Foundation News
Foundation Approves Nearly $84,000 for Resource Grant Funding
The SVSU Foundation recently approved funding for projects led by SVSU students, faculty, and staff. Included were several international travel experiences for students to destinations such as Italy, England, China, and Senegal. Student travel to professional conferences, engineering research projects, and other equipment and special project funding was also included. For more details, click HERE.
SVSU Foundation Board of Directors Elects Earl Shipp and Julie Stevens
The SVSU Foundation Board of Directors elected two new directors at the December 7, 2010 meeting. Earl L. Shipp of The Dow Chemical Company, and Julie A. Stevens, of Stevens Worldwide Van Lines.
Earl Shipp joined Dow in 1981 in Freeport, Texas, after intern assignments with Dow in Michigan and Texas. Between 1981 and 1985, he held several manufacturing positions, including an assignment in Japan. Since 1985, he has held leadership positions in Texas, Ohio and Missouri. In 2000, Mr. Shipp was named to the dual roles of Vice President and Site Director of Dow’s Louisiana Operations and Global Operations Director of the Propylene Oxide/Propylene Glycols business. He was named Global Business Vice President for Dow Oxides & Glycols in 2004. In 2006, he moved to Dubai, U.A.E. to launch the India, Middle East and Africa Region for Dow. In 2007, Mr. Shipp was named Business Group President for Basic Chemicals, serving on the Business Operations Committee with responsibility for oversight of six basic chemical businesses. He was named President - India, Middle East & Africa (IMEA) for Dow in December 2008.
Mr. Shipp is the former Chairman of the Board of the New Orleans Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and is currently a Member of the Federal Reserves Energy Advisory Committee. He has also served as the Deputy Chairman of the Board of EQUATE Petrochemical Company KSC, headquartered in Kuwait, and Vice Chairman of the Board of MEGlobal BV, headquartered in Dubai, UAE. He has played an active leadership role in numerous civic and professional organizations in Ohio, Louisiana, Texas, and in the Middle East and Africa.
Mr. Shipp has a chemical engineering degree from Wayne State University in Michigan, and is a graduate of the Indiana University Business School Consortium.
Julie Stevens graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Social Work. She is an integral part of the family business, Stevens Worldwide Van Lines, where she currently serves as Relocation Consultant. Julie is a dedicated community servant whose affiliations include Member and Elder of First Presbyterian Church, Executive Committee Member –Center for Family Business at SVSU (Endowment Committee Chairperson), 2011 Underground Railroad Advocacy Luncheon Co-Chairperson, Honorary Development Chairperson for Childrens’ Zoo at Celebration Square (Annual Fund Drive Chairperson since 2005), Chairperson of Saginaw Community Foundation Celebration Square Carousel Endowment Committee, and Chairperson of Childrens ‘ Zoo at Celebration Square Carousel Committee and Building Committee. Past leadership positions include Saginaw Symphony Board, Saginaw Symphony Women, Junior League of Saginaw Valley, Temple Theater Arts Association, Saginaw Childrens’ Zoo, Chairperson of Frank N. Andersen Celebration Square Carousel Committee, Delta College Foundation Board Member, past SVSU Board of Fellows Member.
Julie resides with her husband, Morrie, in Thomas Township. They have four children and six grandchildren.
Leading Local Family Businesses Establish Center for Family Business Endowment
Stevens Worldwide Van Lines, Alloy Construction, Glastender, Inc., 1st State Bank, Bierlein Companies, Rowleys Wholesale, and Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland have joined forces to create an endowment in support of the SVSU Family Business Program, expanding it to the Center for Family Business. Established in 1999, the program provides seminars, networking opportunities and professional development activities for the area business community with a focus on family-owned businesses. For more information, click HERE.
Scholarship Opportunities for Students Is Focus of Annual Fund
The focus of the Annual Fund will be on providing more scholarship opportunities for SVSU students. To learn more, please click HERE.