Board of Trustees

Northwood Colleagues:

The success of Northwood University can be attributed to many factors. Certainly the vision of our founders, Drs. Turner and Stauffer, the investment of our many friends, the administrative teams of the past 48 years, our outstanding faculty and staff – all have worked together tirelessly to help us grow into a worldwide presence.

In the background, throughout all our growth, we have benefited from a group of people, devoted to Northwood, who have provided the leadership for all of it – our Board of Trustees (BOT).  A strong Board of Trustees is a university's most vital guarantee of strategic success. Trustees are volunteers who give their time and talent so students may profit from the best programs available.
Within the non-profit educational world, BOTs stand as stewards and leaders. It is to this body to which I answer;  and it is this body we can thank for the strong foundation Northwood enjoys.  You can read about all our board members at www.northwood.edu/aboutus/governingboards/.

Today, I would like to introduce you to our two newest board members, James Fabiano II and Kathleen Vertin.

Kathy was nominated by Trustee Emeritus Lynn Ferron.  Kathy has two degrees from Northwood University with her undergraduate in management and her graduate degree from DeVos.  At a very young age, she was named Vice President of the Greater Detroit Visitors and Convention Bureau and is well-connected in southeast Michigan.  She left the Convention Bureau to join her husband’s marketing business in Grosse Pointe until it was recently sold, where she was in charge of finance and operations.  She and her husband Tom live on Harsen’s Island, Mich. and she is the recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award this year. 

Kathy is very excited to be appointed to our BOT.  “Northwood is one of few educational establishments that defends and supports the idea that a free-market economy is good. Therefore, Northwood is uniquely qualified to capitalize on the exciting changes taking place in our world. True leaders view globalization as an opportunity, not a threat, and Northwood is in the business of shaping these future leaders. I am so enthusiastic as a new member of the Board of Trustees to be able to help navigate NU through this time of great change.”

Jim Fabiano was nominated by Trustee Bill Parlberg.  He directs the fourth generation of the highly successful Fabiano Brothers, Inc., an Anheuser-Busch distributorship, with operations in Saginaw and Mt. Pleasant, Mich.  Jim, while not a graduate of Northwood, is an active member of the Michigan campus Board of Governors and his wife is one of the leaders of the Michigan Friends of Northwood Town & Campus organization and the FAD auction.  Jim also sits on the Boards of the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers’ Association, the Saginaw Chamber of Commerce and the MidMichigan Medical Center Finance Committee.  Jim and Kelly have six children and live in Thomas Township, Mich.

Jim well knows that Northwood functions as a family.  “I like what Northwood stands for,” he comments.  “The family business sector is often overlooked by other business schools. Working in a business started by my great grandfather, Northwood’s understanding of family businesses strikes a chord with me.” Jim adds he likes what he sees in terms of where Northwood is poised to go and wants to be a part of it. “Our potential is unlimited,” he says.  “What can happen in China alone is exciting enough, but then add the demographic potential of Texas and Florida, and I see Northwood on the brink of explosive growth.”

The enthusiasm of Kathy and Jim is shared by all our Board of Trustees members.  Please join me in welcoming them both to their new roles with Northwood.

Keith A. Pretty, J.D.
President and CEO
Northwood University
4000 Whiting Drive
Midland, MI 48640
989.837.4203 (phone)
989.832.9590 (fax)