Mark Ritz (MSE DBN ‘75) and his wife Lee Gorman (BBA ’79, MBA ’83) have established a new charitable remainder trust (CRT) benefiting the Erb Institute, as well as two other University units. As part of the CRT, an endowment has been established to promote knowledge and leadership for the achievement of environmentally, economically and socially sustainable development and enterprise through professional education, public outreach and scientific scholarship.

When asked about their decision to make this generous gift, Lee said: “We had already decided to set up the CRT to benefit the University, and we were researching how to designate the funds to best align with our values. We have always supported the Ross School of Business, but also have a longstanding and growing interest in the environment and sustainability. When we investigated the mission of the Erb Institute, we realized that it was just the kind of work we want to support, both financially and through personal involvement.” Mark explains: “The sustainable business paradigm expands the historically one-dimensional view of the goal of business. It integrates profitability with the additional attributes of a business’s effect on society and the environment to form a more complex, three dimensional model. We believe the work of the Erb Institute will continue to have a profound, pervasive and positive impact on changing the perception of what constitutes ‘good’ business going forward. We’re proud to join this community of like-minded people in support of this effort.”

Mark has spent his career in the automotive industry and is presently Vice President, Business Development with Lear Corporation of Southfield, MI.
After 25 years in the automotive industry, Lee founded Barton Consulting Services, LLC, where she works primarily with not-for-profit organizations and start-ups. She also serves on the Ann Arbor Township Planning Commission and is a volunteer literacy tutor.
Mark and Lee reside in Ann Arbor with their two dogs. They generate over half of their own electricity needs with a photovoltaic system they installed in 2006. They enjoy spending time planting and nurturing trees and gardens on their 15 acre property.

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