After 42 years with Comerica, Linda Forte, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer, has announced her plans to retire in August 2016.  Linda has helped define and drive business strategies to establish Comerica as a leader in diversity and work life practices.  Her responsibilities include corporate contributions, volunteer services and diversity affairs.
Linda began her banking career with Comerica in 1974 and has held management positions in Business Banking, Municipalities, U.S. Banking and Credit Administration Groups, as well as positions in Human Resources and Banking Center Administration.
Under Linda’s leadership, Comerica has contributed millions of dollars to nonprofits in the communities we serve, provided our colleagues volunteer opportunities and driven our diversity program forward, making it one of the best and most recognized in the country.  Following are a few of the significant accomplishments made under Linda’s leadership and direction:

• Since 2006, Comerica’s 19 Market Segmentation Initiative Teams have outreached to develop business relationships resulting in several thousand new customers and accounts and millions of dollars in opening balances for loans, deposits, investments and fee income.
• Comerica’s 17 Employee Resource Network Groups have coordinated hundreds of professional development opportunities for colleagues and supported our communities through many volunteer projects and events.
• Approximately 88 percent of all colleagues are currently enrolled in our well regarded Master of Diversity Awareness program, with many earning their bronze, silver, gold or platinum levels of achievement in a program, which together with the activities of Comerica’s five Local Diversity Awareness Roundtables, support understanding of the value of an inclusive workplace environment.
• Comerica colleagues annually report thousands of volunteer hours through our Comerica Cares program, which has received national recognition for its impact in our communities.

 
In addition to Linda’s work on behalf of Comerica in the community, she personally volunteers her time on numerous boards and was appointed by the Mayor of Detroit as a Commissioner for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.  Over the years, Linda has been recognized for her efforts in business and the community at large. Some of which include:

• Vista Maria’s Woman of Achievement (2016)
• Black Enterprise’s “Top Executives in Diversity” (2011 and 2016)
• Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion Annual Humanitarian Award (2014)
• Michigan Women’s Foundation Woman of Achievement and Courage (2014)
• Arab American and Chaldean Council Community Service Awardee (2014)
• The Network Journal as one of 25 Influential Black Women (2014)
• Inductee into the “Academy of Distinguished Alumni” for Bowling Green State University (2013)
• Honored as a Woman of Achievement and Courage by the Michigan Women’s Foundation (2012)
• PhD Awardee by the Mercy Education Project (2012)
• Detroit Catalyst by Uptown Magazine (2012)
• Savoy Magazine’s Top Influential Women in Corporate America (2012)
• Crain’s Detroit Business’ Southeast Michigan’s Most Influential Women (2007)
• YMCAs John Copeland Community Leadership Legacy Award (2005)