Nicole Sherard-Freeman Takes Over as Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan New President as Ric DeVore Retires

Nicole Sherard-Freeman, a powerhouse with 30 years of tri-sector experience, will step into her role as President of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan in January 2025. Her journey spans corporate, nonprofit, government, and philanthropic sectors, making her uniquely qualified to lead one of the top community foundations in the nation. This appointment comes on the heels of her significant work as the foundation’s Chief Operating Officer since July 2023, during which she has overseen nearly every aspect of the foundation’s operations, including its $1 billion public charitable endowment. Sherard-Freeman’s track record is one of transformational leadership and innovation. Before joining the Community Foundation, she made waves in Detroit as the chief economic and workforce development officer for Mayor Mike Duggan. In that role, she directed an overhaul of the city’s workforce system, managing over $100 million in federal, state, city, corporate, and philanthropic funding. Her leadership saw Detroit’s economic development efforts secure more than $5 billion in real estate development, place over 40,000 adults into jobs, and ensure more than 70,000 youth received summer employment opportunities. As the president and CEO of Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, she doubled its revenue in four years while reducing reliance on federal funding...