Richard E. Blouse Jr., CCE
Richard E. Blouse Jr., CCE joined the Detroit Regional Chamber as president and CEO in December 1994. Since that time, the Chamber has emerged as the voice of business in Southeast Michigan and has played a leadership role in a number of important area initiatives, including advocating for improved regional public transportation.
While the Chamber has been a longstanding advocate for public transit since the early 1970’s, it was not until Mr. Blouse’s tenure that the Chamber became recognized in the community for its leadership role in advocating for establishment of a Regional Transportation Authority to provide the residents and businesses of Southeast Michigan with the seamless, efficient and coordinated public transit services they need and deserve.
Under Mr. Blouse’s leadership, the Chamber has successfully led a number of efforts over the years to improve public transit services in the region including:
1995 A successful initiative to obtain business community support for SMART and the passage of the 1/3 property tax millage for its support. The Chamber was successful in raising $500,000 for the campaign.
1998 & 2002 Actively supported the renewals of the SMART millage with leadership and funding support from the business community.
1999 Facilitated joint meetings between DDOT and SMART to plan and implement coordinated route service on Woodward Avenue.
FY 2000 Launched the Campaign for Regional Transit in September 2000 to educate the community on the need for improved public transit service in the region, and to urge political, business and grassroots support for establishment of a regional transit authority. From stump speeches before local community groups to testimony before legislative committees in Lansing, the Chamber made numerous presentations across the region and in the State Capitol.
2001-2003 Led a two year lobbying campaign educating and seeking support from the Michigan Legislature to establish a Regional Transportation Authority in Southeast Michigan. The Chamber actively participated in writing the DARTA legislation, and in meetings with labor to obtain their support.
2001 The Chamber facilitated meetings resulting in an announcement at the 21st Annual Mackinac Policy Conference of an historic, bi-partisan agreement by the political leadership of the tri-county area and the state legislature pledging their support for passage of enabling legislation to create a Regional Transportation Authority in Southeast Michigan.
2003 On May 22, 2003 the Intergovernmental Agreement establishing DARTA was announced and signed in a ceremony during the Chamber’s 23rd Annual Mackinac Policy Conference after months of meetings and negotiations among parties to the agreement.
2003-2005 The Chamber continued to demonstrate its support for DARTA as a start-up agency by providing office space, staffing and other support for its operations.
In addition, the Chamber also:
Hosted monthly meetings of the DARTA Board of Directors, to which Dick Blouse was appointed a member by the Regional Transit Coordinating Council (RTCC), supported efforts by DARTA to obtain federal and state funding, and played a lead role in launching DARTA’s public website.
2006-present Despite the demise of DARTA, the Chamber remains committed to efforts to improve public transit services in Southeast Michigan. The Chamber supported the 2006 renewal of the SMART Millage, and commended SMART for their continued efforts to improve and grow service in the region and continues to support and work with the transit community, business leaders, and our community partners to identify opportunities to improve, coordinate and grow regional public transit services.
With over 23,000 members the Detroit Regional Chamber is largest chamber of commerce in the United States. As president and CEO, Blouse reports to a 65-member board of directors and supervises nine vice presidents and a staff of nearly 100.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Blouse was president and CEO of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce in Greenville, S.C. While there, the region experienced significant economic development activity with the Chamber working closely with state and other economic development organizations in support of bringing the BMW plant to the region and developing the plans for a 16,000 seat arena.
Blouse was owner and president of the R.E. Blouse Group of Lancaster, Pa., an independent consultant serving the nonprofit, education and small business markets in organizational consulting, training, planning and group problem solving.
He was also a partner in Greenfield Associates Ltd., of Lancaster, a managerial consulting firm providing market and strategic planning, management assessment, organizational assessment and human resource development in the eastern United States.
His other Chamber assignments include president and CEO of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry; executive vice president of the Pottstown Area Chamber of Commerce of Pottstown, Pa.; executive vice president of the Oil City Area Chamber of Commerce, Oil City, Pa.; and executive vice president of the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce, Hanover, Pa.
In his early years, Dick Blouse taught Chemistry and Science for 5 years and was co-owner of a camera shop in Hannover, PA.
Blouse has a Bachelor's of Science in Education from Millersville University in 1967 and a M.E.D. in Physical Science from Millersville University in 1969.
He is a Certified Chamber Executive.
Dick and his wife Elaine have two sons. They reside in Birmingham, Mich.