Dildilian Foundation for the Building Trades

President – Greg Dildilian

Greg Dildilian founded The Dildilian Foundation for the Building Trades in September of 2017.  Mr. Dildilian’s vision is to rebuild failing neighborhoods by teaching the trades at the High School level.  Mr. Dildilian brings contracting experience, along with Business Managemnet skills in building organizations that will foster entrprenurial skills in our youth and provide a well educated local labor force.

Greg Dildilian graduated from Oakland University, in Rochester Michigan.  He has an undergraduate degree in communication arts, with minors in business and political science.  He has held senior management positions with some of Detroit’s major organizations, such as the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce, Akzo – Nobel, and R.L.. Polk.  When  9/ 11 occured, he lost his job.  Greg had to change his career course, so he started a small contracting business.  It was this experience that brought him to realize that there was a shortage in the skilled trades.  He decided to do something about it and start a Foundation, along with a Chater School, that teaches the skilled trades to inner city youth.  He realizes that the youth of any city is it’s future, especially when they can step into future roles with high paying jobs and careers.  Mr. Dildilian says that his organization is not a hand out, but rather a hand up to students who would not necessarily have  opportunities to start a business or be employed.

Greg’s interests include history and politics.  He has run for Congress and the State House and is currently the Vice Chair of The Oakland County Republican Party.  Greg has been married to Lisa for 37 years and resides in Royal Oak, Michigan.  Greg and Lisa have two daughters and one grandson.

Vice President – John Jamian

John E. Jamian is an American businessman, former U.S. government official, and Michigan State Legislator. He served as Deputy and later Acting Maritime Administrator, the head of the U.S. Maritime Administration, an agency of the United States Department of Transportation, from 2003 until 2006. He was confirmed as Deputy Maritime Administrator by the Senate on May 7, 2003 and became Acting Maritime Administrator February 12, 2005. Prior to his service at the Maritime Administration, Jamian was elected to three terms in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1991 to 1996. From 1997 to 2001 he served as Executive Director of the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority and from 2001 until his appointment as Deputy Director in 2003 as the Executive Director the Armenian Assembly of America. In 2011 Jamian resumed his role as Executive Director at the Port of Detroit.  In 2014 he went back to AmeriCare Medical, the company he helped create in 1989. His positon is the Director of Business Development and Government Relations.

Throughout his career, Jamian has served on many Boards and has been the recipient of many awards for his distinguished service to the community.

Jamian is married to Cynthia and they have two grown children, Michelle Minassian and Sean Jamian.

Secretary – Doug Ledger

Doug Ledger is a consummate business professional with an extensive background in a broad range of business enterprises. Currently working in the mortgage industry with Quicken Loans as an Operations Specialist, he has a keen understanding of the financial and mortgage markets. He’s also been a successful entrepreneur, having owned and operated Purethane, Inc. (a manufacturer of automotive, office and appliance products) and Game Day Sales (retailing university branded apparel and merchandise). This has provided him with a deep appreciation for the risks and rewards of being your own boss and what it takes to be successful as a small business owner. Rounding out his background, Doug was also Vice President of Sales at Michigan Spring Company.

Doug’s outside interests are just as varied as his business experience. He is generous with his spare time, volunteering as an Advisor to Athletics at Easter Michigan University, Board Member of the Michigan Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, and local Board Member of the United States Selective Service System.

He has a keen interest in the US Civil War (with a strong emphasis on Gettysburg), and past U.S. leaders in athletics, the military and business. He has a deep passion for American football, especially at the college level, and has previously coached at St. Hugo of the Hills elementary school and U of D Jesuit High School. Being from the Motor City, it’s only proper that he also closely follows Indy and NASCAR Motor Sports.

Doug graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in 1975 and his Masters of Arts in 1976, both from Oakland University. Doug and his wife of 45 years, Sandra, reside in Lake Orion, Michigan and are proud parents to three sons, a grandson and a granddaughter.

Treasurer – Lisa Dildilian

Lisa Dildilian is a Payroll Administration Manager for a large multi-national corporation, based in Troy, Michigan.  She is responsible for Compliance and Tax Audit for over 300,000 employees annually.  Ms. Dildilian brings finance and tax experience to the Dildilian Foundation at many levels. In addition to this experience, Ms. Dildilian managed the finances for two of Gregory Dildilian’s state political campaigns.

Ms. Dildilian is involved in various community activities, including the Royal Oak Memorial Day Parade.  She has served as a Trustee for the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak and an active member of the Personnel Committee.

Lisa has many outside interests including tennis and as a member of the Chancel Choir at the  First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak. Lisa is the proud mother of two girls and is especially proud of her beautiful grandson.

Director – Michael Stroud

As a real estate agent and political consultant, Michael Stroud’s background is diverse. A passion for Detroit pushed Michael into politics and a desire to be involved in the greatest comeback in Amer-ica, drove him to start selling real estate in Detroit at just 19 years old. In 2010, he helped Rick Snyder win a tough primary because he felt Snyder was the only man in the race that would help re-build Detroit. Michael then started at Wayne State because he wanted to study in Detroit and couldn’t stand to miss out on any part of the comeback. At just 19, he received his real estate sales-person license in Michigan and took a job in Midtown as an agent at City Living Detroit. He has since moved on, now working as the Senior Agent at Carlson Premier Realty, where he has listed over $40 million in commercial industrial property and sold homes from Bloomfield Hills to Detroit and everywhere in between.

Politics have always been a passion for Michael Stroud. He started getting involved 2010 to help the nerd, Rick Snyder, win a primary for Governor because he felt that would be the best thing for De-troit. The relationships he built in the process have opened doors and allowed Michael to help shape the discussion and message. In 2012, he ran a US Congressional campaign and in 2014 he was a long-serving member of Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley’s reelection efforts. His work with Lieu-tenant Governor Calley opened the door for Michael to serve as Assistant to the Lieutenant Gover-nor in 2015. By 2016, he ran the Michigan operations for the Super PAC supporting John Kasich for President. His political experiences are varied and show Michael’s greatest quality, his work-ethic.

From real estate to politics, Michael Stroud is a hard-working and dedicated young man. His passion for Detroit has guided all of his decisions from academic to social and political. Michael’s experi-ences are far beyond his age and his drive for excellence is far beyond the standard.

Director – Josh Barney

Josh Barney is the Vice President and General Counsel at J.J. Barney Construction, Inc., a 92-year-old family owned and operated construction company. Josh is the fourth generation to work at the company. He is responsible for setting the overall direction for the company, overseeing its business operations, and all of its legal matters. He frequently lectures at seminars for construction, legal, and business personnel and has been published in numerous legal, business, and academic publications.

Before joining the family business, Mr. Barney was an attorney for many years at a large-sized Chicago based litigation firm. He graduated from Brother Rice High School, the University of Michigan, and DePaul University College of Law.

In addition to Josh’s work with the Dildilian Foundation, he also serves as a member of the board of directors for the Construction Association of Michigan (CAM), the United State Green Building Council—Detroit Chapter, and The Boy Scouts of America—Building Connections Networking Event. He also serves on CAM’s Labor Relations and Government Affairs Committees. Josh is a resident of Troy, MI where he lives with his wife, Natalie, and two young children. Outside of work, Josh enjoys hunting, fishing, golf, history, and politics.

Director – Chris Drouin

Chris Drouin is an entrepreneur and one of the managing partners of the IGNITE Media Group in Rochester Hills, Michigan.  A graduate of Brother Rice High School and Oakland University, he is a life long Oakland County resident that has been working in sales and marketing for over 20 years.  Before opening his own digital marketing agency  he worked for some of the world’s top companies including Bentley Motors, Volkswagen of America, McKesson and Quicken Loans.

In addition to his work with the Dildilian Foundation, he sits on the Board of Directors for the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce, is an Ambassador for the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce, is the Vice President of the Michigan Chapter of US Lacrosse, is a board member for the Michigan Lacrosse Officials Association, the Founder and Past President of the Brother Rice Business Alliance and a committee member for events with the Oakland University Alumni Association.

Chris is a resident of Clarkston, MI where is resides with his wife Anne-Marie and their three young children.  Chris is a US Lacrosse certified Official and Coach.  He has refereed college, high school and youth lacrosse for the last 10 years and coaches the Little Laxers program for Clarkston Lacrosse.  An avid outdoorsman Chris spends his free time as his son’s Cub Scout Den Leader, camping with his family and hunting.

Legal Counsel – Robert Gavin

Robert Gavin is an attorney at the firm of Shifman & Carlson, P.C. He has provided legal services to municipalities, nonprofits, school districts, and public school academies since joining Shifman & Carlson in 2008. As counsel for public school academies in Michigan, Rob has assisted with start-up, reauthorization, litigation, management company transitions, leases, and general daily guidance. Rob has worked with relatively rare academy structures, including a number of strict discipline academies, the conversion of private schools to charter schools, and a self-managed academy. Rob is also Nationally Recognized Bond Counsel, and has experience in all types of public finance, including state aid note and bond financing for charters. Rob graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan College of Engineering in 2005 and graduated from the DePaul University College of Law in 2008. Rob lives in Royal Oak, MI with his wife Maria and daughter.