Michael S. Rafferty

President and Chief Executive Officer, New Detroit, Inc.

Michael S. Rafferty is the President and Chief Executive Officer of New Detroit, Inc. Rafferty has more than 20 years of experience in leadership, project management; supporting community and regional economic development; advocacy for small businesses and nonprofits; and analyzing and advising local municipalities and politicians on policy.

In his nearly five years since joining New Detroit, Rafferty has ushered in the Just Institute, a comprehensive suite of industry-specific certified training and consulting. The Just Institute provides participants with interactive learning and customized action plans to create racially equitable policies and practices. One of the core programs of Just Institute, Just Care, customized for the healthcare industry, has been positively evaluated by John Hopkins and meets state licensing requirements under the Michigan Public Health Code. Rafferty also leads New Detroit’s major annual conference, Just Lead, coming on its third year in 2024, which brings business, municipal, nonprofit, and racial justice leaders together from around the region and nation.

Under Rafferty’s leadership, New Detroit has received many recognitions and awards including, but not limited to: the National Diversity Council’s 2023 Racial Justice and DE&I Advocacy award; Corp! Magazine’s Best of MichBusiness Award; and named as one of Crain’s Detroit Business 2021 Metro Detroit’s Best Managed Nonprofits. He has instituted several townhalls and provides thought leadership in Detroit’s daily newspapers and magazines on racial equity locally and nationally.

Previously, Rafferty was vice president of Small Business Services at the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, where he developed and led strategies, programs, and initiatives that support new and existing businesses in their efforts to thrive in Detroit.

Rafferty serves as a board member for several profit and nonprofit organizations including but not limited to: Henry Ford Health, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, TechTown, and Jefferson East Inc. He earned a master’s degree in urban planning with a concentration in economic development from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan; and a bachelor’s degree in communications from St. Mary’s College in Orchard Lake, Michigan.

He has received several honors and awards including Crain Detroit Business’s recognition as a Notable Executive in DEI; the Sue Marx Smock Graduate Fellowship Award for Urban Research; the Business Visionary Award from the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and the Michigan Chronicle’s Men of Excellence award; Corp! Magazine’s Michigan Salute to Diversity Award.