MEET OUR CO-HOST

Sommer Woods

VP of External Relations, Marketing & Communications | M1 RAIL

Sommer Woods is a lifelong Detroiter, a passtionate advocate for, and a regular user of Belle Isle. Sommer serves on the Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee as Detroit City Council's appointee. The committee was assembled by the City of Detroit to advise the State on implementation of improvements, master planning and public safety for Belle Isle Park. She is a diversity, equity and inclusion strategist, community engagement, and communication solution consultant with over 20 years of experience.

Sommer currently serves as the Vice President of External Relations, Marketing & Communications for M1 RAIL, but her professional past includes positions as the film, culture and special events director for the city of Detroit during the Dave Bing administration. She has also held positions with the PGA TOUR and Super Bowl XL. 

An active member of her community, Sommer also serves as a board member of Tour de Troit, Lofts @ Rivertown board member, is a mentor with the Midnight Golf Program, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
 

We are thrilled to welcome Sommer as co-host of this year's virtual program,
sharing hosting duties with our own Michele Hodges. 

MEET OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Beth Peter, MD

Family Medicine Specialist, Park Rx Advocate

We are excited to welcome Dr. Beth Peter as the keynote speaker of the Polish the Jewel Luncheon. Dr. Peter will discuss the Park Rx America program, which prescribes park visits to patients to support their personal care plan. The events of this year have brought about many mental and physical health challenges. 

Since spending time outdoors has been proven to have positive effects on our health, we are excited to relate this program to the benefits of visiting Belle Isle.

Dr. Beth A. Peter grew up in northern Minnesota, and earned her medical degree from the University of Minnesota. After completing her family medicine residency in Fort Collins, Colorado, she became a partner at Lakewood Family Medicine in Holland, MI where she sees patients of all ages. She also is the medical quality director of of the Holland Physician-Hospital Organization. Her professional passions include literacy promotion, green space accessibility and contraceptive options. She, her spouse, and three children enjoy winter sports and time outside on the water. 

MEET OUR GUESTS

Gina Coleman
Chief Sales Office, Mass Mutual Great Lakes

2019 PTJ Co-Chair

Gena Conti

Owner, Gena Conti Millinery

Amber M. Lewis

Dir. of Digital & Social Media, City of Detroit

Influencer, @socialnthecity

Evette Griffie
Chief of Staff, Customer Service, DTE Energy

2019 PTJ Co-Chair

Amy Peterson

Co-Founder & CEO, Rebel Nell

Leslie Ann Pilling

President & Founder, Presence ii Productions

President, MM-O-DD

THANK YOU TO OUR 2020 SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSOR

DIAMOND SPONSOR

JON COTTON

RUBY SPONSORS

SAPPHIRE SPONSORS

SARAH & TONY EARLEY

CYNTHIA & EDSEL FORD II

About the Polish the Jewel Belle Isle Legacy Luncheon

Since 2005, Belle Isle’s most prominent supporters, including the area’s top business and civic leaders, have shared their passion for Belle Isle Park during the annual Polish the Jewel Belle Isle Legacy Luncheon. Dressed in their favorite shoes, chapeaus and jewels, more than 400 women – and a few men – from across Metro Detroit attend Polish the Jewel to share their favorite memories of Detroit’s beloved island gem, as well as raise funds to maintain the park’s sparkle. Past luncheons have supported the replacement of the historic horse stable roofing and renovations to Sunset Point.