Newcombe Clark specializes in the leasing and sales of class A office space, retail and commercial land for Bluestone Reality Advisors. He has a broad background in property management and investment analysis and has served in both capacities for large scale multi-tenant office and mixed use buildings. Clark is also a member of the Citizens Advisory Council for the Downtown Development Authority, a board member of the University of Michigan Museum of Art Campaign, secretary of the Main Street Area Association, chairman of the Cool Cities Task Force for the City of Ann Arbor and co-curator for the Clark/Valenti Gallery.

Paul Gantz is manager of regional relations for DTE Energy, Detroit Edison and MichCon, (NYSE: DTE) a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide.  Ganz is responsible for managing relationships with local officials and units of government throughout Ingham, Livingston and Washtenaw Counties.  This area encompasses mid-Michigan cities such as Williamston, Webberville, Fowlerville, Howell, Brighton, Chelsea, Dexter, Pinckney, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. His current duties include board positions on the Ypsilanti Convention & Visitor’s Bureau; the Williamston Chamber of Commerce; the Livingston United Way Cabinet, the Michigan FFA foundation; the Washtenaw Economic Club; and is a member of the city of Ann Arbor Energy Commission.

Linda Girard is co-founder and visionary of Internet marketing firm Pure Visibility, responsible for leading the aggressive growth and business direction of the company. Prior to founding Pure Visibility, she ran a search engine optimization business and retained her clientele as the business changed and broadened. Linda is a self proclaimed “ Internet geek”. She double majored in Psychology and Telecommunications at Eastern Michigan University unknowingly preparing her for the Internet before its existence. For over ten years, her energy and enthusiasm for all things search engine marketing has been impossible to miss!  Linda is a contributor to Create Magazine and former president of the Ann Arbor Ad Club, where she currently serves as education chair, and serves on Eastern Michigan University’s CIS Advisory Board. Linda is also a judge for the annual international WebAward competition for web site development.

Carrie Hensel is CEO and Co-Founder of Inner Circle Media - a women-owned web development firm founded in 2001 and located in downtown Ann Arbor. Prior to starting Inner Circle Media, Carrie worked as a Regulatory Scientist at Parke-Davis/Warner-Lambert. Carrie is a current member of the Board of Directors for the Ann Arbor Art Center and a Past President of the Board of Directors for the New Enterprise Forum. In 2006, the Ann Arbor Business Review honored Carrie with its Most Influential Women in Business Award. Carrie participated in Leadership Ann Arbor in 2004 and served on the planning committee for IMPACT 2007. She holds degrees in Chemistry (Albion College) and Fine Art (University of Michigan).

Ted McMullen is part of the fourth generation of the McMullen family development business in Ann Arbor.  Growing up on what was once wooded and farmland near I-94 and State Street, development of these properties and a desire to experience life elsewhere motivated Ted to get away.  After attending DePauw University in Indiana, then spending another ten years in Indianapolis doing anything but real estate development, Ted eventually found himself right back in his roots and involved in property development just north of Indianapolis.  Then, as their children began approaching school age, Ted and his wife, Kelli, decided to head north to the beautiful Great Lake state.  Now, though the landscape has changed, Ted finds himself right at home, leasing the office buildings on the familiar properties and enjoying all that Ann Arbor and its surrounding communities have to offer.

Sharon McRill, owner of The Betty Brigade, grew up learning how to run a small business; her parents have owned a general store in Linden, Michigan for the past 25 years. She worked her way through college doing everything from managing a candy store,to waiting tables. Soon after graduation, Sharon secured a position as a vendor liaison in the corporate office of Borders Incorporated. With much brown-nosing and paper pushing she was promoted to Video and DVD department head for Borders.com. After 6 years at Borders Sharon's perfect job, along with 60 others, was eliminated. With her perfect job gone Sharon decided to create a new perfect job by starting a company of her own! March 2004 was the one-year anniversary of My Gal Friday. My Gal Friday, a full service personal assistance company, has quickly grown with Sharon's corporate knowledge and small business skills. In September 2004, Women Business Owners South Eastern Michigan awarded Sharon the 2004 Outstanding Business Growth Award. Early in November 2004 Mary Morgan, Business Editor of the Ann Arbor News, wrote a Sunday business feature story on Sharon and My Gal Friday. Morgan found Sharon's entrepreneurial efforts and successful company an inspiring story.

John Petz is Director of Government and Community Relations at Domino’s Farms Corporation, a property management and land development company in Ann Arbor Township, Michigan.  In his capacity, Mr. Petz manages land development projects on Domino’s Farms’ nearly 1,600 acres of land in northeastern Ann Arbor area.  He also serves as the public liaison with local officials and the greater business community for the landmark Domino’s Farms Office Park. Mr. Petz’s involvement with the Chamber has included Chairing the Agenda: Ann Arbor program, which developed into the Chamber’s Impact public policy forum and serving on the Public Policy Committee. Previously Mr. Petz served as Southeast Michigan Director for former-United States Senator E. Spencer Abraham (R-Michigan). Mr. Petz holds a Masters of Business Administration degree in Finance from Walsh College.  He also holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Economics from University of Michigan.

Ken Polsinelli is Executive Vice President, and Managing Director, Residential Real Estate at McKinley, Inc. a real estate investment company that owns and operates a $1.9 billion dollar real estate portfolio.  McKinley has 751 full time staff members and its portfolio consists of 17,371 apartment units and over 6,200,000 square feet of shopping centers and office buildings located in 10 states nationwide.  Mr. Polsinelli is directly responsible for over 400 employees and 16,000 apartment homes in eight states.  During his tenure McKinley’s portfolio has increased by over 40% in its target markets.  He has acquired, financed or disposed of over $500 million of real estate assets across the Midwest and Southeast. Polsinelli serves as a panelist at the National Distressed Real Estate Conference, serves on the Board of Directors of Washtenaw United Way as well as the Michigan Theater Foundation and is a member of Commercial Mortgage Securities Association.

Matt Sharp serves as Publisher of the Michigan Business Review. The Michigan Business Review is a network of three local business journals including the Ann Arbor Business Review, Oakland Business Review and Business Review Western Michigan. The group reaches over 100,000 Michigan business leaders each week. All three journals can be read online at www.mlive.com/business.  Before his role at the Business Review, Sharp was the Regional Director for Major & National accounts for MCI Worldcom in San Francisco.  He is actively involved in community organizations such as the Washtenaw United Way, Washtenaw Economic Club, and the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in Washtenaw County. The mission of the Ann Arbor Area Chamber is to support our members by promoting commerce in the greater Ann Arbor area through business advocacy and leadership in economic, political and educational development. Membership means: access to health care, advocacy, benefits & cost savings, connections and exposure for business.