Officers

Charles K. Hyde, Vice-President
Charlie Hyde recently retired from forty years of teaching History at Wayne State University in Detroit. He first became aware of the Ford Piquette factory and the entire Milwaukee Junction industrial district some thirty-five years ago when he began studying Detroit's factories. He has published three books and many articles on the history of the Detroit auto industry. Charlie serves as the President of the National Automotive History Collection of the Detroit Public Library and was a co-founder of the Automotive Authors Book Fair, to be held for the fifth straight year in November 2010. Long before joining the T-Plex board of directors in January 2010, he was a founding member of T-Plex and wrote the text for the Michigan Historic Marker that now graces the front of the building. He also wrote the successful National Historic Landmark nomination for T-Plex in 2006. Charlie's main focus at T-Plex over the next few years will be the development of exhibits.

Rick Lindner, Treasurer
Rick is proprietor of Lindner Bookkeeping & Tax Service in Columbus, Ohio. He attended Ohio State University before transferring to Franklin University where he earned a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting. He has fifteen years experience preparing taxes and doing bookkeeping. Rick owns two 1903 Model A's, a 1915 Model T Touring, a 1929 Model A Touring, a 1948 Ford Super Deluxe Convertible, a 1956 Fairlane Convertible, and a 1959 Skyliner Retractable Hardtop.

Jerald A. Mitchell, Founder and President
Jerald Mitchell is a historic preservationist. He has restored and now resides in Henry and Clara Ford's Edison Avenue home in Detroit. Jerald has obtained State Historic Designation for the Henry Ford home, and the Scarab Club in Detroit. He is an archivist and historian for the Historic Boston-Edison Association. Author of A GUIDE TO RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF HOUSES IN DETROIT. Secretary and co- founder of Boston-Edison Development, Inc., a nonprofit organization for rehabilitating houses in the Boston-Edison Historic District. Jerald is a retired Professor of Anatomy at Wayne State University, School of Medicine.

Paul James Sloan, Corporate Secretary
Paul James Sloan is a preservationist that has been involved in various capacities with the Piquette Avenue Plant since the organization was formed. Mr. Sloan was born in the village of Grosse Pointe, Michigan and currently resides in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan where he actively supports several local organizations. Such as: Grosse Pointe Public Library Foundation, Grosse Pointe War Memorial, St. Paul Catholic Church of Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Farms Foundation, and the Neighborhood Club of Grosse Pointe. He was a trustee of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society from 2005 to 2011. Mr. Sloan is an avid antique automobile enthusiast And active in the Model T Ford Club of America, the Model T Ford Club International, the Piquette T's, and The Henry Ford.

Directors

John Forster
An avid antique car collector, John has been a long time supporter of the T-plex and was elected to the T-plex board in 2008. His collection includes the beautiful 1909 Model T Touring and several other cars usually on display at the T-plex. With his extensive knowledge of early Fords and other cars, John serves as an advisor on the development of the T-plex vehicle collection.

Joseph Gormley

Raymond Pittman

Arthur Pope
Born in Chicago. in 1933, Art grew up and attended school and college mainly in Tennessee, graduating with a BS in Mechanical Engineering Tennessee. Tech. University. After service in the Army Signal Corp., Art joined Ford Motor Company. He worked as a Chassis Engineer (1959- 1974), became department. Manager (1975- 1995), with a three year assignment (1974- ’77) as an Executive Engineer, at Ford Motor in San Paulo, Brazil. He has been involved in restoring the Piquette plant for several years as an active volunteer, leading the Window Restoration Team. He was elected to the TPLEX Board of Directors in January 2008. Art also serves on the Board of Trustees Rochester College, Rochester Hills , MI. He is a member The Early Ford V-8 Club: the BOD of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association, and The Lincoln Highway Association. His hobbies include playing tennis, golf and restoring WW II Military Vehicles for parades and museums.

Jack Seavitt

Michael W. Skinner
Edsel B. Ford II has said of Mike Skinner, "He knows every tree that my great grandfather ever planted" Mike is the ultimate "Fordophile." He is past President of the Dearborn Historical Society and the Grosse Pointe Historical Society. Mike is a founding member of the Henry Ford Heritage Association. Since 1978, he has been a volunteer tour guide at the Henry Ford Estate - Fair Lane. Mike is Human Resources Director for Production Tool Supply Co. of Warren, Michigan.

Thomas Soldan
A volunteer since 2006, Tom was elected to the T-plex board in January, 2008. He also serves as the webmaster for the T-plex web site and has coordinated several T-plex projects. A native Detroiter, he is retired after a 40 year career in teaching and local government. He has served on a wide range of academic, professional, and community boards, including the Oakland University Alumni Association and the Friends of the Grosse Pointe Public Library. He is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Nature Conservancy, and the Sierra Club.