DETROIT ? Ed Deeb, who lead the Michigan Business and Professional Association and Michigan Food and Beverage Association for decades, has been replaced by Jennifer Kluge, who was chief operating offer of both organizations. Deeb is now Chairman, succeeding Lou Vescio, who has served in that position for several years.
A Detroit native, Deeb founded the MFBA in 1987, becoming chief spokesman and troubleshooter for the local food industry. In 1990, the MBPA evolved to allow people from all industries to be able to participate in association benefits and services. Throughout his career, Deeb has dedicated his life to improving the community and championing the cause of small business.
In addition to heading the largest business association in the state, Deeb is a lobbyist and serves in countless community leadership roles including: Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, United Way, Detroit Urban League, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Forgotten Harvest, New Detroit, NAACP, Eastern Market and International Institute Foundation of Metro Detroit. He has also served as a peacemaker in the food industry and Arabic and Chaldean communities, and is co-founder and coordinator of the annual Metro Detroit Youth Day, a 1990 Point of Light Award recipient. In 2002, the Detroit News honored him as Michiganian of the Year following a long list of local community awards.
Since being hired in 1999, Kluge has implemented numerous membership programs to assist small business, helping MBPA grow a third in size to become one of the largest trade associations in the Midwest. During her tenure, Kluge launched 30 new programs at the Associations and large scale events such as the 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, which runs in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Chicago and Atlanta. A registered lobbyist, she has worked tirelessly on behalf of businesses, advocating for legislative changes such as the repeal of the Michigan Business Tax.
Kluge received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Michigan State University in Human Resources and her Master?s in Business Administration from Loyola University (Chicago) in Strategic Management and Marketing.
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