On February 6, 2006 Dennis J. Sykes became the Executive Director for the Prima Civitas Foundation (PCF). As Executive Director, Mr. Sykes is responsible for the following duties: managing operations; coordinating finances between grant programs; assisting the PCF President on projects generated in the tri-county region as well as the larger MMIT 13 county region; and assisting other project coordinators/staff relative to the Mott, Kellogg and any other grant or project for which PCF is responsible.
Prior to his employment at PCF, Mr. Sykes was appointed in February 2003 by Governor Granholm to the position of Deputy Director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG), formerly known as the Department of Consumer & Industry Services. As Deputy Director of DLEG, Mr. Sykes was responsible to Mayor Hollister. Mr. Sykes also served briefly as Acting Director for the state department until Hollister was able to resign as Mayor of Lansing and accept Gov. Granholm’s appointment and take over the leadership helm.
As Deputy Director, Mr. Sykes served on Director Hollister’s executive leadership team and oversaw 12 DLEG agencies, including the Bureau of Construction Codes & Fire Safety, Bureau of Employment Relations, Liquor Control Commission, Workforce Development, Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives, Michigan Broadband Authority, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Office of Technology & Media, Office of Media & Public relations, Commission on Disability Concerns and Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and Commission for the Blind.
Previous to joining the Granholm Administration, Mr. Sykes served as the Director for the Department of Planning and Neighborhood Development for Mayor Hollister and the City of Lansing from 1994-2003. Among the challenges faced during Mr. Sykes tenure with the City of Lansing were: development and construction of a new 10,000 seat minor league baseball stadium, overseeing the site preparation activities in anticipation of the construction of a proposed General Motors manufacturing facility, and more than $600,000,000 in construction activities. Under his direction, added emphasis was placed on providing effective, quality service to the residents and business community within Lansing and the surrounding region through the efficient delivery of planning, building safety, and code enforcement services as well housing and business development services. The Department also incorporated the Transportation and Parking Office, which more than doubled the size of the department and allowed for a comprehensive approach to planning for circulation and parking issues.
Mr. Sykes has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in public service. Following graduation from Michigan State University in Urban and Metropolitan Studies, Mr. Sykes served for six years as the administrator of various health care programs providing advice and counsel to then Governor Milliken and the State Legislature on programming and service delivery priorities in substance abuse programs.
Utilizing his organizational skills, Mr. Sykes was selected in 1976 by Governor Milliken to organize a statewide program using VISTA volunteers to work on local community projects. This program was subsequently replicated on a national basis.
As his next project, Mr. Sykes joined the Michigan Department of Commerce and directed the consumer and educational programs division where an energy management pilot program for small business and residential users was developed.
Mr. Sykes, following his successful demonstration programs in Michigan, was recruited by the California Governor’s Office to direct energy programs for agriculture, transportation, small businesses and residential non-profit organizations.
Returning to Michigan in 1985, Mr. Sykes used his considerable expertise to formulate statewide housing policy, establish creative funding mechanisms for housing production, and evaluate alternative methodologies for the delivery of human services.
