Conservative lobbyist, Dick DeVos, is responsible for much of Michigan’s public policy reform. The birthplace of organized labor now doesn’t require union membership and is considered a right-to-work state. He has also worked beside his wife Betsy, to give Detroit the highest concentration of alternative public schooling. Their school voucher program has stretched to many US regions, including the district of Columbia.
The DeVos have used a combined multi-billion dollar inheritance to fund their lobbying career. Richard DeVos, Dick’s father, founded the multilevel marketing company, Amway, in which he made Dick the CEO. Betsy’s father, Edgar Prince, started a machine parts company, eventually making it into a multi-billion dollar business. Betsy helped run the business in her youth.
Dick DeVos began his lobbying career in 2002, leaving behind the Amway CEO position. The move came about as an announcement was made of the construction of a sports and convention arena near downtown Grand Rapids. Dick was strongly against the convention center and spoke about the Pontiac Silverdome and Palace of Auburn Hills. He said that lesson was not lost to us. Dick was referring to the fact that the Lions and Pistons left soon after the completion of the construction. It was detrimental to Detroit.
Dick DeVos started the group called Grand Action that consisted of local businessmen. Their efforts halted the arena’s construction and prevented more suburban sprawl. Grand Action went on to change Grand Rapids skyline. The group is responsible for the Grand Rapids City Market, Michigan State University’s medical school, the DeVos Place Convention center, the DeVos Performance Hall, and the Van Andel Arena. A hospital in the Spectrum health system bears the name of Dick’s mother since he gave the leading donation.