business SPOTlight

brought to you in partnership with 
B I R M I N G H A M

 

42 | MARCH 14 • 2024 
J
N

here’s to

Since 1987, Dembs has assisted more than 300 nonprofit 
organizations in Michigan and other parts of the country.

Gary Dembs, Longtime 
Executive Recruiter, 
Shifts to New Role 

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
F

or 36 years, Gary 
Dembs has helped non-
profit organizations find 
and hire candidates for senior 
leadership positions through 
his firm, Non-Profit Personnel 
Network (NPPN). His work 
as an executive recruiter, often 
referred to as a “headhunt-
er,” sometimes encompasses 
advising clients on organiza-
tional structure, culture and 
fundraising opportunities. 
Now, he is moving to a 
new role himself — estab-
lishing a partnership with 
Trish Dewald, a consultant 
for nonprofits who specializes 
in fundraising and process 

improvement. NPPN’s recruit-
ment clients will transition to 
her firm, Mondo Unlimited, 
in the coming months, and 
Dembs will bring some non-
profit consulting. The two 
have worked together on 
projects and Dembs describes 
their partnership as a “good 
match.” 
 
AN EXTENSIVE CAREER
Since starting his executive 
placement firm in 1987, 
Dembs has assisted more than 
300 nonprofit organizations 
in Michigan and other parts 
of the country. His focus has 
been finding senior leaders, 

including development exec-
utives and program officers, 
for nonprofits ranging from 
hospitals to advocacy organi-
zations. For Dembs, this work 
with a broad range of non-
profits is an “opportunity to 
touch so many missions.” 
He decided to align with 
Mondo Unlimited to provide 
a smooth transition for his cli-
ents and help Dewald expand 
her firm while reducing his 
own professional responsibil-
ities. “I want to own my own 
time,” Dembs says. 
A graduate of Western 
Michigan University, Dembs 
initially worked in broadcast 

Gary 
Dembs

Richard Rattner, a partner with 
Birmingham-based Williams 
Williams Rattner & Plunkett 
(WWRP), has been named to the 
Michigan Lawyers Weekly Class 
of 2024 Hall of Fame. Rattner is 
an adjunct professor at Wayne 
State University Law School, where he teach-
es “Developing the Commercial Real Estate 
Project.” A recipient of numerous attorney 
awards from Best Lawyers, Michigan Super 
Lawyers, DBusiness Magazine and Michigan 
Lawyers Weekly, in 2017, Rattner was also 
inducted as a fellow of the American College 
of Real Estate Lawyers, an elite, invitation-only 
group that represents the finest real estate 
attorneys in the profession.

Sari Saperstein, 
of Denver, Colo., 
was named 
Educator of the 
Year during the 
2023 Council 
for Learning 
Disabilities 
Conference. She graduat-
ed from Andover and MSU. 
Sari thanks Debbie Newman 
and Rachele Moz for being 
early mentors. She is the 
daughter of Dr. and Mrs. 
Harvey Saperstein of West 
Bloomfield, and Brenda 
Oventhal Saperstein of 
Denver.

Mike Morse Law Firm, 
Michigan’s largest per-
sonal injury law firm, 
won a 2024 Golden 
Gavel Award for Best 
30-Second Commercial. 
This is the fifth time in 
five years the firm has received this 
distinction, honoring the team for 
its unique, creative and high-quality 
video productions. The Golden Gavel 
Awards recognize exceptional mar-
keting work in the legal industry. The 
firm was also a finalist for Best Public 
Relations Ad, Best Client Testimonial 
and Best 60-Second Commercial.

continued on page 44