Denise Ilitch
Encyclopedia
Denise Ilitch is a Detroit-area businessperson, lawyer, and member of the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
. Ilitch was rumored to be a Democratic Party
candidate for Governor of Michigan
in 2010, after having met with the White House
in early January to discuss a potential run, though she later declined to run.
and Marian Ilitch. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan
in 1977, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit in 1980. After receiving her law degree, Ilitch was the vice-president of Little Caesar Enterprises
from 1981 to 1992, during which time the business moved to downtown Detroit from Farmington Hills, sparking other investment in Detroit. She also later served as president of Ilitch Holdings, a privately held business that manages the Detroit Tigers
, Detroit Red Wings
, Little Caesars, the Fox Theatre, and other Detroit-area businesses. She is the owner and publisher of Ambassador magazine, and the owner of Denise Ilitch Designs. Ilitch is also “Of Counsel” at the law firm Clark Hill, where she advises clients in the areas of business practice, corporate law, and government policy. In May 2009, she was named as co-chair of Detroit mayor-elect Dave Bing
's transition team.
. Ilitch founded the Ilitch Charities for Children, and established the Denise Ilitch Scholarship at Walsh College for women to complete advanced degrees.
. She made controlling university tuition costs a centerpiece of her campaign. Ilitch was one of only two members of the Board of Regents to vote against a tuition hike in July 2009.
dropped out of the campaign for governor of Michigan in January 2010, Ilitch met with senior advisors at the White House
, including the President. Ilitch also met with the Democratic Governors Association
while in Washington D.C. She has not announced a run for Governor, or filed paperwork to form a gubernatorial campaign committee to date.
Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
The Board of Regents of the University of Michigan is the legal corporation that controls the University of Michigan, comprising the campuses at Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn. The Board of Regents was created by the Organic Act of March 18, 1837 that established the modern University of Michigan...
. Ilitch was rumored to be a Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
in 2010, after having met with the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
in early January to discuss a potential run, though she later declined to run.
Background and business experience
Denise Ilitch is a 2nd generation Macedonian American, the daughter of Mike IlitchMike Ilitch
Michael "Mike" Ilitch Sr. is an American entrepreneur and owner of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers. In addition to his sports ownerships, he is the founder and owner of Little Caesars Pizza since 1959, which has become an international fast food franchise...
and Marian Ilitch. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1977, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit in 1980. After receiving her law degree, Ilitch was the vice-president of Little Caesar Enterprises
Little Caesars
Little Caesars is a pizza chain, estimated to be the 4th largest in the United States. The Little Caesars headquarters is located in the Fox Theatre building in Downtown Detroit, Michigan.-History:...
from 1981 to 1992, during which time the business moved to downtown Detroit from Farmington Hills, sparking other investment in Detroit. She also later served as president of Ilitch Holdings, a privately held business that manages the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
, Little Caesars, the Fox Theatre, and other Detroit-area businesses. She is the owner and publisher of Ambassador magazine, and the owner of Denise Ilitch Designs. Ilitch is also “Of Counsel” at the law firm Clark Hill, where she advises clients in the areas of business practice, corporate law, and government policy. In May 2009, she was named as co-chair of Detroit mayor-elect Dave Bing
Dave Bing
David "Dave" Bing is the mayor of Detroit, Michigan, a businessman, and a retired American professional basketball player who played 12 seasons in the National Basketball Association , primarily for the Detroit Pistons...
's transition team.
Community involvement
Ilitch serves on the boards of many business and community organizations in the Detroit area. She is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Detroit Branch NAACP, the ACLU of Michigan advisory committee, the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Board of Directors of the Detroit Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of ChicagoFederal Reserve Bank of Chicago
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is one of twelve regional Reserve Banks that, along with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., make up the nation's central bank....
. Ilitch founded the Ilitch Charities for Children, and established the Denise Ilitch Scholarship at Walsh College for women to complete advanced degrees.
University of Michigan Board of Regents
On November 5, 2008, Ilitch was elected statewide to an eight year term on the Board of Regents of the University of MichiganBoard of Regents of the University of Michigan
The Board of Regents of the University of Michigan is the legal corporation that controls the University of Michigan, comprising the campuses at Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn. The Board of Regents was created by the Organic Act of March 18, 1837 that established the modern University of Michigan...
. She made controlling university tuition costs a centerpiece of her campaign. Ilitch was one of only two members of the Board of Regents to vote against a tuition hike in July 2009.
2010 gubernatorial election
After John CherryJohn D. Cherry
John D. Cherry was the 60th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan of the U.S. state of Michigan from 2003 to 2011. Cherry served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, and was the immediate past chair of the international Great Lakes Commission .Cherry was an announced...
dropped out of the campaign for governor of Michigan in January 2010, Ilitch met with senior advisors at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, including the President. Ilitch also met with the Democratic Governors Association
Democratic Governors Association
The Democratic Governors Association is a Washington, D.C. based 527 organization founded in 1983, consisting of U.S. state and territorial governors affiliated with the Democratic Party. The mission of the organization is to provide party support to the election and re-election of Democratic...
while in Washington D.C. She has not announced a run for Governor, or filed paperwork to form a gubernatorial campaign committee to date.