September 1, 2010
Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DETROIT NON-PROFIT ANNOUNCES NEW LEADERSHIP
THINK DETROIT PAL ANNOUNCES MICHAEL PORTER OF DTE ENERGY AS NEW CEO
 
DETROIT, Mich.—Think Detroit PAL (TDP) announced today that Michael Porter, a vice president from DTE Energy, will become the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer effective January.

“I am delighted that Michael Porter will become the CEO of our organization,” said former CEO Daniel Varner, who now serves on the board of directors and works as a program officer at the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. “I believe that Michael’s expertise and experience will serve the organization well, helping to make it even more impactful on the lives of Detroit’s children.”   

Since 1997 Porter led the Corporate Communications group at DTE Energy.  He was responsible for all corporate brand strategy and execution, including corporate advertising, sponsorships, marketing and customer service communications, and employee communications.

“Think Detroit PAL is a catalyst for change in this community,” said Porter.  “Its academic, leadership development, and athletic programs provide young women and men with positive role models, and teach important life lessons of teamwork, self-sacrifice and discipline, and cooperation, and respect.”

Porter earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing from The University of Michigan-Dearborn, and a Master of Business Administration in finance from The University of Detroit.

Think Detroit PAL was formed on March 1, 2006, by the merger of two of the leading youth development organizations in the Detroit area:  Think Detroit, Inc. and the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL). The organization is one of the largest non-profit urban youth leadership programs in the nation, and serves nearly 12,000 youth annually.