DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) announces changes in leadership, the Executive Board and board of directors and a refocus on priorities.
At the first meeting of the year, the WA3 board of directors voted to welcome new Executive officers, and added three new board members. Serving as Chairman is Tim Ross, CEO and President of Ross Mortgage Company; Vice chairman is Jeffrey Gisstenar, Member at large; Treasurer, Jane Bais-DiSessa, Deputy Mayor City of Pontiac; and Secretary, Ann Perry, City Commissioner Pleasant Ridge. The 2016 Executive Committee includes: Beth Dryden, Vice- President of Communications and Public Affairs DMC; Heaster Wheeler, Chief Innovative Officer, Black Family Development; Jean Chamberlain, representing Brooks Patterson-Oakland County Executive; Kurt Metzger, Mayor of Pleasant Ridge; Mark Hackshaw, Highland Park Business Association; and new member Tupac Hunter, representing Warren Evans- Wayne County Executive.
“I'm honored to have been asked to serve as the 2016 Chairman of the Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3), and accepted knowing a solid foundation was established by the dedicated leadership of Chairperson Emeritus Harriet Saperstein and former Executive Director Debbie Schutt," said Ross. "I look forward to working with the WA3 Board in the accomplishment of our most important goals and aspirations."
Leaving the organization is past chair Harriet Saperstein, who served the WA3 since its inception in 1992. Executive Director Deborah Schutt has also stepped down to pursue other opportunities.
Under new leadership, the focus of WA3 will be bringing energy to the Woodward Corridor while preserving the heritage of Woodward Avenue, the first paved road in America.
Current priorities include:
- The Ford Administration Building in Highland Park, a National Historic Landmark - The WA3, and its partner Woodward Avenue Development, LLC will draft an RFP for potential developers this spring. This project will bring a large-scale economic development opportunity to the City of Highland Park while preserving the integrity of this famous building designed by Albert Kahn
- Development of a comprehensive database and mobile application to promote wayfinding and tourism throughout the corridor while driving local business and promoting regional assets
- Community outreach to share its Complete Street initiative through strategic partnerships with all municipalities on Woodward, Oakland County, Wayne County, the Michigan Department of Transportation, SEMCOG, The Regional Transit Authority and M1-Rail and The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration.
“The board and executive board are invested in these strategic priorities,” said Ross. “In the last 30 days, we’ve already made great strides to quickly bring these projects to fruition.”
Woodward Avenue Action Association
The Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) preserves the heritage and builds prosperity for everyone in the 27-mile Woodward Corridor from Detroit to Pontiac. Woodward Avenue is a member of the prestigious National Scenic Byway’s Collection ®, a collection of 150 distinct roadways in America that recognize roadways for intrinsic qualities and stories that can be told nowhere else in the world.
For membership information, call 248-288-2004 or visit WA3 online at www.woodwardavenue.org.