Danialle Karmanos

Danialle Karmanos
Karmanos in 2025
Born
Danialle Tynan

Danialle Karmanos is an American philanthropist, technology executive and CEO of MadDog Technology.[1]


Early life and education

Born in 1973, Karmanos grew up in Michigan in the Dearborn area. She graduated from Dearborn High School in 1991. She received her undergraduate degree from Wayne State University in 1998.[2]

Career

Karmanos' early work was first as a spokesperson for the auto industry.[2] From 2002 to 2005, Karmanos produced and directed concept car reveals for North American International Auto Show.[3] In 2006, she wrote, co-produced, and directed the award-winning "I Am Detroit" for Compuware Corporation.[4]

She is primarily known for her work helping people in the Detroit area, but in recent years she has taken on the role as a technology executive and investor. In 2009, she told the New York Times that she woke up each day asking how she can help the area.[5] In 2005, Karmanos founded Danialle Karmanos Work It Out (DKWIO),[6][7] and ten years later she talked about how the program was reducing bullying in schools.[8] In 2015, Karmanos and her husband, Peter Karmanos Jr., established the Karmanos Center for Natural Birth at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.[9] That same year, she donated funds to Wayne State University to establish a journalism program.[10][11] In 2017, Karmanos founded The Cuddlers, a volunteer-based movement started at Children's Hospital of Michigan to cuddle and comfort hospitalized infants and children.[12]

Karmanos has been a columnist for Styleline Magazine[13] and a guest blogger for Metromodemedia.com.[14] She is the author of the hardcover book about her husband entitled, Pete Karmanos – A Life in Progress.[15]

Karmanos was elected to the Wayne State University Board of Governors and served from 2011 to 2013.[16] She was named by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to serve on the Michigan Film Office Advisory Council in 2008.[17] Karmanos currently serves on the board of trustees for the College for Creative Studies,[18] and is a founding member, board member and former Chair of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. Karmanos is also a member of the Leadership Advisory Board of the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute at the University of Michigan[19] and serves on the Board Development Committee of the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan.[20]

Since 2016, she has served on the Board of Trustees at Detroit Country Day School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan [21]. She hosted and produced the podcast Karama Has Spoken for SEEN Magazine.[22]. In 2023, she founded Danialle’s Clubhouse in Birmingham, Michigan, a community space offering programming focused on social connection and engagement for women [23].

Awards and honors

In 2025, HOUR Detroit named Karmanos Detroiter of the Year.[24]

Danialle Karmanos Work It Out (DKWIO), which Karmanos founded in 2005, is now run by Wayne State University, and according to HOUR Detroit, has helped more than 40,000 kids in and around Detroit.[25]

In 2025, Karmanos received the Greek America Foundation Lifetime Supporter Award.[26]

In 2018, Karmanos received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Hellenic American University.[27][28]

Karmanos has also received numerous awards for her community service, philanthropy and contributions to the metropolitan Detroit community. She received the American Heart Association's "Cor Vitae Award" for community service; the Matilda R. Wilson Award from Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan; the MBPA Women and Leadership's "Distinguished Leadership Award for Philanthropy;" and the Greater Wayne County Chapter of The Links' "Innovator in Health and Wellness" award.

In 2007, Karmanos was named to Crain's Detroit Business "40 Under 40" list of young achievers in recognition of her career achievements.[29]

Personal life

Karmanos married Peter Karmanos Jr., founder of Compuware, in 2005. The couple have four sons.

Philanthropy

Karmanos partnered with Detroit Country Day School to establish the DCDS XR studio and podcast facility, a state-of-the-art multimedia production space incorporating extended reality (XR), LED video walls, and virtual production technology.[30][31][32][33] She contributed $3 million toward the project.

Karmanos is the Lead Advisor for Strategic Development at the College for Creative Studies Fashion Design Advisory Council.[34]

In addition to DKWIO and the Karmanos Center for Natural Childbirth, Karmanos and her husband have provided significant financial support to the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit,[35] Wayne State University's journalism program, the College for Creative Studies, the Detroit Zoo, Alzheimer's Association, Michigan Humane Society, Dutch Symphony Orchestra, Grace Centers of Hope, Girl Scouts of the USA and the Greek America Foundation.[36]

References

  1. ^ "Maddog Technology". Maddog Technology. Maddog Technology. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b Spratling, Cassandra (22 August 2010). "Wife and mother with a mission". Detroit Free Press; Detroit, Mich. pp. D.2.
  3. ^ Begin, Sherri (2007-09-24). "Danialle Karmanos, 34". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  4. ^ "| I Am Detroit". www.hourdetroit.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  5. ^ Konigsberg, Eric (2009-05-09). "Grosse Pointe Blues". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  6. ^ Pappas, Gregory (2017-08-29). "Danialle And Peter Karmanos: $1 Million Gift To College For Creative Studies in Detroit – The Pappas Post". The Pappas Post. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  7. ^ Woods, Ashley (2013-11-12). "Danialle Karmanos' Work It Out Teaches Inner-City Kids Yoga And The Value Of A Deep Breath". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  8. ^ Zaniewski, Ann (2015-12-06). "Yoga helps kids manage stress". The Tribune. pp. B6. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  9. ^ Sharmus, Kristen Jordan (April 19, 2015). "Karmanos donation creates a peaceful place to be born". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  10. ^ Jesse, David (2015-04-23). "Karmanos gives $100k to set up WSU journalism program". Detroit Free Press. pp. A5. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  11. ^ "Wayne State Alumna Gifts $100,000 to Journalism Program". 22 April 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  12. ^ Bennett, Chuck (January 11, 2018). "SC: The Cuddlers offer babies healing power of touch". Detroit News. Retrieved 2018-03-06.
  13. ^ "RIP: Styleline Magazine". Motownsavvy.com. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  14. ^ "Blog: Danialle Karmanos". Metromode. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Danialle Karmanos pens book about husband Pete". clickondetroit.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  16. ^ "Danialle Karmanos to depart Wayne State board". crainsdetroit.com. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Michigan Film Office 2009 Annual Report" (PDF). MichiganFilmOffice.org. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  18. ^ "CCS dedicates the Danialle and Peter Karmanos, Jr Graphic Design Studios". Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  19. ^ "A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute". Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  20. ^ "Leadership – Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan". Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  21. ^ "Leadership". Detroit Country Day School. Detroit Country Day School. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  22. ^ "SEEN launches new podcast: Karama Has Spoken". SEEN Magazine. SEEN Magazine. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  23. ^ "Team". Danialle’s Clubhouse. Danialle’s Clubhouse. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  24. ^ "Detroiters 2025: Danialle Karmanos". HOUR Detroit. 2025. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  25. ^ "Detroiters 2025: Danialle Karmanos". HOUR Detroit. 2025. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  26. ^ "Greek America Foundation to Honor Cat Cora and Danialle Karmanos with Lifetime Supporter Award at 2025 Gabby Awards". Greek America Foundation. Greek America Foundation. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  27. ^ "Detroit Philanthropist Danialle Karmanos' Inspirational Words to Graduating Class at Hellenic American University in Athens". The Pappas Post. 2018-07-09. Retrieved 2018-07-13. {{cite news}}: line feed character in |title= at position 8 (help)
  28. ^ "10th Hellenic American University Commencement – Hellenic American College". www.haec.gr. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  29. ^ Begin, Sherri (27 January 2015). "Crain's 40 Under 40 2007 – Danialle Karmanos". Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  30. ^ "New studio at Country Day includes multiple platforms". The Oakland Press. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  31. ^ "Detroit Country Day School unveiled its virtual production studio powered by Tessera". AVNetwork. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  32. ^ "Detroit Country Day School unveils cutting-edge XR studio powered by Tessera". Pro AV Innovate. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  33. ^ "Education Technology Case Study: LED XR Studio at DCDS, Michigan". Infiled. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  34. ^ "CCS Academic Catalog 2025–2026" (PDF). College for Creative Studies. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  35. ^ [24]
  36. ^ [25]
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