Senior Vice President of Public Affairs
MGM Grand Detroit
As Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for MGM Grand Detroit, Juliette Thorpe Okotie-Eboh, Ph.D. serves as a member of the Executive Committee, and the Board of Directors for MGM Grand Detroit, LLC. She is responsible for local, state, and federal government affairs, represents MGM Grand Detroit on policy matters that could impact MGM Grand Detroit, and develops policy recommendations to address those proposals, and implements strategies to include direct lobbying and legislative coalition-building. She oversees all community affairs activities for the property, including community outreach, maintaining relationships with community organizations, managing and executing community relations programs, as well as diversity initiatives. She also manages communications and media relations.
A native of Detroit, Juliette joined MGM Grand family in 2003 from the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) where she served as Senior Vice President & Ombudsman for the areas of community affairs and Diversity Management after joining the DMC joining the management team in 2008.
Juliette has a wealth of community affairs and diversity experience. She served, for nearly 20 years in Detroit City government, as Chief of Research in the Planning Department. From 1994-1995, she advised the President & CEO of New Detroit, Inc. as Vice President of Policy, and moved on to the position of Civic Affairs Manager and Vice President of Comerica Incorporated.
As Deputy Project Manager and Consultant for Omokhodion Associates, Ltd., Lagos, Nigeria, Juliette was stationed in Benin City, Nigeria for two years where she directed the preparation of master plans for eleven Nigeria cities and towns. She also has extensive consulting experience in demographic research, survey research, and organizing focus group sessions.
Juliette serves on numerous boards, including the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, Booker T. Washington Business Association, University Cultural Center Association, Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Michigan’s Children, Coleman A. Young Foundation, City Connect, Crockett Technical High School, Eastern Michigan University, and Corp! Magazine. Juliette is also Wayne County’s representative to the Regional Convention Facility Authority.
Educated in the Detroit Public School system, Juliette graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Michigan. Juliette lives in the city of Detroit and is the proud mother of Margaret, her favorite travel companion. Over the years they have visited mand places in the United States, Caribbean, and Europe, including Italy (three trips), Paris, the French Rivera, Switzerland, and London.
