FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Sept. 16, 2019
Contact: Kimberly Palter
Phone: (313) 483-1326
Email: kimberlypalter@wayne.edu
Suzanne Shank named TechTown Detroit’s 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year
Invest Detroit will receive Small Business Champion Award at Toast of the Town Salute Awards Oct. 10
TechTown Detroit today announced it will honor Suzanne Shank as the TechTown 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year at its fourth annual Salute Awards, to be presented as part of the Toast of the Town celebration of entrepreneurship Oct. 10. The event, celebrating TechTown’s 15 years, will take place at TechTown Detroit with the award ceremony starting at 6 p.m. across the street at the Wayne State University Industry Innovation Center.
Shank was selected as TechTown Entrepreneur of the Year for her exceptional successes and embodiment of the spirit of entrepreneurship. As chairwoman, CEO and co-founder of investment banking firm Siebert Cisneros Shank & Co., LLC, Shank led the firm from a startup to the top-ranked women-owned and minority-owned municipal bond underwriter on Wall Street leading the efforts to finance our nation’s infrastructure.
Shank has been widely recognized for her achievements throughout her career, being named one of the “100 Most Influential Women” in 2016 by Crain’s Detroit Business, one of the “Top 25 Women in Finance” by U.S. Banker Magazine, and one of the “50 Most Influential Black Women in Business” and “75 Most Powerful Blacks on Wall Street” by Enterprise Magazine. She received the “She’s Our Hero” award by Women in Public Finance, amongst several other accolades.
“We are thrilled to showcase Suzanne Shank as TechTown’s Entrepreneur of the Year,” said Ned Staebler, president and CEO of TechTown Detroit. “Not only did she lead her company from a startup to participating in more than $2 trillion in municipal bond, corporate bond and equity transactions, but she is extremely active in our community. Suzanne is the perfect representation of entrepreneurial success at the highest level here in Detroit.”
TechTown will also honor Invest Detroit with its Small Business Champion Award. Invest Detroit is a mission-driven lender, investor and partner that supports business and real estate projects in a way that is strategic and inclusive. Working with philanthropy and nonprofits like TechTown, they aim to support new and existing businesses in Detroit so that all business owners have the opportunity to thrive. President and CEO Dave Blaszkiewicz’s service on TechTown’s inaugural board of directors exemplifies Invest Detroit’s long-term and unwavering commitment to TechTown and the success of the clients it serves.
The six 2019 TechTown On Tap Awards nominees for TechTown clients who reached significant milestones will be released at a later date with the two winning companies shared live at the Salute Awards.
In addition to the Salute Awards, the 2019 Toast of the Town will feature a strolling dinner, signature cocktails, a silent auction and musical entertainment. Toast of the Town is presented by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation with additional support from Accenture, the DTE Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and the New Economy Initiative. Tickets are still available at techtowndetroit.org/toast.