Doug DeVos
{{Short description|American businessman}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Doug DeVos
| image = Doug DeVos 2019 Jpeg.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = DeVos in 2019
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|10|6}}
| birth_place = Grand Rapids, Michigan, US
| death_date =
| death_place =
| known_for = Co-Chairman, Amway
| education =
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| spouse = Maria DeVos
| children =
| parents = Richard DeVos
Helen Van Wesep
| relatives = Dick DeVos (brother)
Dan DeVos (brother)
Betsy DeVos (sister-in-law)
}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2018/10/amway_announces_new_ceo.html|title=Amway announces new CEO|website=MLive|access-date=September 7, 2019|archive-date=May 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517101512/https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2018/10/amway_announces_new_ceo.html|url-status=live}} DeVos is the chairman of the executive committee of the National Constitutional Center.{{Cite web|url=https://constitutioncenter.org/about/board-of-trustees|title=Board of Directors Page|website=National Constitution Center|access-date=December 12, 2018|archive-date=February 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203102843/https://constitutioncenter.org/about/board-of-trustees|url-status=live}}
Early life
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.amway.com/about-amway/our-company/leadership/corporate/doug-devos?lng=EN |title=Amway President Doug DeVos: Our Leadership |publisher=Amway |access-date=December 11, 2014 |archive-date=December 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211064829/http://www.amway.com/about-amway/our-company/leadership/corporate/doug-devos?lng=EN |url-status=live }} {{verify source |date=November 2020 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/914408634 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/914405025 cite #3 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. User:GreenC bot/Job 18}}[https://books.google.com/books?id=XzsUAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Helen+June+(Van+Wesep)+DeVos%22] {{verify source|date=November 2020|reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/914408634 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/914405025 cite #4 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. User:GreenC bot/Job 18}}
DeVos earned a degree from Purdue University, and played quarterback there.{{Cite web|url=https://dmdevosfoundation.org/#grantees|title=Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation|website=Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation About|access-date=September 7, 2019|archive-date=August 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822191058/https://dmdevosfoundation.org/#grantees|url-status=live}}
DeVos started at Amway early in his working career, and took on various responsibilities and roles before being named president in 2002.{{Cite web|url=https://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/10/17/inside-amway-van-andel-and-devos-family-ties/|title=Inside Amway: Van Andel And DeVos Family Ties|website=62 CBS Detroit|date=October 17, 2011|access-date=September 7, 2019|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612004842/http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/10/17/inside-amway-van-andel-and-devos-family-ties/|url-status=live}}
Doug DeVos is the brother of Dick DeVos, and brother-in-law to Betsy DeVos, who was the Secretary of Education in the Trump Administration, from 2017 to 2021.
Amway
DeVos was president of Amway from 2002 to 2018{{Cite web|url=https://dmdevosfoundation.org/#apply|title=Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation|website=Doug and Maria DeVos About|date=June 12, 2023|access-date=September 7, 2019|archive-date=August 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822191058/https://dmdevosfoundation.org/#apply|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/american-members-of-the-us-india-ceo-forum-announced-119020800106_1.html|title=American members of the US-India CEO Forum announced|website=Business Standard|date=February 8, 2019|access-date=September 11, 2019|archive-date=April 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411234422/https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/american-members-of-the-us-india-ceo-forum-announced-119020800106_1.html|url-status=live}}
Direct selling industry
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.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amway-president-doug-devos-named-chairman-of-the-world-federation-of-direct-selling-associations-282439741.html|title=Amway President Doug DeVos Named Chairman of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations|last=Associations|first=Amway; World Federation of Direct Selling|agency=PR Newswire|access-date=12 October 2018|archive-date=October 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013053756/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amway-president-doug-devos-named-chairman-of-the-world-federation-of-direct-selling-associations-282439741.html|url-status=live}}
In 2012, he was inducted into the United States Direct Selling Association Hall of Fame along with his brother, Dick DeVos.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dsa.org/news/individual-press-release/direct-selling-association-inducts-dick-and-doug-devos-into-hall-of-fame-presents-amway-co-founder-with-lifetime-achievement-award|title=Press Release|website=dsa.org|access-date=12 October 2018|archive-date=October 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013014752/https://www.dsa.org/news/individual-press-release/direct-selling-association-inducts-dick-and-doug-devos-into-hall-of-fame-presents-amway-co-founder-with-lifetime-achievement-award|url-status=live}}
Doug & Maria DeVos Foundation
DeVos and his wife Maria established their foundation in 1992.{{Cite web|url=https://dmdevosfoundation.org/|title=Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation|website=About Doug and Maria DeVos|access-date=December 12, 2018|archive-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215224718/https://dmdevosfoundation.org/|url-status=live}} 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".{{Cite web|url=https://dmdevosfoundation.org/#apply|title=Apply at Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation|website=Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation|date=June 12, 2023|access-date=September 7, 2019|archive-date=August 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822191058/https://dmdevosfoundation.org/#apply|url-status=live}}
= Notable Areas of Significant Foundation Support =
== Capitalism, Conservative Politics and Christianity ==
- Mackinac Center
- American Enterprise Institute,
- National Constitution Center
- Purdue Research Foundation
- Wake Forest University
- Various Christian Causes
== Grand Rapids Community Causes ==
- 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){{Cite web|url=https://griid.org/2019/06/23/the-doug-maria-devos-foundation-directing-the-future-of-southeast-grand-rapids-and-infiltrating-the-grand-rapids-public-schools/|title=Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy|website=Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy webpage|date=June 23, 2019|access-date=September 7, 2019|archive-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920202651/https://griid.org/2019/06/23/the-doug-maria-devos-foundation-directing-the-future-of-southeast-grand-rapids-and-infiltrating-the-grand-rapids-public-schools/|url-status=live}}
Sailing
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" .{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-yacht-club-has-sights-set-on-the-americas-cup-1534344696|title=New York Yacht Club Has Sights Set on the America's Cup|last=Kuriloff|first=Aaron|date=August 15, 2018|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=12 October 2018|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=October 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012215231/https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-yacht-club-has-sights-set-on-the-americas-cup-1534344696|url-status=live}}
"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.{{cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sailing-americas-usa/sailing-american-magic-to-challenge-for-2021-americas-cup-idUSKBN1H324J |title= Sailing: 'American Magic' to challenge for 2021 America's Cup |date= 27 March 2018 |work= Reuters |author= Alan Baldwin |editor= Ed Osmond |access-date= January 3, 2021 |archive-date= November 9, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201109033220/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sailing-americas-usa/sailing-american-magic-to-challenge-for-2021-americas-cup-idUSKBN1H324J |url-status= live }} 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.{{cite book|publisher=Pelham Books|author=John Rousmaniere|author-link=John Rousmaniere|title=The America's Cup 1851–1983|year=1983|isbn=978-0-7207-1503-3}}
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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.52superseries.com/quantum-racing-52-super-series-champions-for-2018-luna-rossa-win-valencia-title/|title=Quantum Racing 52 Super Series Champions for 2018, Luna Rossa Win Valencia Title › 52 Super Series – Pure Performance|date=September 22, 2018|access-date=12 October 2018|archive-date=October 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013014801/https://www.52superseries.com/quantum-racing-52-super-series-champions-for-2018-luna-rossa-win-valencia-title/|url-status=live}} DeVos and Quantum also won the championship in 2013, 2014 and 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.52superseries.com/the-52-super-series/|title=The 52 Super Series › 52 Super Series – Pure Performance|date=January 3, 2014|access-date=12 October 2018|archive-date=October 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013014534/http://www.52superseries.com/the-52-super-series/|url-status=live}} In 2019, DeVos and Quantum finished in third place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2019/10/02/video-highlights-52-super-series-2019/|title=Final Results – 2019 52 Super Series|website=Scuttlebutt Sailing News|date=October 2, 2019|access-date=October 3, 2019|archive-date=October 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003003810/https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2019/10/02/video-highlights-52-super-series-2019/|url-status=live}}
He is also a majority owner of Quantum Sails, a sail manufacturer based in Traverse City, Michigan.
Awards
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfftillerchapter.org/page/show/1294668--he-played-football-award-|title=He Played Football|website=Joe Tiller NFF Chapter|access-date=12 October 2018|archive-date=February 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218020005/http://www.nfftillerchapter.org/page/show/1294668--he-played-football-award-|url-status=live}}
Advocate for criminal justice reform
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.” {{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2019/10/west-michigan-business-leaders-push-for-criminal-justice-reform.html|title=West Michigan business leaders push for criminal justice reform|website=MLive|date=October 7, 2019|access-date=October 20, 2019|archive-date=October 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020161503/https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2019/10/west-michigan-business-leaders-push-for-criminal-justice-reform.html|url-status=live}}
Christian ministries involvement
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlcpPt9gf6Y|title=Convention and Doug DeVos Dinner Report!|website=YouTube}}
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
Doug is married to Maria and they have four children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amwayglobal.com/leadership-team/doug-devos-board/|title=About Doug DeVos|website=Bio page at Amway Website|access-date=September 11, 2019|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402054518/https://www.amwayglobal.com/leadership-team/doug-devos-board/|url-status=live}}
References
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Category:Businesspeople from Grand Rapids, Michigan
Category:20th-century American businesspeople