The Northern Michigan University Foundation Board of Directors has announced three new members: Cain Besse of Marquette, a 2011 economics and personal finance alumnus; Nicole Blemberg of Menomonee Falls, Wis., who earned a bachelor's in English in 2004; and Lisa Tomsheck of Arlington Heights, Ill., a 1985 business administration alumna.
Besse is vice president of lumber operations and sales for Besse Forest Products Group, a leading manufacturer of hardwood veneer, plywood and lumber for international markets. As a proud Yooper, he deeply appreciates the impact NMU has on the region and is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the resources of the NMU Foundation for current and future generations of students. After graduating from NMU, Besse obtained his MBA in finance with honors from Loyola University Chicago and worked at Janus Henderson, an international asset management firm. In addition to his vice president role with Besse Forest Products Group, he is director of the John and Melissa Besse Foundation, which invests in U.P. and northern Wisconsin communities with donations and projects of various sizes.
Blemberg is assistant vice president of college advancement and regional fundraising for Marquette University. The first-generation college student earned her NMU degree, which she credits with opening doors to a career in Wisconsin's nonprofit sector. From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Carroll University and Alverno College—where she earned a master's in organizational development and serves as an adjunct instructor for its MBA program—to the United Way of Waukesha County and The Women's Center, Inc., Blemberg has pursued her professional and personal desire to make a difference through her work as a dedicated fundraiser. She grew up in Marquette County and was perhaps predestined to land at another Marquette via her position with the Wisconsin university.
Tomsheck is president of Arthur Clesen Inc. in Lincolnshire, Ill. This family business provides turf and ornamental supplies to the green industry, which includes golf courses, residential and commercial properties, and athletic facilities. She in an N Club Member and lettered in women's swimming and diving while at NMU. In 2019, Tomsheck was inducted into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame. Her achievements included National Champion in the 1 meter dive at the 1985 National Championships, a second-place finish in the 3 meter at the 1984 NCAA Championships, qualifying for Nationals on each board each season, and eight All-American honors.