2019 Lifetime Achievement Award

Ted Gillary – ECM, CCM, CCE

Detroit Athletic Club – Detroit, Michigan

Ted Gillary is the Executive Manager/CEO, Detroit Athletic Club (DAC), a position he has held since September 1994. During his tenure, the DAC renewed its commitment to its downtown location by investing substantially in its 104-year old clubhouse and property. Gillary is committed to guiding the Club on a quality improvement path through a Performance Excellence strategy and employee engagement practices. 

The DAC has been named the number one Athletic Club by Platinum Clubs of America for 2019-2020. The DAC is the only hospitality organization to have received the Michigan Quality Council’s Quality Leadership Award; it is a 20-time winner of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For; and recognized by the American Culinary Federation for Excellence. 

Gillary holds a master’s degree in business administration from Wayne State University and a bachelor’s degree in hospitality business from Michigan State University. He is a founding member of the Detroit Entertainment District Association and served as the President for 11 years; is a trustee of the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, recipient of The Mel Rex Award in 1999; was named Detroit Executives Association’s Executive of the Year in 2017, was elected to the CMAA inaugural class of Fellows in 2019, and sits on the Board of Governors of The CMAA Club Foundation.