Oct 26, 2022
Denise talks to KC Crain, President of the privately held media giant, Crain Communications. Navigating the global transformation of the media industry and building a technology company around media is something he’s proud of, with good reason. The family business produces news across publications, lead generation, research and data products, digital platforms, custom publishing, and events, reaching 78 million readers globally; the company’s portfolio consists of 24 brands.
Crain sites two tough situations he’s faced that have helped him to grow. The first was an absolute failure to launch a new business. The second was starting over. He’s learned the art of communication, in an environment that provides opportunities to hone his skills, exercising the courage to be honest.
“Confidence,” he says, “is learned.” Crain has a passion for learning, investing his time and effort into diving deeply into his subject matter. It makes sense. With increasing knowledge and expertise comes increasing confidence.
His advice to those who are thinking of joining a family business is as wise and humorous as it gets, “Go work somewhere else for a while.” He credits his ability to follow in his father and grandfather’s footsteps to understanding that no one person has all the answers. You can learn from anyone on the team, older or younger, at any time. Be open-minded and open to change.
As a husband and father of five children, he’s taken his mom’s words to heart—I don’t care what happens with the family company, I care what happens at Thanksgiving.
Like many Detroiters, Crain has fond memories of the city’s sports wins, and the energy its teams bring to the city. But having been in Detroit for over 50 years, Crain has enjoyed seeing the Riverfront and Central Business District come to life.
Denise enthusiastically agrees with her guest, “I think we’ve got one of THE most generous cities in America.”
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KC Crain is President and CEO for Crain Communications, Inc. His previous roles include COO, EVP and Director of Corporate Operations, VP and Group Publisher. He started as a reporter for Automotive News. Crain is board chair for the Detroit Children’s Fund and sits on the boards of the Young Presidents Organization, and the College for Creative Studies. He is dedicated to Detroit’s economic development with investments and partnerships in real estate and restaurant ventures. Crain earned a BA in Communications from Denison University. He and his wife, Ashley, live in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, with their five children.
Denise Ilitch, an owner of Ilitch Family Companies and President of Ilitch Enterprises, has been a part of Detroit’s business and philanthropic community for over 40 years. As a mother, lawyer, entrepreneur, devoted community servant and tireless advocate for women and children, she learned early, from her father, that everyone is worthy of contributing to the world. Her passion for affordable, accessible, quality education stems from her own experience as a first-generation student, earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, where she currently serves on the Board of Regents.
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