fred undertook his first entrepreneurial opportunity through the acquisition of his uncle's lumber and coal business in royal oak, michigan. at that time, the erb lumber company had one store, seven employees, and revenues approaching $200,000, one third of which were generated from the sale of coal. fred developed and expanded the enterprise and when he sold it to carolina builders in 1993 the erb lumber company had 45 locations and approximately $300 million in sales. fred continues to be active in real estate development and management, and in many other businesses including edgemere enterprises in birmingham. his wife barbara was active in numerous community service organizations and served on the boards of the music hall of detroit and the michigan art train. she was a member of the women’s committee of the cranbrook academy of art and the local chapter of the national farm and garden club.