Dick DeVos

Dick DeVos
Dick DeVos
Born October 21, 1955(1955-10-21)
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Citizenship United States
Alma mater Northwood University
Occupation Businessman/Politician
Political party Republican
Spouse Betsy DeVos
Children Four
Parents Richard DeVos, father

Dick DeVos (born Richard Marvin DeVos, Jr., October 21, 1955) is a businessman and Republican politician from Michigan. The son of billionaire Amway co-founder Richard DeVos, he served as CEO of the multi-level marketing consumer goods distribution company from 1993–2002. In 2005, DeVos launched the most expensive gubernatorial campaign in the history of Michigan, totaling more than $41 million.[1] Ultimately, DeVos lost on November 7, 2006, to Democratic incumbent Jennifer Granholm.[2][3][4] DeVos announced on November 12, 2008, that he would not run for governor in 2010.[5]

Contents

Family and early life

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, DeVos is a graduate of the Forest Hills public schools and received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Northwood University. He later attended, but did not graduate from, the Harvard Business School and the Wharton School's Executive Study Programs.[6]

His wife, Betsy DeVos, is the sister of Blackwater Worldwide (now Xe) president Erik Prince, and she is the former chairperson of the Michigan Republican Party.[7] DeVos and his wife have four children: Richard Marvin (Rick), III, Elisabeth (Elissa), Andrea, and Ryan.[8]

DeVos is an avid sailor. In 2007 he finished first in the Chicago Yacht Club's Race to Mackinac Island, along with his brother Doug, in their boat Windquest. They placed third in their division in the 100th annual running of the Race to Mackinac in 2008.[9]

Business activities

DeVos in October 2010

DeVos began working with Amway Corporation in 1974, holding positions in various divisions, including research and development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and finance. In 1984, he became one of Amway's vice presidents, with responsibility for the company's operations in 18 countries. Under his leadership, the company opened new markets and tripled international sales to exceed domestic sales for the first time in company history.

In a 1979 ruling, Amway was found by the Federal Trade Commission that its operations did not violate pyramid scheme prohibitions, but the company was ultimately sanctioned for price fixing (by requiring distributors to sell at a fixed price) and failing to police income representations.[10]

In 1989, DeVos left Amway to start a new business venture, The Windquest Group, a multi-company management group involved in the manufacture and marketing of storage and closet organizers. When the DeVos family acquired the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic basketball franchise in 1991, DeVos became president and CEO of the team. He left both positions in January 1993 to rejoin Amway as its president, succeeding his father, Amway co-founder Rich DeVos.

In 2000, DeVos oversaw a corporate restructuring that created Alticor, the new parent company of predecessor Amway, as well as subsidiary companies Access Business Group and Quixtar. Under DeVos, Alticor expanded operations to more than 50 countries and territories on six continents. In a 20-month span, Alticor cut over 1,300 jobs (primarily in Michigan) during this restructuring, with 400 of them being buyouts and early retirement.[11] Job cuts were one of several cut backs made during the corporate restructuring of Amway in order to expedite the return to profitability and prevent further downsizing or the possible loss of the company.

DeVos retired as president of Alticor in August 2002. In that fiscal year, Alticor reported sales of $4.5 billion, primarily through its more than 3.5 million mostly part-time sales force and its complementary e-commerce channel. After retiring from Alticor, DeVos returned to become president of The Windquest Group.

As of 2007, DeVos sits on the board of directors of the Education Freedom Fund, which provides money for families to send children to private schools. He is the author of the 1998 book Rediscovering American Values.

Political activities prior to 2006

Dick DeVos is president of the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation, a Grand Rapids area foundation that has donated thousands of dollars to religious and free-market economic organizations since 1990.[12] In 1990, DeVos won election to the Michigan State Board of Education, and resigned two years into his eight-year term. In 1996, DeVos was appointed by Governor John Engler to the Grand Valley State University Board of Control. He resigned in 2000 after missing 16 of 27 meetings.[13] This occurred during the time that DeVos was responsible for leading the corporate restructuring of Amway.

School vouchers

DeVos and his wife became co-chairs of what is now the Education Freedom Fund in 1993. The Fund provides private scholarships to children of low-income families in Michigan with wishes to attend private schools. DeVos also sits on the board of a national organization, the Children's Scholarship Fund, which provides similar scholarships across the country. When the Children's Scholarship Fund provided $7.5 million to the Education Freedom Fund, the DeVoses matched the grant, and their foundation covers all of the administrative costs of the organization. Pro-privatization groups such as the Children's Scholarship Fund use charitable scholarship programs as part of their campaign to build support for publicly funded vouchers, in part by favoring religious schools in how it awards its grants.[14]

In 2000, DeVos was the co-chairman of the "Kids First! Yes!" campaign committee, which sponsored a ballot-initiative that would have amended the Michigan constitution to allow vouchers and tuition tax credits for private K-12 education. The initiative lost, with 69% of voters opposing the measure.[15]

The Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation has also given money to groups like the American Education Reform Council, Choices for Children, and Children First America, in addition to funding Christian schools in the West Michigan area.[16]

Funding for other organizations

The foundation has funded organizations such as Michigan Family Forum, an affiliate of the national group Focus on the Family; the Institute for Marriage Policy; the National Day of Prayer Task Force; the Council for National Policy (of which DeVos is a member); and the Michigan-based Foundation for Traditional Values, among others.[17]

Free-market economics

The foundation has also given money to organizations which promote free-market economics, such as the Grand Rapids-based Acton Institute; the Heritage Foundation; and the Hudson Institute. Also the DeVos family has contributed much to Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. This includes various donations of scholarships, buildings and uncountable financial donations. [18]

Criticism

The pro-LGBT group Triangle Foundation of Michigan claimed Dick and Betsy DeVos of supporting the American Family Association's boycott of Michigan based Ford Motor Company.[19]

The AFL-CIO has claimed that DeVos has exported Michigan jobs in the past, supports trade agreements that encourage further outsourcing, and lobbied for tax breaks that benefit big businesses instead of workers. The AFL-CIO has since endorsed incumbent Democratic governor Jennifer Granholm.[20]

2006 gubernatorial candidacy

Main article: Michigan gubernatorial election, 2006

On June 2, 2005, at Mackinac Island, DeVos announced his candidacy to be governor of Michigan. He is still considered to be the wealthiest man to run for statewide office in Michigan's history.[21] As of October 27, 2006, the DeVos campaign had spent $39 million, of which nearly $35 million was DeVos's own money.[22] This paid for billboards in Detroit, some of which were vandalized to read "DeVil For Governor, Enough is Enough: Vote for Satan" instead of "DeVos For Governor, Enough is Enough: Vote for Change."[23]

On November 7, 2006 DeVos was defeated by Democratic incumbent Jennifer Granholm by a 14-point margin.[2][3][4] He congratulated the re-elected Granholm via phone after the results were in; Granholm was quoted as saying she "admired his tenacity and his passion for Michigan".[24]

Economic issues

Since announcing his candidacy, he went to all 83 Michigan counties and conducted a week-long statewide bus tour beginning on May 1, 2006. The campaign focused on the economy, as Michigan has had one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, largely attributed to a decline in the domestic automotive industry.

Social issues

Intelligent design

While DeVos had been focusing his comments on Michigan's dismal economy rather than on potentially divisive social issues, he expressed supplementing standard evolutionary theories with alternative theories including intelligent design in science classes,[25][26] indicating in a press release[dead link] that he believes it should be left to local control. He has been criticized by the National Center for Science Education for this stance,[27] and by the Michigan Citizens For Science for what they call engaging in doubletalk.[28]

Abortion and embryonic stem cells

On October 2, 2006, DeVos had his first debate against incumbent governor Jennifer Granholm. During the debate, he stated his personal opposition to both expanding embryonic stem cell research and abortion without exceptions.[29][30] DeVos mentioned in an interview at a Catholic radio station that he favors overturning Roe vs. Wade.[31] In a subsequent debate, he stated that current laws in Michigan are acceptable.[32] On October 2008, Dick Devos donated $200,000 to the PAC opposing Michigan State Proposal - 08-2 (2008).[33]

Current posts and board memberships

  • President, The Windquest Group, 2002–present
  • Chairman, Board of Directors, World Federation of Direct Selling Associations, 2002–present (Board Member since 2000)
  • Governing Board, Orlando Magic, 1994–present
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Thunderbird School of Global Management, 2003–present
  • Member, Board of Directors, Willow Creek Association, 1997–present
  • Member, Michigan Business Roundtable, 1997–present (Co-Chairman, 1997; Chairman, 1998)
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Blodgett/Butterworth Health Care Foundation; 1994–present (Board Member since 1990)
  • Co-Chairman, Grand Action Committee, 1992–present (Chairman, Grand Vision Committee, 1991–1992)
  • Member, Board of Directors, Education Freedom Fund, 2005–present (Chairman, 1994–2005)

References

  1. ^ Topic Galleries – chicagotribune.com[dead link]
  2. ^ a b "Elections 2006". CNN.com. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/MI/. Retrieved 2010-01-26. 
  3. ^ a b "2006 Official Michigan General Election Results – Governor 4 Year Term (1) Position". Miboecfr.nictusa.com. http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/06GEN/02000000.html. Retrieved 2010-01-26. 
  4. ^ a b "http://www.clickondetroit.com/politics/10219654/detail.html". Clickondetroit.com. http://www.clickondetroit.com/politics/10219654/detail.html. Retrieved 2010-01-26. 
  5. ^ [1][dead link]
  6. ^ [2][dead link]
  7. ^ New York Times, 8 October 2007 – Blackwater chief at nexus of military and businesss
  8. ^ Hornbeck, Mark (2006-06-23). "Who is Dick DeVos?". Detroit News. http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060623/POLITICS/606230320/1374/POLITICS01. Retrieved 2006-09-10. [dead link]
  9. ^ "Race to Mackinac: Current Standings". Chicago Yacht Club. http://racetomac.nemexinc.com/results.cfm. Retrieved 2008-07-25. [dead link]
  10. ^ "In the matter of Amway Corporation, Inc., et al. Final order, opinion, etc., in regard to alleged violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act". http://www.mlmlaw.com/library/cases/mlm/ftc/amway.htm. Retrieved 2006-09-10. 
  11. ^ Christoff, Chris (2006-05-23). "DeVos calls for 'complete overhaul' of state government". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070927220956/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060523/NEWS11/60523014. Retrieved 2006-09-10. [dead link]
  12. ^ "The Far Right in West Michigan: Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation". Media Mouse: Grand Rapids Independent Media. http://www.mediamouse.org/resources/right.php?foundId=5. Retrieved 2006-10-12. 
  13. ^ Golder, Ed (2006-09-20). "Democrats question DeVos' commitment". Grand Rapids Press. http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-32/115876388645780.xml&coll=6. Retrieved 2006-09-20. [dead link]
  14. ^ "A Profile of Dick DeVos". People for the American Way Foundation. Archived from the original on September 27, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060927213630/http://media.pfaw.org/PDF/vouchers/9-6-06_DickDeVosVoucherProfile.pdf. Retrieved 2006-09-30. 
  15. ^ "Education prominent in elections". Michigan Education Report. Mackinac Center for Public Policy. 2001-01-10. http://www.mackinac.org/pubs/mer/article.asp?ID=3217. Retrieved 2006-09-10. 
  16. ^ "Dick and Betsy DeVos Funding the Far Right through Foundation Grants". Media Mouse: Grand Rapids Independent Media. 2006-10-05. http://www.mediamouse.org/features/100506dick_.php. Retrieved 2006-10-12. 
  17. ^ "The Far Right in West Michigan: Dick DeVos". Media Mouse: Grand Rapids Independent Media. http://www.mediamouse.org/resources/right.php?personId=5. Retrieved 2006-10-12. 
  18. ^ "DeVos Claims to be Public Education Advocate; Granholm Supports Militarization of the US-Mexico Border at Second Gubernatorial Debate". Media Mouse—Grand Rapids Independent Media. 2006-10-12. http://www.mediamouse.org/features/101206devos.php. Retrieved 2006-10-30. 
  19. ^ "Dick DeVos Connected to Religious Right Boycott of Ford Motor Company". Media Mouse—Grand Rapids Independent Media. 2006-09-07. http://www.mediamouse.org/features/090706dick_.php. Retrieved 2006-09-13. 
  20. ^ "Straight Facts About Our Candidates". 2006-10-24. http://aflcio.org/issues/politics/labor2006/upload/MI_govrace.pdf. Retrieved 2006-10-24. 
  21. ^ Bell, Dawson (2006-04-01). "In wealth, DeVos runs in 1st place". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on May 29, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060529194817/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006604010317. Retrieved 2006-09-10. 
  22. ^ Luke, Peter (2006-10-27). "Gubernatorial race likely to cost more than $65 million". Booth Newspapers. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070930181315/http://www.mlive.com/news/statewide/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1161992415201140.xml&coll=1. Retrieved 2006-10-27. [dead link]
  23. ^ L. Muliolis, "DeVil For Governor" The South End (Detroit) October 26, 2006, p. 1
  24. ^ [3][dead link]
  25. ^ Christoff, Chris; Higgins, Lori (2006-09-21). "Intelligent design OK for science class, DeVos says". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on March 28, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070328085653/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006609210320. Retrieved 2006-09-21. 
  26. ^ "DeVos: Science teachers should be allowed to present intelligent design". Detroit Free Press. 2006-09-20. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070107130550/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060920/NEWS99/60920015. Retrieved 2006-09-26. [dead link]
  27. ^ "Creationism in Michigan gubernatorial race". 2006-09-22. http://ncse.com/news/2006/09/creationism-michigan-gubernatorial-race-00829. Retrieved 2009-11-12. 
  28. ^ Pennock, Robert (2006-09-22). "MCFS Press Release on DeVos Campaign Falsely Claiming Misrepresentation". Michigan Citizens for Science. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070704151725/http://michigancitizensforscience.org/main/nfblog/2006/09/22/mcfs-press-release-on-devos-campaign-falsely-claiming-misrepresentation/. Retrieved 2006-09-23. 
  29. ^ Crumm, Charles (2006-10-03). "First debate draws varied reactions". Oakland Press. http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/100306/loc_2006100327.shtml. Retrieved 2006-10-03. [dead link]
  30. ^ Finley, Nolan (2006-10-03). "Gubernatorial debate sticks to script". Detroit News. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061003/UPDATE/610030424. Retrieved 2006-10-03. [dead link]
  31. ^ Barks Hoffman, Kathy (2006-10-13). "DeVos says he'd be 'thrilled' if Roe v. Wade is overturned". Lansing State Journal (AP). http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061013/NEWS01/610130350/1001/news. Retrieved 2006-10-13. [dead link]
  32. ^ "DeVos voices opinions on abortion". WOODTV.com (AP). 2006-10-13. http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5534139&nav=0Rcd. Retrieved 2006-10-13. [dead link]
  33. ^ Mike Connell, "Have you read a good ballot lately?[dead link]," Port Huron Times Herald

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