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The DEC and WJR’s 2025 Rising Stars Class will showcase a diverse group of young leaders who are making a significant impact in their industries and communities.
From June 23 to August 31, WJR will spotlight ten honorees and their contributions through interviews during “JR Afternoon with Chris Renwick.”
The 2025 Rising Stars campaign will culminate in a live Rising Star Recognition Event and broadcast in September.
Nomination Deadline: Friday, May 23, 2025, at 5:00 PM EDT.
Selection
After the committee reviews all nominations, honorees will be notified via email the week of June 16. They must promptly deliver items such as a headshot, bio, etc., to the DEC and WJR.
Expectations
Chris Renwick will interview honorees and discuss their contributions. The interviews will be recorded live, broadcast on “JR Afternoon with Chris Renwick,” and featured as a podcast. The phone interview will take place on Monday at 2:48 p.m. during the week designated to honor the honoree.
Honorees will be highlighted on the DEC and WJR’s social media platforms and Rising Stars webpages.
Class of 2021
Lester Booker Jr.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Jay Brown
John L Group
Liz Doerr
Meijer
Katie Gandy
Barton Malow
Alex Goldsmith
New City Kids Detroit
Adelaide Pascaris
ITC Holdings Corp.
Lisa Peppel
Adient
Angie Perkins
PNC Financial Services Group
Andrea Trudeau
Detroit Auto Dealers Association
Sarah Zigila
Orbis Holding Group
Class of 2022
Taylor Bagby
Barton Malow
Dr. Kristen Barnes-Holiday
Wayne County Community College District
Calvin Choi
KPMG LLP
Naera Haghnazarian
Eversource Energy
Amy Hallochak
Detroit Economic Club
Jon Randall
Stifel
Laura Reiners
Growth Works
Justin Remington
The Remington Group
Christina Toma
Ford Motor Company
Matt Zelman
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Class of 2023
Heidi Boyd
Michigan Humane
Steve Carey
Oswald Companies
Kristin Donnelly
Barton Malow
Dan Fayad
Megan Robinson
NBS Commercial Interiors
Derek Shinska
Hylant
Cezi Siotean
Health Alliance Plan
Aaron Sohaski
Henry Ford Health
Genna Young
General Motors
Mitchell Zajac
Butzel
Class of 2024
Brooke Adams
Life Remodeled
Jaylen Bradley
City of Detroit Mayor’s Office
Kylie Grinwald
Accenture
Autumn Hegner
USI Insurance Services
Dorian Hooker
AAA-The Auto Group
Devon O’Reilly
Detroit Regional Chamber
Mariam Ouazar
EY-Parthenon
Mark Rothschild
SmartSource
Andrew Szewc
Executive Wealth Management
Madeline Wyatt
The Remington Group
* Companies listed at the time of honor.