Detroit City Wire

The Detroit Regional Chamber has announced that Dorian A. Grey, Senior Director of Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, has been named a 2025 Michigan Chronicle 40 Under 40 Awardee. Grey leads several key initiatives at the Chamber, including the Leadership Detroit program and the Detroit Policy Conference, as well as efforts supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs in the region.

The Michigan Chronicle’s annual 40 Under 40 Awards, now in its 13th year, honors African American professionals across Detroit and Southeast Michigan for their leadership and contributions to their communities. According to the Michigan Chronicle, “leadership does not only rest in boardrooms or at podiums, but in classrooms, hospitals, courtrooms, churches, union halls, and every corner where vision meets action.” The awards recognize individuals not just for professional success but also for integrity and community involvement.

This year’s class includes leaders from various sectors such as business development, education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, labor organizing, media, philanthropy, and corporate management. Honorees include Addofio Addo of Bedrock for his work bringing international events to Detroit; Dez’arae Adams of Wayne RESA for early childhood education; Judge Jeremy Bowie of the 50th District Court; Dr. Lakisha Holifield of Detroit Medical Center; Patrina Caldwell of The School @ Marygrove; Marissa Thrower-Fisher, a McDonald’s franchisee; Mikyia S. of LIUNA Local 1191; Kory Woods of MLive Media Group; Rae Glenn of Alternatives for Girls; Vance Fulton of Lear Corporation; among others.

The recognition highlights how progress in Detroit is driven by collaboration across different fields. As stated by the Michigan Chronicle: “These honorees represent the interconnectedness of Black excellence. They remind us that leadership is not one-dimensional; it is collective, rooted in community, and accountable to history.”

The ceremony serves as an acknowledgment that ongoing efforts toward equity and inclusion are vital for Detroit’s continued growth. The Michigan Chronicle notes: “These honorees carry the responsibility of standing in a lineage of Detroit leaders who have faced obstacles and still built opportunities.”

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