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GRCC FOUNDATION NAMES DAVE CUSTER CHAIRPERSON; ADDS NEW
MEMBERS
By-Laws Change Clarifies Autonomy from Grand Rapids Community College
June 23, 2008 – Grand Rapids, MI - At their regular meeting last Friday, the Grand Rapids Community College Foundation Board took steps to underscore their autonomy from the college itself. In a unanimous vote, the board elected local businessman Dave Custer as chairperson of the GRCC Foundation, marking the first time the non-profit has been headed by anyone other than the GRCC college president.
Another community leader, Jeff Gietzen, was elected as vice-chairperson.
Associate Vice-President for College Advancement, Andrew Bowne, said the change, which after several months consideration was effected through a single by-law change, was necessary for three reasons. “We needed to clarify the distinction between GRCC itself and the GRCC Foundation; we are a separate legal entity,” said Bowne. “But we also wanted to have leadership from our community, and we wanted someone who would bring a fresh, outside viewpoint to our table.”
Custer, who is a GRCC alumnus and long-time supporter, recently co-chaired the GRCC Foundation’s first major fund drive, the Open Door Campaign, which came in $1.5 million over its $10 million goal. Bowne noted that board members asked Custer to step up from his vice-chair position because of his high profile in the community and his detailed knowledge of the college’s vision and goals.
Custer said his primary goal as chairperson of the GRCC Foundation will be to raise funds that will allow the college to become less dependent on dwindling state resources, but he cited a second goal.
“We need to make this community more aware that GRCC, despite its historical
name, serves all of Kent County and well beyond, and it is in the interest of
everyone in this county to see that such a valuable academic and economic
development asset stays strong for all of our sake.”
In addition to the above changes, a number of new members have come on to the
GRCC Foundation Board. A complete list of board officers and members follows:
Executive Committee Members:
Dave Custer, new Chairperson, Custer Workplace Interiors
Jeff Gietzen, new Vice Chairperson, Midwest Capital Advisors
Barb DeMoor, returning as Treasurer, AMBS Investment Council, LLC
Glen Borre, returning as Secretary, Miller Johnson
Bob Partridge, returning as Assistant Treasurer, GRCC
New Board Members:
George Wolfe, Steelcase, Inc.
Dan Webb, Meijer, Inc.
Doug Klein, Northern Trust Bank
Ana Saenz, La Fuente Consulting
Sarah Wiltenburg, GRCC Student Congress
Returning Board Members:
Margo Anderson, GRCC Board of Trustees
David Bottrall, Tassell-Wisner-Bottrall Foundation
Michael Despres, Wachovia Securities, Inc.
Bev Drake, ACSET
Tom Heiks, Fifth Third Bank
Ellen James, GRCC Board of Trustees
James LaFleur, Director Emeritus, LaFleur & Godfrey, Inc.
Mike Lloyd, The Grand Rapids Press
Walter Lodes, GRCC Alumni Assn.
Jim Marosi, Wachovia Securities, Inc.
Richard A. Morton, Greenridge Realty
Anne Mulder, GRCC Interim President
Shawn Ulreich, Spectrum Health
Fred van Hartesveldt, GRCC Faculty Association
GRCC has been providing an excellent, affordable education to all who seek it since 1914 when it was the first 2-year college in Michigan and the seventh in the country. The college offers over 150 degree options in Arts and Sciences and Workforce Development . Student enrollment on the urban campus for both credit and non-credit courses averages 26,000 per year.
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