John Carver is a native of Ann Arbor.  John attended Hillsdale College, the University of Miami, and Eastern Michigan University obtaining a BBA Degree.

 John traveled the world as an ordinary seaman in the Merchant Marine. 

He was a founder of the nationally known Second Chance Nightclub/Conservatory Restaurant (https://secondchanceannarbor.com/), and Good Time Charley’s (University of Michigan’s #1 college bar). 

John, along with Barbara Schmid, founded an award winning corporate video production company - Better Communications, Inc (BCI). BCI also hosted the Michigan basketball coach’s post game show.

John has a long history of conservation work and was active in marketing both the National and the Michigan Nature Conservancy. He is co-founder of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters and the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) President’s Council. He co-founded the Wolfpack, a pioneering action-oriented group of conservation-minded leaders operating under the auspices of the NWF. To further facilitate conservatory efforts, John and the Wolfpack launched RiverUp, a campaign aimed at preserving and revitalizing the Huron River.

Wolfpack Members include:

  • Steve Hamp: formerly CEO of Greenfield Village and Chief of Staff at Ford Motor Co.
  • Jerry Jung: former CEO of Michigan CAT; chair of the Michigan Department of Transportation
  • Tim Wadhams: former CEO of MASCO Corp.
  • Nub Turner: founder and former CEO of G.T. Products; Wolfpack co-founder
  • Phil Power: former CEO of Hometown Communications (Observer/Eccentric Newspaper chain); current president of the Center for Michigan
  • Bill Martin: former University of Michigan Athletic Director and founder of First Martin Corp.
  • John Carver: business owner and philanthropist; Wolfpack co-founder
  • Paul Dimond: Partner, Miller Canfield; former economic advisor to President Bill Clinton; Wolfpack co-founder
  • Ray Pittman: former Executive Director of Ford Power Train Europe
  • Joe Schwarz: former U.S. Congressman and Michigan state senator
  • Martha Darling: National Academy of Sciences Consultant; philanthropist, former White House Fellow
  • Brian Athey: Professor and Departmental Chair, University of Michigan Medical School; advisor, DARPA Defense Science Office; co-CEO, tranSmart Foundation
  • Joe Fitzsimmons: former President, University Microfilms; former CEO, Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (NEW)

John received the National Wildlife Federation’s Virginia Ball Award, a national award, presented at the Smithsonian Institute. John previously served on Amara Conservation's Board of Advisors. Amara Conservation works to protect elephants at Kenya's TSAVO National Park. 

John was awarded Ann Arbor, Michigan‘s ‘Key to the City’ for community work, as well as the Golden Paintbrush Award for commissioning public art projects, including the "Spirit of Ann Arbor". John formerly served on the Board of Directors for the Ark Club and the Michigan Theatre. 

John co-founded the Ann Arbor Pioneer High School’s Academic and Athletic fund. 

John was very active in the refurbishing of Hill Auditorium. 

Back in the 1980’s, John hosted a number of casino events to provide badly needed support for Ann Arbor‘s Michigan Theater.

Mayor Louis D. Belcher (wearing the hat) accepts a $15,000 check from John Carver, owner of the Second Chance Bar, which hosted the benefit.


Conservation Work with U.S. Rep. John Dingell

John was instrumental in the lighting of the University of Michigan’s Burton Tower.

John is married to Patricia Henry Carver, and they have three children - Jack, Stella, and Rose.

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