Investors

Partners form an integral part of the MGM Grand Detroit story

Partners in MGM Grand Detroit are important to the success and viability of the operation, having invested in the casino with both their resources and their reputations.

The partners are owners of a separate corporation - Partners Detroit, LLC - which is itself in partnership with MGM Grand Detroit LLC. They include:

Joe Davis 
(original partner, deceased January 24, 2012)

A native of Detroit, a labor leader, community leader and civil rights activist, Davis is a life member and trustee of the NAACP, a national board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and a national board member and trustee of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. Davis is a graduate of Northwestern High School and served in the U.S. Army. He attended Wayne State University before joining Chrysler and becoming active with the United Auto Workers. He recently retired as director of the National UAW Civil Rights Department.

Jane C. Garcia

A native of Detroit and community partnership specialist with the U.S. Bureau of the Census, Garcia began her career as a teacher's aide in social work with the Detroit Board of Education. She is active in the community and serves on the Board of Directors of New Detroit, Inc., United Way Community Services and several other organizations. In 1994, Garcia was named "Woman of the Year" by the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation. She was named to the International Heritage Hall of Fame in 1991, and has received numerous awards and honors for her work in the Hispanic community.

Anthony S. Gramer

A resident of Bloomfield Hills, Mr. Gramer is head of Gramer Company, LLC, a private investment company. Prior to forming his own investment company, he owned a real estate development and management company specializing in the development of shopping centers, which in 1994 was placed on the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. Gramer served as CEO and President of the public company until his departure in June, 2000. He has also held various officer positions with companies in the mortgage banking industry. He has been a member of several professional organizations, including the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, International Council of Shopping Centers, Urban Land Institute and National Council for Urban Economic Development. Mr. Gramer acts as co-managing partner for the partners group and serves on the Board of Directors and the Charitable Contributions Committee.

Arthur L. Johnson
(original partner, deceased November 1, 2011)

A resident of Detroit, Johnson retired as vice president for university relations and professor of educational sociology, Wayne State University, in 1995. Johnson was president of the Detroit branch of the NAACP 1987-1993, and is a member of several community organizations, including the Detroit Science Center, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Public Television and the Detroit Institute of Arts. He has received numerous awards for his work in the Detroit community, including induction in the International Hall of Fame. He has been presented with the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce Summit Award and the Greater Detroit Interfaith Roundtable National Human Relations Award.

Edward J. Littlejohn

Littlejohn is a Detroit resident and Professor of Law Emeritus, Wayne State University. He was professor of law at Wayne State from 1972 to 1996 and was a professor at the Detroit College of Law from 1970 to 1972. Littlejohn earned his Juris Doctorate from the Detroit College of Law, and master and doctorate of law degrees from Columbia University Law School. He has served in numerous civic and professional capacities, including the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners and the Chair of the Detroit Board of Ethics. He is the founder of the Damon J. Keith Law Collection and Archive, and, in 1996, Littlejohn received the champion of Justice Award from the State Bar of Michigan.

William F. Pickard, Ph.D.

A successful businessman in the metropolitan Detroit area for more than 20 years, currently the chairman and chief executive officer of the GlobalAutomotiveAlliance. Committed to community and civic involvement, Dr. Pickard serves as a member of the Board of Directors for numerous organizations such as Malan Realty; Michigan National Bank Corporation, Detroit Renaissance, Detroit Investment Fund, and is a Trustee at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, just to name a few. He is also a member of the Detroit Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). President Ronald Reagan nominated and the Senate confirmed William F. Pickard as the first chairman of the African Development Foundation (ADF) in 1982. In March 1990, at the recommendation of Secretary Jack Kemp, President George Bush appointed Dr. Pickard to the Federal Home Loan Bank Board - Indianapolis Bank, Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition, President Bush appointed him to The National Advisory Committee on Trade Policy Negotiations in 1991. Dr. Pickard acts as co-managing partner for the partners group.

Roy S. Roberts

A resident of Bloomfield Hills, Roberts retired as Group Vice President for North American Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing for General Motors in April 2000 after 23 years of service. Throughout his tenure at GM, Roberts oversaw several major projects including the merger of the Pontiac and GMC divisions. Roberts has received recognition as "Executive of the Year" by Black Enterprise magazine, "Executive of the Year" by African Americans on Wheels magazine, and as a member of the 1997 All Star Team of the Automotive Industry by Automotive News. Roberts currently serves as Executive Vice President for the National Board of Directors for the Boy Scouts of America and is a member of the National Board of the College Fund/UNCF.

Myzell Sowell 
(original partner, deceased July 31, 2009)

A resident of Southfield and an attorney, Sowell is senior partner in the law firm Sowell and Evelyn. He is a graduate of the Detroit College of Law, and is active in legal and community affairs. He is a founder and sponsor of the Black Law Student Scholarship Fund, a life member of the NAACP and participated in the march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. Sowell has been widely honored and recognized for his community involvement. In 1997, he was given the Champion of Justice Award from the State Bar of Michigan.

Sandra K. Steinberg

Sandra Steinberg is the middle daughter of one of the original partners, Martha Jean "The Queen" Steinberg who passed away on January 29, 2000. Steinberg retired from The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 1997 after 22 years as a Registered Nurse. She graduated from Wayne County Community College (Detroit) and later from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. She is a member of several professional societies, including The National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), The Michigan Nurses Association, and Chi Eta Phi (Professional Black Nurses) Sorority, Inc. She is also a member of the Detroit branch of the NAACP. Steinberg is co-owner of "The Queen's" Broadcasting Corporation - WQBH Radio, Detroit's only community service radio station. She has been a dedicated contributor to the new Memphis & Shelby County Library. She also holds memberships in The Detroit Historical Museum and Society, The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), The (Charles H. Wright) Museum of African American History, and "The Queen's" Community Workers.

Lorna Lacen Thomas, M.D.

Dr. Thomas is a resident of Detroit, physician and member of the staff of Sinai-Grace Hospital. She attended the University of Michigan Medical School, where she received clinical honors in a number of fields of study. She is a member of several professional societies, including the American Medical Association, Michigan State Medical Society and Wayne County Medical Society. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and Secretary-Treasurer of the Michigan Dermatological Society. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Detroit Medical Center, Detroit Receiving Hospital, OmniCare Health Plan and the New Center Area Council.