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Ruth Trunsky Aaronson - Chairperson of the Board
Owner of Signs By Tomorrow (Southfield - Novi - Waterford - Rochester Hills)
Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce Chairperson. Masters Degree - Oakland University, Bachelors Degree - Eastern Michigan University, Board Member - West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce, Board Member - EWO Experience West Oakland, Foundation Board Member - Jewish Senior Life, Member of Automation Alley, Member of Detroit Regional Chamber, Member of Northville, Novi, Pontiac, Rochester Hills and Waterford Chambers, Southfield Business Person of the year award winner, Member of Expo and Taste Fest Committees for Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Consultant at Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care, Past Director of Social Work at local community hospital for fifteen years.
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Nadine Cook
For more than 20 years, Nadine Cook has served in various aspects of health and human services within the public and private sector. As Community Relations and Marketing Consultant for St. John Health, she has responsibility for development and implementation of community relation activities that will further the organization's strategic goals and promote mutually beneficial relationships between SJH and the community. In this role, Nadine oversees community relations operations for several St. John Health locations.
Prior to joining St. John Health, Nadine served as the Director of Community Building for United Way Community Services. Previous to United Way, Nadine served as Chief of Family Support Services for the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Development for the State of North Carolina.
Originally from Detroit, Nadine received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Health Care Administration from Mercy College of Detroit and is currently working on a Masters of Science in Administration (with concentration in Leadership) at Central Michigan University.
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Linda Height
Vice President for Finance and Administration Lawrence Technology University since 2004
B.S. in business administration and healthcare administration from Mercy College of Detroit, and her Master of Science Administration from Central Michigan University. She is a sergeant first class (retired) in the U.S. Army Reserves. Height has extensive experience in both the public and private arenas. Her current responsibilities include finance, human resources, facilities, safety and planning for the University. Prior to that, she served as the vice president for compliance and revenue management for Bon Secours Cottage Health Services, where she developed and implemented a corporate compliance education and audit program, and was instrumental in the reduction of unbilled receivables. She also held the position of vice president for continuing care services and compliance at Bon Secours, overseeing the development and implementation of a new assisted living facility and a senior day care facility. As manager for the Healthcare Consulting Division at the accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand, she coordinated all consulting activities, with primary focus on the assessment of business operations related to organizational structure, policies and procedures, staffing levels, and quality control. Height is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and is a board member for Michigan First Credit Union.
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Rochelle (Shelly) Freeman
Business Development Manager for the City of Southfield, since 2005.
Ms. Katz is a graduate of Wayne State University, College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs with a Masters of Urban Planning, 1991. B.A. of Social Science from Michigan State University, in 1988. Prior to coming to Southfield, Shelly worked as Senior Planner for McKenna Associates; and the Housing & Community Development Director for the Charter Township of Redford. Ms. Freeman is responsible for the development and execution of a business development strategy for the City of Southfield. This includes managing and supporting ongoing relationships with the existing business community and identifying and developing new strategic partnerships to attract new companies to the city. Ms. Freeman represents the City of Southfield on several State, Regional and Local organizations, such as: Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Automation Alley, SmartZone, Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Ambassador, Expo, Golf and Taste Fest Committees and PRIDE.
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Wanda Cook-Robinson, Ph.D.
Superintendent, Southfield Public Schools
Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson has been the Superintendent of Southfield Public Schools since July 2006. Using her years of educational experience and vast leadership skills, Dr. Cook-Robinson has led Southfield Public Schools in many new and exciting directions. Under her leadership, Southfield Public Schools became the sixth school district in the state of Michigan to be awarded District Accreditation by AdvancED/NCA. Dr. Cook-Robinson also oversaw the opening of the new University High School Academy and MacArthur K-8 University Academy (both in partnership with the University of Michigan-Dearborn); the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Program at Levey Middle School; Vandenberg Elementary School’s transition to the Vandenberg World Cultures K-5 Academy and the introduction of Mandarin Chinese language instruction at UHSA and Vandenberg. Dr. Cook-Robinson has received a number of accolades as both a leader in education and a dedicated community member, including the Wayne State University College of Education Alumni Association “Distinguished Educator” award and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Southfield Alumnae Chapter’s “Educator of the Year” award. She has also received recognition as an honoree by the Women’s Action for New Directions and the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit, Inc. Highly active in the community, Dr. Cook-Robinson serves on the boards of the Southfield Community Foundation, the Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the Metropolitan Detroit Bureau of School Studies, the Field Zone Youth Center, the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) and the Galileo Leadership Board. Her professional memberships include the National Congress of Black Women—Oakland Chapter, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Southeast Community Advisory Council, the Michigan Association of School Administrators and the Zonta Club of Southfield.
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Jonathan Liebman
Chairman/CEO, Specs Howard School of Media Arts
Master of Music degree, University of Miami; Bachelor of Music degree, Wayne State University; attended University of Miami Graduate School of Management; graduate of Specs Howard School; graduate of Leadership Oakland; Author of six music books with worldwide sales of 80,000 units. Member, board of trustees, Imagine America Foundation; Chairman, Southfield Partnerships for Education Council. Appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm to the Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority and the Michigan Higher Education Student Loan Authority; Appointed by Oakland County Commissioner L. Brooks Patterson to the Oakland County Business Roundtable, Education & Workforce Committee. Board member/Past President, Michigan Association of Career Colleges & Schools; Board member, JVS; Member, Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Detroit Economic Club, American Federation of Musicians. Past experience includes Vice Chairman, Career College Association; State of Michigan “Workforce Investment Act” advisory board; Chairman, Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce; Board of trustees, Southfield Community Foundation; Chairman, Advisory Council, Fine Arts & Communication Academy, Southfield Public Schools; Professional musician; Broadcast Coordinator, WWJ; Announcer, WIQB. Past inductee, Crain’s Detroit Business “40 under 40” rising young businesspeople. Cited by Career College Central Magazine as one of the 25 most influential people in the career college sector, 2008.
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Karen L. Washington
Business Services Director Comcast
A graduate of Cass Technical High School’s Chemical Engineering curriculum and holds an Engineering degree from Michigan State University in addition to a MBA from University of Phoenix. Karen L. Washington started her career at General Motors in 1990 where she held various positions as an engineering manager. She joined Motorola in 2000, in program management and sales. Karen is currently with Comcast as their Business Services Director, where she is responsible for increasing revenue for their Small-to-Medium Business customer class in Michigan. Additional responsibilities include developing a consultative, business-to-business culture among the sales team members through strong leadership and skill and resource development. She also works to identify opportunities for improving business processes to yield improved sales performance and higher operational efficiency. In addition to serving on the Southfield Chamber of Commerce board she is also very active in the community with memberships in the Society of Women Engineers, National Black MBA, and Inforum – Women on the Move. She also volunteers for various charities such as Detroit branch of the National Urban League and POH Sister to Sister, where she helps raise money for underprivileged women who cannot afford mammograms. She is a member of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, where she started a teen program whose mission is to help add value and purpose.
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Doug Davis
Director of Outlets Westin
Doug Davis has worked at the Southfield Westin hotel since May of 2007 as the Director of Outlets. He began his hospitality career in 1989; he has worked for Hilton, Marriott, MGM Grand and now Westin! He began working with the Chamber 2 years ago as a member of the Taste Fest committee. He has also served on the Business and Consumer Expo committee, Chamber Jazz committee, Chamber Membership committee and the Southfield Public schools Financial Advisory Board. With Westin, he is a three time manager of the quarter and manager of the year! His passion is enjoying life.
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Sandra Tomlin
Vice President of Community Relations, Michigan First Credit Union
Ms. Tomlin earned her Bachelor's degree in Journalism & Public Relations, and a Master's degree in Organizational Communication & Public Relations from Wayne State University’ College of Fine and Performing Arts. She also received her certification in Community Relations from the Boston College Center for Corporate Community Relations. Prior to joining Michigan First Credit Union, Sandra was Director of Community Relations for St. John Oakland Hospital. Her other experience includes leadership positions in public relations, media relations, community relations and governmental affairs for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and Wayne State University. At Michigan First, Ms. Tomlin is responsible for cultivating, enhancing and broadening the Credit Union’s image and involvement with the community, civic groups, charitable organizations and educational institutions in the communities it serves. She is also responsible for the Credit Union’s charitable donations, developing free educational programs and special events, coordinating the scholarship program, and developing strategic partnerships with community and charitable organizations. Ms. Tomlin also represents Michigan First at community events and serves on several boards and committees some of which include the Lathrup Village Community Foundation, Southfield-Lathrup Optimist Club, Southfield Public Schools Partnerships Education Council, and the Wayne State University President’s Advisory Council. In 2010, Michigan First was awarded the Community Business of the Year Award from the Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
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