrain, AM General
Todd Witmer, President of SE Michigan, Mercantile Bank of Michigan
George Wooley, VP Sales, Flex
Krista Wortman, Dentist/owner, Summit Family Dental
Tracey Yacks, Special Education Teacher, Ferndale Public Schools
Sarah Zigila, VP of Operations & Partnerships, Orbis Holding Group