DENNIS ARCHER, JR., ESQ

Dennis W. Archer Jr., Esq., the Chairman & CEO of sixteen42 ventures, works each day to live his mentor, Charles Allen’s mantra “doing well while doing good”. Throughout his business career, Dennis has continuously worked to push his companies, boards and any organizations with which he works to ensure they are ahead of the game as it relates to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and to open the door of rooms to which he’s invited to those deserving to join but not on the list. Sixteen42 is the parent company to a number of operating companies and strategic investments. Archer leveraged his background in marketing and advertising, creating a dynamic portfolio of companies, providing jobs and professional growth opportunities to his teams. The operating companies include Archer Corporate Services (where Dennis is a co-founder and serves as President), Ignition Media Group and Central Kitchen + Bar. Sixteen42’s investments occupy several industry verticals to include
tech, alternative healthcare, film production, targeted hedge funds, hospitality, and cannabis. sixteen42 ventures, backs the “jockey” as
opposed the “horse” where there are opportunistic openings in mature and evolving markets.

In 2004, he co-founded ACS, a minority business enterprise, with CEO Mike Carr. Under their leadership, ACS has grown into one of the nation’s leading marketing fulfillment service firms, serving clients such as General Motors, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Target and Microsoft. For these companies, ACS provides trade and consumer fulfillment, printing and print management, promotional merchandising, plastic card production and call center services.

Founded and solely owned by Dennis in 1998, Ignition Media Group, a Detroit-based consulting and marketing agency, specializes in strategic matchmaking and consulting and experiential marketing for numerous clients including Stellantis, Common Citizen, WCCCD, General Motors, Meta, and Beam Santori. In 2020 in response to client demand, the agency launched its Soundcheck practice, serving as a discreet ear and trusted advisor in the DEI space. Ignition’s leadership team has significantly evolved in the last decade, carrying a large network of local contacts in the media, business, civic and philanthropic communities.

Central Kitchen + Bar opened in 2015, and very soon thereafter was named one of the area’s top restaurants. This 130-seat gastropub located in the heart of Detroit’s central business district, is very much a reflection of Dennis’ personality and Detroit roots, in that is refined yet approachable, the menu simple yet deep, our most important, our guests diverse. The management team has a foundation of day-one team members allowing for continuity in the restaurant’s customer service approach.

In addition to the aforementioned entrepreneurial endeavors, Archer is a real estate developer who is dedicated to giving back to Detroit and the surrounding areas. In the early 2000s he realized it was the perfect marketplace to acquire, reposition and sell properties while simultaneously encouraging job creation, creating affordable housing units and bringing entrepreneurial opportunities into the city to promote economic growth. Since that time, he has participated in several high-profile projects such as Redford Marketplace, The Talon Center, 1250 Rosa Parks Boulevard, Kercheval Point in Grosse Pointe, Rivertown Market in downtown Detroit and a master-redevelopment project in Paradise Valley. In addition to Dennis’ direct investments and principal involvement in the projects listed, he has participated in a number of other significant developments alongside his development partners with whom he later created Lormax Stern Detroit, a 50-50 partnership. These include several regional shopping centers.

Archer’s civic and philanthropic involvement includes Past Chair of the Detroit Regional Chamber Board of Directors where he also sits on the executive committee and chaired the 2016 Mackinac Policy Conference, and the 2019 and 2020 Detroit Policy Conferences. In 2020, Archer founded and was appointed Chair of the Chamber’s Racial Justice & Economic Equality Committee. He is a founder and the Chairman of the Paradise Valley Foundation and sits on the boards of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, Dennis W. Archer Foundation, Citizen Detroit, and the Wayne County Youth and Senior Education Board.

Corporately, until the recent sale, Dennis served as a director of Main Street Bank, where he served on the audit, loan and CRA committees. In October 2020 Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP), the holding company of Michigan based Independent Bank, appointed Dennis to its Board of Directors, where he serves on the audit and loan committees. Soon after joining IBCP , Dennis co-founded the bank's DEI committee, on which he sits. Dennis is one of three outside members serving on the General Motors Inclusion Advisory Board (appointed by CEO, Mary Barra) where he provides advice and insights in the area of DEI and the General Motors Supplier Council. Prior to GM merging the two councils, Dennis sat on GM’s supplier diversity council. Dennis is also on the board of advisors for HealthRise, a revenue cycle consultancy and V2SOFT, a Michigan based IT Solutions provider. In December 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Dennis to the Wayne County Airport Authority, as vice chairman. In 2025 he became the Chairman of the board, which is responsible for the management and operation of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Willow Run Airport. He also sits on the board's audit committee. In June 0f 2023, Dennis was awarded the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Michigan and Ohio Region.

Dennis received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan and has a certification in the NMSDC Advanced Management Education Program from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. Dennis resides in Detroit with his sons Trey (Dennis, III) and Chase.