John P. Decker was introduced as the new board chair of the Detroit Historical Society at the annual Society Ball held at the State Savings Bank on Jan. 18. Thomas C. Buhl, immediate past chair, was recognized for his 10 years of leadership with the society’s Moving Forward Award. Buhl will remain an active member of the board.
“As this organization approaches its 100th anniversary in 2021, we have made a passionate commitment to reimagine who we are and how we serve our community,” says Elana Rugh, president and CEO of the society. “We are thrilled to have John’s leadership during this exciting time.”
Decker has served on the board since 2011, most recently serving on its executive committee and chairing its governance committee. He has been a partner at Southfield’s Jaffe Raitt Heuer and Weiss since 2003, where he serves a variety of for-profit and nonprofit entities in complex commercial transactions.
He is a graduate of Harvard Law School, the University of Michigan business school, and London Business School.
“I begin my term during an exciting time in Detroit’s resurgence, and as we look forward to and beyond the society’s upcoming centennial, I intend to focus on collaboration with other cultural organizations and on updating what it means to experience Detroit’s rich history,” Decker says.
The Detroit Historical Society is a private, nonprofit organization located in Midtown. The society is responsible for the conservation and preservation of more than 250,000 artifacts that represent three centuries of the region’s history.
