LARRY ALEXANDER

Larry Alexander was originally appointed by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm to the five-member Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority in February 2009, and was elected the first Chairman of the Authority at its inaugural meeting in March. He is president and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau and a 30-year veteran of the hospitality and tourism industry.

Alexander leads an innovative, multi-award winning convention sales, marketing and convention services effort that has often exceeded CVB industry standards for performance. In 2002 he introduced a 10-year tourism vision for the region and a Tourism Economic Development Council to maintain accountability for that vision. These efforts have led to improved regional beautification; service training of hospitality industry workers; and infrastructure improvements.

Alexander navigated the efforts to land some of the world’s most coveted sporting events, including Super Bowl XL in 2006 and the 2009 NCAA Men’s Final Four. He also created and leads the Detroit Metro Sports Commission, a subsidiary of the bureau responsible for landing the 2003 and 2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games and the 2008 Women’s International Bowling Congress, and for contributing to the successful bid for the 2005 MLB All-Star Game.

Before stepping into his DMCVB role, Alexander was the managing director of the Westin Hotel-Detroit Renaissance Center (now under Marriott ownership), responsible for the marketing and operations of one of the nation’s largest hotels. He also served as general manager of the Westin Miyako in San Francisco, the Westin-O’Hare in Chicago and the Westin Hotel Cincinnati.

Alexander is a board member of the American Society of Association Executives, the Michigan Society of Association Executives, The Parade Company, The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, The Detroit Zoological Society, New Detroit and Forgotten Harvest.

Appointed by: Governor Rick Snyder - State of Michigan: www.michigan.gov

WAYMON GUILLEBEAUX

Appointed to the DRCFA by Mayor Dave Bing, Waymon Gillebeaux serves as the Board’s Director of Projects. He is currently executive vice president of project management and contract services for the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, a quasi-public private corporation devoted to creating economic growth and opportunity in Detroit.

A native Detroiter, Guillebeaux began his career as an education counselor with the Detroit Urban League, a non-profit organization that assists African-Americans and other minorities. Later he joined Michigan Bell as a marketing account executive, and eventually moved on to Electronics Data Systems (EDS), where he was promoted to regional manager and provided leadership in the areas of system design, implementation and training. Guillebeaux then moved to the Bing Group, where he successfully increased the sales volume of its construction management firm tenfold. In 1993 Guillebeaux started his own business providing project management consultative services to clients including Chrysler Corporation, Henry Ford Community College, WCCCD, Ecorse Public Schools and Detroit Public Schools.

At DEGC, Guillebeaux assisted the 2002 implementation of the aggressive Lower Woodward Improvement Program. The LWIP has delivered successful construction of three major streetscape improvements, a successful façade-improvement program and the attraction of several new businesses and residential developments to downtown Detroit.

Guillebeaux serves on the board of directors of the Neighborhood Services Organization.

Appointed by: Mayor Dave Bing - City of Detroit: www.detroitmi.gov

JOSEPH ABDOO

Appointed to the DRCFA by Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, Joseph Abdoo serves as the Board’s Secretary. Abdoo is the business manager and financial secretary for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 58. A Detroit native and Macomb County resident since 1988, Abdoo has been a licensed journeyman electrician for more than 30 years.
His service with IBEW Local 58 began in 1988, when he became registrar. In 1994 Abdoo was elected to the Local 58’s executive board; and in 1997 he was elected president, a position he held until 2005 when he became the business manager.

Abdoo serves on the board of the Electrical Workers’ Health Insurance Fund; the Electrical Workers’ Pension Trust Fund; the Electrical Workers’ Annuity Fund; and as chair of the IBEW Local 58/SE Michigan Chapter NECA Labor Management Cooperation Committee.

Appointed by: Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel - Macomb County: www.macombcountymi.gov

JULIETTE OKOTIE-EBOH

Appointed to the DRCFA by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, Juliette Okotie-Eboh serves as the Board’s Vice President. She is senior vice president of public affairs for MGM Grand Detroit, where she serves on the Executive Committee, the MGM Grand Detroit Diversity Council and the board of directors. She is responsible for local, state and federal government affairs, representing MGM Grand Detroit on policy matters, monitoring legislative regulatory and policy proposals, and developing policy recommendations. She is also responsible for overseeing community affairs activities, including community outreach, managing and executing community relations programs, diversity initiatives and media relations.

A native Detroiter, Okotie-Eboh joined MGM Grand Detroit in 2003 from the Detroit Medical Center, where she served as senior vice president and ombudsman for community affairs and diversity management. She has a wealth of community affairs and diversity experience, including nearly 20 years’ service in Detroit city government, where she worked as the Planning Department’s chief of research.

Okotie-Eboh serves on numerous boards, including the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, Booker T. Washington Business Association, University Cultural Center Association, Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Michigan’s Children, Coleman A. Young Foundation, City Connect, Crockett Technical High School Advisory Board, Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Eastern Michigan University Advisory Board, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Opera Theatre and Corp! Magazine.

Okotie-Eboh holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in urban and regional planning from the University of Michigan.

Appointed by: Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano - Wayne County: www.waynecounty.com

MICHAEL CARROLL

Appointed to the DRCFA by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Michael Carroll serves as Board Treasurer. He is chief financial officer at George W. Auch Co., a mid-sized, full-service general contract and construction management company specializing in health care, educational and institutional construction in southeast Michigan.

Carroll has 35 years’ experience working as a controller and chief financial officer for mechanical, deep-foundation and general contract companies. He is also a certified public accountant.

Carroll serves as director and treasurer for the Construction Financial Managers Association, and as a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants; the Engineering Society of Detroit; and Associated General Contractors Michigan.

Carroll holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Detroit, and completed the Private Companies Management Program at Southern Methodist University.

Appointed by: Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson - Oakland County: www.oakgov.com