NEF MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: DAVID MAAS

After more than thirty years in a very successful career as an ad man and business executive, David Maas is giving back. This Michigan native, car fanatic, and Wolverine fan now makes time to volunteer with the New Enterprise Forum and other organizations to help foster entrepreneurship in the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas. After hearing about the business coaching organization from several colleagues, David started attending NEF meetings in 2018 and found himself in easy conversation with a welcoming group of interesting people. Over the past several months he has thrown himself into NEF’s signature coaching process, working with a team of volunteer coaches to help a local entrepreneur refine his investor pitch. “I like the well-defined process,” explains David, “and the opportunity to make a difference.”

David was an advertising executive for decades with the J. Walter Thompson agency, working in several different industries, and then spent several more years as a general manager with a large auto parts company. In addition to his volunteer activities he also pursues consulting projects where his branding expertise can add value. As the winner of eight prestigious Effie awards over his career, David has now been asked to moderate final round Effie judging and to assist with the Effie Collegiate program.

David lives in Grosse Pointe with his wife Karen Fontanive who writes for the local paper and is active in community affairs. They both love to travel. Michigan football is also a passion, so David frequently travels to games with his roommates from his college days in Ann Arbor. David is always in the process of restoring one or more classic cars and recently shared a photo of himself with one of his favorites.