10 Years Later, DNEP Co-Founder Christie Baer to Step Down as Managing Director

Baer to depart in advance of DNEP’s move into new U-M Center for Innovation building; University of Michigan now accepting applications for successor

Letter from DNEP creator Christie Baer to DNEP clients:

My Beloved Detroit Entrepreneurs,

A few weeks ago, I made a hard decision, which is that the time has come for me to step aside as managing director of DNEP.

I created the University of Michigan’s Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project ten years ago starting from zero. DNEP is now one of Detroit’s largest business support organizations for microbusinesses, deploying 130 supervised students per year as professional service providers for 350 businesses annually.

It’s the only university-based program in the US that provides multidisciplinary services via long-term relationships, at no cost to entrepreneurs. Through DNEP, thousands of U-M students have taken their first steps into their new professional identities as accountants, lawyers, designers, data scientists, and business consultants by working as advisors to your businesses. In so doing, they learned to lift up the visions of Detroit resident-led businesses. I am so proud of them, of you, and the collaborative ecosystem of support we have created.

I have also had more fun than is reasonable. Collaborating with you to create first-in-the-nation programs like Free Accounting Fridays and Community Tech Consulting has been the best kind of challenging. I have loved seeing your businesses evolve, and loved more watching your kids grow up as entrepreneurs by osmosis because they (begrudgingly) joined CFO Boot Camp as your +1. 

This August, DNEP will exit our pop-up phase, and move into a home of our own inside the U-M Center for Innovation on Grand River. Because I was trained as a community organizer, I know what it takes to create a vibrant and inclusive space for your community — it’s about 20% design, programming, and symbols, 5% snacks, and 75% about having a near-constant physical presence on-site. It’s time for me to let a Detroiter step in from here to activate our new small business hub, and lead the organization. My last day will be December 31, and the job posting for my position is now up, with the goal of filing the position by early January.

I am leaving you in excellent hands. Faculty director Jerry Davis and program and business development manager Siobhan Barrett will stay on, as will our seven accounting consultants and the three executives in residence who mentor them. CFO Boot Camp will kick off this Friday as planned. And if you need technology help, Community Tech Consultant Donovan at Live6 Alliance is one click away.

THANK YOU, Detroiters, for allowing me to be part of your community. It has been an honor. I can’t wait to see what you — and DNEP — do next.