Photos by Brett Mountain

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Jeffrey Seller, Broadway (Hamilton) producer and Oak Park native

Vadim Avshalumov of Detroit, Adam Finkel of Bloomfield Hills and Perry Teicher of New York, organizers of a
reception for Jewish expats, with chanukiot created by Erik and Israel Nordin

Expats Come Home

Annual event attracts notable Detroiters back to the city.

Adam Finkel | Contributing Writer

W

hat do you call it when
hundreds of notable former
Detroiters return home for
two days of networking focused on the
future of the city? Detroit Homecoming,
of course.
The Detroit Homecoming launched two
years ago with an inaugural conference to
reconnect influential Detroit expatriates,
or “expats,” with their hometown commu-
nity. It featured around 100 expats, includ-
ing global philanthropist Eli Broad.
Highlights of that first event included
an address by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan
and a fireside chat between Dan Gilbert
and famed investor Warren Buffet discuss-
ing why Warren is bullish on Detroit’s
comeback.
That inaugural Homecoming was fol-
lowed by a fall conference in 2015 and
the most recent Homecoming, held Sept.
14-16.
These events over the years have
brought more than 450 expatriates —
executives, entrepreneurs and other lead-
ers — back to their hometown to explore
ways to invest, support and donate to the
city of Detroit.
Since 2014, more than 450 expatriates
have returned “home,” and over $240 mil-
lion in pending economic development
has resulted. Notable expat successes
include Will Adler, opening a new destina-

tion retail store in Midtown Detroit, and a
prominent Chicago investor raising $180
million to fund real estate development
efforts in Detroit neighborhoods.
Each year the attendee list has grown
significantly. In 2016, nearly 200 RSVP’d
to attend or get more involved in their
hometown’s rebirth. The 2016 opening
dinner included former Microsoft CEO
Steve Ballmer in a nearly hour-long con-
versation with Detroit business leader Dan
Gilbert. Ballmer discussed his commit-
ment to fighting intergenerational poverty
and his interest in committing philan-
thropic resources into his native city.
Ballmer also confirmed that his first job
was as a caddy at Franklin Hills Country
Club, where he used to drive the late Alfred
Taubman around on the golf course.

HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHTS
At the opening dinner, Shinola President
Tom Kartosis unveiled plans for a new
Shinola Hotel to open in 2018. The event
included a “State of the City” address by
Duggan, remarks by Michigan Gov. Rick
Snyder and customized tours for expats to
see places of interest relevant to them.
Another highlight this year centered
around Jeffrey Seller, the Oak Park native
and producer of the hit Broadway show
Hamilton. Seller returned to the Detroit
Homecoming to receive the “Guvvy
Award” from Gov. Snyder. This award is
given to individuals from Michigan who

have received unique distinction in the
arts. Prior awardees include comedian
Lily Tomlin and film producer Jerry
Bruckheimer. Bruckheimer shared video
remarks to Seller after his fireside chat
with national political journalist Ron
Fournier, held at Orchestra Hall.
During this conversation, Seller spoke
about his early years growing up in Detroit
and how he initially formed his passion
for theater. It all started when his family
took him to a play at the Fisher Theatre in
Detroit and he realized, by fourth grade,
what his lifelong passion would be.
His company, Adventureland, is named
after one of the first plays he saw in
elementary school. Adventureland is the
production company of Hamilton, which
expands from New York City to Chicago
this month, and is set to become a billion-
dollar production. Seller formed a part-
nership with the Rockefeller Foundation
to ensure tens of thousands of American
students could see the production at the
deeply discounted rate of $10.

NOTABLES IN ATTENDANCE
Among the nearly 200 expats who RSVPd,
several dozen were from the Jewish
Detroit community, such as noted journal-
ist and author Daniel Okrent, real estate
investor Ethan Linkner, famous choreog-
rapher and songwriter Allee Willis, tech-
nology executive Andrew Moers, philan-
thropic consultant Terry Axelrod, Laurie

continued on page 16

14 September 29 • 2016

Dan Gilbert

Former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin