Honorary Chairs


		Honorary Chairs

		Sis. Louise Green-Guyton *Vice President* *Corporate CRA Manager, Public Affairs* *Comerica Incorporated*
		A native of Memphis Tennessee, Louise G. Guyton is a Vice President in the Public Affairs Department at Comerica Bank. She manages community outreach initiatives in Detroit on behalf of the bank and has been employed by Comerica for 38 years. Her primary focus is to partner with non-profit organizations in the city engaging in housing, community, and economic development projects. She serves on the Board of Directors of many non profit organizations whose mission is to strengthen communities and improve the quality of life for all people. Some of them include: President of the Board of Directors of the New Hope Community Development Non Profit Housing Corporation, Vice President of the Board of the Black Caucus Foundation, Board member of the Michigan Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Trustee of Lewis College of Business; Her Advisory Board affiliations include: The Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, Abayomi Community Development Corporation, and Community Legal Resources. Ms. Guyton is a life member of the NAACP and a member of the Detroit Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Some of the numerous citations, awards and accolades Ms. Guyton has received are: Spirit of Detroit Awards, Community Builders Award and Minority Achievers Award. She is listed in the 2000 Edition of Who's Who Among African Americans. In 2001, Ms. Guyton was cited in the Detroit News as one of six African American women vice presidents at Comerica Bank that are helping to shape Detroit in a positive direction. She was also highlighted in the 2006 Inaugural Edition of Who's Who in Black Detroit. Ms. Guyton earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business of Administration from the University of Detroit- Mercy and received an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration Degree from Lewis College of Business. Ms. Guyton believes, "If I can help somebody as I travel along, then my living shall not be in vain". This is a personal creed she chooses to live by. Her love for her family and her community are only exceeded by her love for God. She is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and proud to be in the family of believers who have accepted Christ as their personal Savior. She is an active member of the Greater Burnette Baptist Church pastored by Dr. Nathaniel Caldwell. She is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, a Bible Class instructor and a member of the Scholarship Committee. She has been blessed to speak at Women's Day services and serve has a Workshop Leader on many programs throughout the state. She is the proud mother of Patrice (Nathaniel) and Curtis and the grandmother of 6. She is one of six children born to Mr. Eldridge Green and the late Mrs. Ruth I. Bowdre-Green who she credits for instilling in her at an early age to give your best, live your best and the best will be returned to you.


		Monica L. Martinez *Vice President* *National Hispanic Business Affairs* *Comerica Incorporated*
		A Detroit native, Monica Martinez directs Comerica Bank’s Hispanic business and community outreach. Her key duties focus on growing business relationships and outreach initiatives with an emphasis on the bank's expanding markets nationwide. Martinez joined Comerica in September 2006. "The addition of Monica signified Comerica's ongoing commitment to building strong relationships with Hispanic business owners, entrepreneurs, and the communities where they do business," said Linda Forte, Senior Vice President and Director of Business Affairs for Comerica. "Her vast expertise and demonstrated track record in diversity management, community relations and government relations makes Monica an important asset to our organization."
		Over the years, Martinez has made an immeasurable contribution to this region’s government, community and diversity relations efforts, applying her creativity, communication and management skills. As a forward thinking professional, she has been involved in helping to build corporate and community pride, developing relationships with government officials, community advocates, and both corporate and non-profit officers alike. Tenaciously and tirelessly leading campaigns and programs through periods of transformation and change, she productively offers expertise in areas of public policy evaluation, events management, new program implementation, staff training/development, and organizational leadership. One of Monica Martinez’s greatest assets is her ability to foster positive relationships, making an extraordinary impact in high profile community and government related programs as well as diversity related projects in the Hispanic community. Martinez joined Comerica from Ford Motor Company, where she held the position of Grassroots and Political Communications Manager. She directed a broad range of government action programs and special political awareness events. Her scope of activities covered diverse territory, ranging from relaying legislative issues to senior management, developing monthly legislative briefing to directing continual training and communications programs for hundreds of company managers and dealers. During her 10-year tenure at Ford, Martinez also served as Community Relations Program Manager; Interim Manager of Hispanic Affairs, and Hispanic Community Relations Liaison. As Community Relations Program Manager, she managed international contributions on behalf of Ford’s International Governmental Affairs Department, in addition to maintaining important initiatives that included the Employee Matching Gift Program to Advance Education, and the 16-Hour Volunteer Program. While serving as Interim Manager of Hispanic Affairs, she supervised all related work/community interaction. In her service as Community Relations Hispanic Affairs Liaison, she coordinated the company’s participation in local and national Hispanic-related activities, ensuring proper representation at company sponsored events. Martinez majored in International Business with a focus in Marketing for her undergraduate degree and studied Interdisciplinary Technology with a concentration in Business Management for her graduate work at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She also attended Cemanagua Institute in Cuernavaca, Mexico where she focused on Comprehensive Study in Spanish. Moreover, she attended Duke University and gained a certificate in Non-Profit Management in addition to earning a certificate in Corporate Community Relations Management from Boston College. Adding to her long line of accomplishments, she is a graduate of Leadership Detroit, a prestigious key civic leadership activity and part of the Detroit Multi-Cultural Immersion Program. She also gained certification in Corporate Volunteer Program Management from the Points of Light Foundation and is trained in Political Campaign Management from the United State Hispanic Leadership Institute.

		To contact Monica Martinez at Comerica, please call (313) 222-3794 or via email at mlmartinez@comerica.com.


		Byna Elliott Vice President & Director of Community Development Fifth Third Bank, Eastern Michigan
		Byna Elliott is a community reinvestment professional with over 14 years experience, including five years experience in administering all aspects of consumer compliance programs and Community Reinvestment Act initiatives. She started her career at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in 1993 and moved into the financial services industry in 1998. She currently holds the position of Vice President and Director of Fifth Third Bank’s Community Development department. Byna and her team’s efforts have been instrumental in the community development projects funded by Fifth Third Bank in the city of Detroit. These projects include affordable housing and financial literacy initiatives, and programming designed to help small businesses open and flourish in Detroit. Board Member: Habitat for Humanity-State of Michigan Board Member: Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) – Loan Committee Board Member: Detroit Community Initiative Macomb County and Oakland County CRA Association Board Member: Detroit Public Television Eastern Michigan Board Trustee Chairwoman of the Board: Northeast Village CDC Chairwoman of the Board: Mission of Peace Delta Sigma Theta Sorority B.B.A. Business Administration, Eastern Michigan University M.B.A. Walsh College, Expected 2009 Byna’s vision for the city of Detroit includes a diverse community where people are proud to live in quality housing and safe neighborhoods. She continues to build, strategic partnerships with successful non-profit developers as well established organizations to help small businesses and neighborhoods throughout southeast Michigan. Byna believes in thinking ‘outside the box’ while utilizing government, corporate and community resources, which can make a strong difference in the community.


		Lafayette Bush III *Keynote Speaker - Ministering Deacon*
		Lafayette Bush III is a Deacon at Swope Parkway Church of Christ where he has served in this capacity for the last six years. Brother Bush is also very active in the prison ministry in Lansing, Kansas. Bro. Bush is involved in the Personal Work Ministry, and is a fill-in pulpit minister, in the absence of the full-time minister. He and his wife teach the Visitors Class and are leaders of a Small Group ministry class. Bro. Bush is currently taking correspondence courses at the Sunset International Bible Institute. He is professionally employed as an electrician for the City of Kansas City, Missouri for 27 years and is a licensed master electrician and contractor. Bro. Bush is married to Sheliah, his wife for 25 years and he has two children, Maurice and Melandy.


		Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson *Superintendent for Southfield Public Schools*
		Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson is currently Superintendent for Southfield Public Schools. Dr. Cook-Robinson, a resident of Southfield, joined the Southfield Public Schools administrative team in the fall of 2004 as Associate Superintendent for Instruction. Prior to coming to Southfield Public Schools, Dr. Cook-Robinson was the Assistant Superintendent for Student Performance/Human Resources with Oakland Intermediate School District (OISD). She held a variety of leadership positions with the OISD from 1986 through 2004. Dr. Cook-Robinson’s teaching experience includes graduate and undergraduate courses at Grand Valley State University, Marygrove College and Wayne State University. She has provided a variety of educational consulting services throughout Michigan and the United States. Dr. Cook-Robinson’s professional memberships include: The American Association of School Administrators, American Society for Training and Development, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Michigan Association of African American Superintendents and NAACP Southern Oakland County Chapter. She is also a member of the Elmwood Church of Christ.

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