LOUIS GLAZER:
 
LOUIS GLAZER




 
 
 
 
 
President and Co-Founder of Michigan Future Inc. in Ann Arbor. Michigan Future is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that strives to better position Michigan in a knowledge-driven economy. Its work is funded by Michigan foundations and includes reports chronicling the stateÕs transition. Glazer is heading efforts to organize leadership to implement a new agenda for a knowledge-based Michigan. Working in partnership with the Ferndale Public Schools and Lawrence Technological University, he has helped create University High School, designed to connect students to good-paying careers in the automotive industry. With Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit he is launching an innovative system for reducing chronic unemployment. Prior to Michigan Future, Glazer served as deputy director of the Michigan Department of Commerce during the Blanchard administration. He received a bachelorÕs degree in history and masterÕs degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan.


WHERE BORN: "Detroit."

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS: "Bill Ryan, the former speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, taught me more than anything else about patience and persistence, and if something is worth doing and worth working on for as long as it takes, how to not get down if it doesnÕt get accomplished quickly."

LAST BOOK READ: "The Option of Urbanism by Chris Leinberger."

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: "Social entrepreneur, someone whoÕs open to new ideas and new approaches and is willing to do the hard work to make that happen."

WHERE MY FIELD/INDUSTRY IS HEADED: "Michigan Future is a think tank, and what weÕre working on is helping the community be successful in a flattening world. ItÕs a relatively unique space. Where weÕre headed is to help figure out how we can get Michiganians to better align with new realities along the path to success Š instead of resisting the flattening of the world Š and to find better ways to be successful."

FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL GADGET: "At the moment, the Garmin GPS. I donÕt have to get lost again. It's terrific."

FAVORITE PLACE: "Santa Fe. They're right when they say 'land of enchantment.'"

FAVORITE HOBBIES: "Travel. I love to explore other places."

FAVORITE FOOD: "Lemon meringue pie, since I was a kid."

MY HIDDEN TALENT: "I'm pretty sure that people think of me as a big thinker, but I really enjoy Š at work and at home Š doing projects from beginning to end where I get to worry about the details and getting it right."

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED: "By having made a difference in the community. IÕve been driven since the 1960s, taking inspiration from the Kennedys, to contribute to making this a better place than how we found it."

Grant Thornton Website At the annual awards reception in April 2009, one Leader & Innovator from the previous 12 months will be selected as the Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.