Michael J. Guthrie is Co-Chairman of SPECTRA LMP LLC, a Detroit, Michigan based holding company with several automotive manufacturing and engineering subsidiaries. Michael and his brother Carlton are sole shareholders of SPECTRA.
SPECTRA’s subsidiaries include: DETROIT CHASSIS, LLC, an assembler of running Class A RV and commercial truck chassis and located in Detroit, Michigan; DETROIT CHASSIS AVON, a Tier 1 provider of axles and tire & wheel assemblies to the medium duty commercial truck industry located in Avon, OH; DETROIT CUSTOM CHASSIS, LLC, a provider of custom up-fits and alternative powertrain conversions for commercial truck chassis located in Detroit Michigan. The Guthries are also principal owners of HEALTHCURE, LLC, a provider of infectious disease mitigation, prevention, consulting and remediation services and products that prevent nosocomial infections in healthcare facilities utilizing a patented anti-microbial and proprietary database headquartered in Charlotte, NC.
Michael is a native of Gary, Indiana and was valedictorian of his high school senior class. He received an A.B. from Harvard University in 1972 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1975. Michael practiced corporate litigation at Sonnenschein, Carlin, Nath & Rosenthal, an international law firm headquartered in Chicago, IL. He subsequently joined Johnson Products Company, a publicly held hair care, cosmetic and beauty products manufacturer, where he quickly advanced to the post of Vice-President of Corporate Planning.
In 1985, Michael and Carlton joined forces to acquire the tool and die and stamping operations of Uptilt, Inc. and Trumark. Inc., in Lansing, Michigan. The Guthries have jointly owned several businesses in sub-assembly and fabrication, metal stamping, tool and die, steel processing and warehousing, material sequencing, and product design and engineering as Tier Zero and first and second tier suppliers to the automotive and transportation industries.
Michael is past President or Board Chair of: The National Association of Black Automotive Suppliers, The National Association of Black Automotive Suppliers Scholarship Fund, The Michigan Council on Vocational Education, Junior Achievement of Mid-Michigan and the Children’s Aid Society of SE Michigan.
Michael’s board and advisory committee memberships have also included the following: the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management of Michigan State University, Comerica Bank of Michigan Central Region, Lansing Community College Foundation, Lansing Community College Business/Industry Institute, Junior Achievement of Mid-Michigan and Junior Achievement of Southeast Michigan, The Single Parent Family Institute of Lansing, The Black Child and Family Institute of Lansing, Children’s Aid Society of SE Michigan, the East Side Industrial Council of Detroit and Community Advisory Board for Davis Aerospace and Technical H.S. of Detroit.
The Guthries and their businesses have been recognized by Quality Magazine on the Quality Leadership 100 list, as “Supplier of the Year” by On Wheels, Inc, and The National Minority Business Development Council, and “Michigan Manufacturer of the Year” by Impressions 5 Museum of Lansing. The Greater Lansing Business Monthly named the Guthries “Entrepreneurs of the Year.” Ernst & Young named Michael and Carlton “Entrepreneurs of the Year” for Southeast Michigan. Michael has received the “Platinum Award” for Lifetime Service from Junior Achievement of Mid-Michigan.
Michael is a committed advocate for community investment and community leadership. He actively mentors college students at Michigan State University and Oakland University. Michael has been a Junior Achievement classroom consultant for over 35 classes.
Michael and his wife Valorie live in Northville, MI. They have two daughters Lauren and Kayla, and three grandchildren Zoe, Olivia and Orion.