Our Founders
Jalen Rose
Co-Founder and Board President
Detroit native Jalen Rose is a 13-year NBA veteran and former sports analyst for NBC and TNT Sports. He currently serves as CEO of Same Page Entertainment. As Co-Founder of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, he has been instrumental in bringing his vision for equitable education to life in his hometown.
A proud graduate of Detroit Southwestern High School and the University of Michigan—where he became nationally known as a member of the iconic “Fab Five”—Mr. Rose is deeply committed to helping Detroit youth pursue and achieve postsecondary success. His personal journey fuels his dedication to providing students with access, support, and opportunity.
Mr. Rose has assembled a strong team of educational professionals and community leaders to support the mission of JRLA. As President of the Board of Directors, he continues to champion academic excellence, character development, and a culture of giving back.
Michael A. Carter Sr.
Co-Founder, JRLA
Michael A. Carter Sr. is the Founder and Chairman of Pinnacle Construction Partners, LLC, and President/CEO of MAC LLC, a real estate development firm. He holds both a B.A. (1972) and an MBA (1978) from the University of Detroit Mercy. A dedicated business leader and community advocate, Mr. Carter co-founded the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy with a vision to create transformative educational opportunities for Detroit youth.
Based in Franklin, Tennessee, Michael and his wife Pamela are proud parents of two University of Michigan graduates, Michael Jr. and Marcya. His passion for education and civic engagement is reflected in his service on numerous boards, including the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission and the University of Detroit Mercy Board of Trustees. He has also held board chair roles with organizations such as the Nashville Public Education Foundation.
Mr. Carter has been recognized with several prestigious honors, including the University of Detroit Mercy Spirit Award and the United Way’s Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Jr. Excellence in Volunteer Leadership Award. A graduate of both Leadership Nashville and Leadership Brentwood, he enjoys competitive swimming and clay shooting in his free time.
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Our Current Board Members:
Jalen Rose - President
President
Sports Analyst & CEO Same Page Entertainment
Dennis Archer, Jr. - Secretary
Secretary
CEO/Founder - Ignition Media Group; President - Archer Corporate Services
Greg Boll - Vice President
Vice President
CEO, Navigant Oak, LLC
Leigh Chandler
CAO of Strike Group, LLC
Christopher Brochert
Director
Co-Founder/Partner, Lormax Stern Development Co.
Shawna Forbes
Director
Professor and Former Vice Chancellor/School of Continuing Ed & Workforce Dev, Wayne County Community College District
Dean Brody - Treasurer
Treasurer
CEO REVEL Moments
Wendy Jackson
Director
Managing Director, Kresge Foundation
Burt Jordan
Director
Vice President, Global Purchasing, Ford Motor Company (Retired)
View Our Board Meeting Calendar:
A Special Thanks to Our Past Board Members:
Tonya Allen - Rumia Ambrose Burbank - Honorable Mayor Dave Bing - Tim Gale - John James
Ron Klein - Mick Koster - Jason Langwell - Diane Manica - Kim Mattes - David Schostak - Neil Weissman
The JRLA Founding Team (2011):
