Northern Michigan University's College of Business will host alumnus and Marquette native Todd Gustafson, who serves as president and CEO of Kinexus Group, as its Executive in Residence March 16-17. In addition to visiting classrooms, he will participate in an evening community reception and talk at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Northern Center. The event will feature appetizers and a cash bar.
Gustafson has been driving Kinexus Group's repositioning into a nationally recognized community development organization since 2005. He has helped to transform the Benton Harbor-based nonprofit into a multi-million-dollar statewide asset that integrates workforce, economic and community development into one organization.
Kinexus Group's innovative solutions to pressing problems earned recognition by such organizations as the MiBiz Magazine and Crains Detroit Business. Under Gustafson's leadership, it has also been ranked by Nonprofit Times as one of the Best Nonprofits to Work For in the nation for six consecutive years.
Gustafson earned two degrees from NMU: a bachelor's in international relations in 1992 and a master's in public administration/administrative services in 1997. He also has a certificate in strategic perspectives in nonprofit management from Harvard Business School, and served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.
“The Executive-in-Residence program is an amazing opportunity for our students to hear about the journey of a successful business person and the lessons learned along the way,” said Carol Johnson, dean of the College of Business. “We are exceptionally proud to host Todd, who is an NMU alumnus and native Yooper. He will visit numerous business classes throughout his two-day residency. In addition, the College of Business will host a luncheon with campus leadership on Tuesday."
Gustafson's public and extensive nonprofit sector experience includes working for a U.S. Senator and at the American Trucking Association and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He worked directly with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's president and chief executive officer on revitalizing the world's largest business organization, which represents more than three million businesses of every size, sector and region.
Prior to assuming his current role with Kinexus, Gustafson served as president of the Dickinson Area Partnership. He created the organization by integrating the chamber of commerce, tourism association and the economic development entity.
In addition to his leadership at Kinexus, Gustafson has served on various boards and councils, including the National Association of Workforce Boards, the Strategic Leadership Council of Southwest Michigan, United Way of Southwest Michigan and The Employers' Association of Grand Rapids.
He currently serves on the boards of Youth Solutions, the Edward Lowe Foundation, HR Collaborative, the Michigan Works! Association, and the Michigan Center for Adult College Success Governing Council.
Media Contact: Carol Johnson, NMU College of Business, carjohns@nmu.edu