SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 19

world. So, I decided to go for it.
”
Mark joined Deloitte in 
2005. Six years later, he became 
Michigan managing partner, 
leading 1,200 professionals in 
the Michigan practice — a quick 
trajectory by anyone’s standards. 
While there, he led the com-
pany to success and continued 
his track record of helping 
others in the community. 
Mark launched the Deloitte 
Cornerstone Career Pathways 
program, a five-year pilot 
program with Cornerstone 
Schools, to provide students in 
Detroit with enhanced training 
in math, accounting, prob-
lem-solving, management and 
business ethics. Mark also spent 
two months in Flint during the 
water crisis, assisting Mayor 
Karen Weaver and her team in 
recovery efforts.
He stayed in the managing 
partner role for 10 years until 
the company’s mandatory 
retirement policy led him to 
something new. 
 
THE FISHER GROUP
Before his retirement from 
Deloitte, representatives of The 
Fisher Group, the central office 
for the family of Max M. and 
Marjorie S. Fisher, had reached 
out to him, asking whether 
he would consider being their 
president and CEO.
“Because of my role at 
Federation, I had a relationship 
with a number of the principals 
of the family,
” he says. “
And 
when the family of Max Fisher 
calls, you pay attention.
”
In a way, it was a full-circle 
moment. Marks shared that 
when he was 39, he received a 
letter from Crain’s Detroit Business 
telling him he has been selected 
as one of its “40 under 40.” It 
turns out that Max Fisher had 
written a letter on his behalf, at 
the request of Bob Aronson.
“When I went to the award 
ceremony, Mary Kramer, the 
publisher at that time, said to 
the audience, ‘When I get a 

letter from Max Fisher, I pay 
attention.
’
“That recognition elevated 
my profile beyond anything I 
could have done on my own,
” 
he added. 
Phillip Wm. Fisher, son of 
legendary philanthropist Max 
Fisher, was the one who first 
asked Mark to consider joining 
The Fisher Group. “Mark is a 
world-class leader and change 
maker. I knew he was the per-
fect candidate. It was beshert.
”
Jane Sherman, daughter 
of Max Fisher, said, “The 
smartest thing The Fisher 
Group ever did was to hire 
him. I don’t know of a person 
more mensch-like than Mark 
Davidoff. I don’t know a per-
son who doesn’t like him. He’s 
there for you. He’s got a brilliant 
mind. He creates consensus.
”
Max Fisher received the 
Butzel Award in 1964. “Mark 
now joins a broad list of people 
who have changed the Jewish 
community,
” Phillip Fisher said. 
“
And although he disdains 
attribution and always points 
the credit to others for the 
achievement of any goal, I don’t 
think I’ve ever met a leader 
like Mark. He’s comfortable in 
front of local, state, regional 
and national leaders. He’s diplo-
matic to the core. I think Mark 
is a ‘mini-Max.
’ I really do. 
He has a way of collaborating 
with people and bringing them 
together.
”
Mark said, “Being the pres-
ident and CEO of The Fisher 
Group is an honor because I’m 
in a position to help the family 
do what they do to repair the 
world, individually, collectively 
and through the Max M. and 
Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation. 
To sit in a seat that in theory 
Max Fisher sat in at one point is 
pretty high ground.
”

DETROIT SYMPHONY 
ORCHESTRA
Mark has also made an impact 
on the Detroit Symphony 

continued on page 20

STORY

C
l
i
c
k
.
 
C
a
l
l
.
 
G
i
v
e
.
 
A
p
p
l
y
.

www.hfldetroit.org • 248.723.8184

Hebrew Free Loan Detroit

6735 TELEGRAPH ROAD, SUITE 300 • BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICHIGAN 48301

HebrewFreeLoanDetroit

Community donations help Hebrew Free Loan give 
interest-free loans to local Jews for a variety of personal, 
health, educational and small business needs.

My 

STORY
My 

Stacey Mehler is a planner. Whether it’s in her work 
or in her family life, she likes to have a handle on 
what’s next. So it was with a little bit of dismay that 
Stacey learned she would need critical dental work, 
and soon. The stumbling block was that the cost was 
not something Stacey had planned or saved for. 
“I’m an independent woman, but I needed help with 
that. It was my mother who suggested I reach out to 
Hebrew Free Loan,” Stacey said. “It was an ‘oh, of 
course!’ moment, because I knew of HFL just from being 
in the Jewish community. I contacted them, and it was 
very easy. I went into the process with an open mind, 
and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly everything 
went, and how helpful the staff were. I even met with 
them on a Sunday, and I remember thinking how kind 
it was of their Board members to make themselves 
available on the weekend to discuss my needs with me.” 
Stacey’s loan, through HFL’s Project HEAL fund (Health 
Emergency Assistance Loans) was approved and 
quickly disbursed to cover her dental expenses. 
“Throughout my dealings with them, I felt like 
Hebrew Free Loan was on my side, and I didn’t feel 
embarrased or judged,” Stacey said. “They went out 
of their way to make sure the loan payments were 
tailored to my monthly budget. It also helps that it’s 
interest-free. What a great thing for our community! 
“Here’s my personal bottom line: Do you like to 
feel stressed out? Why add more worry to your plate 
trying to figure out how to pay for things when you 
have resources like Hebrew Free Loan nearby?”

