Terri Weems
Interim President of DESC and Special Advisor to the Mayor for Workforce
Terri Weems is the Interim President of Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC), a Michigan Works! agency, and serves as the special advisor to the Mayor on Workforce. She spearheads workforce development strategies for Detroit residents including youth and adults. Prior to this role, she served as Executive Director of Workforce for the City of Detroit and led the Mayor’s Workforce Development Board, during which she managed over $100 million in funding.
She is a multi-disciplined Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over 25 years of experience spanning accounting, financial reporting, and auditing in both the U.S. and abroad. She draws on her experience to resolve complex business and accounting challenges, having advised on internal control systems, and supported operational and strategic planning.
Prior to joining DESC, Terri audited and advised Fortune 500 companies at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). She also directed firm-wide innovation and transformational change efforts for PwC that led to improved organizational performance and increased profitability. She was responsible for designing, delivering, and implementing new workforce models, talent brands, performance management processes, and several new technologies and procedures across 50,000 staff. These initiatives were aimed at improving efficiencies, reducing the potential for compliance issues, and managing organizational interdependencies.
Terri is recognized locally and statewide for her work in finance, leadership, and education, earning numerous awards. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a master’s degree in accounting from Ohio University. She is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Michigan Association of CPAs, and the National Association of Black Accountants.
She is deeply involved in mentoring youth throughout Detroit Public Schools and the metro Detroit area. Terri is also active in her community and has served on the Farmington Public Schools Board since 2015 serving as President, Treasurer, and as Chair of the Policy and Finance Committees. She also serves on various boards including Chair of the State of Michigan’s Barrier Committee.
Terri and her husband are the proud parents of three beautiful daughters.