Grand Valley State University has appointed Tom Schwarz to oversee the university's new Center for Free Enterprise within the Seidman School of Business.
Schwarz, who started his new position on July 14, left his job as president of Nu Gardener Corporation, a post he held since 1999. From 1996 to 1999, he worked as chief operating officer for Ampro Industries in Grand Rapids. Prior to that he worked for eight years at Southern Illinois University, in Carbondale, Illinois, as a business professor. He earned his Ph.D. in finance from the University of Florida.
The Center for Free Enterprise is an umbrella organization that represents university outreach to family-owned business organizations and entrepreneurship in West Michigan.
As director, Schwarz will be handle a combination of the Family-Owned Business Institute (FOBI) and entrepreneurial activities. He is responsible for developing resources, research, and curriculum for the institute.
FOBI, a collaboration between the Seidman School of Business and the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, is designed to boost family businesses in west Michigan. The institute received $301,000 at the end of 1999 from the proceeds of a tribute to Richard DeVos and Jay Van Andel, the founders of Amway.
We want to develop high visibility programs, explains Schwarz. We also want to be a national leader for family business programs.
This is a very unique opportunity to focus in on the resources of the university, its commitment to downtown Grand Rapids, and the strength of the local economy and businesses, adds Schwarz.
Schwarz will continue developing course curriculum, research, database, and entrepreneurial activities through the Entrepreneurship Center.
We are extremely fortunate to have Tom's combination of academic and teaching experience with real-world experience, says David Mielke, dean of the Seidman School of Business. We couldn't have found anyone else who better exemplifies the direction that the Seidman School of Business is going in.
