cbconductor@gmail.com / cburke@warmemorial.org
Charles Burke President & CEO, The War Memorial ASSOCIATION
“A symphony conductor knows more about how to lead than most business people...”
Quincy Jones, 2018
My Story
Experience
Strategist, Ideator, Futurist, Individualizer, and Competitor. A multi-dimensional leader with successful foundation, community, nonprofit, artistic, educational/academic, institutional advancement, fiduciary and long-range/vision experience. Demonstrated ability to drive culture-change through integrity-based teamwork; strategic governance restructuring; ability to build, sustain and grow business models throughout complex organizational structures; optimization of operational initiatives including infrastructure design, process reengineering, turnaround management and reorganization; and, the redefinition of a regional cultural institution via innovative collaborations, strategic alignments and scalable partnership architecture. Fresh, honest and transparent leadership through vision development and implementation, pragmatic labor relations, innovative artistic planning and retention-based staff development. A unique leader that merges a deep artistic, executive, and academic skill-set while promoting a global and 21st century transformational institutional trajectory.
The War Memorial Association
Located on the shores of Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, The Grosse Pointe War Memorial Association (more commonly known simply as The War Memorial) is a legacy-filled institution with a reenergized determination to emerge as a regional driver of arts, learning, patriotism, hospitality and connectivity. Situated on the grounds of the historic Alger Estate, The War Memorial serves an estimated 300,000 individuals with over 3,000 functions annually, including programs to honor veterans, engagement experiences for adults and children, community events and celebrations, and premier hospitality services. With new programming and innovative leadership, The War Memorial is a unique, dynamic and forward-thinking hub for southeast Michigan with a mission to be a patriotic, cultural, and community leader.
The War Memorial waterfront campus is unusual and unique in its dual use and sustainability. The Estate home is on the National Register of Historic Places, a premiere example of early 20th century Italian Renaissance architecture. Two large additions expanded the facilities of the War Memorial and support its cultural mission, including The Patriot Theater, the Crystal Ballroom, and the Center for Arts and Communications. The War Memorial Campus, including Memorial Church, the Carriage House, adjacent acreage and two historic gardens, host art and dance studios, conference facilities, classrooms and television production and broadcast studios, and are home to more than 65 unique nonprofits. The complex of buildings that comprise The War Memorial assists in defining its core mission and creates a Cultural and Community Center with few benchmarks nationally.
A Unique Leader
president & ceo. board director / jei. advisor / beaumont health & gp news. academic fellow / harvard exec./columbia exec. husband. orchestral conductor w/ the dso / a maestro / composer. teacher. father/uber driver for 2 great kids. robot model (check out asimo on YouTube. fundraiser. volunteer. author. executive producer (see live inspired productions below ). musician. marathon runner. traveller. experience designer. visionary....helping people and organizations achieve their very best & more than they can imagine...
Les Brave II: At Water's Edge
In early 2023, The War Memorial will welcome a new statue complex to our grounds - direct form the beaches of Normandy, France. During a family trip in 2018 to Paris, my family and I traveled to Normandy to visit the hallowed beaches and walk the ground where my grandfather landed. I was struck by the profound intersection of nature and art with the presentation of the original Les Braves by artist Anilore Banon on the the desolate beach. After years of personal and passionate work - convincing/commissioning an artist, moving a Board, fundraising with donors, working with architects and engineers - we are now in the penultimate stage of completion. Read our story and come and visit soon!