The Skillman Foundation

Three new members have been appointed to The Skillman Foundation’s Board of Trustees: Jeremiah Steen, Linh Song, and Derrick A. Roman. Steen is the first youth to serve on the Foundation’s board in its 62-year history.  

“The secret sauce to Detroit is the people. We are so honored to welcome Jeremiah, Linh, and Derrick to our board of mission-driven individuals,” said Angelique Power, president & CEO of The Skillman Foundation. “Our board works overtime to honor youth visionaries and to reach across sectors and spaces to ensure Detroit’s youngest will design their own destinies and ours.” 

Jeremiah Steen is a student at the University of Detroit Mercy, pursuing a degree in communications. He is a development associate of Institutional Giving for the National Audubon Society. Steen founded and serves as executive director of the Steen Foundation, amplifying the contributions of youth in society, advocating for equitable youth career pathways, and supporting the creativity and innovation of young people. He is a board member of TrashMob.eco and EEqual and served in the inaugural cohort of The Skillman Foundation President’s Youth Council. 

Linh Song has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years, supporting child advocacy, public schools, anti-trafficking within international adoption, and tech startups. She and her husband Dug founded The Song Foundation to invest in the innovative people and organizations who are improving the quality of life for all in Southeast Michigan and helping to build a more just and equitable world. As the firstborn American in her family, Song has the experience of coming from a refugee family and is committed to addressing social, racial, and economic inequities.   

Song holds two degrees from the University of Michigan, including a Master of Social Work. She serves on Ann Arbor’s City Council, as co-chair for Michigan Reproductive Rights for All, and as a board member for Jewish Family Services Ann Arbor, Michigan Municipal League Foundation, and The Song Foundation. 

Derrick A. Roman, CPA, is a retired partner from PwC and an experienced board director. He is one of Savoy Magazine’s “2021 Most Influential Black Corporate Directors” and a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors. His expertise includes organizational governance, financial accounting, risk management, information technology, diversity and inclusion, and corporate responsibility practices. Regarding the latter, Roman facilitated the development of a racial equity strategy for a statewide consortium of corporate CEOs. He is a founding trustee of the National Constitution Center, trustee chair of the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church (Detroit), former chairman of the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia, and an advisor to the Hampton University School of Business. He also serves on the board of directors of WEX, Inc. and CommScope Holdings.  

Roman earned an undergraduate degree from Babson College and completed executive education at Stanford University Graduate School of Business (Director’s Consortium) and Harvard Business School (Negotiation and Strategic Decision Making). He served on the transition team for Detroit Public Schools and was recognized by Money Magazine as a “Money Hero” for leading financial education for youth. He is a licensed high school basketball official in Michigan and a collector of vintage African American films.  

The Skillman Foundation’s Board of Trustees also appointed a new board chair this year. Suzanne Shank, CEO and co-founder of Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC., the top-ranked minority- and woman-owned municipal bond underwriter, replaces Mary Kramer as board chair. Kramer retired from the Foundation’s board in December 2022 after serving for 12 years.   

Other Skillman Foundation board members are Bill Emerson, Vice-chairman of Rock Holdings, Inc.; Ron Hall, Jr., Vice Chair, President & CEO of Bridgewater Interiors, LLC; Denise Ilitch, Owner of Ilitch Family Companies and President of Ilitch Enterprises, LLC; Pastor Solomon Kinloch, Jr. Lead Pastor at Triumph Church; Elizabeth Morales, Attorney at Dykema Gossett PLLC; Jerry Norcia, President and CEO of DTE Energy; Angelique Power, President & CEO at The Skillman Foundation; and Gary Torgow, Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Huntington National Bank.