Take a look at this year's slate for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Board of Directors.
Dr. Ajluni is a retired board-certified orthopedic surgeon who worked at Orthopedic Surgical Physicians, PC in Clinton Township. Dr. Ajluni was previously a clinical professor for the Department of Surgery at Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Ajluni is a member of the Michigan Osteopathic Association, American Osteopathic Association and its past president in 2007, and a board member of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners. Dr. Ajluni is a frequent speaker on fitness and wellness.
Reneé Axt is president of RCP Associates LLC. She also serves as a member of the Emergent Holdings Inc. board of directors and is a member of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Detroit Athletic Club, Oakland Thrive, and Saint John Armenian Apostolic Church.
Terry Burns works in Member Services and Special Projects for the Michigan Automobile Dealers Association. He’s also the former co-chair of the Small Group Health Care Coalition for small market reform. Additional affiliations include the Automotive Trade Association and Capitol Club.
Paolo Caucci retired in 2024 as top administrative assistant to UAW president, responsible for contract negotiations, international affairs, health and safety, skilled trades and arbitration. Mr. Caucci held many leadership positions throughout his career, including UAW Local Union 869 president, Third Shift Skilled Trades chief steward, UAW servicing representative of the UAW International Union for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, FCA Global Union network coordinator, UAW coordinator for the Tuition Assistance Program and assistant director for the Skilled Trades Technical Training and Apprenticeship program. Additionally, he held the position of director on the UAW Chrysler National Training Center Board of Directors.
Patrick Devlin is secretary treasurer of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents 120,000 men and women in the organized construction industry. He is also the labor co-chair for MUST Safety and Workforce Development. In addition, he is a director on the board of Emergent Holdings, Inc. and is a member of the Audit Committee. Devlin serves on the school board of the Detroit Community Schools as its president for the last 12 years and also serves on the board of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.
Linda Forte retired in 2016 as senior vice president of Business Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer for Comerica Bank. She’s board vice chair for First Independence Bank and serves as Finance Committee chair on the Board of Water Commissioners for the Detroit Water and Sewage Department. She chairs the Board of the Economic Development Corporation of Detroit and the Local Development Finance Authority of Detroit. She serves as board member and chair of the Neighborhood Development Corporation of Detroit. Forte sits on the Medical School Board of Advisors for Wayne State University. Forte is also a member of the LifeSecure Insurance board of directors.
Prior to retiring in 2013, Melvin Larsen served as president of Larsen & Associates Inc. He’s previously served as senior vice president of Club Cars, Inc. Larsen also serves as chair for the Blue Care Network board of directors. Larsen is a former coach, teacher and administrator for the Archdiocese of Detroit and a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives.
Dennis Ramus, M.D. is a board-certified family physician with Bay Area Family Physicians, P.C. Dr. Ramus is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association, Michigan State Medical Society and chairman of The Physician Alliance.
Dr. Sprague retired in 2020 as vice president and chief medical officer of Mercy Health Muskegon. Dr. Sprague is a general internist and provides medical care part time as a volunteer at Hackley Community Care Center, a federally qualified health center in Muskegon. He also devotes his time to serving on the boards of Access Health, Muskegon Community Health Project, Health West (formerly Muskegon County CMH), Mediation and Restorative Services and Mission for Area People.
Gary Torgow is chairman of Huntington Bank and founder of the Sterling Group. Mr. Torgow is chairman of Business Leaders for Michigan and serves on the board of DTE Energy. Mr. Torgow serves as president of the Jewish Federation of Detroit and is a trustee of The Skillman Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. Gary was chairman of the 2024 NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner and received the NAACP’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Urban League’s Distinguished Warrior Award. Additionally, Mr. Torgow led the fundraising for the City of Detroit’s Strategic Neighborhood Fund.