15 Business and Community Leaders
Supporting the Campaign

Oakland County, Michigan —  Today, fifteen respected business and community leaders from across Southeast Michigan launched Builders for Don, a new coalition backing former Ford engineering leader and congressional candidate Don Ufford for Michigan’s 11th District. 

The group includes small-business owners, technology entrepreneurs, workforce-training leaders, and automotive leaders who are supporting Ufford because of his record as a builder and problem-solver.

“My whole life has been about building things, including cars, teams, and opportunities for people,” said Ufford. “To have the support of leaders who are out there building our communities every day means a great deal. These are people who keep our local economy running, who hire and train workers, and who create opportunities for families. I’m honored to have them on this team.”

Members of Builders for Don highlighted Ufford’s credibility on economic issues, his decades of experience at Ford, and his commitment to building things in Michigan and lowering costs for Michigan families.

“As an entrepreneur, I know that real innovation requires more than just talk,” said Alex Linebrink, CEO of Passage Inc.”I’ve known Don Ufford for years, and I’ve seen firsthand that he has the vision and practical experience we need to rebuild Michigan’s focus on innovation and small business growth.”

Another member, Lizabeth Ardisana, CEO of ASG Renaissance, added: “Don Ufford knows what it takes to build things here in Michigan, grow our economy, and create opportunity for everyday people. It’s time for an outsider and a builder to go to Congress to get things done for Michigan.”

Members of ‘Builders for Don’ include:

1. Lizabeth Ardisana, CEO of ASG Renaissance

2. William Osborne, Former CEO, Ford of Canada, Ford of Australia, & Senior Vice President, Operations at Boeing 

3. David Darbyshire, Engineer/Co-Owner, Cyb Llings, Inc.

4. Marjie Jenkins, Robotics Center Coordinator, MARZ & ​​Lead Mentor for Robotics Team 469

5. Mark Mikolaiczik, Former Body Exterior Chief Engineer, Ford Motor Company

6. Holly Groszko, Digital Learning Specialist

7. Alex Linebrink, CEO of Passage Inc.

8. Christine Ramaekers, Co-Founder, MainStreet DesignBuild

9. Michael Devine, Registered Architect

10. Dan Radomski, CEO of Centropolis Accelerator at Lawrence Tech University

11. Steve Przesmitzki, Executive Director of Automotive Technology Company

12. Susan Pacheco, Former Global Strategy Director, Ford Motor Company

13. Carrie Majeske, Former Director of Global Sustainability Integration, Ford Motor Company

14. Rob Stevens, Board of Directors, Next Energy

15. Sahar Omrani, VP of Product Management

Ufford emphasized that this growing coalition reflects the campaign’s message of building a stronger Michigan by lowering costs, investing in workforce training, strengthening manufacturing, and protecting essential freedoms.

“This campaign is built on the belief that Michigan’s best days are ahead if we focus on solutions instead of shouting matches,” Ufford said. “We’re building something real here, and I’m proud to have these leaders helping drive it forward.”

“Builders for Don”

Lizabeth Ardisana, CEO of ASG Renaissance: “Don Ufford knows what it takes to build things here in Michigan, grow our economy, and create opportunity for everyday people. It’s time for an outsider and a builder to go to Congress to get things done for Michigan.”

William Osborne, Former CEO, Ford of Canada, Ford of Australia, & Senior Vice President, Operations at Boeing: “I am supporting Don, because he gets things done. He has spent his whole career serving others and has always fought to give opportunities to others.”

David Darbyshire, Engineer/Co-Owner, Cyb Llings, Inc: “Don Ufford is action orientated as it relates to economic and workforce development in a manner that is mutually beneficial for our technical community. I have known Don to be a dedicated engineering mentor for the high school FIRST Robotics team located in Pontiac. He is a proven resource connector leveraging his role with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) along with the U.S. Department of Commerce. I believe that his professional experience and passion for our community will provide valuable insight that will prove to be beneficial as Don looks to serve our industry partners and technical workforce.”

Marjie Jenkins, Robotics Center Coordinator, MARZ & ​​Lead Mentor for Robotics Team 469: “Don Ufford has been a mentor to our First Robotics students for years, helping young people find a path to a good job where they can work with their hands. We need people like him in Congress.”

Mark Mikolaiczik, Former Body Exterior Chief Engineer, Ford Motor Company: “I have had the pleasure of knowing Don Ufford for approximately 14 years. We worked closely together at Ford Motor Company to deliver outstanding products for our customers.   Don consistently demonstrated a mindset of doing the right thing for our customers. I also had the pleasure of leading Boy Scout Troop 1537 with Don. Don was amazing with the Scouts! He consistently demonstrated a positive, enthusiastic attitude that brought the best out of all of our Scouts.” 

Holly Groszko, Digital Learning Specialist: “Don has principles that he will stand by in Congress. He will not be intimidated or bullied.”

Alex Linebrink, CEO of Passage Inc: “As an entrepreneur, I know that real innovation requires more than just talk. I’ve known Don Ufford for years, and I’ve seen firsthand that he has the vision and practical experience we need to rebuild Michigan’s focus on innovation and small business growth.”

Christine Ramaekers, Co-Founder, MainStreet DesignBuild: “As a retired small business owner myself, I know that Don will do what it takes to make life easier for small businesses, make life more affordable for families, and make Michigan a place where everyone has a real opportunity.”

Michael Devine, Registered Architect: “Don Ufford is an excellent candidate for Congress! I first met Don nearly twenty years ago when our sons became Cub Scouts together. His passion, enthusiasm and leadership capabilities helped motivate 10 Scouts from the original Cub Scout Den, my son included, into becoming Eagle Scouts.  Don’s contributions to Scouting, along with his involvement in other organizations such as Lighthouse, a local food pantry, SCORE, which provides mentoring and training for small business owners, and his work with the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, are indicative of his passion for serving his community both locally and at large.  Don has proven to be one the most honorable and dedicated people I've ever met, both in word and deed.  Simply put, Don Ufford is a qualified and experienced leader who encourages and motivates others around him to be and do better by sharing their talents in order to accomplish common goals for the benefit of the community. For these reasons, I strongly recommend you vote for Don Ufford in the upcoming 2026 election.”

Dan Radomski, CEO of Centropolis Accelerator at Lawrence Tech University: “I’m supporting Don Ufford for Congress (MI-11) because — grounded in his real-world manufacturing and engineering experience — he has the practical know-how to fight for Michigan jobs, scale up manufacturing capacity, and ensure our state remains competitive as the auto and battery industries evolve. His decades as an engineer at Ford Motor Company, where he led global vehicle-engineering teams, give him a deep understanding of what it takes to build sustainable, high-quality manufacturing jobs that benefit working families.”

Steve Przesmitzki, Executive Director of Automotive Technology Company: “I am supporting Don for Congress because Michigan needs it. My experience with Don began several years ago when Don was working in the White House and we were trying to bring more manufacturing presence to Michigan. He continued to support our efforts, while at NIST as a federal employee, and even afterward as a retiree before he decided to run for Congress. He shows a true dedication to helping industries in Michigan thrive and has the professional background to know what needs to be done, particularly for the automotive industry.”

Susan Pacheco, Former Global Strategy Director, Ford Motor Company: “This is such a critical moment in our history and it gives me great hope that Don Ufford is our candidate for Congress. I worked with Don for many years. His success in leadership and technical intellect and capability is well documented. For me, it is his kindness, honesty, and commitment to understanding people that drive him and his success. Above everything else, Don cares deeply about people. It is exactly what we need.”

Carrie Majeske, Former Director of Global Sustainability Integration, Ford Motor Company: “I enthusiastically support Don Ufford for U.S. Congress. I’ve known Don as a coworker, where he resolved complicated problems by identifying stakeholders, listening, finding common ground, and developing & implementing plans. Don exhibits the highest standards of integrity, intelligence and kindness. I’m aligned with Don’s priorities around health care, education, and job creation in Michigan and know he will represent his constituents with commitment and unlimited positive energy!”

Rob Stevens, Board of Directors, Next Energy: “​​I worked with Don for a number of years. As a leader, he has a proven ability to unite people across wide-ranging visions, even in challenging times. His steady, results-driven approach shows that he not only listens to diverse perspectives, but also knows how to turn good ideas into real progress. With a clear sense of purpose and determination, he consistently gets things done.” 

Sahar Omrani, VP of Product Management:  "I’m supporting Don because of his reputation as a bridge builder. His industry background gives him a grounded, problem-solving approach that I think would make a meaningful impact on Michigan."

About Don Ufford
Don Ufford is a former Ford engineer and business leader who lives in Bloomfield Township. He rose through the ranks at Ford Motor Company to become Director of Global Vehicle Engineering, where he helped lead development of the Ford Escape and new models of the Mustang and F-150. In 2020, Don joined the federal government to strengthen American manufacturing and economic growth, serving at the Department of Commerce, NIST, and the Made in America Office at OMB, where he fought to secure more than $50 million for Michigan workforce training initiatives.

Don has spent decades giving back to his community, serving as a Scout Leader for 40 years, mentoring STEM students through First Robotics, and supporting local small businesses. He and his wife Rebecca live with their dog, Newton. They have two grown children — their son, a West Point graduate serving in the U.S. Army, and their daughter, who is in medical school.

Learn more at www.ufford4michigan.com. Watch the campaign’s launch video here. Follow Don on social media: Facebook | Instagram | X | Bluesky.

###