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Wealth

Jack Caminker is spending his retirement years
teaching businesses
to prosper in developing nations.

KIMBERLY UFTON STAFF WRITER

Jack Caminker with
plate from Egypt

Eve Caminker

olitical uncertainty in the Middle East
didn't stop Jack Caminker from giving
his input on plans for a time share on
the Egyptian west bank along the Red
Sea.
Nor was unfamiliarity with African
culture any reason for the retiree to pass up
an opportunity to help a company in Kenya de-
sign a feasibility study for vacant land.
"I always said that if the good Lord let me live
long enough to retire, I would retire from some-
thing to something else," said Mr. Caminker, of
West Bloomfield.
Last week, Mr. Caminker and his wife, Eve,
flew to Romania, where he will begin aiding a
fledgling hotel corporation in its plans to sell off
portions of the business owned by the former Com-
munist government.
"People have been telling me that Romania is
backward," Mr. Caminker said. "But I am going
there with a positive attitude."
Jack Caminker is among 13,000 business ex-
perts throughout the United States, 72 from
Michigan, who have been selected to be part of
a volunteer skills bank for the Stamford, Ct.-based
International Executive Service Corps (IESC),
a nonprofit organization that provides business
services to companies in developing nations.

The IESC, which operates on a $26.5 million
annual budget, is similar in concept to the U.S.
Peace Corps. However, it differs in that volun-
teers are not paid any stipends — just expenses
for housing, travel and food — and they already
are established in their professions.
IESC is primarily funded by the U.S. Agency
For International Development, which picks up
70 percent of program expenses. Private busi-
nesses, foundations and overseas clients con-
tribute about 30 percent of the funds.
"I am giving a little bit back to the communi-
ty," Mr. Caminker explained. "My mother used
to say that God gave us two hands — one to take
with and one to give with.
"We don't bring fish to the people," he said. 'We
teach them how to fish."
During his career, Mr. Caminker worked with
the Fisher/New Center company, which operat-
ed many ventures, including the Fisher Building,
1 Kennedy Square and the Ford Building.
He is a certified property manager, a licensed
real estate broker, and he has taught college
courses on these subjects. For IESC, he brings 40
years of experience in the real estate and asset
management profession.
The trip to Romania marks Mr. Caminker's

WEALTH page 40