Fouad Ashkar
DTE Energy
Manager of Economic Development & Ethnic Marketing
Fouad Ashkar is the Manager of Economic Development & Ethnic Marketing at DTE Energy.
DTE Energy is a diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide.
His responsibilities include developing and creating strategic relationships with ethnic business organizations, business leaders and customers in various ethnic communities. He provides comprehensive economic development services to site consultants, developers, realtors, and business owners in facilitating site selection and other energy services by creating various attraction and retention campaigns.
Ashkar has more than 30 years of progressive general management and international business experience. He has a consistent track record of successfully introducing sophisticated systems and programs into work environments, building positive customer relationships, establishing dynamic sales and marketing strategies, introducing new products, improving productivity and creating growth.
During his career, Ashkar worked extensively in the Middle East. He was born in Lebanon. He arrived in Michigan in 1971 to attend college at Western Michigan University where he earned an undergraduate degree in Industrial/Mechanical Engineering. Later he earned an MBA from Davenport University in Detroit.
From 1982 to 1998 Fouad served as a group general manager for a major industrial in Saudi Arabia. Prior to 1982, he worked as a manufacturing engineer/industrial engineer for General Motors.
He is active in several community-based and business organizations.
- Executive Board Member - Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab American Chamber of Commerce
- Board of Directors - National Advisory of the Arab American National Museum
- Advisory Board member - Past Chairman for the Council of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA)
- Executive Board Member - International Association for Organ Donation
- Board of Directors - International Visitors Council of Metropolitan Detroit (IVC Detroit)
- Board of Directors - Dearborn Chamber of Commerce
- Advisory Board of Directors - Detroit Regional Chamber Economic Partnership
- Advisory Board - Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
- Advisory Board - Middle Eastern Broadcasting Network (MBN)
- Board Member - Arab American Institute – National Leadership Conference
- Board Member - American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (1999-2002)
- Accomplishment:
- Leadership Detroit
- Part of the delegation to Dubai with K. Kilpatrick Mayor of Detroit to establish sister city hood between Detroit and Dubai. (2003)
- Part of the delegation to the Middle East along with City of Detroit and the three counties executives of Metro Detroit (Wayne, Macomb and Oakland). (2004)
Ashkar’s involvement in other organizations and institutions include Henry Ford Community College, Davenport University, the Bint Jebail Cultural Center, and the U.S. Arab Economic Forum Global Conference and the Arab International Festival.
At DTE Energy, Fouad is an active member of the DTE Energy Chairman’s Ethics Council, DTE Energy Political Action Committee Steering Committee, and on DTE Energy’s Diversity Leadership Council.
He has received several major awards:
- Hispanic Business Alliance Award
- Michigan Korean Community Award
- Family Latino Service Award
- The Outstanding Community Service Award from the Yemeni American Benevolent Association
- Associated Food Dealers – Turkey Drive Award
- Ambassador for Peace Award (Universal Peace Federation)
- Council of Asian Pacific Americans Award
- Michigan Food & Beverage Association Award
- Lebanese American Club of Michigan -Trailblazer Award
- Certificate of Tribute from Michigan Governor ( Jennifer M. Granholm)