The Kresge Foundation has recently welcomed four new staff members to its Detroit Program, Investment Office, and Talent and Human Resources team.

The new hires include Kimberly Sherer, Gianna DiLisio-Perez, Diana Karditsas and Alexa Bush, who has returned to support the foundation’s work in Detroit.

Bush returns to Kresge after serving as the City of Detroit’s Planning Director, a role in which she led the Planning and Development Department’s work to expand opportunity and improve quality of life in neighborhoods across the city.

She previously spent three years as a program officer with Kresge’s Detroit Program, advancing public space transformation, climate resilience, and community-centered infrastructure investment. As a descendant of three-generations of Detroiters, she brings unmatched insight and a unique perspective to her work in the city.

Sherer joined the foundation as an investment operations manager. In this role, she supports portfolio performance oversight and treasury operations. 

Before joining Kresge, Sherer worked in investment risk and operations at Trinity Health, where she supported the organization’s investment program. She also held leadership roles in Comerica Bank’s Institutional Trust division, with a focus on client administration and investment functions. 

Sherer earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from Hillsdale College. 

“Kresge is widely respected for its integrity and longstanding connection to communities,” Sherer said. “That reputation, combined with my own memories of Kresge being part of everyday life growing up, makes this especially meaningful to me. It felt important to pursue a role with an organization that continues to carry forward that legacy of community connection and impact.” 

DiLisio-Perez is Kresge’s newest senior human resources specialist. She supports human resources information systems, payroll and benefits operations. 

Prior joining the foundation, DiLisio-Perez gained experience in HR technology and process optimization through roles in the technology consulting and mortgage industries. 

She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources management from Oakland University.  

“I’m fortunate to work alongside a mission-driven team where HR isn’t just a support function but a strategic partner in helping people do their best work and advance the impact that we’re making at Kresge,” DiLisio-Perez said. “Throughout my career, I have found the most rewarding part of HR is removing barriers so people can succeed. I have always believed that meaningful impact starts by investing in people and creating environments where they can thrive.” 

Hired as a temporary employee in 2025, Karditsas has been named as a senior talent and organizational development specialist for the foundation. In her role, she supports initiatives across the employee lifecycle, including talent acquisition, onboarding, learning and development, performance management and organizational development. 

Karditsas brings experience spanning philanthropy, academia, manufacturing and information technology. Her background includes talent management, leadership development, organizational development and human resource business partner roles. She has led global talent and leadership development initiatives at Hewlett-Packard and Electronic Data Systems, and she has taught nationally recognized professional and career development courses at Oakland University. 

Karditsas holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University. She is passionate about cultivating employee growth through a creative, people-centered approach.  

“Working at Kresge, I’m constantly hearing, seeing, and/or experiencing things that inspire, encourage and uplift me,” Karditsas said. “I also enjoy having the opportunity to think outside of the box and use creativity in an area, HR, that typically isn’t known for its creativity. I don’t take any of that for granted.”