Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Company: Southwest Detroit Business Association
Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Laura L. Chavez-Wazeerud-Din, president and chief executive officer of the Southwest Detroit Business Association, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in nonprofit work.
With nearly three and a half decades of experience, Mrs. Chavez-Wazeerud-Din has established a successful career in nonprofit organizations and community engagement. Since 2023, she has served as president and chief executive officer of the Southwest Detroit Business Association and has been president of Prospanica Detroit since 2018. Her career includes leadership roles as interim president and chief executive officer of the Southwest Detroit Business Association in 2023, vice president of programs from 2022 to 2023, and vice president, operations risk manager at Comerica Bank in 2022. She was also assistant vice president at Comerica Bank, assistant vice president of sales at Flagstar Bank from 2020 to 2022, and branch manager at both Flagstar Bank and Citizens Bank. Earlier, she held positions at JPMorgan Chase & Co., The TJX Companies Inc., Detroit Edison Public School Academy, and Danto’s Furniture. She also dedicates her time serving on the boards of TechTown Detroit, Chamber Music Detroit, and the Way Program. She is financial president of Prospanica Detroit and actively supports initiatives like Junior Achievement USA, Southwest Solutions, Gleaners Community Food Bank, and the Michigan Hispanic Collaborative. Additionally, her volunteer efforts span mentoring, literacy coaching, and poverty alleviation.
Laying a strong educational foundation, Mrs. Chavez-Wazeerud-Din earned a Bachelor of Science in bilingual bicultural education, secondary education, and teaching from Wayne State University in 2002. She is also pursued coursework toward a master’s degree and completed several professional certifications, including “Own Your Voice: Improve Presentations and Executive Presence” and Diversity Recruiting through LinkedIn in 2022. Additionally, she holds a certificate in leadership from Leadership Detroit through the Detroit Regional Chamber, a certificate in transformative leadership from the University of Denver, and a certificate in authentic leadership.
Mrs. Chavez-Wazeerud-Din’s journey began in Southwest Detroit, where she faced early challenges as a foster child, including placement in special education due to limited English proficiency. A teacher recognized her potential, teaching her to read and inspiring her educational aspirations. By third grade, she transitioned out of special education, was identified as gifted, and advanced to fifth grade. Driven by determination, she emancipated herself during her formative years, secured numerous scholarships, and graduated debt-free from Wayne State University. At just 19, she began her career as an educator, teaching in Detroit and enriching her students’ experiences through fundraisers for field trips. Many of her former students credit her with instilling a lifelong passion for learning. Seeking new challenges, she later transitioned to banking, starting in retail and quickly becoming a top performer at JPMorgan Chase.
In light of her impressive undertakings, Mrs. Chavez-Wazeerud-Din has received numerous honors, including the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Community Advocate of the Year and the Clement Kern Awards for Social Impact from MiSide in 2023. She was also named a Game Changers honoree during Hispanic Heritage Month by Ilitch Sports + Entertainment in 2023, and accolades include Branch Manager of the Month at Flagstar Bank in 2019 and 2021, the President Club Award at Flagstar Bank in 2020, and the Role Model Award from Alternatives for Girls in 2020. Additionally, she has been recognized as a top performer at JPMorgan Chase and as an equity, diversity, and inclusion champion. Looking to the future, she plans to write a memoir and a young adult or children’s book to support and inspire young women in foster care, addressing a critical need in her community. She is also dedicated to advancing in her current role while transforming her organization into a leading advocate for immigrant communities.
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Southwest Detroit Business Association
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