A lifelong Detroiter and a community builder at large, Matt Lester will step up as the next President to serve Federation when his term begins in September 2020. An attorney with 25 years in real estate development and management, Matt is Founder and CEO of Princeton Enterprises, a company that has become a well-known name in Greater Detroit, while expanding property operations in fifteen states across the Midwest and Southeast.
Beyond the realm of business, Matt has turned his focus towards community development for nearly 20 years - as Federation’s Annual Campaign Chair and an Executive Board Member, as well as in service to numerous boards including the American Joint Distribution Committee, Jewish Senior Life, Kadima, The Jewish Fund, BBYO, Yad Ezra, Forgotten Harvest, Tamarack Camps, United Jewish Foundation, Project Healthy Community, Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Spare time? Matt manages to find it and cherish it with his family, Michigan football, traveling and the simple pleasures of farming on his property in northern Michigan.
“Be the change you want to see.” These are the words emblazoned in neon letters in Jim Bellinson’s office place at Riverstone Communities. These are the words Carolyn Bellinson turns into action every day in her role as President of Hebrew Free Loan. These are the words that speak volumes about the Bellinsons - their enterprise, hospitality and creativity, their longtime community leadership and philanthropy and, most recently, their vision in starting up Brilliant Detroit – a model for transforming Detroit’s high-need neighborhoods into community hubs dedicated to kids’ success in school and healthy stable families.