In honor of Veteran’s Day, we spotlight former Lieutenant Colonel Rene Jackson, Jr.  After a 28-year career with the military, and after having survived stage-three advanced cancer, Jackson, along with his wife Sandra, and stepdaughter Darla, became Little Caesars franchisees. Find out how he gives back to other veterans in his community.

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As head of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force, Danielle Lester, senior counsel for Little Caesars, plays a critical role in fostering greater inclusion and understanding across all Ilitch companies.

Danielle, a metro Detroit native, has a broad legal education, having received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Michigan, her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law and her Master of Business Administration from Michigan State University — The Eli Broad School of Management. Her diverse education allows her to give legal counsel on a range of issues and, along with her personal experiences as a Black woman in corporate America, informs her work on the task force.

“Danielle Lester has been an incredibly strong leader in our organization” said Erin Martin, Little Caesars Vice President and General Counsel. “She’s focused on the things that matter to our colleagues and also to the success of our company.”

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force, composed of colleagues from across the Ilitch companies was created to give recommendations on diversity and inclusion policies, programs and practices.

Danielle and the other task force members continue to identify opportunities that encourage ongoing, meaningful dialogue about diversity, equity and inclusion within the organization.

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Chris Fetter has been named the Detroit Tiger’s newest Major League pitching coach. In addition, Juan Nieves has been promoted to assistant pitching coach, Josh Paul returns as quality control coach, and Ramon Santiago returns as first/third base coach.

“We’re very excited to introduce the man who will lead our young pitching corps into the future,” said Al Avila, Tigers General Manager. “We feel that we are heading in the right direction with the right leadership.”

Fetter, 34, comes to the Tigers from the University of Michigan, where he held the position of pitching coach from 2018-2020 – helping the Wolverines reach the NCAA College World Series Finals in 2019.

“As we began filling out the Major League staff, we placed a priority on identifying coaches that will guide and develop our young core of players at a high level, and having these four men lead our clubhouse alongside A.J. is a perfect step in that direction,” said Avila. “We’re particularly excited for Chris’s transition to professional baseball. Through his time in the game, Chris has established excellent communication skills with players, and will work with them using traditional mechanics, analytics and biomechanics, each of which are key parts of our player development process at both the Major and Minor League levels.”

Fetter and Tigers manager A.J. Hinch crossed paths while working with the San Diego Padres, where Fetter was a Minor League pitcher from 2009-12 and Hinch was the Vice President of Scouting and Assistant General Manager from 2011-14.

“I’m very excited to join this Tigers coaching staff and work with some truly exceptional players,” said Fetter. “Everyone in baseball has noticed the number of young and talented pitchers that this organization has built up over the last few years, and after talking with Al and A.J. it was clear what a tremendous opportunity this is. Playing and coaching at the University of Michigan has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I want to thank all our coaches, players and fans for their support while I’ve worn the maize and blue. I know how passionate Tigers fans are for their team, and I’m looking forward to help build something special for all of them in Detroit.”

Prior to his time as the pitching coach at Michigan, Fetter was the Minor League Pitching Coordinator for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2016-17), Pitching Coach at Ball State University (2016-17), professional scout for the Los Angeles Angels (2013-15) and Assistant Pitching Coach for Double A San Antonio (2013).

“For us reach our goals, we’ve got to get the pitching right, and we got a lot better today giving Chris Fetter the reins to lead this pitching staff and create a vision,” said Hinch. “The analytics play into it, I wanted him to be up-to-date on the technology, the pitch shapes and pitch usage; and how to squeeze the most out every pitcher that he coaches. I think he’s going to be able to tell us a lot about the quality of the pitching that we have now.”

Juan Nieves – Assistant Pitching Coach

Nieves, 55, joins the staff as Assistant Pitching Coach, after spending two seasons as the Pitching Coach with Triple A Toledo. With significant experience coaching at both the Major and Minor League levels, Nieves has aided in the development of many Tigers top pitching prospects in recent years.

Coaches Returning

Josh Paul, 45, and Ramon Santiago, 41, return after originally joining the Tigers Major League staff in 2019 and 2017, respectively.

“We felt that adding Juan and bringing back Josh and Ramon to our staff was important for many reasons,” said Hinch. “They know these Tigers players better than almost anyone, and I’m excited to have them on board to help us win ballgames. Their experience and commitment to innovation are exactly what we are looking for in coaches for this staff, and we’re looking forward to completing the remainder of the staff soon.”

Additional Coaches

The Tigers also announced recently the addition of three other key coaching positions including George Lombard as Bench Coach, Scott Coolbaugh as Hitting Coach and Chip Hale as Third Base Coach.  

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The Detroit Red Wings are celebrating teachers through a new Teacher of the Month program, presented by Meijer. In this program, students can nominate their teacher, and six educators will be rewarded with a personalized Red Wings jersey and a $1,000 Meijer gift card to be used toward improving their classroom.

The program will run November 2020 through April 2021, with students able to nominate their teacher multiple times throughout. A Teacher of the Year will be chosen in May 2021 and will receive the grand prize: a $4,000 grant and a virtual appearance from a Red Wings player for the winning class. Voting for Teacher of the Year will be open to public May 2, 2021 to May 14, 2021.

“The Detroit Red Wings are proud to align with Meijer to support teachers across Michigan,” Kevin Brown, Detroit Red Wings Director of Community Impact, said. “We look forward to learning about and celebrating Michigan’s amazing educators who positively impact the lives of children and adults each day, both in and out of the classroom.”

The new Teacher of the Month program reflects the Red Wings’ longstanding commitment to making a positive impact in the community with an emphasis on education. Earlier this year, the organization announced Learn, Play, Score in partnership with the Detroit Public Schools Community District, Detroit Parks & Recreation, the Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan. The pioneering program allows more than 30,000 youth in the city of Detroit to experience the sport of hockey through innovative and engaging hockey-related platforms.

Recently, hundreds of kids in the community took part in Street Hockey in The D at Home, powered by Chevrolet. The free, six-week virtual summer program, in partnership with Detroit Parks & Recreation, taught kids the basics of street hockey in an online setting. Each video focused on street hockey stills and drills, as well as physical activity and wellness.

To learn more about the Teacher of the Month program or to nominate a deserving teacher, visit DetroitRedWings.com/Teacher. To learn more about the Red Wings’ community initiatives, visit DetroitRedWings.com/Community.

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Detroit-based nonprofit Life Remodeled was formed a decade ago to help revitalize Detroit’s neighborhoods. From renovating and repurposing former community buildings to repairing owner-occupied homes, the organization mobilizes 10,000+ volunteers annually to beautify an area of four-square miles, with each plot chosen according to most significant need.

Recently, in partnership with Life Remodeled, employees throughout the Ilitch companies took part in a community effort to help clean up and beautify Detroit’s Petoskey-Otsego neighborhood. Through the Ilitch Charities Colleague Engagement Program, which connects employees with an array of opportunities to give back, dozens of volunteers converged in the historic neighborhood to help remove blight and cut down overgrown grass, weeds and brush from the streets and adjacent lots.

“By bringing together thousands of volunteers from the city and suburbs over six days in specific Detroit neighborhoods, we’re not only achieving our mission of bridging people across divides to help transform each other’s lives, but we’re also making a tremendous, immediate and visible impact in the Detroit neighborhoods in which we serve,” Chris Lambert, founder and CEO of Life Remodeled, said.

For more than 20 years, Ilitch Charities has developed programs and made significant donations to critical causes throughout the Detroit community. “Our goal is to partner with key organizations to uplift the neighborhoods,” Joshua Sanborn, manager of Ilitch Charities, said. “Through the kindness of our colleagues, we can help make a sustainable impact in our community.”

To read more about the Ilitch companies’ impact in the community, visit the News Hub community section. Learn more about Life Remodeled and how you can help at LifeRemodeled.com.

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DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today named A.J. Hinch as the 39^th manager in franchise history, agreeing to terms on a multi-year contract.

“I’d like to thank Chris Ilitch and Al Avila for giving me a chance and the opportunity to get back in the dugout to lead this historic ballclub,” said Hinch. “The last year was the most difficult of my life. It gave me time to reflect, which was such a big part of this process. Everything that has transpired over the past year, personally and professionally, has put so much in perspective for me, and re-enforced how important it is to do things with integrity and honesty.”

“My feelings towards baseball are the same that so many Detroiters have for this team. Through thick and thin you always care about it and rely on it to be there as a part of your life, and I’m so proud to play a role in growing that tradition here with the Tigers. Having a talented young core of players, dedicated leadership group and passionate fan base was exactly what I was looking for in a team, and it’s clear we have that here in Detroit. It’s time to start playing winning baseball, and I am confident this organization is positioned to make that happen.”

Over seven years as a Major League manager, Hinch has posted a combined 570-452 record, leading Arizona from 2009-10 and Houston from 2015-19. Under his leadership, the Astros reached the playoffs four times in five seasons, won a pair of American League Pennants and one World Series Championship. Houston made the playoffs in his first year as manager, snapping a nine-year playoff drought and rebounding from a 70-92 record the prior season. Hinch was out of baseball for all of 2020, serving a suspension from Major League Baseball.

Hinch also had a seven-year playing career, suiting up for 350 games between Oakland (1998-2000), Kansas City (2001-02), Detroit (2003) and Philadelphia (2004). Over the course of his career the catcher hit .219/.280/.356 with 28 doubles, 32 home runs and 112 RBI. During his lone season in Detroit, Hinch played for then-manager and current Special Assistant to the General Manager, Alan Trammell, batting .203 (15×74) with three homers and 11 RBI over 27 games.

Between his managerial posts in Arizona and Houston, Hinch worked in San Diego’s front office serving as the Vice President of Scouting and Assistant General Manager from 2011-14. In that role he oversaw all aspects of the club’s professional scouting and medical departments, while assisting with the club’s roster composition, player acquisitions, talent evaluations and contract negotiations. Following his retirement as a player in 2005, Hinch joined the Diamondbacks front office and was eventually named the club’s Director of Player Development, a position he held until being named manager in 2009.

“Coming into this managerial search we already knew that A.J.’s diverse baseball acumen, knowledge of analytics and passion for the game were second to none,” said Al Avila, Detroit Tigers Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager. “However, we also knew there were some important conversations to have about A.J.’s time in Houston. Throughout that dialogue he was clearly remorseful and used that time to reflect on the situation, and we believe he will emerge as a better leader because of it. This ballclub is entering an extremely exciting period, with young players primed and ready to make an impact at the Major League level. I’m confident A.J. is the best man for this job as we strive to bring a World Series Championship back to the city of Detroit.”

“On behalf of all of us with the Tigers, I’d like to welcome A.J. and his family back to the Detroit community,” said Christopher Ilitch, Detroit Tigers Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Throughout the interview process it was clear that A.J. had learned from his situation in recent months, and it has changed him in profound ways. Quite frankly, it’s exactly what we wanted and needed to hear. A.J. provides a wealth of knowledge and experience, and we’re proud to have him lead our team. Additionally, I’d like to commend Al Avila and his staff on conducting a thorough and professional search process and know that they landed on the right person to be our manager. Tigers fans have high expectations for their baseball team, and all of us in the organization are confident that today’s announcement is a big step towards returning to the on-field success they deserve.”

Hinch, 46, is a native of Midwest City, OK, and was a collegiate standout at Stanford University. Established as one of the best catchers in the country, Hinch was a three-time All-American and All-Pac10 team selection, and two-time Pac10 Player of the Year. He led the Cardinal to the College World Series in 1996 and finished the season as a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. During his time in Palo Alto, Hinch earned his Bachelor of Science in psychology in 1996 and was a member of the 1996 bronze medal-winning U.S. Olympic Baseball Team. He was drafted three times as an amateur, eventually signing with Oakland after being selected in the third round of the 1996 MLB Draft.

A.J. and his wife, Erin, make their residence in The Woodlands, TX, with their daughters Haley and Kaitlin.

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This Halloween, Little Caesars has a fun way for customers to connect with their favorite pizza chain and its famous mascot. Pizza lovers who use a new spooky Instagram filter and post to their account tagging @LittleCaesars and using the hashtags #SummonLittleCaesar and #Promotion will receive a free 2-liter of any Pepsi® product with an online Little Caesars pizza purchase.*

There’s just one trick to this treat – Instagram users must say, “Pizza! Pizza! … Pizza!” to summon Little Caesar to their phone.

“We are always looking for creative ways to engage with our passionate customers, and an Instagram filter that lets them interact with our Little Caesar mascot allows us to do just that,” said Jamie Pescia, Little Caesars creative director. “The added bonus is that by paying homage to his famous catch phrase, customers get a special Halloween treat.”

While this particular Instagram filter is new for Little Caesars, innovation is not – for decades, the family-owned company has been inventive when it comes to serving customers, including the introduction of the HOT-N-READY, the Little Caesars Pizza Portal and pizza-ordering app.

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United States Armed Forces veterans and active military selflessly serve for us all. As part of a long-standing tradition of giving back and honoring U.S. military men and women, Little Caesars® is offering all United States Armed Forces veterans and active military a free HOT-N-READY® Lunch Combo at participating stores nationwide this Veterans Day.

On Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., veterans and active military members can receive their free Lunch Combo, featuring four slices of Little Caesars popular Detroit-style DEEP!DEEP!™ Dish pizza, paired with a 20-ounce Pepsi product.

“All of us at Little Caesars are thankful to all of our veterans and members of the military for their service,” Dave Scrivano, Little Caesars President and CEO, said. “In addition to complimentary lunch on Veterans Day, our family-owned company remains committed to supporting these heroes every day with programs like the Little Caesars Veterans Program.”

The Little Caesars Veterans Program reflects the company’s strong belief and business philosophy that giving back and making a difference is something we can all do. Now in its 14th year, it provides honorably discharged veterans and Gold Star families financial incentives to open a Little Caesars franchise of their own. Today, hundreds of veteran-owned Little Caesars stores operate across the country. For more information about becoming a Little Caesars franchisee, visit Franchise.LittleCaesars.com.

“As an organization we believe that our veterans, the men and women who have given so much to serve our country, should return home with business prospects to help them achieve their hopes and dreams,” Jeff Klein, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing for Little Caesars, said. “So, we created a program to honor veterans and provide them with an opportunity to become business owners.”

There is no coupon required to redeem the free HOT-N-READY® Lunch Combo offer. Veterans and military personnel must present proof of service, such as ID card with veteran designation, DD-214 form or current military-issued ID card. Visit LittleCaesars.com for terms and conditions.

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Zarah Karapetyan-Broglin believes every building has a story to tell. As vice president of construction for Olympia Development of Michigan, Zarah and her dedicated team oversee the construction of new buildings such as 2715 Woodward, and the revitalization of such beloved historic Detroit buildings as Women’s City Club and the former Hotel Eddystone.

Along with a passion for historic buildings and a strong commitment to revitalization, Zarah’s path to Detroit gives her a particular perspective in helping to build the city’s future in keeping with Olympia Development’s commitment to historic renovation.

Zarah was born in Armenia to well-educated parents who believed strongly in the importance of higher learning. Zarah excelled academically and, as a teenager, earned her bachelor’s degree in water resource engineering from the Armenian Agricultural Academy.

At age 19, Zarah was offered a scholarship to study for a master’s degree in the United States. She left her family in Armenia and came alone to Athens, Ga. in 1999. She later moved to Virginia, where she earned her Master of Science in water resources engineering from Virginia Tech. After earning her second master’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, Zarah accepted a job with construction manager Barton Malow in Charlottesville, Va.

Around this time, Zarah visited downtown Detroit for the first time.

“I fell in love instantly,” Zarah said. “I’ve always been passionate about historic buildings. Detroit had it all — the variety of the buildings, the condition of the buildings, and of course the amazing architecture that comes with it.”

“My team members all have different backgrounds of construction, architecture and urban planning, which is a great combination. We also work great together — that synergy makes us successful,” Zarah said. “Now working on the buildings that I always thought would be wonderful to work on — that’s a dream come true.”

Learn more about Zarah and the passion she brings to work daily in the video below.

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