DMBA announces new foundation officers

After closing out 2014 on a very positive note, the new year is bringing new leadership to the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation, which provides pro-bono legal and social services to underserved communities in metro Detroit. The Detroit Bar appointed Keith Altenburg of Comerica and Lisa DeMoss of Western Michigan University Cooley Law School as co-chairs. Steven Roach of Miller Canfield has accepted the post of secretary-treasurer. The appointments were approved during the DMBA's Jan. 15 board of directors meeting. The new officers were welcomed during the Foundation's first Board of Trustees meeting for the year on Jan. 21. They have taken the reins from E. Christopher Johnson of Cooley and Barbara Bowman of Bodman. DeMoss previously served as secretary-treasurer. "With the great success of our most recent Archer Award event, the DMBA Foundation is renewed and poised to expand our work in the community in 2015," said Altenburg. "I'd like to extend the heartfelt gratitude of our entire board and staff to Chris and Barb for leaving this organization on such a sound footing, and for agreeing to serve as trustees during 2015 to ease our transition. "I'd also like to thank Lisa for continuing her leadership role with us," he continued. "I'm looking forward to working with Lisa, Steve and the rest of the board as we increase the positive impact our organization has on behalf of those who can't otherwise afford legal services, foster children, and our profession as a whole." All three of the new officers have extensive roots with the DMBA and its Foundation. Altenburg, the senior vice president and general counsel for Comerica Bank's Michigan market, has served as a member of the DMBA Foundation's board of trustees since 2008. Most recently, he co-chaired the 2014 Archer Award event, which raised more than $90,000 for the organization's work. DeMoss, who works as the director of Corporate Law and Finance and Insurance Law Graduate Programs at Cooley, is a past president of the DMBA's board and has also served the Foundation's board since 2011. Roach, a senior principal at Miller Canfield, has been a member of the Foundation's Board of Trustees since 2013 and was also an active member of the Archer event team. "As I move on to the next phase of my life, I'm very pleased to be placing the leadership of this foundation in such capable, dynamic hands," said Johnson of the change. "I look forward to keeping tabs on their success." Published: Wed, Feb 04, 2015