This Women’s History Month, the Detroit Red Wings, in partnership with Comerica Bank, recognized and celebrated women in our community making a positive impact on the lives of young Detroiters in the areas of youth sports, education, and wellness.

Each honoree will be celebrated at Little Caesars Arena during the March 27 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets as well as having received a $1,000 grant dedicated to the charity of their choice from the Red Wings.

Manon Rhéaume — Little Caesars AAA Girls Program Coordinator

Manon is the Girls Program Coordinator for the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club and an ambassador for growing the game and inspiring female athletes across the world.

In 1992, and as goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Manon made history as the first and only female to play in one of the four major North American sports. She was also the first female to sign a contract to play professional hockey and had a six-year professional career in the minor leagues.

As a member of Team Canada, Manon also helped lead her team to two gold medals at the World Championship and a Silver Medal at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano – the first year women’s hockey was an official Olympics sport.

Courtney Smith — Founder and CEO, Detroit Phoenix Center

Courtney is the founder & CEO of the Detroit Phoenix Center, a high-impact nonprofit organization that provides critical resources, support, and a safe, nurturing environment for street connected children and youth. She was recently recognized by the Biden Administration for being a drum major for service and  has been dubbed a “modern-day history maker” by Essence Magazine.

An award-winning, social entrepreneur, Courtney has over a decade of experience as a social impact leader. Throughout her career in the nonprofit sector, she has served in numerous capacities, with a special emphasis on youth development. Courtney is a sought-after speaker who has traveled overseas to advocate for children’s and women’s rights. She is also a member of the Women’s Advisory Committee for Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence of Michigan’s 14th Congressional District, a board member for Hero Nation, was recently appointed to the Belle Isle Conservancy Community Engagement Committee and the THAW Power Forward Council.

Pamela Good — Co-Founder and CEO, Beyond Basics

Pamela is cofounder and CEO of Beyond Basics, a nonprofit dedicated to one-on-one reading intervention and holistic literacy enrichment programs for students and families in Metropolitan Detroit.

Beyond Basics is currently providing services to students attending 23 different school locations in Detroit, Taylor and Pontiac with the goal to bring the students they serve to grade level, proficient literacy.

Thus far, the organization has touched the lives of 90,000 children, published 75,000 student-written books, and was able to pivot to a virtual platform immediately after the on-set of COVID in March 2020.  

Amy Good — CEO, Alternatives For Girls

Amy has served as Alternatives For Girls’ CEO since 1988. Under her leadership, AFG has grown from a volunteer-led project to a full-service agency serving homeless and high-risk girls and young women, along with their families, through street outreach, emergency shelter, transition to independent living, and prevention services.

Because of her over 38 years in managing and directing human services programs for Detroit children and families, Amy has received numerous awards, including Oprah Winfrey’s “Use Your Life” award (accompanied by $100,000 for AFG’s capital campaign); the United Way Community Services “Executive Director of the Year” award; Leadership Detroit’s “Leadership Challenge” award; the National Council of Jewish Women Josephine S. Weiner Award for Community Service; and the University of Michigan School of Social Work Distinguished Alumni award in 2014.  In 2017, Alternatives For Girls was recognized by Crain’s as the “Best Managed Non-Profit.”

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MotorCity Casino Hotel has promoted John Policicchio, previously senior vice president of marketing, to general manager. In his new role, Policicchio will oversee casino and hotel operations, including gaming, hospitality, marketing, workforce management, human resources and information technology. He will also oversee the exploration of new growth opportunities.

Policicchio has held numerous marketing positions at MotorCity for more than a decade. He played a significant role in developing and implementing programs to enhance guest experience, including the popular Club Metro player loyalty program, the MYMotorCity app and the recent opening of the FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity Casino. He’s also overseen all marketing strategy and brand development, and has been integral in the execution of business development projects and partnerships.

“John has helped create unique and exciting offers and experiences for our MotorCity Casino guests,” Bruce Dall, president of MotorCity Casino Hotel, said. “With John’s background, talent and enthusiasm, and with his ability to develop strong business strategies, we will continue to innovate and provide our guests with the very best in high-energy gaming, dining and hospitality.”

A metro Detroit area native, Policicchio is a graduate of University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics.

“This is an exciting time in the casino industry,” said Policicchio. “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our world-class employees, we have a very bright future at MotorCity Casino Hotel. I am grateful to have been a part of this team for the past 11 years and look forward to continuing to deliver best in class experiences to our guests.”

MotorCity Casino Hotel recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary with more than 400 original employees still part of the team. Today, more than half of the casino’s employees are Detroit residents. It remains the city’s only locally owned and operated casino, home to world-class luxury hotel accommodations, spa facilities, fine dining, live performance venues, and high-energy gaming.

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Little Caesars, the global, family-owned pizza chain, has continued to grow over the past year by doing what it always has: providing wholesome, quality, affordable meals for families. And with new options for customers, like its delivery partnership with DoorDash or contactless pick-up, Little Caesars has hired tens of thousands of people nationwide to meet its growing demand. Now, Little Caesars is looking to grow its footprint in two major metropolitan areas: Tampa Bay, Fla. and New York.

The chain’s goals for the Tampa Bay market include 10 new restaurants by the close of this year, then continuing that growth momentum to reach 30 new Little Caesars locations in the area and its surrounding communities by 2024. Outside of Tampa, Little Caesars has big plans for growth across the entire state of Florida. Key markets being targeted for continued development in the state currently include Naples, Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville and Lake City.

“Bringing more franchise ownership opportunities to the Tampa Bay area has been a goal of ours for some time,” said Craig Sherwood, Vice President of U.S Development at Little Caesars. “Now that we’re the official pizza of the championship-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Raymond James Stadium, we can’t imagine a better time to double down on our commitment to bringing our proven pizza business model to aspiring entrepreneurs in this area.”

Little Caesars aims to also grow its New York metro presence with a goal set to sign on at least a dozen new franchise units in the market in 2021, including Long Island, Westchester, northern New Jersey and the five boroughs.

“New Yorkers know their pizza, making the metro area arguably one of the top pizza capitals of the world,” said Craig Sherwood, Vice President of U.S Development at Little Caesars. “Our great product, unique delivery system and small footprint model present numerous benefits to prospective franchise owners and their potential customers in this area, making this a key market for us to grow our presence in.”

The brand’s accessibility, quality products and affordability really set Little Caesars apart in the last year as one of the leading pizza franchises amidst the ongoing pandemic. The brand’s signature Pizza Portal® Pickup — the first heated, self-service mobile order pickup station in the restaurant industry — and its delivery service promise relevance and value at a cost-effective investment level for entrepreneurs.

Little Caesars franchising investments start at around $360,000, with additional incentive programs for both veterans and first responders. Interested prospects should visit Franchise.LittleCaesars.com for inquiries about opening a franchise.

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As the director, performance science for the Detroit Tigers, Dr. Georgia Giblin plays a key role in the use of technology and data in connection with player development.

The Tigers hired Georgia in 2019 as the franchise’s first director of performance science. An Australian expat, Georgia’s love of sports and science led her from her native Brisbane, where she earned her Ph.D. in biomechanics and skill acquisition from Victoria University, to her post-doctoral research at the University of Michigan. While at the University of Michigan, Georgia first worked with the Tigers to apply her research in maximizing performance and health.

“I want to see people reach their full potential,” Georgia said. “These young players who come into our organization, they have dreams of playing in the major leagues. The Detroit Tigers have been really good in investing in the technology that enables me to do my job. I want to, in turn, repay the players, and help them to do their job to the best of their ability.”

Georgia further states that she doesn’t see being a female as a barrier in her role. She cites the rise of prominent women in baseball, such as Kim Ng, the first female and Asian American general manager in the MLB, as proof that hard work can make your goals a reality. “I’ve always believed that, if I work hard enough and I’m smart enough, I can do it,” she said. “And here, with the Tigers, I’ve felt nothing but support.”

Learn more about Georgia and her role helping Detroit Tigers athletes succeed in the video below.

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The Detroit Tigers are thrilled to welcome back the best fans in baseball to Comerica Park for what will be an unforgettable Home Opener against the Central-Division rival Cleveland Indians on Thursday, April 1, at 1:10 p.m.

The latest epidemic order announced today by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services allows for select outdoor entertainment and recreational facilities, which operate under enhanced safety protocols, to operate at up to 20 percent capacity, or approximately 8,200 ticketed guests at Comerica Park. The Tigers have coordinated with public health and medical experts, government officials and Major League Baseball to develop a comprehensive plan that will allow fans to safely and confidently return.

Limited individual game tickets will available for purchase on Tigers.com beginning Thursday, March 25. Fans are encouraged to follow @Tigers social media channels for the most current information. Again, tickets will be limited, so fans should act early to reserve their seat for what will truly be a historic season. As an extended safety measure, all tickets will be mobile-only. Members of 1901 Society – the Tigers’ loyal season ticket membership group – will receive the first opportunity to attend games at Comerica Park.

“Tigers baseball is back, and we couldn’t be more excited to begin welcoming our great fans to Comerica Park again,” said Chris Granger, Group President, Sports & Entertainment, Ilitch Holdings, Inc. “Safety is our top priority, and we have developed and invested in a plan that allows us to confidently provide fans a safe and entertaining experience. We’ve missed our fans greatly and can’t wait to celebrate the start of the season with them, when the first pitch is thrown on Opening Day in Detroit.”

A comprehensive series of health and safety measures have been incorporated or enhanced at Comerica Park, including the following:

• All attendees will be required to complete a Gameday Wellness survey no more than 24 hours prior to entering Comerica Park.
• Facemasks will be mandatory at all times except when actively eating or drinking at a fan’s assigned seating location. Neck gaiters, bandanas and masks with valves are not permitted.
• All points of sale will require cashless payment methods. Reverse ATM’s will be installed at Comerica Park ahead of the Home Opener, and contactless parking can be reserved in advance through The District Detroit mobile app.
• Fans will be seated in pods with at least six feet of physical distance between other groups.
• Select concession locations will be open, and food & beverage items can be ordered via mobile phone for express pick-up.
• Physical distance signage and concourse decals have been installed to decrease contact near higher-traffic areas.
• Touchless hand sanitizer dispensers with CDC-recommended products are located through the Comerica Park concourse.
• Significant enhancements to cleanliness, disinfecting the venue to CDC standards including the use of UV-light technology.
• All bags, purses and clutches are now prohibited, with medical or diaper bags being the exceptions.

If capacity guidelines are expanded at any point during the 2021 season, the Tigers will be prepared to host additional fans, and increased single-game tickets will be made available.

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Willie O’Ree changed hockey forever on Jan. 18, 1958 when made his debut for the Boston Bruins as the first Black player in the NHL. In celebration of Black History Month and O’Ree’s impact on the sport, “Willie,” a documentary on the Hall-of-Fame player, was made available to more than 15,000 schools and youth sports organizations in the U.S. and Canada.

O’Ree, a descendant of escaped slaves, played 45 games in the NHL before spending 22 years in the minor league. He was 60 years old when he was asked to become the NHL’s diversity ambassador in 1994 — a position he holds to this day. A must-see film, “Willie” tells his journey and pursuit of opportunity. Historic in both its sweep and scope, it’s as relevant today as ever.

The film was accompanied by a turnkey educator’s guide and additional programming, all hosted on LessonsFromWillie.com, which can be used to spur meaningful conversations.

“Willie” will be available beyond the classroom, syndicated across 75 percent of the U.S., in partnership with Gray Television. It’ll also air nationally across Canada on TSN. The film will be available for streaming on NBC’s Peacock streaming service — free tier — and on Crackle in the U.S. and Crave in Canada.

This year, from Martin Luther King Jr. Day through February, all NHL players wore a custom helmet decal paying tribute to both Willie and Dr. King and the idea of celebrating equality.

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The Detroit Red Wings believe hockey is for everyone. Throughout the year, the team celebrates and elevates ongoing work to support diversity, equity and inclusion for children throughout its home state.

In keeping with year-round efforts to increase access and opportunities for under-represented audiences in hockey, the Red Wings, in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield, celebrated a local Black youth hockey player during each home game in February through its Youth Skater of the Game program.

Each young player got the chance to watch Red Wings players up close and personal during warmups prior to each game from the comfort of their home. This safe, remote experience has been made possible through a unique, telepresence experience located in the bench area, giving each kid a skaters’-eye view of the action.

Youth Skater of the Game is just one of the many programs the Red Wings and their partners execute on and off the ice. Last year, the Red Wings Foundation announced Learn, Play, Score. The Program, which is designed to increase hockey access for kids, is rooted in a commitment to build confidence in character, promote positive values and part enduring life skills to thousands of youth across Detroit.

Learn more at DetroitRedWings.com/Equality.

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In support of the Detroit NAACP Youth Council’s ongoing and critical work in the community, the Detroit Red Wings Foundation is selling a limited-edition Black History Month t-shirt, with proceeds from each purchase benefiting the Detroit NAACP Youth Council and the Detroit Red Wings Foundation to benefit Learn, Play, Score in Detroit.

The Detroit NAACP Youth Council has been at the forefront of youth leadership since its inception in the 1900’s. Home to the largest NAACP youth unit in the Midwest, the award-winning Detroit NAACP Youth Council continuously provides opportunities for young people to get involved in the fight for social justice advocacy.

Learn more about the Red Wings’ Black History Month programming at DetroitRedWings.com/Equality. Learn more about the Detroit NAACP Youth Council and how you can help at DetroitNAACP.org.

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Vissing will lead all domestic and international operations for the global pizza brand

Little Caesars Pizza, the global family-owned pizza chain, has announced that Paula Vissing, previously senior vice president of international, has been named chief operating officer. In the newly created role, Vissing will oversee all domestic and international operations during a period of incredible growth for the world’s third largest pizza brand.

“Paula has an impressive track record within the company and has successfully led our international division for the last five years, which continues to see record-breaking results year after year,” David Scrivano, president and CEO of Little Caesars, said. “I am thrilled to congratulate her on her new role as Chief Operating Officer. Paula is a highly respected and proven leader within Little Caesars and there is nobody better suited to oversee global operations.”

Vissing has been with Little Caesars since 2011. As the Senior Vice President of International, Vissing was responsible for all Little Caesars locations in more than two dozen countries and territories. Under her leadership, Little Caesars experienced the largest period of international growth in the company’s 60+ year history. Previously, Vissing was vice president of purchasing and quality assurance, where she led cost-saving and sourcing initiatives that supported Little Caesars growth in the U.S. Vissing has also led global supply chain expansion, enabling international development efforts across the globe.

“It is an exciting time for the company as we continue to experience exponential growth both in the U.S. and internationally, and I am honored to have the opportunity to oversee the global operations of Little Caesars,” Vissing said. “I look forward to continuing to work along with the Little Caesars leadership team, and organization as a whole, as we continue to bring great tasting, affordable pizza to families around the world.”

Vissing has more than 25 years’ experience in the restaurant industry providing strategic leadership for national brands. A Kentucky native, she received a B.S. in economics from the University of Louisville and an M.B.A. from the University of Kentucky.

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