Doug DeVos

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Doug DeVos
DeVos in 2019
Born (1964-10-06) October 6, 1964 (age 59)
Grand Rapids, Michigan, US
Known forCo-Chairman, Amway
SpouseMaria DeVos
Parent(s)Richard DeVos
Helen Van Wesep
RelativesDick DeVos (brother)
Dan DeVos (brother)

Doug DeVos (born October 6, 1964) is an American businessman and sailor. He is co-chairman (with Steve Van Andel) of Amway, which was co-founded by their fathers.[1] DeVos is the chairman of the executive committee of the National Constitutional Center.[2]

Early life[edit]

DeVos is the youngest son of Helen June (Van Wesep) and Amway co-founder Rich DeVos, who, with Steve Van Andel's father Jay Van Andel, started Amway in Ada, Michigan, in 1959.[3][4]

DeVos earned a degree from Purdue University, and played quarterback there.[5]

DeVos started at Amway early in his working career, and took on various responsibilities and roles before being named president in 2002.[6]

Amway[edit]

DeVos was president of Amway from 2002 to 2018[7] and co-CEO with Steve Van Andel in what was called the office of the chief executive until the end of 2018. The current CEO is Milind Pant[2].

In 2018, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross appointed DeVos as a member of the US-India CEO Forum.[8]

Direct selling industry[edit]

From 2014 to 2017, DeVos was chairman of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations, a global trade organization representing more than 60 national direct selling associations.[9]

In 2012, he was inducted into the United States Direct Selling Association Hall of Fame along with his brother, Dick DeVos.[10]

Doug & Maria DeVos Foundation[edit]

DeVos and his wife Maria established their foundation in 1992.[11] The stated mission of the Foundation: "The Doug & Maria DeVos Foundation is committed to helping youth, families, and the community in greater Grand Rapids obtain the resources and tools to achieve their full potential".[12]

Notable Areas of Significant Foundation Support[edit]

Capitalism, Conservative Politics and Christianity[edit]

Grand Rapids Community Causes[edit]

  • Grand Rapids Public Schools
  • Amplify GR
  • ICCF
  • Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation
  • Believe 2 Become
  • First Steps Kent
  • K-Connect
  • Kent Services Network
  • Leading Educators Inc.

(Assessed by the Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy in 2019 based on 2015 – 2017 990 documents)[13]

Sailing[edit]

DeVos is a member of the New York Yacht Club (NYYC). He teamed with John J. "Hap" Fauth and Roger Penske to lead the club's 2021 entry into the America's Cup, with a team named "American Magic" .[14]

"American Magic" refers to the first Cup winner, the yacht America of 1851, and the first defender, NYYC's yacht Magic, who successfully defended in 1870.[15] The America's Cup trophy was held by the NYYC for 132 years until 1983. The NYYC successfully defended the trophy twenty-four times in a row before being defeated by the Royal Perth Yacht Club, represented by the yacht Australia II. The NYYC's reign was the longest winning streak - as measured by years - in the history of all sports.[16]

Along with Terry Hutchinson and the Quantum Racing team, DeVos won the 52 Super Series Championship in 2018, the world's leading grand prix monohull yacht racing circuit.[17] DeVos and Quantum also won the championship in 2013, 2014 and 2016.[18] In 2019, DeVos and Quantum finished in third place.[19]

He is also a majority owner of Quantum Sails, a sail manufacturer based in Traverse City, Michigan.

Awards[edit]

In 2016, DeVos was honored by the "He Played Football" award from the Joe Tiller Chapter of the National Football Foundation. The award is intended to provide recognition to a former football player from the Northeast Indiana region who went on to become highly successful in life after football.[20]

Advocate for criminal justice reform[edit]

In 2019, DeVos supported an effort in Michigan to bring about criminal justice reforms. New measures have been under consideration such as making it easier for ex-offenders and residents to have their criminal histories expunged from the public record. DeVos mentioned the loss to the community when people are not welcomed back after they completed their sentences. He was quoted as saying, “You lose the people who’ve made these mistakes, and you lose the opportunity for them to become productive members of society,” DeVos said. “Not just an employee, but a husband, a wife, a mother, a father, a sister, a brother, a neighbor. These are people in our communities.” [21]

Christian ministries involvement[edit]

DeVos has been involved with speaking at and supporting various Christian ministry leadership causes. For instance, he spoke at the Christian Leaders Institute banquet on September 4, 2019.[22]

DeVos was also the former co-chair (along with Christian film and media producer Billy Zeoli) of Gospel Communications International. Gospel Communications International developed the BibleGateway.com website and also trained and hosted hundreds of evangelical ministries on the internet beginning in 1995. Gospel Communications International both sold the BibleGateway.com website and ceased operations on December 15, 2008.

Personal life[edit]

Doug is married to Maria and they have four children.[23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Amway announces new CEO". MLive.
  2. ^ "Board of Directors Page". National Constitution Center.
  3. ^ "Amway President Doug DeVos: Our Leadership". Amway. Retrieved December 11, 2014. [verification needed]
  4. ^ [1] [verification needed]
  5. ^ "Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation". Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation About.
  6. ^ "Inside Amway: Van Andel And DeVos Family Ties". 62 CBS Detroit. October 17, 2011.
  7. ^ "Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation". Doug and Maria DeVos About. June 12, 2023.
  8. ^ "American members of the US-India CEO Forum announced". Business Standard. February 8, 2019.
  9. ^ Associations, Amway; World Federation of Direct Selling. "Amway President Doug DeVos Named Chairman of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations" (Press release). PR Newswire. Retrieved October 12, 2018.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Press Release". dsa.org. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  11. ^ "Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation". About Doug and Maria DeVos.
  12. ^ "Apply at Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation". Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation. June 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy". Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy webpage. June 23, 2019.
  14. ^ Kuriloff, Aaron (August 15, 2018). "New York Yacht Club Has Sights Set on the America's Cup". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  15. ^ Alan Baldwin (March 27, 2018). Ed Osmond (ed.). "Sailing: 'American Magic' to challenge for 2021 America's Cup". Reuters.
  16. ^ John Rousmaniere (1983). The America's Cup 1851–1983. Pelham Books. ISBN 978-0-7207-1503-3.
  17. ^ "Quantum Racing 52 Super Series Champions for 2018, Luna Rossa Win Valencia Title › 52 Super Series – Pure Performance". September 22, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  18. ^ "The 52 Super Series › 52 Super Series – Pure Performance". January 3, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  19. ^ "Final Results – 2019 52 Super Series". Scuttlebutt Sailing News. October 2, 2019.
  20. ^ "He Played Football". Joe Tiller NFF Chapter. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  21. ^ "West Michigan business leaders push for criminal justice reform". MLive. October 7, 2019.
  22. ^ "Convention and Doug DeVos Dinner Report!". YouTube.
  23. ^ "About Doug DeVos". Bio page at Amway Website.
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