Stephen Polk, President and CEO, Highgate LLC

0:00We're very happy to see our old friend, Stephen Polk. He is the president and CEO of Highgate LLCs. We continue to broadcast live from the Detroit Economic Club, thanks to Steve Gregorian and our friend Jan, who always takes good care of his here, and DFCU for sponsoring the broadcast as well. Stephen Polk, you and Bobby, I know this, you might get annoying that I bring this up every time I see you, but I'm never going to forget the millions of dollars you gave to the Detroit Zoo for the Polk Penguin Conservation Center. I trust that's still going well. It is going very well, Paul. We appreciate that gift that your family gave to us. Tell us about Highgate LLC. I don't know anything about it. Highgate is basically a family office. It was created after our company business was sold and the family continued on. It's like you see, to continue investing in the local community and the office is part of the extension of that.

1:00Your board member and sponsor also of this Detroit Economic Club. You're a staunch reporter and you don't send your supporter around easily. There's a reason for that. Very proud to be a supporter of the Economic Club here. I think they're a mission of keeping best possible speakers coming to the city and enlightening the folks in this community. It's really a wonderful mission they have. I see that too that you're keeping your hand in the Metro Detroit business community with peninsula composites offshore spars as carbon fiber fabrication operation in Chesterfield Township. A little business up in Chesterfield Township, who got involved with that a couple of years ago now. It's really exciting to see the opportunities that it's brought. That's another business that I invested in. We're trying to grow this business and substantially expanding what we're doing with work that supports some defense interesty work and a lot of marine industry work. And other general applications. Carbon fiber is really an amazing, amazing product to work with.

2:00Oh, it is. And there's so many applications. And you're in the midst. I think of planning your 25th Bayview Yacht Club sailboat race from port here on the Maconaw. Yeah, that's a big milestone for me. 25 years ago. You'll be able to sail the race this summer in the same boat that I did 25 years ago. Isn't that something? It is. And by the way, it was a while ago now. But in 2017, if I'm not mistaken, you were inducted into the automotive hall of fame. No, that wasn't. Not 2017. I am not in the automotive hall of fame. I'm not bored. I was chairman of the automotive hall of fame. Okay, maybe that's what they meant when they wrote this. Someone did research all differently. Chairman. Anything could happen when research is handed to me. That's for sure. So you were chairman of the automotive hall of fame. Good for you. I was. Yeah. How's that going, by the way? Automotive hall of fame is doing very well. It's a wonderful organization. They continue to honor the industry and the legacy of the industry here in Detroit and around the world. And they do a great place to visit out in Dearborn. The last guy I remember being inducted actually was probably Keith Crane.

3:03Oh, Keith, that was a well back. We're still regularly inducting every year. There's a full induction ceremony. Well, put me back on the list for the press releases. I've not been staying on top of that. We'll make that happen, Paul. Stephen, we appreciate you being here. President CEO of Highgate LLC. Chair of the Detroit Regional Chamber Board of Directors. Stephen has really been highly successful in helping businesses achieve maximum results. And then remember his RL Polk and company where he served as chairman president and CEO when the business was sold to IHS. My goodness, that was July of 2013. It's been a while now. Yep, but you've kept very busy doing great things for the community. Well, thank you very much, Paul. And my heart certainly best wishes and prayers for the people at Temple Israel. Well, we all feel the same and best to your lovely wife, Bobby. Well, thank you very much, Paul. And my heart certainly best wishes and prayers for the people at Temple Israel. Well, we all feel the same and best to your lovely wife, Bobby. Well, we all feel the same and best to your lovely wife, Bobby. Well, we all feel the same and best to your lovely wife, Bobby. Well, we all feel the same and best to your lovely wife, Bobby. Well, we all feel the same and best to your lovely wife, Bobby.

4:03Well, we all feel the same and best to your lovely wife, Bobby. Well, we all feel the same and best to your lovely wife, Bobby.