ACG Detroit | Entrepreneurial Business Growth in the Middle Market: Success, Scaling, & Lessons Learned

Ron Hall is President and Chief Executive Officer at Bridgewater Interiors, LLC. Bridgewater is an automotive interiors manufacturing firm, specializing in just-in-time assembly, sequencing, and delivery of seating systems. It employs more than 2,200 people at four facilities in the U.S. Ron has been with the company in various roles of increasing responsibility since 2007, succeeding his father, company founder Ron Hall, Sr., in 2015.

A lawyer by training, Ron spent the first several years of his civilian career as a Detroit-based associate attorney in the corporate finance practice group at the Dykema law firm. He earned his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Michigan Law School, where he was a Darrow Scholar, received the Book Award for excellence in Administrative Law, and served as an associate editor on the Michigan Journal of International Law.

Ron holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Political Economy from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, and served several years on active duty as a field artillery officer in the US Army. He attained the rank of captain and, among other awards, was decorated for meritorious service in the Persian Gulf War.

In addition to various business pursuits, Ron sits on multiple civic and charitable boards, where he holds additional leadership and committee positions:

• Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Detroit Branch
• Business Leaders for Michigan
• Detroit Regional Chamber
• Skillman Foundation
• Corewell Health
• MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association
• Grand Valley State University

Ron’s interests include history and political affairs, the various pursuits of his four children, and fitness running.

Mark is President of Avis Ford Inc, a nationally ranked Ford dealership in Metro Detroit.  Mark is responsible for all of the day-to-day operations.  Avis is a Top 100 performing dealership, currently ranked top 40 nationally, a 12-time President’s Award winner, Ford’s highest recognition for sales and customer service, and a 12-time Partner’s in Quality award recipient. 

Mark’s career began with General Motors.  Mark was employed there for 6 years as a Project Release Engineer where he designed and released interior electronic switches.  In his final role, he handled corporate release responsibilities for all vehicle line multi-function switches. 

Mark received a BS in Electrical Engineering from Howard University (1990).  He has an MBA from the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business (1998) in Ann Arbor with a concentration in Finance and Marketing; two areas that have been paramount in his success with Avis Ford. 

A Detroit native, Mark is married to Tiffany, and they have two children Jaxson and Jamesyn.  He is an avid golfer and sits on several boards:  The Detroit Regional Chamber, The National Dealer Council Ford Motor Co., The Detroit Economic Club, The Ford Marketing Dealer Advisory Board, The Southeast Michigan Ford Dealer Association, The Ford Dealer Advertising Fund (Chair), The Detroit Zoological Society and The Fair Lane Board of the Henry Ford Estate.  Past Board exp:  The Henry Ford Hospital and Health Network (Past Chair), The Henry Ford Health System, The National Business League (Past Chair), The Detroit Golf Club (Past President) The Detroit Institute of Arts (Member), Ford Minority Dealer Association (Member). The Detroit Institute of Arts (Member), The National Association of Minority Auto Dealers. (Member). 

Dimitrius Hutcherson works for First Independence Bank as Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer & Chief Technology Officer. In this role, he has responsibility for the Human Resources, Technology, Retail Banking, and External Affairs. Dimitrius is an experienced Board Member and results-driven Finance, Operations and Technology Executive with extensive experience in developing companies from early stage through fruition and commercializing ideas. He is a member of the Bank Board IT Committee, HR/Compensation, Committee, Asset/ Liability Committee, Audit Committee and External Affairs Committee. Report to Chairman & CEO. He has over 30 years of work experience at private and public organizations. His relationship management/advisory experience includes soliciting from and presenting to numerous public officials, boards, agencies, commissions, foundations, private investors and community stakeholders. He has been a trusted advisor to publicly traded, closely held, non-profit, private equity portfolio companies and the federal government. He has spectrum proficiency in experience in management consulting, commercial lending, technology in financial services, managing start-ups, and strategic planning.

Dimitrius is Chairman Emeritus of the National Black Child Development Institute, Inc., Board Member, Michigan Strategic Fund (Gubernatorial Appointment), Board Member and Treasurer, Harvard Business School Club of Michigan; Board Member, Michigan Roundtable on Diversity & Inclusion; Board Member, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation; Board Member Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan and Board member, the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation. He served as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Lincoln University of Pennsylvania where he chaired the Investment Committee (Sept. 2015 – Oct. 2020) He is an Online Adjunct Instructor at the American University, Kogod Graduate School of Business, a member of various technology, finance and community boards, and has served as a professor and guest lecturer at several educational institutions, conferences and workshops.

Dimitrius has prior work experience in senior level roles at PNC Financial Services Group, Deloitte Services, LP, Freddie Mac, GMAC Commercial Mortgage, GE Capital, Ernst & Young, LLP and JP Morgan Chase.

Dimitrius earned a BA degree in Finance, cum laude, at Morehouse College and an MBA in Finance and Business Strategy from the Harvard Business School. 

With more a decade’s worth of experience, Elizabeth works with developers, communities, businesses and local agencies to facilitate real estate investment across Michigan. Elizabeth specializes in securing real property tax incentives for real estate redevelopment. She has extensive experience in the application and management of a variety of grants, loans, and financing options and regularly works with developers, municipalities, business and government agencies to facilitate private investment in brownfield properties. She has secured funding assistance for both private and public projects for local communities.

She is the current co-chair for ACG Detroit’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and is on the Board of Directors. She is also a member of, and co-chairs, the Programs Committee for the Urban Land Institute Michigan chapter and serves on the Oakland County Economic Development Corporation and Oakland County Business Finance Corporation boards.