Credits and Acknowledgements

Photo credits

All photos on this site were commissioned by NEI.
Grantee photos: Ali Lapetina.
Event photos: Nick Hagen and Steve Koss.

Project team

NEI

Pamela Lewis, Director
Donald Jones, Associate Director
Angelina Starceski, Communications Associate
Mary Fulmer, Program Officer

EarlyWorks, llc. Staff

Nicole de Beaufort, President
Mary Aviles, Vice President of Insights + Experience
Katy Locker, Executive in Residence
Lauren Davies, Digital Project Manager, UX/UI Designer
Mobo Ayeni, Contributor

EarlyWorks, llc. Collaborating Partners

Melinda Clynes, Project Editor
Shana Parker, The Vibe Design
Bridgett Lomax, Contributor
Brian Allnutt, Contributor
Kate Scheible, Scheible Design

Public Policy Associates

Sam Singh, Chief Executive Officer
Daniel J. Quinn, Ph.D., Director for Education Policy
Larry Merrill, Contributor
Scott Southard, Contributor

Growth Capital Network

Lauren Bigelow, PhD, Chief Executive Officer
Tatiana Bailey, Partner
Denise Sandor, Program Manager
Trevor Nelson, Senior Analyst

Thank you to those interviewed or consulted for this project, including:

David Blaszkiewicz, Invest Detroit
Mark Burton, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
Brian Calley, Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM)
Kyla Carlsen, Co.act Detroit
Carolyn Cassin, Michigan Women Forward
Barbara Eckblad, Eckblad Associates
Dave Egner, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
James Feagin, Projects + People
Rob Fowler, Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM)
Janai Gilmore, Michigan Community Resources
Steve Hamp, NEI
Amy Liu, Brookings Institution
Amanda McClanahan, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
Mariam Noland, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan
Joe Parilla, Brookings Institution
Amy Rencher, TechTown
Tom Sherry, 313creative
Leslie Smith, GET Cities
Edward Staebler, TechTown
Steve Tobocman, Global Detroit
Ray Waters, Detroit Development Fund