Ms. Elizabeth Mays

Elizabeth Mays, third generation entrepreneur, printer and CEO of the MAYS legacy, inherited her family business in 2011 after graduating from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s in Communications: Film, Video & Media Studies; by following in the footsteps alike her grandfather and father a degree in engineering: Graphic & Printing Sciences. 

In 1946, Elizabeth’s late grandfather and Tuskegee Airman, J. Caulton Mays founded the family business, which was known as Mays Printing Company, established in Detroit, Michigan. After Elizabeth was handed the baton, the company was reformed as MCS/MAYS Multimedia.

She empowered herself even more to be a leader, when she minored in Graphic & Printing Science. These very studies enabled her to take her grandfather’s company to the next level and introduce the 21st Century to how graphics and branding and elevate the value of printing. 

A committed and courageous young woman, Mays is embarking on her eighth year as leader of MAYS. She’s a true entrepreneur who has taken the company to heights that once were only dreams. The vision she had for MAYS Multimedia took her into magazine publishing. She is Co- Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur & Executive Magazine, which was launched in 2017. It’s a business publication that features profiles and stories on entrepreneurs and executives who are making a significant difference in various businesses, industries, movements and organizations throughout Southeast Michigan. Elizabeth launched Valley Publishing Co, a book and magazine printing division of MAYS, dedicated to assisting authors, self-publishers, writers,, creatives and consultants to carefully brand and market their books. Bi-Annually, Elizabeth sponsors a publishing seminar called How to Write Book & Get it Published, held at the second largest library system in Michigan, Detroit Public Library – Main Branch. Here she invites ghost writers, marketing experts, self-publishers and legal professionals, to engage in panel discussions to motivate, educate and inspire future authors.

Never a person to rest upon her laurels, she expanded her company’s presence in the industry as she reached back to her past. She founded Valley Publishing Company, which includes branded design and printing. Valley Publishing is a division of MAYS Multimedia; and Mays serves as its President and Chief Consultant.

Elizabeth is alumni of the Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Business Program in partnership with Babson College in Boston, MA and Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. The program is a 16-week accelerated executive scholarship program that integrates high quality practical education and business support to leaders of high-growth small businesses and social enterprises across the United States. Additionally, she is a student of the Emerging Leaders Program, which is put on by the Small Business Administration; sits as the annual fundraising co-chair for BravoBRAVO!, for the Michigan Opera Theater and a Steering Committee Member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Classical Roots Annual Celebration, honoring African American composer, musicians and educators for lifetime achievement and raises funds to supports the DSO’s African American music and musician development programs. 

From 2012-2018 Elizabeth served as member and neighborhood coodrinator for Livernois SOUP, a division of Detroit SOUP – Detroit SOUP is a is a crowdfunding potluck that brings people together to raise money and support for community projects. Passionately enthused, Elizabeth also served as the Artist Coordinator, seeking and securing  creative Detroit artist (ex: muralist, storytellers, musicans,  mixed media artist and more) to the center stage of the event, to support the arts and its impact on community!

Elizabeth is also a graduate of the SBA’s (Small Business Administration) Emerging Leaders Program, Spring 2019.

Business is in her very being as she works closely with solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, c-level executives, and event planners. Her strategy for success is the use of branding and marketing tactics to overcome roadblocks, to increase probability, and to make a company’s presence known in the global market.