May 22, 2025
The finalists have been announced for MotorCities' Awards of Excellence in the following categories:
Heritage Tourism -
- Don & Gayle Nicholson of Westland for creating and growing the annual Cruisin' Hines event;
- and the Pontiac Transportation Museum, which opened to the public in May 2024.
Education/Interpretation -
- The Detroit Historical Society for their Detroit Diesel exhibit;
- Russ Dore of Dore Productions in Northville for his automotive history presentations;
- The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn for its Texaco gas station exhibit;
- The Historical Society of Greater Lansing for the I-496 Pave the Way Project;
- and Steve Purdy of Williamston for his coffee table book Mascots in Motion.
Revitalization -
- Greg & Kristin Donofrio for the Phoenix Mill restoration in Plymouth.
The winners will be announced on Wednesday, June 4 at a luncheon at the Stellantis Conner Center in Detroit. Limited tickets are still available for $30 and can be purchased by clicking https://motorcities.networkforgood.com/events/86690-awards-of-excellence-luncheon. The ticket includes admission to see the Chrysler historical collection housed there, the luncheon and awards program.
In addition, MotorCities will present its highest honor, the Milestone Award, to Ford Motor Company's Corporate Historian Emeritus Robert Kreipke. For over 25 years, Kreipke, a Detroit resident, has served as a project advisor and board member, helping propel MotorCities to become the nationally–recognized experts on preserving and promoting Michigan’s automotive heritage. In addition, he was Chairman of the Board between 2015 and 2019, steering the organization through successful projects like the launching of our highway promotional signs, the creation of the Fort Street Bridge Interpretive Park in Detroit, and the celebration of MotorCities' 20th anniversary.
The Stellantis Conner Center is the home of the historic collection of 100 years of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth, DeSoto vehicles, AND MANY MORE! This collection is not open to the public, so guests can enjoy the rare opportunity to see these vehicles.
NOTE: No photography is permitted, and your mobile phone will be taped upon entry by Stellantis Security personnel. Comfortable shoes are also a must!
Sponsors for the Awards of Excellence Luncheon include the following:
- Presenting Sponsors: Ford House, the UAW International Union and Stellantis;
- Patron Sponsors: Gilmore Car Museum, Choose Lansing and Visit Detroit;
- Supporting Sponsors: Don Nicholson Enterprises, Doeren Mayhew and General Motors;
- Event Sponsors: Grigg Graphic Services, Inc., Destination Ann Arbor and Project Arts & Ideas.