OUR COMMUNITY

continued from page 16

18 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 

ON THE COVER

dor’s residence. “Mark was leading a group 
of businesspeople and political leaders to 
Israel. Watching him in that venue was a 
treat because this is a gentleman who could 
bring people of importance together. That 
kind of impact is significant as any con-
tribution I can think of his making to the 
Jewish people.
”
Mark’s passion is to replicate the societal, 
cultural, innovative and entrepreneurship 
spirit of Israel to Michigan — which led 
to the creation of the Michigan Israel 
Business Accelerator in 2017, a nonprofit 
and non-governmental economic develop-
ment organization committed to fostering 
partnerships between Israeli and Michigan 
businesses. Mark served as MIBA
’s found-
ing Board Chair. In 2023, MIBA broad-
ened its reach by establishing The Elevator 
in Downtown Detroit, the first-of-its-kind 
landing zone in the U.S. exclusively for 
Israeli startups and companies. 
According to Gary Torgow, who worked 
closely with Mark both in his Federation 
role and during his time at Deloitte, “Mark 
has done a masterful job of connecting 
Israel to many leaders both in business and 
philanthropy, putting Israel and the Jewish 
people in the most favorable light.
”

AFTER FEDERATION
Mark can again thank Bob Naftaly for the 
next chapter in his career, as Michigan 
managing partner for Deloitte LLP
. He was 
in his 12th year at Federation, working as 
COO, when Bob asked him to meet with 
the then-managing partner at Deloitte who 
wanted to explore how the firm could be of 
service to businesses in the Jewish commu-

nity. “Several meetings later, I was asked to 
join the firm,
” Mark said.
“
Accepting the job was the most entre-
preneurial decision Margie and I have 
ever made,
” he says. “I knew what I had at 
Federation, and I loved what I did there, 
but this was an opportunity to rediscover 
my professional roots as a CPA and to join 
the largest professional services firm in the 

Mark got 
behind the 
wheel for 
Deloitte’s 
Impact Day.

An arts and cultural mission to Israel led by 
Mark (on the right end of the photo)

