Peter Karmanos, Jr.

Co-founder of Compuware, a worldwide leader in software technology, Karmanos launched the company in 1973 with two partners, Thomas Thewes and Allen Cutting. Born into a Greek immigrant family, he graduated from Wayne State University and founded Compuware, a software company based in Detroit, with $3,000 each in tax-return money. He has also served as CEO of Compuware Corporation and owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, Plymouth Whalers, and Florida Everblades hockey franchises. On June 7, 2011, Karmanos announced that he would relinquish the CEO position on June 20 to become executive chairman.

In 1973, Pete sat in his dining room with his two partners and gambled. The stakes were higher than he could've imagined at the time, because with $3,000 each in tax-return money, Pete and his friends formed Compuware, a company that would become a worldwide leader in delivering technology value to customers. They wanted to build "a 20-to-25 person company that would be a fun place to work." Instead, they created Detroit's technology giant, with more than 4,000 employees and nearly $1 billion in annual revenue.

From Compuware's beginning, he had a front seat on the rollercoaster of the technology industry. Karmanos saw the fads come and go. He saw little sock puppets star in $2 million TV commercials only to end up bankrupt and on the auction block. What did it take to thrive in the midst of the madness? As he would tell it, there was no big secret. It was a time-tested formula consisting of highly visible leadership, hands-on management, a keen awareness of what was happening in the industry, and most importantly, a strong foundation of a straightforward, unwavering mission—to deliver value through technology, allowing customers to focus on what they did best, from selling cars to selling widgets.

This focus allowed Karmanos and his worldwide teams to see through the trends and fads and build real solutions that customers wanted and needed. With solutions that helped software performance surpass expectations, Compuware continued to help people do things with computers. He is an avid gardener, a member of Mensa, and a co-owner of three hockey teams. He also created youth hockey programs for the children of Southeast Michigan.

In addition to his personal and business pursuits, Karmanos has been deeply committed to philanthropy and has made gifts of more than $60 million to establish and support the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, the only nationally recognized center to be named for a woman. He, along with Compuware employees around the world, has supported a wide variety of other causes.