Ewing Elected Chair of AAA Michigan
DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 6, 2007 -- Stephen E. Ewing, retired vice- chair of DTE Energy, was elected for a one-year term as chair of the board of directors of the more than 1.6-million-member Automobile Club of Michigan (AAA Michigan) during a board meeting conducted today (February 6) at the Dearborn Inn in Dearborn.
Joseph M. Stewart, CEO of Stewart Industries, was elected for a one-year term as AAA Michigan vice-chair.
The board meeting followed AAA Michigan's annual membership meeting, at which AAA Michigan members elected the following five board members to serve three-year terms: Charles E. Allen, Dorothy A. Johnson, Amyre Makupson, Hans Schuler and Joseph M. Stewart.
STEPHEN E. EWING
Ewing is former vice-chair of DTE Energy, one of three major business units of DTE Energy Co. Before that, he was president and chief executive officer of DTE Energy Gas, one of three major business units of DTE Energy Co.
Ewing has been a member of the Automobile Club of Michigan board of directors since 1998. He serves on the boards of several economic, educational, cultural, community and health and human service organizations and businesses, including Detroit's Regional Chamber and United Way Community Services Board in Detroit. He is chairman of the American Gas Association.
Ewing earned a bachelor's degree from DePauw University, and MBA from Michigan State University and an advanced management degree from the Harvard School of Business Administration.
JOSEPH M. STEWART
Joseph M. Stewart is CEO of Stewart Industries, LLC and manager of Stewart Investments, LLC. He is retired from his position as senior vice president, Corporate Affairs and Chief Ethics Officer for Kellogg Company, a position he assumed in 1988 after eight years in management positions in food service marketing, corporate communication and public affairs.
Stewart has been a member of AAA Michigan's board of directors since 1998. He also is a member of the boards of W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the National Resource Center for the Healing of Racism and the Urban League of Battle Creek. He is a Trustee of Grand Valley State University, Trustee of the Southern University Foundation, and serves on the board of the Greater Battle Creek United Way. He is a past member of the boards of Medical Education for South African Blacks, Pyper Products and the Executive Leadership Council.
Stewart has a bachelor's degree in nutrition from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., and holds an honorary doctorate in science from Southern University and an honorary doctorate in human services from Albion College. He is a native of Maringouin, Louisiana.
CHARLES E. ALLEN
Charles Allen is chairman, president, CEO and co-founder of Graimark/ Walker Urban Land Development.
Allen has been a director of AAA Michigan since 1987 and served as its chairman from 1992 to 1994. He also serves on the board of The Auto Club Group (ACG) and is a former chairman of AAA's national board.
Allen is past chairman of the National Bankers Association. He has served on the boards of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Detroit branch of the 7th Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, PPOM of Michigan and the Museum of African American History, among others.
Allen earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Morehouse College and an MBA from the University of Chicago. In 1996, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Benedict College.
DOROTHY A. JOHNSON
Dorothy A. Johnson is president of the Ahlburg Company, a philanthropic consulting agency in Grand Haven, Mich.
From 1975 to 2000, Johnson served as president and CEO of the Council of Michigan Foundations, and is now president emeritus.
Johnson is a trustee and former chair of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and a trustee of Grand Valley State University.
In 2000, Johnson received the Distinguished Grantmakers of the Year Award from the Council on Foundations. At that time, she was recognized by her peers with the naming of the Dorothy A. Johnson Center on Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University.
Johnson graduated from the University of California-Berkeley, and has received a certificate in business administration from the Harvard-Radcliffe Program in Business Administration.
AMYRE MAKUPSON
Amyre Makupson spent 27 years as a television news reporter, anchorperson, talk show host and producer at WKBD-TV 50 and 62 CBS in Detroit. She also served as public affairs manager for both stations.
During her reporting career, Makupson earned the prestigious Emmy award on six separate occasions - four for best commentary and once each for best news anchor and best interview/discussion program.
Makupson is listed in Who's Who of American Women and Who's Who of African Americans. She was also named Michiganian of the Year by The Detroit News.
Makupson serves on the boards of AAA Michigan, Alzheimer's Association, March of Dimes, Providence Hospital Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, Sickle Cell Association and Covenant House Michigan.
Makupson earned a master's degree from the American University in Washington, D.C. She has a bachelor's degree in speech and dramatics from Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn.
HANS SCHULER
Hans Schuler, chairman and president of Schuler's, a restaurant and hotel company, has served on AAA Michigan's board of directors since 1978, and served as the board's chair from 1988 to 1990. He also serves as a director of The Auto Club Group (ACG).
Schuler has served on many community boards, including chair of the National Resource Center for the Healing of Racism, the Calhoun Community Initiative (economic development group), chair of the Michigan Historical Center Foundation and the Marshall Economic Development Advisory Council. He is past chair of the Kellogg Foundation's Underground Railroad Committee.
In 1986, in recognition of his many contributions to tourism in the state of Michigan, he received the Ambassador and Embassy Tourism Award. He was chair of the Michigan Week observance for two years.
In 2006, Schuler was recognized by The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University - as part of its Celebration of Leadership, he was inducted along with five fellow honorees in the 2006 Wall of Fame "Class of Owners" during its convention in New York City.
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