Former Auto Show Director Sam Klemet Lands New VP Role With Kelley Cawthorne’s Catalyst Venture
Just weeks after stepping away from leadership of the Detroit Auto Show and the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, Sam Klemet has landed in a new role that keeps him closely connected to the world of advocacy, communications and association leadership that has defined much of his career.
Kelley Cawthorne announced Wednesday, May 20, that Klemet is joining the Lansing-based lobbying firm’s newly launched association management company Catalyst as vice president of operations. In addition to helping lead Catalyst, Klemet will also support Kelley Cawthorne’s continued growth efforts in Southeast Michigan.
The move comes after Klemet’s high-profile run leading the Detroit Auto Show through a pivotal transition period. After longtime executive director Rod Alberts stepped aside, Klemet was tapped to help usher the show into a new era that included bringing the event back to its traditional January timing while placing a stronger emphasis on Detroit culture, community partnerships, and accessibility.
Over the last two years, his vision became increasingly tangible.
Under Klemet’s leadership, the Auto Show expanded its community engagement efforts, built partnerships with local businesses and organizations, and worked to make the event feel more reflective of the city itself. From Day of Service activations with Detroit Public Schools Community District and local Black Greek Letter Organizations to collaborations with media and civic groups throughout the region, Klemet pushed for the show to feel more connected to Detroiters beyond the convention floor.
Michigan Chronicle partnered with Klemet and the Auto Show during both the 2025 and 2026 events, including hosting a panel discussion ahead of the 2025 show, red carpet coverage during Charity Preview events and a special edition of Pancakes & Politics at Huntington Place during this year’s Auto Show week.
Ahead of that event, Michigan Chronicle Publisher Hiram E. Jackson reflected on the significance of the partnership and the platform the Auto Show had created for broader conversations in the city.
“For 20 years, Pancakes & Politics has built a reputation as the space where leaders come to exchange bold, unfiltered ideas that ultimately shape policy and move communities forward,” Jackson said at the time. “To have the Detroit Auto Show recognize the value of this platform and invite us onto such a prominent stage is an honor. This partnership underscores the weight of these conversations, not just for Detroit, but for the entire nation.”
When Klemet announced on April 30 that he would step down from the Detroit Auto Dealers Association and Detroit Auto Show, the decision caught many in the business and civic community by surprise. At the time, he said only that he planned to pursue new professional opportunities while remaining rooted in Detroit.
“It has been a privilege to serve the DADA and work alongside its leadership and members,” Klemet said in a statement announcing his departure. “At this time, I’ve made the decision to pursue other professional opportunities, and I wish the organization continued success in the years ahead.”
Now, Kelley Cawthorne says Klemet will play a major role in building out Catalyst, the firm’s new full-service association management company. The new venture will provide support for organizations in areas including member engagement, communications, governance, event management, and financial administration.
For company leadership, Klemet’s background in both communications and association leadership made him an ideal addition.
“Catalyst is built on the belief that associations thrive when their members feel seen, supported and connected to a larger purpose. Sam’s strategic leadership and his talent for articulating an organization’s value to the right audiences make him an ideal fit for what we’re building,” Rob Elhenicky, CEO of Kelley Cawthorne, said in a statement.
Klemet brings more than two decades of experience across media, broadcasting, and association leadership roles. Before taking over leadership of the Detroit Auto Show, he served as president and CEO of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, where he oversaw advocacy, education, and legislative initiatives on behalf of commercial and public radio and television stations across the state.
Prior to that, he spent six years with the Indiana Broadcasters Association and Indiana-based Arland Communications, leading advocacy and compliance efforts for hundreds of member stations. Earlier in his career, Klemet worked as a broadcast journalist, producer, and news director at stations across Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota.
That communications background often shaped his leadership style, particularly during his time with the Auto Show. Klemet consistently emphasized storytelling, partnerships, and creating experiences that felt authentic to Detroit.
In announcing the new role, Klemet said his experience working with associations over the years helped shape his interest in the opportunity.
“Having spent more than a decade helping associations grow their membership and influence, I know first-hand the challenges these organizations face. Kelley Cawthorne’s Catalyst model will directly address those challenges, and I’m excited to bring my perspective and experience to its association management and lobbying clients,” said Klemet.
While Catalyst represents a new venture for Kelley Cawthorne, much of the attention surrounding the announcement has centered on Klemet and what his next chapter could mean for organizations looking for stronger engagement, clearer messaging, and deeper community relationships.
For many who watched the Detroit Auto Show evolve over the last two years, the transition feels much less like a departure from that work and more like an extension of it.
The firm’s client list currently includes Wayne State University, Opportunity Resource Fund, Retirement System City of Detroit, Special Olympics Michigan, and a series of other businesses, organizations, and associations.