Crain's Conversations

Sonya Mays is the President and CEO of Develop Detroit, a real estate and housing development company. Prior to that, she served as senior advisor to Detroit’s emergency manager, helping guide the city though its municipal bankruptcy. Through the years she’s been an investment banker, attorney, teacher and a member of the Detroit Public School’s Board of Education. We’re also joined by Amin Irving, the founder, president and CEO of Ginosko Development Company, a Novi-based company focused on affordable housing. Before that, he was a data analyst working for a Medicaid HMO. He’s also a recovering investment banker.

Our guest this week has spent over 40 years at Southfield-based apartment company Village Green. Diane Batayeh is one of only a half-dozen women in the top executive role among the largest apartment management companies in the country. As CEO, she oversees client services and property management of a $10 billion portfolio of about 43,000 apartments nationwide. She rose through the company’s ranks, starting out as a part-time leasing agent in 1980 while she attended the University of Michigan. Over the years, she’s worked in the company’s investment, development, finance and construction businesses, as well as in other roles in management.

Kevin Johnson is a leader in the world of economic development. He has 30 years of experience creating jobs and spearheading capital investment with stints in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina and Georgia. Johnson has been serving as the CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation since June 2018, and during that time, he has focused on access, inclusion and financial growth for Detroit businesses big and small. Most recently, he played an integral part in bringing Fiat Chrysler’s $4.5 billion plant investment to Detroit and, with it, thousands of jobs.