Our Team
OFFICERS:
Chairman Gwendolyn Scales
A resident of Detroit, Michigan, Gwendolyn is an international recording artist, singer/songwriter, business owner, and exercise guru.
Gwen started her music career at age four and emerged as a recording artist while in college. While on the road with such noted artists as Motown’s Hamilton Bohannon, former Warner Brothers’ recording artist David Peaston, and many local Detroit bands she continued to hone her own unique style of singing.
Gwendolyn and her husband Charles are co-owners of Urban Jazz Contemporary Records and CGS Entertainment, an entertainment booking agency. Their production house, Perfect Fifth Productions, has released five albums to date with several others currently in production.
Her music is currently distributed by Expansion Records of London, England and can be heard across North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Gwen has performed for audiences locally and worldwide.
Other endeavors include One Step Ahead, a non-profit formed to help young artists obtain the necessary skills and resources to attend college, and Health Options, Inc. promoting fitness and nutrition.
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Vice Chair John Collins
Bio: Pending
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Secretary Sophia Chue
Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Sophia (Loraine) Chue migrated to The United States of America as a teenager.
Ms. Chue is the Office Manager and Business Development Manager for Process Controls & Instrumentation (PCI) LLC, an engineering company in Midtown Detroit. She owns and operates a Professional Consulting firm, L&M LLC that provides event planning, promotion, business strategic planning and development consulting, in addition to other services.
Sophia serves as the Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Service Center, Co-Chair City of Detroit Immigration Taskforce, Secretary for the City of Detroit Entertainment Commission (DEC). She also serves as the Ambassador to the Caribbean Region for World Medical Relief. Sophia is a New American Leaders Alumni.
An eight-year Veteran of the United States Army Sophia was deployed to Southeast Asia during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.
She currently resides in Michigan and is the mother of two adult sons. She is an Emcee, Speaker, self-published Poet, avid dancer and an active community advocate.
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COMMISSIONERS:
Commissioner Chiara Clayton
With her natural performing ability and dynamic vocal styling, Chiara C. Clayton, leader of the band the Chiara Chanel Experience is a born entertainer. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan Chiara has been singing since the age of 8. In her impressive professional career, Chiara C. Clayton has opened for such stars as Donnell Jones, Case, Marlena Shaw, Alexander O’Neal, Ronnie Laws, and Public Announcement. She is the winner of the 2001 Detroit Big Brother & Big Sisters Telethon Talent Show and the first runner up of the 2004 “GIMME THE MIKE” Singing Competition given by WDIV Channel 4 in Detroit. She has been featured with some of the premiere bands of Detroit that include David Myles and Mylestone, Kaleidoscope, The Duane Parham Society, Notorious and Lin Roundtree.
She has also been featured at the annual United Auto Group Winner Circle Gala of Penske Corporation in Las Vegas, Nevada and was hand-selected by the CEO, Mr. Roger Penske himself. She was featured in the “Stars of Ballet & Broadway” benefit musical for the Music Hall of Detroit and in also in the Detroit productions of Fame The Musical and Perilous Time. She has performed for organizations like the NAACP- Detroit Chapter, American Cancer Society, Alternatives for Girls, Looking For My Sister, and the Downtown Detroit Partnership.
She has performed for the annual Detroit Winter Blast and Arts Beats & Eats. She has also sung the National Anthem for the Detroit Grand Prix and for the Detroit Tigers and Oakland University Golden Grizzlies. She can be seen currently performing at the Motown Bistro in Detroit’s Eastern Market with her band Elevation.
She is a graduate of Regina High School in Warren, MI and Oakland University in Rochester, MI. Ms. Clayton also works for the Area Agency on Aging 1B as the Communications and Outreach Specialist. She is also an active member Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc-Lambda Pi Omega Chapter.
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Commissioner Asia Hamilton
In her 20-year career as a photographer, Asia has cultivated a talent for capturing moments the way they are -- those rare, raw and precious glimpses of life that exist in between poses and pretense. She specializes in portraits, landscapes, abstract textures and nudes and is drawn to existing, untouched composition, which she says, is a reflection of her own authenticity. It was this strong sense of self that helped change her mind from working at her father’s beauty salon to pursuing photography. The first time she got behind the camera, she understood it was her primary way to examine and really experience the world. Since then, Asia’s work has taken her around the country and the world. She has photographed celebrities, worked as a photojournalist for several publications and produced special projects for major corporations, including Ford Motor Co, Toyota, Instyle Magazine and more. In 2018 Asia founded Norwest Gallery of Art a community based contemporary art museum that focuses on art from the African Diaspor. As Founder and Director, Asia Hamilton chose to locate the Norwest Gallery of Art in the Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood of Detroit because the community had been overlooked in the recent revitalization efforts that focused primarily on the downtown and midtown region. Asia also lives and grew up in the neighborhood where the Gallery is, and so understands as a resident as well as a business owner the importance of having a viable, vibrant, walkable business community to advance the people. The Gallery has turned the neighborhood into an international hub for contemporary art with plans to expand its efforts as a staple for creative arts and culture in the community. Asia is the founder, director, and chief curator of Norwest Gallery of Art on Detroit's Northwest side. She curates exhibitions that allow herself and other black artists to professionally exhibit their work. Asia is also the owner of Photo Sensei photography tours and workshops, has participated in many community arts projects, and is a 2018 Knight Arts Challenge winner.
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Commissioner Christos Moisides
Christos Moisides is a commercial developer, restaurateur and as well as a Director/Producer/Cinematographer in the entertainment business.
As a key member in the Detroit development company 400 Monroe Associates, Christos is responsible for the real estate holdings of over 1 million square feet of commercial and industrial property. Holdings that include: Atheneum Suites Hotel in Greektown with the adjoining International Banquet Center, Fishbones Rhythm Café, The London Chop House, and the premiere event facility and photo studio FLAT 151.
With Christos involved in both art and commerce in Detroit, his unique business skills and artistry allow him to negotiate business deals with private companies along with the State, County and City.
He has also produced and filmed content for such companies as Dream Works, AMC Television, MGM, Disney and Shady Records. Christos’ cinematic skills and passion for music has led him to work with top Detroit and global Artists, Eminem, Kid Rock and Jack White, shooting over 50 music videos and over a dozen concert films for the likes of Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Paul Simon and 2 sold-out shows by Eminem at Wembley Stadium in London.
Christos has been married for 9 years with two children and besides being a Mayoral Appointee on the City of Detroit Entertainment Commission; he sits on the board of the Detroit Film Theater at the DIA and is a Wayne County Sheriff Reservist.
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Commissioner Gregory J. Reed
Gregory J. Reed, Esq. has been an active practitioner in the legal profession for twenty years plus.
His fields of specialty in the legal profession include entertainment, intellectual properties, corporate and tax laws. His clients are preeminent in their fields; his professional and civic contributions carry national and international significance.
He is the author of twelve books, many of which are award winners, (NAACP Image Award, American Book Award, etc.) best sellers, and used extensively throughout professional and educational communities.
In 2007, Reed was instrumental in drafting the proposal to establish Detroit’s Entertainment Commission to promote an entertainment economic stimulus and employment base for the city on various levels. Detroit City Council, in 2009, voted unanimously for Reed to be Detroit’s first commission chairman. Detroit is one of the eight cities in the United States to develop such a commission.
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Commissioner Tony Stovall
In 1994, after over 20 years of employment at Hot Sams Clothing, Tony Stovall purchased the family business and has become a successful entrepreneur.
He moved Hot Sams from its original location, 1317 Brush to the new shops at Compuware, 127 Monroe, still in downtown Detroit. Since his ownership, Hot Sams Clothier is the recipient of numerous awards including the City of Detroit, Wayne County, Booker T. Washington Association, NAACP, UNCF, Nation of Islam, YMCA, 100 Black Men and the SB.
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Commissioner Norman Thrasher
For over five decades Norman Thrasher has dazzled audiences nationwide. From humble beginnings, Thrasher's stage talent and style has lead him to perform and work with a variety of talents including Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, Barry White, Bo Diddley, The Spinners, creating and teaching Chubby Checker "The Twist" and many other musical greats.
The sultry baritone began performing in the early 1950's with the Detroit Serenaders and the Royal Jokers. Later Thrasher climbed to No. 1 R&B single category of National music charts as bass singer with Hank Ballard and the Midnighters. In 1958, the group introduced the hit record, "The Twist." Thrasher later expanded his career by becoming road manager for singer Joe Tex and assisting in the promotion of Muhammad Ali's last professional fight.
Thrasher continued serving the entertainment industry as music executive for major record labels nationally while operating his own public relations agency. In 1981, Thrasher moved back to Detroit becoming a Monday night classic on channel 6 showcasing his musical talents and spotlighting the blues. It has been said that, "Thrasher was one of the most knowledgeable people in the business of music."
Working on and off stage, Thrasher has proven his adaptability, is thorough, and exceptionally professional. One of Thrasher's fondest memory in the entertainment industry is when Little Richard and the "Godfather of Soul" James Brown had Thrasher to come out on stage during one of their performances and repeatedly had the crowd chant his first and last name. Thrasher, a promotions and entertainment genius in his own right, Thrasher says he enjoyed helping other entertainers succeed because he has been where they are trying to go.
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Commissioner Gwendolyn Ann Lewis
Ms. Lewis is a Detroit native and a proven real estate professional with extensive experience in real estate acquisition, sales, and property management. In addition, Ms. Lewis has managed numerous residential rehabilitation projects and independently managed the development, construction, marketing, advertising and sales of single family homes on Detroit’s east side.
Ms. Lewis earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Wayne State University), Master of Business Administration (University of Detroit-Mercy), and is a licensed real estate broker (State of Michigan).
Ms. Lewis’ community involvement includes Member Governmental Relations Committee – Greater Metropolitan Association of Realtors (GMAR), Founder – Detroit Housing Group, Inc., Past Board President – Mack Alive, and Advisory Council Member – Henry Ford Health System/All of Us Research Program.
In all endeavors Ms. Lewis strives to develop excellent working teams to efficiently deliver the best possible socially responsible economic outcomes.