Board of Directors
Frank Venegas, Jr., Chair
The Ideal Group, Inc.
The grandson of Mexican immigrants, Frank Venegas was born in Southwest Detroit. The Venegas family home was just a few blocks away from the
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (DHDC). Frank has always considered himself a lucky guy. In a 1979 raffle, he won a Cadillac, which he later sold
for $12,000. Frank used the money to launch his first Ideal enterprise.
Faithful to his Southwest Detroit roots and inspired by Detroit Tigers Great and successful businessman, Hank Aguirre, Frank joined three Hispanic business owners to found the Hispanic Manufacturing Center. In 1995, each of the four business owners moved successful suburban business operations to the Clark Street site of the former Cadillac plant.
In 2000, The Ideal Group built its new corporate headquarters on Clark Street, the same grounds where, years ago, the lucky Cadillac rolled off the assembly line. Today, the Ideal Group consists of five customer-focused companies; employs 175 to 250 people and has annual revenues approaching $170 million. Ideal companies are able to deliver innovative facility solutions to their customers (Construction Services, Ideal Shield patented products and Material Management).
Ideal companies have earned national recognition. In 1996, Venegas, an inventor, began Ideal Shield. This award winning Detroit company holds thirty plus patents and several patents pending. Ideal Contracting opened its doors one year later. Today, Ideal Contracting is one of Michigan’s leading general contracting / design build companies. This Southwest Detroit company has won customer awards for its lean construction projects. April 2008 marked the Ideal Group’s sixth consecutive General Motors Supplier of the Year award.
Frank is committed to Detroit. When Venegas opened his Detroit operations, he was determined to hire local residents. Prompted by the high level of neighborhood gang activity, Frank joined other Detroit business and community leaders to begin GRACE (Gang Retirement and Continued Education). GRACE began as a pre-employment program for local gang members; Angie Reyes was its first director. In 1997, Angela Reyes expanded GRACE and founded DHDC. Since then, DHDC has grown to offer a wide range of comprehensive, bilingual services to Southwest Detroit residents. Today, DHDC staff members touch the lives of over 10,000 youth, adults and families.
Venegas is a DHDC ambassador. Once, Frank was the keynote speaker at a Tuck Executive Education program at Dartmouth University. Darrell Williams, Director of Entrepreneurship for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, was in the audience. Frank played the DHDC video Slow Down as the close to his Tuck program. After listening to Frank and seeing Slow Down, Darrell was eager to visit DHDC and to learn more. The DHDC staff and students gave Mr. Williams an impressive tour and program orientation. Soon after, the Kauffman Foundation awarded DHDC an entrepreneurial grant.
Frank embraces the business formula: Collaboration = Success. Ideal has established collaborative relationships with key corporations and suppliers guided by this same formula. These collaborative groups have produced astounding industry results. Frank has always believed that this same successful business formula could work for DHDC. A promising new community collaboration model is emerging here at DHDC and in Southwest Detroit. Thanks to leaders such as Frank Venegas, we have living proof that: Together, We Can Transform our Communities.
Christine Rice, Vice Chair
VisionIT
Christine Rice, President of VisionIT has been serving on DHDC’s Board since November 2009. In January 2010, Rice was named the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors.
“I believe in the mission of the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation and think the work they do each day to improve the quality of life for Hispanics throughout our region is very important,” said Rice, who was also the wonderful Mistress of Ceremonies for the gala. “Giving back to the community that has given me so much is a top priority for me. I consider it an honor and a privilege to be named to the board of directors for this outstanding organization. ”
Rice is very familiar with the work of DHDC and expects to make an immediate impact as a new board member.
Rice’s contributions have already included her involvement with Camp DHDC, the Partners Breakfast, and partnership events. She has championed food and monetary donation drives and she leveraged VisionIT’s technical resources to improve the DHDC website.
Michael Lapinski, Vice Chair of Corporate Relations
AISIN World Corp. of America
Mike Lapinski is the Director of External Affairs for Aisin World Corp. of America (AWA), a global, Tier One automotive components supplier. Lapinski is committed to earning trust for AWA as a responsible corporate citizen and good neighbor in the community, strengthening recognition of Aisin as a leading Tier One supplier and increasing Aisin’s brand awareness. Additionally, Lapinski is responsible for emphasizing Aisin’s inclusion in diversity programs, and often participates in community relations activities.
Prior to joining AWA in 2005, Lapinski was a senior GM advisor at the New United Motors Manufacturing plant in Fremont, California. While at GM he held several positions, including executive director for Delphi and Global Sourcing; vice president, Purchasing for SAAB Automobile in Trollhattan, Sweden; and worldwide purchasing director, Delphi Packard Electric.
Lapinski earned a Masters of Business AdministrationDegree at Eastern Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering at General Motors Institute.
A member of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association, Lapinski resides in Northville, Mich., with his wife, Vicki.
Charles Briggs, Treasurer
Marsh, USA
more info coming soon…
Elvia Haynes, Secretary
Best Buy
Elvia Haynes was appointed to the Board in February 2010 and now serves as the Board Secretary.
Haynes has helped raise money for various organizations such as America Cancer Society, Dearborn Fire Fighters Burn Camp and various local charities.
Elvia came to DHDC because she wanted to give back to her community. She also serves on Best Buy Wolf pack (Women of Leadership Forum). Haynes is a co-sponsor in LatIN (Latin Involvement Network) for Best Buy.
Jonathon Rodriguez
Community Representative
more info coming soon…
Patricia Walker
Bank of America
more info coming soon…
Olga Gonzalez
Community Leader
Olga Gonzalez was appointed to the Board in July 2009. She is currently serving on the Program Committee.
Gonzalez is currently a student at Michigan State University where she is Majoring in Political Science – Pre-Law.
Olga has also served as the Secretary of Weed & Seed – a comprehensive multi-agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and community revitalization; Chair of the Advisory Council on Illegal Dumping (ACID); and is a Skillman Leadership Academy graduate.
Eric Means
Means Group, Inc.
DHDC would like to welcome our newest board member Means Group Inc. President Eric Means. His appointment was made official February of 2010.
“My core value system grants me the strength to make a change in the lives I touch” said Means, “My belief is that every human life should be afforded the opportunity to pursue their dreams in an environment that increases the odds of success.” I consider it an honor and a privilege to be named to the board of directors for this outstanding organization.
Means sits on the building committee at DHDC and expects to make an immediate impact on future facility lifecycle solutions and creative asset management programs.
Means has made contributions towards the Partners Breakfast and is excited about the potential prospect of cultivating new events to allow DHDC to increase their capacity so they may continue the necessary work that so many in the community depend on.
Robert Fairchild
Benteler Automotive
Robert Fairchild was appointed to the Board in February 2010. Fairchild is the Vice President of sales of Benteler Automotive. Benteler Automotive is a German based auto supplier. They are a major global supplier of engine and exhaust components, body structure parts, chassis components and chassis modules. Fairchild is responsible for running all of Benteler’s North American sales and marketing activities and establishing strategies for global success.
Robert joined DHDC because he saw an organization that is providing real value to people in our city that have a real need. He was touched by the work that Angie started out of her house several years ago, and what she was doing to save lives, creating harmony within a community, helping kids get through school, and for providing a learning environment for kids and young adults that really need it. Robert was especially touched by the video the kids made and the statistics of drop outs, AIDS, pregnancies, death, etc. “DHDC is 30 minutes from the suburbs and an awareness needs to be created of these statistics” said Fairchild.