Mariam Noland, drumming up permanent endowment for the region Mariam Noland, drumming up permanent endowment for the region COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN: When Mariam Noland was recruited in by the late Joe Hudson Jr. to serve as the founding president in 1984, she told him she'd stay three years. But there was always something more to do. Noland, 73, is winding down her 36th year leading the foundation as she prepares to retire at year's end. During that time, she's championed building permanent endowment and convened foundation leaders and others to support and develop significant efforts for the region, including greenways reconnecting residents to outside recreation, the New Economy Initiative launched after the Great Recession to spur economic development and, of course, the "grand bargain" that saved the Detroit Institute of Arts' collection even as it bolstered Detroit pension funds. The head of what is now a $1.2 billion foundation is a conservative presence in business meetings. But she once put on the gloves to learn how to drive a race car and jokes about her plans to take up the drums again in retirement.