The Rev. Louis J. Putz, C.S.C., Award - 2011: Neil K. Hitz '62

2011: Neil K. Hitz '62

For his role in facilitating improvements in Catholic parishes and schools, Neil Hitz '62 is honored with the 2011 Putz Award. 

After receiving an MBA from the University of Detroit, Neil joined Ford Motor Company’s Marketing department. He then worked for an advertising agency for three years, followed by 15 years at American Motors Corp., where he managed Merchandising and NASCAR and Trans Am racing, oversaw dealership construction, and was Director of the Service and Parts divisions. He also served as Vice President of Latin American Operations.  

In 1985, Mr. Hitz left American Motors to manage a startup company in the hotel key-card lock industry. Two years later, the company was sold, and he went on to become chief executive officer and chief operating officer for a trust-held tool and die company. The company grew through acquisitions and diversification until his retirement in 1997. 

After his retirement, Mr. Hitz began devoting significant time as a volunteer. He joined the nonprofit organization Detroit Executive Service Corps (DESC), where he guided other nonprofits by facilitating their strategic, financial, and marketing planning—as well as board development. His broad-based, small and large company experience fit the DESC model, in which volunteers are facilitators rather than consultants. 

For more than 13 years, Mr. Hitz has guided such plans for his community, parish, and more than 30 nonprofit organizations. His experience gave him the belief that the same approach could apply to business planning for local Catholic parishes and schools. 

With this idea in mind, Mr. Hitz approached the Archdiocese of Detroit, and received approval for the Notre Dame Club of Detroit to work independently with interested schools. He then connected with fellow ND alumni Chris Walsh ’59 and Pete Higgins ’54, who joined him in working with the first school. They took the challenge. Mr. Walsh embraced the facilitation model and has provided the organizational structure allowing for the expansion and involvement of ND Detroit Club members of all ages. 

Together, the ND Club of Detroit team has provided strategic and marketing planning support to 16 schools over the past several years. The team facilitates school-specific plans and assists the schools in carrying out the action items of those plans. Using Mr. Higgins’ engineering background, they also have developed tools to evaluate school needs, in order to create measurable goals and monitor progress.

Mr. Hitz and his co-award-winner, Mr. Walsh, have recently been asked to facilitate a three-year plan for the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Detroit.

Mr. Hitz and his wife Eileen live in Beverly Hills, Michigan.  Their two sons, Bryan '95 and Darren '99 are Notre Dame alumni.