Joan Gist, President

Joan Gist is a native Detroiter who matriculated through the Detroit Public School System and graduated from Cass Technical High School and is now a retired paralegal. She is a Graduate of Cornerstone University with a Master’s of Science degree with a concentration in Business Management.

Ms. Joan Gist currently sits as Board President of SHAR, Inc and SHAR Foundation, Inc.; more fondly known as SHAR House. She has served on this board for 23 years and is the first elected member of the Board to be in recovery as she successfully went through the SHAR program in 1986 and has been substance free for 36 years.

Recovery Is Possible as Ms. Joan Gist is a living witness that: ‘When you do the work you can earn the Victory!.

Peter Baker, Vice President

Peter Baker is a native Detroiter, having graduated from Southeastern High School. Peter earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. Peter worked for General Motors in the Engineering Division, and retired after 21 years. Peter is currently sole owner of Bakerism LLC and part owner of MAH Transportation, Inc. Peter is currently Vice President of the SHAR and SHAR Foundation Boards of Directors and has served in that capacity for over 10 years. Peter is a graduate of SHAR, Inc. since 1996, and has remained under its umbrella ever since.

Paul Draus, Secretary

Paul Draus is a Professor of Sociology in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and currently serves as Director of Graduate Programs in Criminology and Criminal Justice. He earned his PhD from Loyola University Chicago in 2001. From 1992 until 2000 he was a public health field worker, specializing in tuberculosis control, first in New York City and then in Chicago. He is the author of Consumed in the City: Observing Tuberculosis at Century's End (Temple University Press, 2004), which was based on his dissertation research. He has published numerous articles on health behaviors and social contexts related to substance abuse in rural areas and social networks and work patterns of daily heroin users, former street sex workers and ex-offenders in Detroit. His most recent research focuses on the dynamics of change in neighborhood environments and restorative justice practices in community and correctional settings. Paul currently serves as Secretary for the SHAR Boards of Directors, and has been an active member since 2011.

Benjamin Grier, Treasurer

Benjamin N. Grier is a practicing attorney, a certified public accountant and a certified treasury professional.  Mr. Grier currently serves as CFO and Corporate Counsel at Astra Global Solutions, Inc., a California based waste management and green energy start-up managing the deployment of new technologies.  Mr. Grier previously worked as Assistant General Counsel and later as Director of Treasury at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for 20 years.   Mr. Grier has wide-ranging experience in legal, treasury operations, corporate investments, accounting and tax-exempt matters.  In addition to his nonprofit services at SHAR, Mr. Grier serves on the investment committee of the Council of Michigan Foundation, another Michigan based nonprofit. In his free time, Mr. Grier is an avid golfer and fitness buff and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Bettye Misuraca

Bettye is a long-standing board member and previous Board Chair of SHAR, Inc. or more fondly known as SHAR House, serving on the board since 1984. She is a graduate of Wayne State University and is a dedicated humanitarian, who has devoted her life to the service of others. She held an illustrious career and retired from the Wayne County Executive’s office. In addition, she has maintained her commitment to civic and social causes. Bettye is a contributing member of the Most Holy Trinity Church.

Emma Bell

Emma Bell first began her career in politics in the 1960's, with her participation in the election campaign of New York Mayor John Lindsey. She moved to Detroit in the early 1970's, and immediately became active in the politics and civic community of her new city.

Emma retired as the director of Public Affairs from the Wayne County Commission, where she encouraged thousands of citizens to exercise their right to vote at the ballot box. Emma, as a civic community leader, has dedicated countless hours to ensure that the needs of senior citizens in the community are met. Emma mentored many young adults, helping them achieve success in politics, business and society. Emma Bell was appointed by the Honorable John Engler as Chair of the Women's Commission.

Emma participated in a number of community organizations including: the board of directors for the Black Caucus Foundation, Booker T. Washington Business Association, Boysville of Michigan, NAACP-Detroit Branch, National Political Congress of Black Women (National and the Greater Detroit Chapter), Polly Johnson Cancer Research Foundation, Trade Union Leadership Council, Young Women's Christian Association, and the Second Ebenezer Baptist Church. Emma began her board membership with SHAR, Inc. better known as SHAR House, in 1996 and continues to serve on the board to this day.

Pastor Marvin Miles

Pastor Marvin N. Miles currently resides in the Metro Detroit area.  He is married with 4 children.    He pastors International Gospel Center in Ecorse, Michigan, where he is directed by one greater than himself to reach out to individuals via those things that are tangible as well intangible.  His vision as a leader is far-reaching and is not limited to the church.  He reaches out to the community in ways that have impacted individuals’ lives enormously.

Pastor Miles graduated from the School of Ministry in 1979.  He also graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Economics.  He received another Bachelor’s degree in Education and History from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Pastor Miles is strongly dedicated to spiritual outreach, community relations, prison ministries, affordable housing, international experiences, mission leadership, program planning and development, grief counseling, youth mentorship, volunteer programming, committee leadership and nursing home ministries.

Pastor Miles sits on the Board of SHAR, Inc. and has actively served this organization since 2015.

Tom O'Brien

Tom O'Brien is a retired Wayne County Employee and a 25-year retired owner of Re-Construction, Inc., a Weatherization and General Contracting Company. Tom is also owner of Old Redford Re-Development Group, working to redevelop owned properties in the Old Redford area along with the neighborhood and City of Detroit. Tom is currently a member of  the SHAR Board of Directors and has been for the past 7 years. He has been with the Knights of Equity for 41 years, and now serves as Worthy Sir Knight/President. Tom is one of the founders of Metro West Alano Club in Redford, MI  and President of the Brightmoor War Memorial Restoration Foundation. He is actively involved with St. Patrick’s Senior Center, St. Christine’s Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry, Ancient Order of Hibernians, The Gaelic League, and numerous neighborhood associations. In his free time, Tom  enjoys  traveling, fishing and numerous activities with family and friends.

Kim Harwell

Kim Harwell is a consummate entrepreneur with more than thirty years of business and technological expertise in the government, telecommunications, and marketing fields.  Kim has founded and led organizations that have generated an aggregate of several billions of dollars in revenue. Kim is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of National Bid Network (NBN) and its subsidiary,  GovPurchase. NBN’s mission is to provide user friendly research tools, business training, consulting services, and B2B business development tools for commercial businesses, government contractors, and government officials, in a profitable manner, at an affordable price.

Kim regularly writes articles for the United States Cyber Security Magazine, numerous other publications, and has authored several E-Books on government contracting.    As a highly sought after speaker, trainer, sales coach and expert in the areas of sales, business, government relations, and technological advances, Kim is in the process of writing his new book, “The Blueprint to Government Contracting”.

Kim Harwell is the newest addition to SHAR's Board of Directors, joining in January 2023.