The Innovation Issue
Excellence in Business Gala Davenport’s annual fundraiser with Coach John Beilein and Rockford Construction CEO Mike VanGessel
Davenport University
Summer 2019 | Volume 13 | No. 2
In this Issue Summer 2019 | Volume 13 | No. 2
Review The DU Review is designed and published
University News
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| | | | | |
by Davenport University 6191 Kraft Avenue SE
From the president
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512
Technology and innovation at DU New EVP of alumni and development New provost and EVP of academic affairs Detroit campus opens its doors
Alumni & Development Executive Vice President for Alumni & Development Rachel Render Executive Director of Grant Development Michele Davis
DU Day of Research grows
Executive Director of Leadership Gifts & Donor Services Louise Kidd
Features
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Director of Major Gifts Jon Hankins
Davenport athletics levels up Detroit Public Schools and urban education On the cover: Excellence in Business Gala 3 myths that block you from advancing your career DU partners with Michigan Chamber, DTE Energy
Assistant Director of Alumni Relations & Events Erik Dane, ’07 MBA Director of Prospect Research & Stewardship Alysa Hunton Assistant Director of Annual Giving Megan Sjolander
Alumni News
Assistant Director of Alumni Communications & Development
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Transforming passion into a thriving business Alumni Mentor Network makes new connections Beaumont Hospital transforms into nursing Magnet Supporting students through scholarships Working to improve lives in SE Michigan Alumni events
Manager of Data Systems & Gift Processing Steven Saturley Executive Administrative Assistant Deb Bales Marketing & Communications Executive Vice President for Marketing & Communications Deb Cooper
Class notes
Executive Director of Communications
Have something to add? Share your thoughts and images on one of our social media platforms. DavenportU
Laura Macka
DavenportU
Amy Miller Director of Communications Karah Bradshaw
davenportuniversity
davenport.edu/DUreview
From the President
A continued commitment to innovation Not every institution can tout a goal around innovation and see that goal through year after year. Yet at Davenport University, we have done just that. We consistently push ourselves to achieve the goals laid out in our Vision 2020 strategic plan. As I look back at our plan in its final year, I am proud of what we have achieved and the innovation we have been able to drive since 2015. For instance, Davenport University continually monitors the market and adjusts to meet the needs of employers while setting up our students for career success. One of our key differentiators as a university is our ability to see a need in the market and create a relevant program within 60 days in response. This agility enables us to develop the talent resources “One of our key required to support our differentiators as a growing economy. In university is our ability fact, in just nine years, we have created and to see a need in the launched more than market and create a 20 different programs for that purpose.
relevant program within 60 days in response.”
Davenport University was among the first in the country to offer employment guarantees for our degrees, and we continue to expand this commitment. We now offer employment guarantees for four degrees: accounting, nursing, network management and computer science. Another great example of our innovation is the development of the Corporate Education Scholarships we announced this year with TEAM Schostak in Livonia and DTE Energy in Detroit. This innovative approach of creating scholarships to be used as an employee benefit has already provided more than 100 Schostak and DTE employees with an opportunity to earn the graduate and bachelor’s degrees necessary to take their careers to the next level. As we look to continue advancing the university and plan for the future, I am especially encouraged
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to have found two new members to join our leadership team. I’m pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Gilda Gely, our new executive vice president of academic affairs and provost, and Rachel Render, our new executive vice president of alumni and development. Each will play a pivotal role in helping Davenport University further its mission of transforming students’ lives by preparing them for the world’s fastestgrowing careers. In this issue of the DU Review, you’ll find inspiring stories of alumni success and get tips for advancing your career. You’ll learn more about our recent corporate partnerships as well as our new esports team. You’ll also read about Davenport’s 22nd annual Excellence in Business Gala and featured guest Coach John Beilein. Discover his reason for leaving the Wolverines to coach the Cavaliers and read about Mike VanGessel, CEO of Rockford Construction, who won the 2019 Peter C. Cook Excellence in Business Award. As we embark on developing our Vision 2025 strategic plan, I fully anticipate a continued commitment to innovation. We will explore new technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence and find new ways to achieve our mission of preparing students for the future. I look forward to an ongoing dialog with our students, alumni, faculty, staff and partners about ways Davenport will continue to stay one step ahead.
Richard J. Pappas, Ed.D. President Davenport University | 4
CISCO EQUIPMENT Certified instructors use CISCO equipment in our College of Technology classes
ED
TE
N RA
A GU
EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE We offer an employment guarantee for four popular programs, and we’re working to expand that to at least 20% of our programs
60 DAYS SOFT SKILLS We were one of the first to put a soft skills certification on
ONLY 60 DAYS
your diploma – we ensure students gain the soft skills they
It only takes 60 days to create a new degree
need to be successful in their careers
based on real-world employer feedback
ORIGINAL RESEARCH Hundreds of students and faculty are conducting original research on important topics such as overcoming antibiotic resistance and combining medical treatments for better patient outcomes
VARSITY ESPORTS We were the second university in Michigan to offer esports as a varsity program
Technology & innovation at DU Innovation can be defined as the act of adapting and evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of the community. Ideas are the seeds of innovation but unless they are applied and scaled, they’re only ideas. That’s why Davenport University is constantly striving to implement ideas that bring technology and novelty to the forefront in a sustainable way. These efforts are critical to preparing our students for the world’s fastest growing careers. Here are just a few examples of things we do that set DU apart.
MENTAL HEALTH All of our College of Health Professions faculty are trained in mental health first aid
Have you used your bookstore discount ? Use code DUREVIEW20 for 20% off today Apparel • Drinkware • Jewelry • Gifts Shop online at DUspirit.com
University News
Davenport names new executive vice president for alumni and development
D
avenport University has named Rachel Render as its new executive vice president for alumni and development. Render began the new role in early April 2019, bringing nearly 15 years of leadership experience in alumni relations and fund development to Davenport. Render most recently served as the senior director of development for the University of Colorado Boulder. “Rachel is a dynamic and innovative leader who has a profound capacity for building relationships and supporting a university’s vision for growth,” said Dr. Richard J. Pappas. “She will be instrumental in helping Davenport further its mission of transforming the lives of our students by preparing them for the world’s fastest-growing careers.” As executive vice president for alumni and development, Render will be responsible for helping to build and support alumni relations as well as advancing fund development. Part of Render’s duties will include raising money for capital projects and student scholarships – two areas that are important to Davenport’s mission of making college affordable and offering top-notch learning facilities. “I am incredibly impressed by the mission and vision of Davenport,” said Render. “I look forward to advancing the university's core mission of transforming communities and changing lives through higher education.” For the last four years, Render served as a senior director within the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she worked with alumni and donors in New York City
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and Chicago. Prior to that, she was with the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University and led the successful completion of the Rice Centennial Campaign, which raised $67 million. Render also served in a progression of assistant and associate director roles in development and alumni relations over eight years at the University of Michigan, primarily within the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Render is replacing Peg Luy, who retired in January after serving as the executive vice president of alumni and development at Davenport for the last six years. Welcome to Davenport University, Rachel.
“I look forward to advancing the university's core mission of transforming communities and changing lives through higher education.” - Rachel Render
Davenport University | 8
Feature
Davenport University athletics levels up DU becomes the second university in Michigan to form a varsity esports team
In January 2019, Davenport University announced that it added esports – competitive video gaming – to its lineup of varsity athletic programs. Davenport was the second university in the state of Michigan to establish a formal esports program and one of fewer than 120 in the U.S. and Canada, according to the National Association of Collegiate Esports. “Esports is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and we feel it not only fits into our sports programming but also aligns well with our academic offerings,” said Paul Lowden, executive director of intercollegiate athletics. “Students who join our esports program will have the opportunity to pursue their passion for gaming while earning a degree in one of our leading academic programs.” Colin Graham was hired as head coach of the new program in May and has begun recruiting a team of student athletes to compete in the 2019-20 school year. Graham will use
9 | DU Review
his background in organizing esports competitions to provide insight into planning and schematics for the new gaming lab, which will be housed inside of the Student Center. “Colin brings an array of experience in the gaming industry to his new role,” said Lowden. “From his experience as an esports director at Yellow Flag Productions to organizing and recruiting players for statewide esports competitions, Colin’s passion for gaming and the continued growth of his skills were evident.” The university will invest in renovating a space for a gaming facility and will create scholarships for qualified team members.
“I’m impressed by Davenport’s commitment to building one of the first collegiate esports programs in Michigan,” said Graham. “I am excited to champion the development of our future student-athletes while guiding them toward mastery of the esports craft.” Esports most commonly feature video games associated with real-time strategy, first-person shooter, fighting and multiplayer online battle arenas. Popular games for esports include Fortnite, League of Legends, CounterStrike: Global Offensive, Call of Duty, Hearthstone and Overwatch.
“Students who join our esports program will have the opportunity to pursue their passion for gaming while earning a degree in one of our leading academic programs.”
Summer 2019
“There is a lot of synergy between esports and the high-demand careers we help our students prepare for at our university, including computer science and sports management.” “Davenport excels at helping individuals earn degrees that will help them earn a successful career,” adds Lowden. “There is a lot of synergy between esports and the high-demand careers we help our students prepare for at our university, including computer science and sports management.” DU offers a bachelor of science in computer science with a specialization in gaming and simulation as well as
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a bachelor of science in computer information systems with a web and mobile development specialization. In fact, Davenport is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense as designated by the Committee on National Security Systems in conjunction with the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. It is also designated as a National Center of Academic
Excellence in Digital Forensics as designated by the Department of Defense Cybercrime Center and the Academic Cyber Curriculum Alliance. DU also offers the only bachelor of business administration program in sport management in the state that’s accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation. “I’m looking forward to serving our athletes, the university and our community,” said Graham. “Esports has a bright future in Michigan and we’re going to be heavily involved in its development.”
Davenport University | 10
Join us for DU Night at Comerica Park Purchase tickets and go to the game to get this limited edition DU Detroit Tigers baseball hat.
Friday, August 30 at 7:10 pm Join us for a great night of baseball, and you’ll raise $5 per ticket sold for the Davenport Scholarship Fund Get your tickets before they’re gone! Visit bit.ly/DavenportandTigers
11 | DU Review
Summer 2019
University News
Davenport's new provost and executive vice president of academic affairs, Dr. Gilda Gely
D
avenport University has named Dr. Gilda Gely as its new provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
Gely will begin the new role in July 2019, bringing nearly 30 years of leadership experience in higher education to Davenport. She most recently served as the provost and vice president for academic and student affairs for Cambridge College in Massachusetts. “Dr. Gely is a proven leader in higher education,” said Dr. Richard J. Pappas. “She will be instrumental in helping Davenport further its mission of transforming the lives of our students by preparing them for the world’s fastest-growing careers.” Gely’s accomplishments include leading efforts for strategic planning, design and development of proposed and new academic degrees, and other academic initiatives. She also has a proven track record of advancing partnerships with other educational institutions, including community colleges and public school systems. Gely is replacing Dr. Linda Rinker, who is retiring in July after serving as the provost and executive vice president of academic affairs at Davenport for the last eight years. Prior to joining Cambridge College, Gely served as executive vice president and provost at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was also provost and executive vice president at Grand Rapids Community College. Additionally, Gely served as interim dean of academic affairs at the
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University of Puerto Rico, Humacao and has held positions as the vice chancellor and director of the languages department at Universidad del Este, Carolina in Puerto Rico. Gely has held numerous leadership roles within the community, including sitting on the board of the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Board of Art and Museum Commissioners for the City of Grand Rapids and the World Affairs Council. Her many accolades include being awarded the Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Leadership Award by the Michigan ACE Network in 2011. Gely earned a doctorate in Spanish from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a master’s in Spanish from Middlebury College and a bachelor’s in broadcasting and a bachelor's in Spanish from Kansas State University.
“Dr. Gely is a proven leader in higher education. She will be instrumental in helping Davenport further its mission." - Dr. Richard Pappas
Welcome to Davenport University, Dr. Gely.
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University News
DU in Doors at the new Detroit campus are officially open, applications now being accepted On February 8, 2019, Davenport University officially opened its new Detroit campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house. Thank you to all of the faculty, staff, alumni and prospective students who joined us for the event.
Partnering with the local community In addition to working with students, the DU Detroit team is partnering with area employers to offer scholarships and programs that are specifically designed for the city. Davenport has been working with employers in Detroit for over 60 years. This year, we’ve already announced partnerships with DTE Energy and TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants, which you’ll learn more about in this issue. Through these partnerships and our growing presence in the area, we’re looking forward to serving the community for decades to come.
Scott Epstein, Dr. Richard Pappas, Lisa Howze and Dave Veneklase 13 | DU Review
Summer 2019
Program offerings in Detroit The programs being offered in Detroit are designed to help you launch or advance your career in the fields of business, technology, healthcare or urban education. Courses are both affordable and designed to fit into your busy life with day or evening and in-seat or online options.
Master’s Degrees
Bachelor’s Degrees
Graduate Certificates
• Business Administration
• Health Information Management
• Marketing
• Urban Education
• Medical Case Management
• Human Resources
• Urban Education Leadership
• Computer Information Systems
• Urban Education
• Information Assurance and
• Business
Cybersecurity
• Marketing
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates • Global Project Management
Enrollment for classes in Detroit is now open. For more information about these programs, visit davenport.edu/campus/detroit or call (800) 686-1600.
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Feature
Detroit Public Schools and Davenport University team up to offer scholarships toward urban education degrees
“ A key
differentiator with our program is the weekly in-class observations for each candidate.”
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Davenport University has teamed up with Detroit Public Schools to offer its staff and faculty a scholarship to pursue certification, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in urban education. The new scholarship will offset costs associated with urban education programs – curricula that helps educators build the necessary skills to support and advance the special needs of students in an urban environment. Davenport University’s College of Urban Education (CUE) programs produce teachers who approach students and their education holistically. This approach is accomplished by utilizing a combination of academic coursework, in-class observations and coaching that provides realtime feedback on teaching practices. Davenport University has already launched a similar partnership with Grand Rapids Public Schools. The program has resulted in a 31% increase in student engagement and a 35% improvement in students’ demonstration of learning. “The College of Urban Education was created with the goal of changing the way teachers are prepared for service in urban school districts, helping them to achieve better results and reduce high teacher turnover rates,” said Dr. Richard Pappas, president of Davenport University. “We instituted a similar partnership with Grand Rapids Public Schools, and teachers in the program continually demonstrate progress – verifying that we are achieving our goal of making a meaningful difference in Michigan’s urban school districts.”
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Teachers emerging from this program: •
Understand the current context of urban education, including both challenges and datadriven educational strategies that influence student achievement
•
Gain experience in implementing culturally relevant pedagogical models of instruction that inspire and engage
•
Learn how to work with community stakeholders in countering and even mitigating the effects of harmful environmental factors that affect student success
The CUE curriculum includes courses in student development and college readiness, educational technology, cultural intelligence, school improvement planning, culturally competent classroom management, instructional pedagogy in literacy, math and integrated science, and differentiated instruction in urban schools. “A key differentiator with our program is the weekly inclass observations for each candidate,” said Dr. Susan Gunn, dean for the College of Urban Education. “Recent studies show that including coaching as part of the classroom observation process is a very effective method to hone teaching practice. It also helps us to continually measure our progress and make the necessary adjustments to achieve results.” Davenport launched its first urban education certification class in April, and students are currently being accepted for fall 2019. If you’re interested in exploring Davenport’s urban education programs, visit davenport.edu/college-urban-education.
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Alumni News
Transforming a passion for the outdoors into a thriving business
Caleb Adrianson, ‘17
“My dad and I share a passion for the outdoors, and during a backcountry hiking trip with him, I knew this was what I wanted to be connected to for life.”
17 | DU Review
C
aleb Adrianson ‘17, owner of Great Lakes Outpost, is no stranger to retail marketing. He started working in his dad’s shop, Firehouse Guitars, when he was 12 years old. The business model that his father established – having a storefront and acting as a thirdparty online seller – had been successful. His father’s business was the inspiration for Adrianson to come up with his own innovative company. Seven years after he started working at Firehouse Guitars, Adrianson launched Great Lakes Outpost.
“My dad and I share a passion for the outdoors, and during a backcountry hiking trip with him, I knew this was what I wanted to be connected to for life. I spent the rest of my teen years taking business classes to learn how I could create that connection for a living,” said Adrianson. “My senior year in high school, I took an entrepreneurship class, and that’s when I had a conversation with my dad about how we could diversify from the music industry into the cycling industry.”
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In 2012, Adrianson and his dad set up a website to sell bikes and cycling gear through his dad’s company, GearTree. com. After his freshman year at Davenport, Adrianson was ready to branch out. His summer internship at his dad’s business went from accounting to marketing and business analysis to expanding the cycling sales site. “One day, my dad turned to me and asked if we were going to get serious about outdoor gear. He pointed to a trade show, which we ended up attending. After researching the companies we met at the trade show, we took a leap of faith and Great Lakes Outpost was created.” Adrianson started his sophomore year at Davenport as an official business owner. His first store, which he ran out of his father’s warehouse, focused on online sales. While taking classes at DU, Adrianson heard all of the statistics his professors reported on new businesses: 50% of them fail within the first two years and 80% within the first five years. But Adrianson knew from his research that he had picked products with high turn rates and good margins. He was seeing a profit within the first four months. In October of 2016, after one year of online sales, Great Lakes Outpost opened its first storefront. Adrianson’s roommates helped him set up and became his first employees and his biggest supporters. Going to outdoor tradeshows now took on a whole new meaning. Most vendors looked at Adrianson with skepticism – he was the new kid on the block.
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“Trying to find a brand that will allow you to sell on a third-party marketplace for them without a website was difficult,” Adrianson recalls. “Now, most of my time is spent talking policies with vendors about third-party marketplace holding prices and minimum advertising prices. It’s hard to manage what price retailers will sell a product for online. When they are selling at deepdiscounted prices, they are devaluing that brand. My conversations are centered on brands trusting us. It was tough in the beginning as a startup, but now we’ve built up our references and reputation. In the cycling industry, we’re probably one of the top three online sellers.” Adrianson speaks of the competition selling online for vendors and their brands. “A brand can be in as many brick and mortar shops as they want, but now online retailers are competing to be added to a small list of authorized retailers on websites like Amazon. We’re all fighting to get into the “cool kids club.” We’ve had success in our relationships with smaller up-and-coming brands. It’s exciting to be a part of launching a new brand – to see them succeed and know we had a hand in that.” Adrianson strives to keep his business innovative by continuously looking for opportunities to upgrade and improve. Not only is he selling through thirdparty marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, Walmart.com and Jet.com but also through his storefront and now on his own website. Now that his company has grown leaps and bounds, the more efficient and timely product fulfillment method Adrianson is creating will keep him competitive with the Amazon Prime consumer expectation.
“Once we hit over 10,000 SKUs, we decided we needed to build our own software. I am in the process of working with developers to design a custom software system that is tailored to our business,” said Adrianson. “Now we can track our inventory, shipping and reporting. Our efficiencies have skyrocketed as far as accurately delivering what the consumer ordered in a timely manner.” What started years ago as an interest in creating a job centered on a passion for the outdoors has turned into something much more. Adrianson’s initial dream of being a retailer for the most well-known outdoor brands has turned into real, meaningful relationships with vendors and products he is passionate about.
“It makes going to work fulfilling and much more fun.” “We’ve partnered with like-minded companies in this industry. When a customer enters my store and says, ‘I’ve never seen this anywhere but online,’ I say, ‘This is a room full of all my favorite things.’ It makes going to work fulfilling and much more fun.” From working in his father’s shop as a child to starting a business as a sophomore at Davenport University, Adrianson’s entrepreneurial spirit and desire to continue innovating have helped him thrive. Now the question is, “What’s next?”
Davenport University | 18
Alumni News
Alumni Mentor Network: Making successful connections today for a student’s career path tomorrow I
was lucky enough to have many excellent mentors early on in my career,” said Carey Brechting ‘16 grad and Alumni Mentor Network mentor. “If I would have had a mentor while in school, I can only imagine the benefits, connections and relationships that would have helped me prosper back then.”
There are many reasons why both mentors and mentees decide to participate in the Alumni Mentor Network, but one thing they all have in common is the value they receive by sharing their stories and learning from someone who’s walked in their shoes.
“Additionally, the lunch and learns provided insight on various topics that were relatable for students with long college careers ahead of them as well as those who will be graduating in the spring.” “The mentors are professional and helpful. They can help students see what they have yet to see in real life versus what they learn in school,” MBA student Phuong Tran said. “This program also helps students get ideas about how networking works before graduating, so they can be better prepared when they search for a job.”
This marks the second year of Davenport’s Alumni Mentor Network program. Consumers Credit Union and Davenport’s Alumni Board of Directors were sponsors once again. This year, the program connected 20 pairs of students and alums for one common goal. “To pass on some knowledge and life advice,” as Ross Melinn, class of 2015 and two-year mentor, put it. The six-month program consisted of one-on-one meetings between the mentors and mentees to discuss topics such as goal setting, resumes, finances and even possible internship opportunities. Lunch and learn events, where students and alumni had an exclusive opportunity to network and learn firsthand from area employers, were hosted by Consumers Credit Union, Metro Health Foundation and Gordon Food Services. “This program not only partnered me with a mentor that helped me better understand life in the workforce after college but also provided me with connections in the workforce,” said DU senior Sammy Miedema.
19 | DU Review
Students and mentors attending the “Everything I Didn’t Learn in College” lunch and learn at Consumers Credit Union
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Students and mentors at a lunch and learn on behavioral interviewing preparation hosted by Gordon Food Services
The mentors are professional and helpful. They can help students see what they have yet to see in real life versus what they learn in school.” These relationships are beneficial for mentors, too. Mentor Jon Krueger ‘17 commented, “I enjoy building relationships with the students. I have the opportunity to grow just as much as my mentee does, and that has been very fulfilling.” The DU Alumni Association works to grow the Alumni Mentor Network each year. In the 2019 academic year, new mentor/mentee pairings and various lunch and learn opportunities were added. The association is always looking for new volunteers and opportunities – please contact Laura Macka if you’d like to get involved.
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Mentee Samantha Atwood and mentor Dawn Brekke at the Alunmi Mentor Network closing celebration ceremony
If you’d like to get involved as a volunteer for the Alumni Mentor Network, please contact Laura Macka at Laura.Macka@davenport.edu.
Davenport University | 20
Cover Story
Excellence in Business Gala The Excellence in Business Dinner Gala is Davenport University’s largest annual fundraising event. The event directly benefits student scholarships and has raised more than $2.4 million to help talented students earn their degrees and make a lasting difference in our workplaces and communities. This year’s gala was held at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids on May 17. At the event, Mike VanGessel, chief executive officer of Rockford Construction, was honored with the 2019 Peter C. Cook Excellence in Business Award. The event also featured a conversation between Dr. Richard J. Pappas, president of Davenport University, and former University of Michigan basketball coach and new coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, John Beilein. Dr. Pappas kicked off the event. “We’re here tonight for a few important reasons: To celebrate the business leadership and contributions of Mike VanGessel, to enjoy a conversation with our guest speaker John Beilein and, of course, to raise funds for scholarships, so we can help students at Davenport University ‘Get Where the World is Going’ in business, technology, health and urban education.”
21 | DU Review
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Davenport University | 22
2019 Peter C. Cook Excellence in Business Award Winner
Mike VanGessel of Rockford Construction The Peter C. Cook Excellence in Business Award is presented to an individual who exemplifies professional success and commitment to community service. This year, we recognized the 22nd recipient of the prestigious annual award. “It is with great pride that we honor Mike VanGessel for his contributions to business and his service to the community,” said Pappas. “There are few that have contributed as greatly to the successful growth and development we’ve seen in West Michigan over the past 25 years.” A Grand Rapids native with strong ties to the community, VanGessel is drawn to projects that positively impact the way people live, work, learn, heal and play. He has led the Rockford team since it began in 1987 through more than 4,500 projects, which include building Davenport University’s entire Grand Rapids campus.
23 | DU Review
In his acceptance speech, VanGessel said, “It isn’t just our company that has the passion for changing communities – a lot of people in this room have helped us along the way.” “I had the opportunity to meet Peter Cook several times and he was an incredible man. I was blessed to see his humbleness, his kindness…he was a great cheerleader for what we were doing and I can’t say enough about how great it is to be receiving this award.” VanGessel also recognized Donald Maine, former chancellor emeritus for Davenport, for his role in connecting VanGessel to the university and for helping Rockford Construction grow into what it is today.
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Davenport University | 24
Featured guest and Cleveland Cavaliers head coach
John Beilein This year’s featured guest was John Beilein, the new coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers and former University of Michigan men’s basketball head coach. Beilein is considered to be one of the best tactical basketball minds in the country. He is known for his integrity and continued innovation in college basketball during his four decades patrolling the sidelines. Dr. Pappas got to chat with Beilein in one of his first appearances after announcing his new position as the Cavaliers’ head coach. Here are a few highlights. Pappas: What went into your decision to leave Michigan and go to the Cavaliers? Beilein: I saw it as a very similar opportunity as when I chose to go to the University of Michigan. To have one more opportunity to build something really special and to do it in the NBA with Dan Gilbert and his staff, and with a young team – for some reason, I felt that this was the one last thing I wanted to accomplish in coaching. Pappas: You instill six values in your players – can you tell us about their origin? And will those values change at all in the pros? Beilein: No, it’s not going to change. All these years I’ve been a coach, we’ve had a lot of success in rebuilding programs
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and what happened was – we were over in Europe after our third year at Michigan. And, the first year, we weren’t very good. The second year, we made the NCAA tournament. The third year, we missed again. So we were going to Europe and my assistants said, ‘Coach, we’re a little nervous here because you don’t last long in the Big Ten if you don’t go to the NCAA tournament a lot. We know who you are but we have to teach our kids better.’ And I said, ‘We teach them every day.’ But they replied, ‘No, let’s really teach them; let’s get this organized.’ So we came up with the first five values: unity, passion, appreciation, integrity – by far the most important – and diligence. Then we added accountability in 2015 when we felt kids weren’t holding themselves or each other accountable. And since that date, we’ve been to 8 of 9 NCAA tournaments and four Big Ten championships…it was a game-changer for us. And it’s really important that we don’t forget that young kids today need to be taught these values. Beilein spent 41 years as a collegiate head coach. He recorded 20-plus win seasons on 23 occasions and finished with a winning record in 35 seasons, placing him in the top 10 for career victories among active NCAA Division I head coaches. Now, we’re excited to see what he’ll achieve in the NBA.
Davenport University | 26
Thank you to all of our supporters
2019 Event Sponsors Gold The Peter C. and Emajean Cook Foundation Fifth Third Bank
The annual Excellence in Business Dinner Gala wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors and the Davenport community. “Every day, I meet a leader, an educator, a philanthropist in the Davenport ecosystem who is dedicated to transformational education,” said Rachel Render, executive vice president of alumni and development
for the university. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you in the room who have also shown dedication to that transformation by giving to our scholarship fund tonight.” Thank you to everyone who joined us to support student scholarships at the 2019 Excellence in Business Dinner Gala.
Silver David and Carol Van Andel Family Foundation Gentex Corporation Haworth Inc. J.C. and Tammy Huizenga Townsquare Media Varnum Wolverine Worldwide
(L to R) Merideth Eisenhardt, Michelle Frasier, Doyle Hayes, Terri DeBoer, Bill DeBoer Volume 13
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3myths BIG
that block you from advancing your education and career
MYTH #1 It will take me forever. Today, many colleges offer master’s programs that you can complete within two years. In fact, many courses are offered in seven-week timelines to ensure you can accomplish a quality education in
7 week courses
15 weeks
2 years
DU
a reasonable amount of time.
6 years
Traditional Schools
MYTH #2 I just can’t get there. School isn’t what it used to be. Many of us envision lugging a book into a classroom on campus and sitting through a course for hours on end at night after a long day of work. But that just isn’t the case anymore. Many colleges, like Davenport University, offer online courses, weekend classes and certification programs that you complete at your convenience.
MYTH #3 It’s too expensive. It’s never been easier to go back to school on a budget. Many employers offer scholarships or financing to support furthering your education and career. But if that option isn’t available to you, you can also look into opportunities to earn a scholarship directly from a university. Many universities offer various scholarships to help defray your costs. There is usually a submission process and grade point average requirement, but you’d be surprised who is eligible for these opportunities. Davenport lists available scholarships at davenport.edu/scholarships – see what you could be eligible for today.
Feature
Davenport partners with Michigan Chamber of Commerce to bridge the talent gap “With Michigan’s growing economy, our state is facing an insatiable demand for strong talent within our expanding workforce,” said Dr. Richard Pappas, president of Davenport University.
Members of TEAM Schostak with Dr. Richard Pappas, Lisa Howze, Mark Schostak, Julie Milanowski and David Lawrence
“With this program, we’ll be able to empower employers to tackle this issue head-on by leveraging one of their most invaluable resources – their employees.”
TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants takes advantage of the CES program
The Corporate Education Scholarship (CES) is an initiative between Davenport University and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce as a continued contribution to the Reinvent Michigan campaign. The CES ensures that leading businesses in Michigan can make education accessible and affordable for its workforce. “Together with Davenport University, we recognize a strong talent pool is a driver for business success,” said Rich Studley, chief executive officer for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. The CES program is available to qualifying Michigan Chamber of Commerce member companies and provides scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 per employee. These funds are made available to up to 50 employees, and participation is renewable for up to four years. “Making the pathway to education more accessible to our members and their employees is a win for Michigan,” said Studley.
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“Our people are a key component of our core values at TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants, and we remain committed to investing in training and development programs that allow our more than 5,000 employees to succeed both personally and professionally,” said Mark Schostak, executive chairman of TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants (TSFR). In March 2019, TSFR partnered with Davenport University to bring CES to its employees. TSFR is a family-owned restaurant group based in Livonia. Its portfolio is comprises more than 100 restaurants throughout the state and includes Applebee’s, Olga’s Kitchen, MOD Pizza and Del Taco. “As we continue to lead the way in our state, this partnership with Davenport University is not only an investment in our employees and our organization but also an investment in our state as we look to foster successful men and women to be tomorrow’s leaders,” said Schostak.
Summer 2019
Mark Stiers, president and COO of DTE Gas, signs the partnership plaque
DTE Energy joins forces with Davenport to offer employee scholarships “At DTE, we know that when our employees are inspired to lead with their energy, learn and grow, we’re a better, stronger company,” said Mark Stiers, president and COO of DTE Gas. In April 2019, DTE Energy became an official partner of Davenport University to bring the CES program to its employees. The Detroit-based energy company serves 3.5 million natural gas and electric customers across Michigan. “We are extremely proud to partner with Davenport University and offer our employees new learning and development opportunities, which will ultimately transform the future of our company,” said Stiers. Volume 13
(L to R) Christopher HooSang, Deb Cooper, Julie Milanowski, Mark Stiers, David Lawrence and Dr. Richard Pappas
Additional $250,000 scholarships still available The CES program is available to qualifying Michigan Chamber member companies. The scholarships provide up to $250,000 to each partner. To learn more about CES or to contact the team to inquire about a partnership, visit davenport.edu/micoc.
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Alumni News
Transforming Beaumont Hospital into a Magnet for nursing
For Kenyatta Legette ’14, innovation is part of everyday life. Innovation surrounds her in her job as a nurse educator and inspires her in her volunteerism. Ask Legette about Grosse Pointe Beaumont’s newly awarded Magnet designation and her eyes light up. Legette has worked at Beaumont Hospital in Grosse Pointe for three years as a nurse on the postoperative orthopedic unit and more recently as a nurse educator. Legette was on both sides of the nursing spectrum during the application process for the Magnet designation at Beaumont – first working as a bedside nurse and then as a nurse educator for the inpatient nursing department, where she had a part in training nurses on the components of the Magnet Recognition Program. “Achieving the Magnet designation means that over 60% of our nurses hold bachelor’s degrees and that we have certified nurses with expert knowledge in various specialty areas throughout our hospital,” said Legette. “It also means that our nurses feel empowered to make autonomous decisions that are supported by our culture, policies and procedures as
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well as various professional development programs. We also promote shared governance, so our nurses’ voices can be heard through our Professional Nurse Council (PNC) and Unit Professional Council (UPC). We really do promote change agents here at Beaumont." The Magnet Recognition Program was developed to distinguish healthcare organizations that provide the very best in nursing care. With only 8% of U.S. hospitals earning the Magnet designation, it’s clearly the gold standard. “Some of the preparation for Magnet included monthly memos outlining the components of Magnet and designating Magnet Champions to educate their units about identifying initiatives that were created by bedside nurses to improve safe and quality patient care,” said Legette. “One example is ‘The Bed is Not Your Friend’ – an early ambulation program for patients undergoing a surgical procedure. The nurse leading the program created signage and piloted it on her unit before taking the program throughout the hospital.”
Summer 2019
The transition from nurse to nurse educator Legette was working on the orthopedics unit at Beaumont when she became a patient herself. She had an orthopedic surgery, which kept her on leave for a substantial amount of time. Not one to sit idle, Legette became an adjunct professor at Oakland University during her medical leave. “I taught for Oakland’s LPN program. It was a learning experience,” said Legette. “I knew how to explain care plans and procedures to patients and families during their stay in the hospital, but to teach methodology when students were at different learning levels was challenging. I was teaching an accelerated program, so I was tasked with helping each learner succeed in eight weeks. To do so, I used a technique called mind mapping that I learned from one of my instructors at Davenport.” After Legette’s stint as an adjunct, a nurse educator position opened at Beaumont and Legette took on the new role.
“Now I create and teach training sessions for inpatient nurses and facilitate orientation for both RNs and NCAs. We hold about 12 to 15 45-minute nursing education sessions every other month at varying times for midnight and day shifts,” said Legette. “Topics include medication education, regulation changes, accreditation requirements and even changes with the electronic medical record system (EPIC).” “I also sit on the Nursing Informatics Committee, which identifies and approves change requests for the EPIC. They’re a good sounding board for me – I can ask them specific questions that I know the nurses will want to learn about when I’m creating new curricula.”
Extending knowledge and passion to the community Legette serves on a mental health task force for the Beaumont Healthy Community Coalition. She was also an integral part of forming the newly affiliated Detroit National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) board, where she serves as secretary.
“I am passionate about the topic of mental health,” said Legette. “I love working with and directly helping individuals in my community. I also enjoy stepping outside the clinical aspect of my job and offering resources to people regarding available support groups and approaches to mental health.” Legette’s husband owns a property management business. Together, they work with the Neighborhood Legal Service Organization to provide affordable housing to low-income and homeless individuals. Every aspect of Legette’s life is focused around serving – her community, her job, her husband’s business and even her personal time. When asked how she could combine her passion with her work, Legette responded, “My ideal job would be working on process improvement in a community. Whether it’s health disparities, housing, a lack of resources in education from end users or direct providers – whatever it is, we have to bridge that gap and figure it out.”
BEAUMONT HOSPITAL Kenyatta Legette, '14
Magnet Recognition® from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is the highest and most prestigious distinction a healthcare organization can receive for nursing excellence and high-quality patient care. With only 8% of U.S. hospitals earning the Magnet designation, it’s clearly the gold standard. - americannursetoday.com
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Why I Give Scholarships can make the difference between the success and failure of a student’s college education. Everyone has their own motivation for supporting scholarships and each person has a story as to why they give. We asked some of our scholarship donors to finish the following statement.
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Summer 2019
Supporting students through scholarships is important to me because…
“At Custer, we believe in giving back to the community where our customers and employees reside. It’s an important part of our mission and values as a company, now for 38 years. Giving to student scholarships will hopefully help ensure we are preparing and educating the future workforce and leaders in the community.”
Todd Custer Education has been a major focus of my life, along with opening up horizons for students. It is important for Davenport University students to have opportunities to grow academically but also to build a global awareness of what is “out there” in business, education and culture in other parts of the world. So, I have created a family scholarship that opens pathways for students to study abroad and gain valuable knowledge that helps them learn from being immersed in that global perspective. One of the advantages of creating your own scholarship is that you can focus on an area or vision that appeals to you, and Davenport University will help you craft that vision into a wonderful scholarship for students.”
Jacqueline Taylor, PhD
“DU was such a great benefit to my personal growth. I want to make sure that others get that same benefit, and money shouldn’t be a barrier.”
Jeff ’13 MBA and Tanya Lumpp ’13 MBA Jeff and Tanya Lumpp Annual Scholarship
“My father, my daughter and I were of three generations in my family who attended Davenport. We were blessed with a great and relevant education. We want to see that continue in the future and to help others receive what we have.”
Mike ‘77 AS and Debra Door Door Family Accounting Endowed Scholarship
Jacqueline D. Taylor Endowed Scholarship “Education changes lives. One student changing their life will have a compound effect on their family, friends and community.”
James Wright ’14 BBA, ’16 MBA
Custer Workplace Interiors Endowed Scholarship
“It is critical to Diane and me that our scholarship supports a student’s daring imagination grounded in critical thinking, wisdom and knowledge that nothing is impossible!”
Tim ’10 AAS, ’13 BAS, ‘16 MS and Diane Kalota Tim and Diane Kalota Endowed Scholarship
“I know the barrier to higher education is financial a lot of times, and I try to do my part to provide someone with the chance to pursue their goals and dreams. I am in a position to give back, and in my small way, I hope I am assisting our students. I also feel very blessed to work at Davenport, and I think it’s a responsibility I have to give back.”
Mike ’04 MBA and Betsy Sleva Mike and Betsy Sleva Endowed Scholarship
Wright Family Endowed Scholarship
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Davenport University | 36
Ashley Boisclair, Stephanie Nowiski, Christopher Martindale, Kelsi White and Professor Kim Garza
University News
DU Day of Research grows, boasting 85 projects with six students selected for $500 awards Did you know that students and faculty conduct research at Davenport University? Although Davenport isn’t typically thought of as a research institution, you may be surprised to find out how much research is being conducted here.
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“We started with 14 presentations the first year,” said Kriss Ferluga, faculty course developer and co-director of Davenport’s Center for Teaching Excellence, who helped launch the annual DU Day of Research event. “This year, there are 57 student presentations, four faculty presentations and 24 projects that students displayed but didn’t present.”
Students and faculty from across Davenport’s campuses brought 85 research projects to show off at the sixth Day of Research on April 10, 2019. The annual event showcases original research developed by Davenport students and faculty. Students had the chance to win $500 awards and faculty could win $1,000 grants for receiving the highest scores from the judging panel. “The Day of Research is important because we need to tell Davenport’s story,” said Ferluga. “We’ve always been more of a teaching-forward institution, which means we don’t spend enough time talking about the original work that our faculty and students are doing. And they’re all doing it, so the event was designed to give us a chance to come together as a university and tell the other side of our story.”
Summer 2019
skills to better manage workplace stress, which may improve patient outcomes. “We found a lot of research that says that new nurses are likely to leave hospital settings within the first three years because of burnout,” said Boisclair. “Since we’ve just worked so hard to earn this degree, it’s important that doesn’t happen.” “Our most important takeaway was that the cost of turnover can be astronomical,” said Martindale. “And that implementing something as little as using your own body and breath to reconnect and create tools to feel empowered and resilient can be reciprocated onto your patients. It can create not only a better individual but also better patients and better community living.”
Amber Park
2019 student research winners Overcoming antibiotic resistance Amber Park, two-time DU Day of Research winner, conducted her study on “Gene Expression and Pathway Enrichment Profiles of Azithromycin Response in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.” In other words, Park analyzed how treatment of a common bacterial infection with the antibiotic azithromycin affected the bacteria. She then compared the results to those of other antibiotic treatments. Park’s research resulted in a baseline dataset that can be used to examine future antibiotic resistances to the common bacteria, which could potentially uncover reverse antibiotic therapies to overcome resistance. “Without Davenport, I would not have known about this project nor the team behind it,” said Park. “As my future plans involve being in the medical field, becoming familiar with research and staying updated with new discoveries is a useful skill that could help me in my job.” Park, who is studying biological laboratory science and graduating in 2021, joined the research project last year. “One of our
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important discoveries was the common pathways between multiple bacteria that could be targeted for future drug research,” said Park. “Our research will be ongoing for a while but will involve multiple other bacteria and progress to a wet lab setting in order to begin testing and finding new discoveries.”
Reducing burnout in critical care Ashley Boisclair, Christopher Martindale, Stephanie Nowiski and Kelsi White – all nursing students from the Lansing campus and graduating this year – presented their winning hypothetical research on “Reducing Burnout in Critical Care Nurses: Yoga and Its Effectiveness.” “Chris actually has a nonprofit through MSU for veterans who experience PTSD and teaches them yoga techniques to reduce stress,” said White. “So we thought about that technique when it comes to nurses in critical care settings and nurses in general.” According to the team’s secondary research, burnout can cause feelings of job dissatisfaction, insecurity and both physical and emotional exhaustion in the workplace. However, nurses who perform yoga during their shifts have reported feeling refreshed. Techniques learned during yoga can also give these nurses the
Combining treatments for better outcomes Cynthia Konan, another biological laboratory science major, won the final student prize with her research titled “Vitamin B Inhibitor Co-Therapy Restores Streptomycin’s Efficacy in Streptococcus Agalactiae and Streptococcus Pyogenes.” Konan’s research showed that antibiotic resistance during treatment of the infection commonly known as “strep” could be reduced. By combining antibiotics with vitamin B synthesis inhibitors, the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment in resistant strep species showed improvement. Konan’s findings indicate that patient outcomes can potentially be improved using innovative combined treatment therapies. Watch for more coverage about research being conducted across Davenport’s campuses in the future. If you’re conducting or have completed research at DU, please send your abstract to ducomm@davenport.edu for a chance to be featured.
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“I have a passion for bringing people together to create new paths of opportunity for our young people and their families.� - Kylee Mitchell Wells
Alumni News
Improving the lives of children and families across Southeast Michigan
D
escribed as a transformational leader, Kylee Mitchell Wells ‘03, was hired at Ballmer Group in December 2017 as executive director – Southeast Michigan. She leads philanthropic efforts in the area, developing and managing a multimillion dollar budget for Southeast Michigan grants and initiatives.
“I am thrilled to be a part of Ballmer Group’s team making a difference in the great city of Detroit and throughout Southeast Michigan,” said Wells. Referring to the position as an “ideal fit,” Wells shares the organization’s enthusiasm for transforming her hometown. She was selected as a leader at Ballmer Group because of her commitment to addressing challenges in Detroit neighborhoods as well as her considerable experience working across the region’s public, private and social services sectors. “I have a passion for bringing people together to create new paths of opportunity for our young people and their families,” said Wells. “I’ve loved every job I’ve had.” Ballmer Group was founded by Detroit native and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and his wife Connie. The organization focuses on improving economic mobility for children and families across the U.S. who are disproportionately likely to remain in poverty.
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“I share the Ballmer’s belief in the power of this region to drive changes that improve the lives of children and families,” Wells explained. “I look forward to working with a host of community partners to find creative ways to address challenges.” A career visionary on behalf of children and families, Wells previously served as the senior director for the Detroit office of national nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners. In this position, Wells devised capital, programmatic and policy/advocacy solutions to address the needs of low- and moderate-income Detroit neighborhoods. Wells’ career path has also included service with the City of Detroit, the District of Columbia, other national nonprofits and the automotive sector. Seeking organizations with inventive approaches has been essential to her career journey. Much to her parents’ chagrin, Wells turned down a full-ride scholarship to another college in order to graduate from Davenport University. “As I graduated from Cass Technical High School in Detroit, I was offered this wonderful scholarship,” said Wells. “You can imagine my parents’ reactions when I turned it down, but eventually they could see it was absolutely the right choice for me to be at Davenport.”
Kylee Mitchell Wells, ‘03 “One of the great attractions for me was that I could work full-time and take classes at times that fit my schedule. With Davenport’s flexible format, I was able to complete my degree in four and a half years.” After receiving her degree in finance in 2003, Wells continued her education. She earned a master’s degree in public administration and behavioral economics from the City University of New York in 2010 and was a National Urban Fellow. In 2014, Wells participated in the Michigan Political Leadership program as a graduate fellow at Michigan State University. “Not only was Davenport’s approach to delivering a degree very innovative, but I had such wonderful mentors, too,” said Wells. “I believe that the opportunity to participate in these fellowship programs was very much based on Dr. David Fleming’s letters of recommendation for me.” Wells is excited about Davenport’s return to Detroit with its downtown campus at New Center One. “I’m delighted to know that Davenport is a part of the resurgence in Detroit,” she said. “My own experience tells me that they will serve our city well.” Davenport University | 40
Alumni News
Upcoming events The Alumni Association hosts events yearround. These gatherings bring alumni together to socialize, learn and connect over shared interests and passions. Attend an event this summer to join in the fun.
Davenport University Scholarship Golf Classic Monday, August 19 Egypt Valley Country Club davenport.edu/golf
Homecoming 2019 Alumni Awards Ceremony Friday, September 27 Robert W. Sneden Center at W.A. Lettinga Campus
Homecoming Tailgate and Football Game Saturday, September 28 Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex davenport.edu/homecoming
Check out a full listing of upcoming events on the alumni website at davenport.edu/alumni.
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#PantherForever
Class Notes 1970s
Eric Scott Killough, ’06 MBA, is director librarian of the Pratt Public Library in Pratt, Kansas
Richard Richards, ’71 BS, is owner of Richards Financial Advisory Services
Chris Leaver, ’06 BAS, was promoted to senior quality assurance analyst with BDO USA, LLP
Valerie VanOrden, ’78, is an independent artist selling her portraits and calligraphy at Mendon Crafter’s Corner
Jodi Peralta, ’06 BBA, is a UOF internal trainer at Farmers Insurance
1980s Ruth Cornetet, ’80 AS, is a sales lead and assistant manager at Chicos Denise Guelzo, ‘85 AS, is a logistics coordinator at Dean Foods Sheri West, ’85 AS, is a selfemployed real estate agent
Tomissa Smittendorf, ’92 AS, is director of Kellogg North American Sales Learning and Development at the Kellogg Company
2000s
1990s
Heidi Sweet, ’00 AAS, ’16 BS, is regional director post-acute care network partners at HCA
Brian Jankow, ’90 BBA, ’04 MBA, is a sales associate at Home Depot
Dylan Schmick, ’00, is president of Midwest Tool and Cutlery Company
Regina Sober, ’90 AAS, ’93 BBA, is the owner of Eat Travel Life blog
Michael Hensel, ’01 BAS, is a claims representative at Progressive Anthony Howard, ’03 ABA, ’04 BBA, is the president and founder of TAX GEAK, LLC Tameeka Gamble, ’04 AS, ’05 BAS, is a career services manager at Summit Academy OIC Christopher Sturr, ’04 MBA, is vice president of sales and management at Netlink Software Group America
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Paul Acosta, ’07 BBA, is a senior materials manager at Cascade Engineering
Lyndsie Post, ’12 MBA, is a communications director at DWH
Valerie Byrnes, ‘07 BAS, is a business retention and development manager at Cereal City Development Corporation
Jordan Richardson, ’12 BBA, is a business development manager at Ajilon
Monique Ellis, ’07 BBA, is an executive assistant for the City of Detroit Carla Tews, ’05 AAS, ’07 BAS, is a teller/MSR at LAFCU
Matthew Kuiper, ’12 BBA, is a Realtor for RE/Max Sunquest Jennifer Sutherland, ’12 MBA, was promoted to director of training and development for KellyConnect
Jason Cripe, ’08 BBA, is a Realtor at Coldwell Banker AJS Schmidt Kenyatta Legette, ’08, ’09 AAS, ’14 BSN, is a nurse educator at Beaumont Health
2010s Dan Winer, ’10 BBA, was promoted to director of marketing at Studio TK Aimee Missakian, ‘12 ABA, is a customer service specialist at Sherwin-Williams
Andrew Whitaker, ’13 BBA, is a senior lead design consultant at Munro and Associates
Summer 2019
Max Coon, ’14 BS, is an applications analyst at Lake Michigan Credit Union
Engagements and Marriages
Dylan Kichak, ’17 BBA, ’18 MACC, is an accounting assistant at SMG - Soldier Field
Javontae Ford, ’14 BBA, ’17 MBA, got engaged to Allison Anguilm on January 13, 2019
Jon Krueger, ’17 MM, is a supply chain portfolio manager at Gordon Food Service
Gabe VanderJagt, ’12 BBA, married Lissa VanderJagt on November 4, 2018
Bernard B. Bailey, ’59 January 4, 2019 Ryan Boerman, ’15 BBA November 28, 2018
Lawrence A. Buwolda, ’00 BBA October 22, 2018
Djobhy Akre, ‘18 AAS, is an electronic medical record clerk at Custom Home Health and Hospice
Megan Dangremong, ‘18 BSN, is a registered nurse at McLaren Greater Lansing
Hazel Allen, ’77 December 31, 2018
Alice M. Burza, ’91 AAS December 1, 2018
Nicole Esperance Mahirwe, ’17 BSN, is a registered nurse at Covenant Healthcare
Bridgett Barrett, ’18 BBA, is the head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Muskingum University
In Memoriam
Samantha Empson, ’03 November 17, 2018 Deborah J. Gilbert, ’05 Certificate November 9, 2018
Jotham Woo ’14 BBA & Rachel Woo ’14 BSN, got married September 29, 2018
Deborah Grafton, ’96 BBA November 30, 2018 Sharon A. Johnson,’05 AAS December 18, 2018 Candy M. Kniss, ’95 Certificate November 29, 2018
Stephen E. Lucas, ’72 AS January 2, 2019 Carol A. Metz, ’98 AAS October 16, 2018 Mary Lou Perez, ’95 AAS September 30, 2018 Ronald V. Robillard, ’92 BBA November 30, 2018 Thomas J. Schulte, ’62 AS February 13, 2019 Carolyn M. Shannon, ’87 AAS October 20, 2018 Rusty A. Stafford, ’83 AS November 10, 2018 Gerald W. Strahan, ’52 Certificate December 8, 2018 Martha J. Tarwacki, ’87 Certificate February 8, 2019 James H. Thomas, ’76 AS, ’86 BBA November 14, 2018 Ronald VanderKolk, ’71 AS January 8, 2019
Alec B. Loomis, ’15 BS November 21, 2018
Keep in touch! Share your updates with fellow alums. Tell us about career changes, personal updates and more. Send an email to alumni@davenport.edu or visit davenport.edu/classnotes.
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6191 Kraft Avenue SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Upcoming Events Alumni DU @ the Zoo Saturday, July 27, 2019 The Detroit Zoo, Detroit Bring your family and join us for a fun-filled day at the zoo.
Lansing Lugnuts Alumni Outing
Great Lakes Loons Alumni Outing
Friday, August 9, 2019 Cooley Law School
Saturday, August 10, 2019 Dow Diamond, Midland
Stadium, Lansing Join fellow alumni, friends and family to enjoy a game on the Pepsi Porch.
Join fellow alumni, friends, family and Lou E. Loon on Lasorda’s Landing and enjoy the game.