M1 Concourse in Pontiac appointed two new directors to its leadership team – Brian Baker as director of events and festivals and Bill Lee as director of sponsor partnerships.
Baker is an automotive historian, designer, speaker, and educator who has decades of experience and knowledge of automotive history. He spent 25 years as a General Motors designer of concept and production vehicles in Europe and the U.S. He rose to vice president of design for American Specialty Cars in Warren.
He is a past president of the Society of Automotive Historians chapter in Detroit. He has served as a keynote speaker and host for automotive conferences in India, Japan, and North America. He was a docent at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, vice president of education at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, and most recently was the director of collections and education at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky.
Lee is a sales and marketing executive. He has helped drive partnership revenue and created new opportunities for sports and entertainment venues and live event properties. He has led the sales for more than 1,000 sports and entertainment events – from motorsports to Broadway – playing an array of stadiums, arenas, theaters, casinos, and performing arts centers across North America.
Recently, Lee was the chief revenue executive and co-creator of a live event sponsorship format featuring actors from legacy shows on ABC, CBS, AMC, HBO, The Disney Network, and Nick.
His experience, performance, and standing in the industry have led to executive positions at Olympia Entertainment in Detroit, Champions on Ice, SMG Worldwide Facility Management in Pennsylvania, and more. His sponsor and promotional partnership credits include Cadillac, Chevy, Ford Motor Co., Volvo, John Hancock, Flagstar Bank, 5/3 Bank, Starbucks, TNT, NBC, and the New York Times.
“Brian and Bill are great additions to our talented team,” says Tim McGrane, CEO of M1 Concourse. “Both have strengths that will enhance our automotive selection, events, and sponsorship initiatives – and most importantly the overall M1 experience – for everyone who visits our unique facility. We have an exciting show schedule in store for 2024 filled with everything from power and speed to classic design. We invite the community to join us for these one-of-a-kind events, shows, and festivals truly befitting the Motor City.”
