OUR TEAM
Who We Are
The Detroit Children’s Fund is a team of educators, philanthropists and local leaders dedicated to dramatically increasing quality school options for families across Detroit. Our team is housed within the Skillman Foundation, though our independent board of community stakeholders oversees our work.The DCF Board
KC Crain
DCF Chair; President & COO, Crain Communications
Tonya Allen
President and CEO, The Skillman Foundation
Pernilla Ammann
Advertising Executive
Tony Barra
Retired Technology Consultant
Tony Cervone
Senior Vice President, Global Communications, General Motors
Phil Cooley
Owner, Slows BarBQ and Los Pistoleros
Gretchen Gonzales Davidson
Arts and Education Advocate
Tiffany Douglas
Senior VP, Marketing Manager, Bank of America
Bill Emerson
Vice Chairman, Quicken Loans; CEO, Bedrock
Carol Goss
Community Leader
Kelle Ilitch
Child and Education Advocate
Wright Lassiter III
President & CEO, Henry Ford Health System
Adam Levinson
Managing Partner and CIO, Graticule Asset Management
Ryan Maibach
DCF Treasurer; President, Barton Malow
Jacques Panis
Matt Simoncini
Retired CEO & President, Lear Corporation
Arn Tellem
Vice Chairman, Detroit Pistons
Jason Tinsley
Managing Director, JP Morgan Private Bank
Jesse Venegas
Vice President, Ideal Group
The DCF Team
Jack Elsey
Executive Director
Jack Elsey is the executive director of the Detroit Children’s Fund. Prior to this role, he served as the chief schools officer for the Education Achievement Authority of Michigan, a district charged with turning around some of Detroit’s historically lowest performing schools. Under his leadership, EAA schools experienced student growth results that outperformed state averages. Elsey has also served as chief of innovation and incubation at Chicago Public Schools, assistant superintendent of Detroit Public Schools, and chief schools officer of Detroit Rising College Prep Schools. He began his career as a middle school teacher in the South Bronx as a member of the Teach For America corps.
Nick Karmanos
Chief Advancement Officer
Nick Karmanos serves as chief advancement officer, responsible for DCF’s institutional advancement and fundraising. Prior to joining Detroit Children’s Fund, Karmanos served as senior vice president of institutional relations for Karmanos Cancer Institute, where he raised more than $150 million over 16 years.
Lisa Laurin
Senior Major Gifts Officer
Lisa Laurin serves as Detroit Children’s Fund's senior major gifts officer, managing the operations of DCF’s fundraising initiatives including major gifts, special events, sponsorships, grant writing and stewardships.
Brittini Ward
Program Administrative Coordinator
Brittini Ward serves Detroit Children’s Fund as Program Administrative Coordinator managing logistics for all DCF program events, supporting internal and external communications and community engagement strategy and implementation.