About Us
A Journey Fueled by Passion
our mission
Our mission is to foster a thriving, vibrant community in Pontiac by celebrating and empowering local leaders, organizations, and initiatives that drive positive change. Through collaboration, innovation, and a shared vision for growth, we aim to inspire civic pride, elevate opportunities for all residents, and contribute to the city’s economic and social development. With a focus on honoring the spirit of community service and progress, we are committed to being a catalyst for lasting impact and a brighter future for Pontiac.
At the Spirit of Pontiac, we are dedicated to partnering with state governments and local agencies to ensure the efficient delivery of critical public services. Our approach is grounded in industry-leading best practices, coupled with hands-on experience that allows us to tailor solutions to the unique challenges facing each agency. Whether it’s enhancing the employee experience or driving operational excellence, we understand that these foundational elements are essential for agencies to fulfill their core missions.
Our team brings expertise across strategy, performance, talent development, and change management, providing state and local governments with the tools they need to adapt to a rapidly evolving landscape. From conceptualization to full implementation, we take a collaborative approach, listening carefully to the needs of each organization and working together to optimize agency operations and amplify program impact.
By building strategic partnerships, we help create transformative change that strengthens both the internal workforce and the external service delivery of state and local government agencies.
Dr. Deirdre Waterman
Founder
Mayor Deirdre Waterman
Official Biography
On January 1, 2014, Dr. Deirdre Waterman was sworn-in as Mayor of the City of Pontiac, the first woman mayor in Pontiac’s long and storied history. In 2017, Mayor Waterman made history once again as the first mayor to earn a second term, signaling a strong message and mandate that Pontiac citizens believe in her vision for the future. As Mayor, she governs the city that she spent over four decades of her career collaborating with others to solve some of the city’s most challenging issues.
Under her diligent leadership, the City of Pontiac has recovered from the depths of 10 years of financial crisis and distress to achieve fiscal solvency and the restoration of municipal home rule. Through hard work and dedication, Mayor Waterman has been able to successfully stabilize the city’s finances and employ strategic planning, piloting significant progress – incredibly, a $14 million general fund surplus during her first tenure as an elected official.
Mayor Waterman has pursued an aggressive agenda to revitalize neighborhoods, restore youth services, create pipelines of job and career opportunities for residents, and attract new business sectors and economic growth. The Mayor’s leadership is making an extraordinary impact – Pontiac, as Sandro DiNello, President of Flagstar Bank said, “is lucky to have her.”
Prior to assuming her Mayoral office, Deirdre Holloway-Waterman dedicated her life in service to others. Born in New York City and coming of age in Detroit during a period of great change, she was surrounded by social architects and community activists from a young age which energized her to support causes that championed the rights of all people.
As the daughter of the late Dr. Horace Holloway, a pioneering physician who fought his way past segregation to become one of the first black doctors on staff at the former Highland Park General Hospital, she was inspired early on. Her mother, Dorothy Byrd Holloway, an accomplished musician and music instructor ingrained in her core values and principles of what a just society looks like. Her mother was the first African-American woman to serve on the board.
