Professional internships have the power to shape a student’s future career by providing work experience beyond what can be taught in a classroom. Since 2015, the Ilitch companies have partnered with Detroit Public School’s Cass Technical High School on a paid internship program for juniors and seniors, with about 125 students participating to date.

The Ilitch companies internship program provides Cass Tech students with experience at Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, Little Caesars, Olympia Development and Ilitch Holdings. The students work on business projects throughout the summer in areas including event management, marketing, public relations, information technology, finance and human resources.

“Access to opportunity is a core value of our organization, and we are so proud of our long-standing internship program with Cass Technical High School,” said Rian Barnhill, Vice President, Community and Government Affairs at Olympia Development. “The student interns from Cass Tech are a direct reflection of the city of Detroit. They are smart and enterprising, and we look forward to having them year after year.”

This spring, 19 students are currently participating in the seven-week internship program, which includes enrichment opportunities such as meetings with company executives, professional workshops, networking opportunities, outings and tours.

One of the Detroit Public School Community District’s (DPSCD) strategic priorities is to dramatically improve the academic experience of all students to ensure they are college and career ready.

“This opportunity is a great example of how the District is partnering with local businesses and alumni to enhance career-focused training and essential skill development for students across multiple career pathways,” said Shawn Hill, Deputy Executive Director, DPSCD. “The experiences students gain from industry professionals can inspire them to positively impact their school, neighborhood, and city.”  

In addition to the real-world professional experience, the 2022 have interns have had some fun during only-at-Ilitch companies events. Recently, they were recognized before a Detroit Tigers game during an on-field ceremony at Comerica Park. They’ve also been able to connect with former Cass Tech interns to get advice and hear about how the internship was a building block for former interns’ careers.  

“I was very excited when I learned that I was selected for the internship, and it has been an incredible learning experience so far,” said Jecholiah Marriott, a Cass Tech senior currently working in the Ilitch Holdings, Inc. communications department. “Interning at the Ilitch organization has opened my eyes to a new world of future career opportunities, and I know it will be a strong addition to my college applications.”  

The Ilitch organization has a long-standing partnership with Detroit Public Schools Community District. For the past two years, Olympia Development has participated in innovative, hands-on educational programs such as Project Destined, which offered a real estate internship for high school students in the city of Detroit.

In the spring of 2022, the Ilitch organization and Detroit Public Schools came together for another opportunity for students with An Evening of Fine Arts. More than 200 Detroit middle and high school from DPSCD’s fine and performing arts departments got the chance to perform on stage at the historic Fox Theatre.

Learn more about the Cass Tech High School internship program and this year’s talented participants in this video:

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Little Caesars Pizza, the third largest pizza chain in the world*, is growing its presence in Colombia with its first restaurants in Cali. The global brand—which is based in Detroit, Michigan and currently operates in 27 countries and territories—will open a store located at Av Roosevelt and 37 in Cali on August 16, with plans to open more locations in the city over the next few years.

“LCPZ Colombia is a proven franchisee not only in Colombia but throughout Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, and we’re thrilled to expand our brand with them in Cali,” said Jeremy Vitaro, Little Caesars chief development officer. “Colombia is a key market for us in Latin America, especially as the pizza market continues to grow in that region. We have a strong presence in Bogotá, and it only made sense to develop next in one of Colombia’s largest cities, where we now can offer our signature, high-quality pizza at a great price.”

This announcement marks the second anniversary of Little Caesars Pizza in Colombia. The chain opened there in 2020 with two stores in Bogotá, and it now has nine locations across the country. Little Caesars aims to continue its expansion efforts with plans for double-digit store growth over the next four years.

“Since our launch in Colombia, we’ve served an estimated 1.3 million pizzas to more than 1 million people and created over 300 employment opportunities for Colombian citizens,” said Jaime Press, country manager for franchisee LCPZ in Colombia. “We look forward to serving more communities across Colombia with our recognized value, quality and convenience as we expand our footprint.”

Little Caesars Pizza is the only pizzeria to offer its signature HOT-N-READY® model in Colombia, giving customers the easy and quick option to simply stop in and carry out a selection of freshly made, great-tasting pizzas and side items at an affordable price without waiting or ordering ahead. Additionally, the stores in Bogotá located at Calle 170, Av. El Dorado and Madelena feature a drive-thru where customers can purchase HOT-N-READY® menu items without leaving their cars.  

The menu in the Cali store will feature favorites from the other Colombian locations, including pepperoni and cheese HOT-N-READY® pizzas. To celebrate its grand opening, for a limited time, the Cali store will also offer the EXTRA!EXTRA! pizza, which features half with extra pepperoni and the other with extra signature cheeses. Other delicious offerings include the 4-N-1 pizza, which has four unique and delicious topping combinations: cheese; pepperoni; pepperoni and Italian sausage; and pepperoni, green pepper and ham. Little Caesars signature Crazy Bread® and Crazy Puffs will also be available. All pizzas on the menu are large, 35 cm.

Little Caesars Pizza has increased its international presence by recently opening restaurants in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Canada, the Caribbean, and Asia Pacific. Over the last few years, the chain has opened stores in Spain, Singapore, Chile, Peru and many others. It has plans to enter the United Kingdom and Portugal later this year.

With aggressive plans to continue growth throughout the world, Little Caesars Pizza is actively seeking entrepreneurs, focusing specifically on markets in South America, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Visit International.LittleCaesars.com for more information about franchising opportunities.  

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The Little Caesars Love Kitchen, a big rig pizza kitchen on wheels, partnered with the Special Olympics’ Unified Cup Detroit 2022 to provide fresh pizza meals to approximately 800 of its athletes, volunteers, and staff. The serving took place during the Men’s & Women’s Division One Championship Match at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, Michigan.

“Little Caesars is proud to help support the Special Olympics,” said Greg Hamilton, senior vice president of marketing at Little Caesars. “The Unified Cup is such an exciting event, and we’re excited to serve Little Caesars pizza to athletes from all over the world competing in the championship finals.”

The Little Caesars Love Kitchen has served nearly 4 million people in the 48 contiguous states and four Canadian provinces. It has responded to natural disasters, including the northern Michigan tornado in May 2022, as well as during national times of need, such as providing meals to first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Established by Little Caesars in 1985, the Love Kitchen exemplifies Little Caesars’ strong tradition of giving back to the community.

“Little Caesars is always looking for a way to make a difference,” said David Scrivano, president and CEO of Little Caesars. “Whether the Love Kitchen is serving the less fortunate, responding to a disaster, or celebrating the global community of athletes competing in the Unified Cup, we are committed to continuously building on our legacy of serving others and supporting our communities.

Local Little Caesars franchise owners and company regional offices donate all food and labor costs for the Love Kitchen servings. An estimated 50,000 Little Caesars franchise owners and employees have volunteered their time over the years to support the program in their local communities.  

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Colleagues from across the Ilitch companies gathered at Detroit’s iconic Fox Theatre for an inspiring afternoon of reconnection with one another, updates from across the exciting, dynamic and growing businesses, and, of course, a lot of fun. Hosted by Chris Ilitch, President and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., the Connect 2022: Ilitch All-Company Meeting featured engaging presentations from Ilitch company leaders and a special appearance from co-founder Marian Ilitch.

“Our colleagues are the heart and soul of our organization, and they’re the best in the business. We work together, support one another, and collaborate every day – and we are better and stronger because of it,” said Chris Ilitch, President and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. “I am grateful to be able to lead this remarkable collection of people, and excited to bring everyone together to celebrate our collective successes and the positive impact our companies make in the communities in which we operate.”

Leaders representing each Ilitch company enthusiastically shared business updates, news from their respective companies and countless examples of how colleagues give back to the local community, support one another and go above and beyond to give guests and customers memorable experiences. Interactive games and giveaways kept the audience lively and engaged, with cheers and laughs echoing throughout the theatre.

The event also provided the opportunity to celebrate a significant milestone – the first ever Ilitch company colleague to reach 50 years of service in the history of 60+ years in business, David Agius. During the past five decades, Agius has been a part of incredible company milestones, including four Stanley Cup wins by the Detroit Red Wings, five MLB playoff appearances by the Detroit Tigers, the construction of both Little Caesars Arena and Comerica Park and national and international growth of Little Caesars. Agius also played a key role in initiatives that positively impacted the community, from Ilitch Charities to Little Caesars Amateur Hockey. Many of Agius’ colleagues, friends and family shared heartfelt stories about just how much he had impacted their lives, including Marian Ilitch, Chris Ilitch, Lisa Ilitch Murray, Steve Yzerman, Kris Draper, David’s sister Donna and several other long-time colleagues.

“Beyond what you’ve done, David, it’s how you’ve done it. You’ve been so much more than a colleague to our family and our organization – you’ve been a friend,” said Chris Ilitch. “You embody our values in your work every day through your loyalty, your dedication, your humility, and your desire to make a positive impact not just on our businesses but on our community.”

Following the Connect 2022 program at the Fox Theatre, the event opened to the adjacent Columbia Street for food and beverage, live entertainment from Detroit native band, Killer Flamingos, games, prizes and perhaps most importantly, personal connection with fellow colleagues.

Current and future tenants of The District Detroit – Union Assembly, Frita Batido’s, Basan, JoJo’s ShakeBAR and Sahara – offered incredible tastes from their menus. Not only were the items delicious, they were also beautiful, and throughout the event guests were seen snapping photos of their share-worthy dishes. Additionally, the reception featured a raffle with prizes from other tenants such as The M-Den, Detroit House of Comedy and many more.

“The energy on Columbia Street was amazing, and we loved being able to interact with more than a thousand people who work right here in the area and share a little taste of our menu,” said Chef Eric Lees of Basan, which is slated to open this year in the Eddystone. “It got us even more excited about the upcoming opening of our restaurant!”

For some colleagues new to the organization, the event marked the first time that they met peers from other Ilitch companies in person. “Being in my hometown and having people from all the companies together under one roof was very cool. I wasn’t familiar with all of the companies prior, so to see firsthand how the businesses operates together was really interesting,” said Shawn Pittman, Jr., Ilitch Sports + Entertainment Inside Ticket Sales Account Executive. “There was so much good food, live music and it was great to mingle with colleagues who I’ve never met.”

In addition to the presenters on stage, dozens of colleagues across an array of departments worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring the event to life. A core team led by Anna Murawski, Director of Marketing, Ilitch Holdings, included Tony Serra, Director of Fox Theatre Operations; Rob Kohn, Executive Producer, Ilitch Holdings; Michelle Bartos, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment; and Brett Yates, Vice President of Human Resources, Little Caesar Enterprises. Colleagues from Communications, Human Resources, Operations, Security, Legal, Accounting, Corporate Sponsorships, Community Relations, Finance, Ticket Sales, Guest Relations and Cass Tech interns all played roles and provided support along the way.

Chris Ilitch recognized the time and dedication invested in making Connect 2022 a resounding success. “An event of this caliber requires the talent, hard work and contributions of many, as well as partnership across our companies. I want to extend my gratitude to everyone involved for accomplishing something unforgettable together. You’re truly the best of the best!”

A special thank you to the colleagues whose hard work and talent made the event a success, including: Anita Klopfenstein, Anna Kinnison, Anna Murawski, Audrey Gamble, Brett McWethy, Brett Yates, Brian Oldani, Bruce Dall, Carly Somers, Carol Toloff, Cassidy Shackelford, Chris McGowan, Cooper Abrams, Dan Vormelker, Dave Scrivano, Doug Kuiper, Ed Gleich, Ed Saenz, Frank Falco, Gabe Callery, Hannah Sickmiller, Haydon Dotson, Henry Boyer, Howard Handler, Ian Studders, Ian Tennenbaum, Jamie Langdon, Jecholiah Marriott, Jennifer Tompos, Jill Proctor,Joely Stevens, John Policicchio, Johnny Jackson, Jordan Collins, Jordan Payne, Josh Sanborn, Katy Gaertner, Keith Bradford, Kim Klein, Kyla Wright, Kyle Gustafson, Kylii Taha-Marks, Lara Zade, Lindsey Gunsorek, Lisa Elkin, Maddie Wojcik, Marc Hill, Marcel Parent, Marvin Wright, Meagan Spurr, Michele Bartos, Mike Harris, Paula Vissing, Phil Novak, Ray Johnson, Rebecca Smith, Rick Fenton, Rob Carr, Rob Kohn, Ron Colangelo, Ryan Harding, Sa’Mia Walker, Sandy Richmond, Shawn Pittman, Stan Berenbaum, Steve Yzerman, Taylor Jackson, Theo Piccirilli, Todd Beam, Tony Serra, Triston Wyer…and many more!

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The Detroit Tigers today announced they have parted ways with Executive Vice President and General Manager Al Avila, effective immediately.  

“Once I decided to make a change, I sat down with Al and thanked him for his nearly 22 years of service to our organization,” said Christopher Ilitch, Detroit Tigers Chairman and CEO. “Al’s loyalty and dedication has served as an example to all during his time as a leader in our baseball operations department.

“I will oversee the search process for our next baseball operations leader, in collaboration with several members of our baseball and business operations executive teams.

“I want to re-establish our momentum and progress towards building a winning team and I am driven to find a talented executive to help us do that. They’ll be entering an organization with many foundational elements in place and an exciting path forward. Tigers fans deserve winning teams, and I’m highly focused and committed to deliver that to the people of Detroit and Michigan. With new baseball operations leadership will come a fresh perspective toward evolving our roster and maximizing our talent to reach our objectives. To be clear, our goals are to build a team that wins on a sustainable basis, qualifies for the playoffs, and ultimately wins the World Series.”

Ilitch will meet with the media today at a 5:15 p.m. press conference in interview room one at Comerica Park. Until a new leader is hired, all Tigers baseball operations departments will continue operating as they have. Sam Menzin, Vice President and Assistant General Manager will continue as the day-to-day point of contact for the Major League team.

Avila was named Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager by Mike Ilitch on August 4, 2015, after initially joining the organization in 2002 as Assistant General Manager.

“For nearly 22 years, I have given my heart and soul to this franchise, and I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Ilitch, along with Chris, for the opportunity and treating me and my family as their own,” said Avila. “We’ve celebrated successes and enjoyed great moments, and I’m proud to have worked with so many talented people in baseball operations and throughout the organization. I’ll cherish our friendships and the successes we all celebrated together. To Tigers fans, you’re the best and you deserve a winner. I wish the results would have been better this season but know there is a lot to look forward to in the coming years. God Bless everyone.”

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To recognize and honor the contributions of Latino players and coaches to the game of baseball, the Detroit Tigers are proud to host the 17th annual ¡Fiesta Tigres! celebration, presented by Miller Lite, at Comerica Park on Friday, Aug. 19. The Tigers will host the Los Angeles Angels at 7:10 p.m., with tickets currently available at tigers.com/tickets.  

Gates will open at 5 p.m., and the first 10,000 fans will receive a ¡Fiesta Tigres! hat, courtesy of Miller Lite. To celebrate the rich contributions of Latinos to the game of baseball, the Comerica Park concourse will be decorated with banners saluting current Latino Tigers players, and flags representing the home countries of all Major League Baseball players of Latin American descent.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy music and dancing on the Comerica Park concourse that celebrates Latin American culture. Detroit minority-owned restaurant Shell Shock’d Tacos will be selling “Detroit’s finest tacos” all weekend long.

The Tigers will hold a pregame ceremony to honor the club’s current Latin American players and coaches, and celebrate Cuban native Barbaro Garbey, who played on the Tigers’ 1984 World Series championship team,  The parade of flags will be led by youth baseball players from Southwest Detroit.

“We’re excited to celebrate Fiesta Tigres with our fans, current and former players and coaches of Latin American descent, and Latinos throughout our community,” said Chris McGowan, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “We encourage fans to arrive at the ballpark early to enjoy the atmosphere and join us in honoring some of the legendary names and countries that are so engrained in Detroit Tigers and Major League Baseball history.”  

The festivities will begin with the 9th annual ¡Fiesta Tigres! Luncheon, a private event the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 19. Garbey and Pedro Sierra, a former Negro Leagues and Cuban-born player, will be the luncheon’s special guests.

For the first time, the ¡Fiesta Tigres! game will be broadcast in Spanish. Tigers Media Relations Bilingual Coordinator Carlos Guillen and broadcaster, journalist and writer Mari Motes will have the call on WSDS La Explosiva 1480 AM. The station’s general manager, Alex Resendez, will lead the in-park pregame announcements and player introductions in Spanish.

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On August 6, Lou Whitaker became just the eighth player in Detroit Tigers history to have his uniform number retired. During a pre-game ceremony at Comerica Park, with his family in attendance, Whitaker’s No. 1 was revealed in center field. Tigers players and coaches also wore a Lou Whitaker number retirement patch on the left sleeve of their uniform for the game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The ceremony in Comerica Park wrapped up 3 days of celebrations including a private Lou Whitaker Legend Dinner on Wednesday, August 3 with Willie Horton, Lance Parrish, and Alan Trammell all in attendance. A Fan Q&A with Whitaker, sponsored by Bally Sports Detroit’s Trevor Thompson, was held on Friday, August 5.

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For more than 50 years, family-run Bert’s Entertainment Complex in Eastern Market has served incredible food and drinks, hosted live entertainment, and preserved black history in Detroit. This summer, the Bert’s team brought their mouthwatering barbeque and vibrant energy to a new location: Comerica Park. Beginning with a presence during the Detroit Tigers 20^th annual Negro Leagues Weekend celebration this June, the establishment has been back for multiple homestands and will continue to serve at Comerica Park on weekends throughout the remainder of the season.

Founded by Detroiter Bert Dearing Jr., Bert’s has been in the Dearing family for four generations and is a staple in the Eastern Market community. And while Bert’s popular, multifaceted businesses keep them busy, CEO Jai-Lee Dearing said they simply could not pass up the opportunity to come to Comerica Park.

“When I got the call about bringing Bert’s to Tigers games, it was very exciting – I had butterflies! Being in the ballpark is such a great experience and we’ve had so much support from people,” said Dearing. “Folks know and trust the name Bert’s for value and quality, so it just fits that they can relax and enjoy our food while they’re watching America’s favorite pastime.”

In addition to connecting with longtime Bert’s patrons in a new location, the presence at Comerica Park allowed Bert’s to reach new customers and support other local suppliers in the process. The gameday menu features traditional barbecue classics such as ribs, burgers and Kick’n Chicken Sausage from Detroit brand Safari Meats. “It is important to take this opportunity to support another African-American owned business and introduce people to a product they may not otherwise know about,” said Dearing.

Comerica Park guests have enthusiastically welcomed Bert’s, with people lined up to get a taste of their food and interact with the friendly and engaging staff. “I think it’s amazing that the Tigers and Comerica Park are supporting local businesses,” said Laura Tokie, a lifelong Tigers fan from Ortonville, Michigan. “It’s great they are offering variety, and I hope they keep doing this!”

The Bert’s presence at Comerica Park is part of a dedicated effort to support Detroit-based, minority-owned businesses through various activations in The District Detroit.

“Providing businesses like Bert’s – gems in our community with an important history in the city – access to thousands of hungry Tigers fans is an opportunity that we’re proud to offer,” said Chris McGowan, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “And Comerica Park guests are delighted to connect with iconic Detroit brands while they’re here for a game.”

In partnership with Delaware North, which operates concessions at Comerica Park, there are plans to welcome several other black-owned businesses throughout the season including local favorite Shell Shock’d Tacos, which has already been at recent Tigers home games, and upcoming pop-ups from Breadless and YumVillage.

“As we continue to develop The District Detroit, one of our core values is to create an inclusive environment,” said Keith Bradford, President of Olympia Development and The District Detroit. “We are excited to build meaningful, long-lasting relationships with Detroit businesses and at the same time provide our fans a taste of Detroit.”

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Accomplished chef Eric Lees has recently joined the team at Detroit’s Four Man Ladder as the Executive Chef of Basan, the highly-anticipated restaurant opening later this year inside of the Eddystone. Lees has 20 years of diverse culinary experience under his belt, including tenure at Quince in Evanston alongside Chef Joe Giacomino, followed by work with both Chef Giacomino and Chef John Vermiglio at Matthias Merges’ Yusho and A10 Hyde Park, and most recently, five years as executive chef at Michelin-starred Spiaggia in Chicago.

Now, Lees, Giacomino and Vermiglio are back together bringing a unique menu with Japanese influence right here in the D.

“We’ve been aware of Eric’s tremendous talent since we first worked with him in Chicago. That paired with his contagious energy and positivity make him the perfect fit for our hospitality team here in Detroit. We’re thrilled to have him spearheading the kitchen at Basan,” said Giacomino.

Lees, a Minnesota native, has traveled the world cooking and exploring, with notable stops in Alaska, Italy and Japan. He describes his cooking style as “simple and technique driven” and has a special spot in his heart for cooking seafood as it’s a labor of love and care.

Lees says that guests of Basan will experience cutting edge food, drinks and service. “The food is going to be simple, yet edgy: flavors you have never had before,” said Lees.

Basan, located in the newly restored Eddystone, will feature staple drinks and dishes, in addition to continual evolution and additions to the menu.

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