Dick DeVos

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Dick DeVos
Dick DeVos

Dick DeVos (born Richard 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 dollars.[1] Ultimately, DeVos lost on November 7, 2006, to Democratic incumbent Jennifer Granholm.[2][3][4]

Contents

[edit] Family and early life

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S., Dick 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. [1]

His wife, Betsy DeVos, is the sister of Blackwater USA president Erik Prince and she is the former chairperson of the Michigan Republican Party.[5][dead link] Betsy and Dick have four children: Rick, Elissa, Andrea, and Ryan.[6]

[edit] Business activities

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.[7] The FTC now requires that Amway and Quixtar publish an SA4400, which shows that more than 99% of all distributors lose money each year. [8]

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.[9] 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.

In 2006 was presented with the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship by Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution in recognition of his philanthropy.

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.

[edit] 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. [10] 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.[11] This occurred during the time that DeVos was responsible for leading the corporate restructuring of Amway.

[edit] 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 Scholarhip 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.[12]

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.[13]

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.[14]

[edit] 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.[15]

[edit] 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 Insitute [16]

[edit] Criticism

The pro-LGBT social movements group Triangle Foundation of Michigan accused Dick and Betsy DeVos of supporting the American Family Association's boycott of Michigan based Ford Motor Company.[17]


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.[18]

[edit] 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 considered to be the wealthiest man to run for statewide office in Michigan's history.[19] As of October 27, 2006, the DeVos campaign has spent $39 million, of which nearly $35 million was DeVos's own money.[20] 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."[21]

On November 7, 2006 DeVos was defeated by Democratic incumbent Jennifer Granholm by a 14-point margin.[22][23][24] 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".[25]

[edit] 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.

[edit] Social issues

[edit] Intelligent design

While DeVos had been focusing his comments on Michigan's dismal economy rather than on potentially divisive social issues, he expressed support for the choice to teach intelligent design in science classes [26][27], indicating in a press release that he believes it should be left to local control. He has been criticized by the National Center for Science Education for this stance[28], and by the Michigan Citizens For Science for what they call engaging in doubletalk.[29]

[edit] Abortion and embryonic stem cells

On October 2, DeVos had his first debate against incumbent governor Jennifer Granholm. During the debate, he stated his opposition to both embryonic stem cell research and abortion in all circumstances.[30][31] DeVos mentioned in an interview at a Catholic radio station that he favors overturning Roe vs. Wade.[32] In a subsequent debate, he stated that "our current laws as it relates to abortion in Michigan are sufficient."[33]

[edit] 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, The Gavin School of International 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)

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/michigan/chi-ap-mi-governorsrace-fu,1,5804419.story?coll=chi-newsap_mi-hed
  2. ^ CNN.com - Elections 2006
  3. ^ 2006 Official Michigan General Election Results - Governor 4 Year Term (1) Position
  4. ^ http://www.clickondetroit.com/politics/10219654/detail.html
  5. ^ Cain, Charlie; Hornbeck, Mark (2006-06-23). Betsy DeVos Steps Out of Political Spotlight. Detroit News. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
  6. ^ Hornbeck, Mark (2006-06-23). Who is Dick DeVos?. Detroit News. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
  7. ^ In the matter of Amway Corporation, Inc., et al. Final order, opinion, etc., in regard to alleged violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
  8. ^ Edwards, Paul and Sarah; Economy, Peter (2005). Eluding Scams, Rip-Offs and Other Headaches. Home Based Business for Dummies, 2nd edition. Retrieved on 2006-09-26.
  9. ^ Christoff, Chris (2006-05-23). DeVos calls for 'complete overhaul' of state government. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
  10. ^ The Far Right in West Michigan: Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation. Media Mouse: Grand Rapids Independent Media. Retrieved on 2006-10-12.
  11. ^ Golder, Ed (2006-09-20). Democrats question DeVos' commitment. Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved on 2006-09-20.
  12. ^ A Profile of Dick DeVos. People for the American Way Foundation. Retrieved on 2006-09-30.
  13. ^ Education prominent in elections. Michigan Education Report. Mackinac Center for Public Policy (2001-01-10). Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
  14. ^ Dick and Betsy DeVos Funding the Far Right through Foundation Grants. Media Mouse: Grand Rapids Independent Media (2006-10-05). Retrieved on 2006-10-12.
  15. ^ The Far Right in West Michigan: Dick DeVos. Media Mouse: Grand Rapids Independent Media. Retrieved on 2006-10-12.
  16. ^ 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). Retrieved on 2006-10-30.
  17. ^ Dick DeVos Connected to Religious Right Boycott of Ford Motor Company. Media Mouse--Grand Rapids Independent Media (2006-09-07). Retrieved on 2006-09-13.
  18. ^ Straight Facts About Our Candidates (2006-10-24). Retrieved on 2006-10-24.
  19. ^ Bell, Dawson (2006-04-01). In wealth, DeVos runs in 1st place. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
  20. ^ Luke, Peter (2006-10-27). Gubernatorial race likely to cost more than $65 million. Booth Newspapers. Retrieved on 2006-10-27.
  21. ^ L. Muliolis, "DeVil For Governor" The South End (Detroit) October 26, 2006, p. 1
  22. ^ CNN.com - Elections 2006
  23. ^ 2006 Official Michigan General Election Results - Governor 4 Year Term (1) Position
  24. ^ http://www.clickondetroit.com/politics/10219654/detail.html
  25. ^ Detnews.com | This article is no longer available online
  26. ^ Christoff, Chris; Higgins, Lori (2006-09-21). Intelligent design OK for science class, DeVos says. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
  27. ^ DeVos: Science teachers should be allowed to present intelligent design. Detroit Free Press (2006-09-20). Retrieved on 2006-09-26.
  28. ^ Creationism in Michigan gubernatorial race (2006-09-22). Retrieved on 2006-09-23.
  29. ^ Pennock, Robert (2006-09-22). MCFS Press Release on DeVos Campaign Falsely Claiming Misrepresentation. Michigan Citizens for Science. Retrieved on 2006-09-23.
  30. ^ Crumm, Charles (2006-10-03). First debate draws varied reactions. Oakland Press. Retrieved on 2006-10-03.
  31. ^ Finley, Nolan (2006-10-03). Gubernatorial debate sticks to script. Detroit News. Retrieved on 2006-10-03.
  32. ^ Barks Hoffman, Kathy (2006-10-13). DeVos says he'd be 'thrilled' if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Lansing State Journal (AP). Retrieved on 2006-10-13.
  33. ^ DeVos voices opinions on abortion. WOODTV.com (AP) (2006-10-13). Retrieved on 2006-10-13.

[edit] External links

[edit] Official Websites

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