Board of Directors
Robert J. Buckler
Chairman
Buckler is past President and Chief Operating Officer of Detroit Edison, the largest business unit of DTE Energy Co. (NYSE: DTE), a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Buckler was responsible for power generation, fuel supply, electric distribution, customer service, marketing activities, and assorted support functions. He retired in 2009. During the majority of 2010 he was the Chief Operating Officer of the City of Detroit, working for Mayor Dave Bing, responsible for all operating functions of the city. He is currently Vice-Chairman for the Downtown Detroit Partnership; a member of the Board of Directors of Accio Energy Corporation, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Rackham Foundation.
Maria A. Thompson
Vice Chairman
Maria Thompson is Entrepreneur-In-Residence for Arsenal Venture Partners.Thompson was President and CEO of T/J Technologies, Inc., a nationally recognized Michigan company for proprietary alternative energy technologies that she and her husband, Dr. Levi Thompson, co-founded in 1991. Formerly the General Manager of the Government Solutions Group for A123Systems, she has served for years on the Advanced Technology Advisory Board for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and serves as a member of numerous community, business and nonprofit boards. She was honored as one of Crain's Detroit Business Most Influential Women in 2007 and as one of Metro Detroit's Innovators, and by the Small business Foundation of Michigan as Small Business Entrepreneur Extraordinaire 2008.Thompson was invited to speak to the U.S. House Committee on Small Business at the 50th anniversary of the Small Business Administration.
Michael A. Boulus, Ph.D.
Boulus is Executive Director, Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan and has been involved in education for more than 30 years. He has held positions with Michigan's Department of Treasury, Epylon Corporation, Middle Cities Education Association, Michigan Schools Energy Cooperation, Michigan State University and Michigan Association of School Administrators.
Richard D. DiBartolomeo
A CPA with more than 28 years' experience in public accounting, DiBartolomeo served as the Deputy Campaign Manager-Director of Finance on the Rick Snyder for Governor Committee from April through December, 2010. Prior to this, he was Principal in charge of Assurance and Advisory Services for Southeast Michigan at the Rehmann Group in Troy for three years, following twenty-five years at Deloitte & Touche, LLP, in Detroit, where he was Partner, Assurance and Advisory Services.
George W. Jackson, Jr.
Jackson is President and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. Prior to this, he served for 26 years as DTE’s Director of Customer Marketing. Since 1984, he has been influential in the economic development of Detroit and the State of Michigan.
Steven E. Kurmas
Kurmas is President and Chief Operating Officer of Detroit Edison, one of three major business units of DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE), a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Kurmas is responsible for power generation, fuel supply, electric distribution, customer service, marketing activities and assorted support functions. Kurmas, who is a licensed chemical engineer, previously served as executive vice president of fossil generation at Detroit Edison, responsible for the operation of the company’s fossil-fueled electric power plants. He serves on the board of directors of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Michigan State Chamber of Commerce and YMCA Southeast Michigan. He is also treasurer and past president of the board of directors of the Engineering Society of Detroit.
Christopher L. Rizik
Rizik is the Chief Executive Officer of the Renaissance Venture Capital Fund, a venture capital fund of funds that was formed in late 2008 by a consortium of several of Michigan’s largest corporations and non-profit organizations. He previously was a founding partner in two of the region’s largest venture capital funds, with $200 million under management. He serves on the board or executive committee of several significant organizations, including the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (the economic development arm of the State of Michigan), NextEnergy (the State of Michigan’s alternative energy accelerator), the Detroit Medical Center, the innovative First Step Fund and several venture capital funds. He is also the founder and publisher of SoulTracks.com, the most popular online soul music magazine in the US. He was named a “Newsmaker of the Year” in 2010 by Crain’s Detroit Business.
Paul Skalny
Paul Skalny recently retired from U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), where he held numerous leadership roles over the course of 25 years. His tenure for the Army spanned more than 32 years and covered the full spectrum of the Army vehicle acquisition process, from vehicle inception to support in the field.
Ned Staebler
As Wayne State University’s Vice President, Economic Development, Staebler is part of the university’s cabinet with responsibility for leading economic development activities that leverage university assets across the university and the local community. His activities are designed to function as a catalyst for growth in Midtown Detroit and include interactions with TechTown, Wayne State’s Office of Technology Commercialization, and Midtown Detroit, Inc. Staebler, who has private sector experience with both early stage technology ventures and Fortune 150 companies, served previously in a variety of senior roles with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, where he was most recently Vice President for Entrepreneurial and Capital Services.