January 25, 2013

The 33rd Class of Outstanding Business Leaders

Since 1981 Northwood University has recognized and celebrated the achievements of men and women who exemplify the best in business and servant leadership, those we honor as Outstanding Business Leaders (OBL). This weekend we will pay tribute to our 33rd OBL Class at our ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida.  

Individually, each of our honorees has accomplished much in their lives and careers but it is their success in the following categories that unites them as a group and sets them apart from others: 

  • Support for the philosophy of private enterprise
  • Business achievement
  • Economic innovation
  • Support of the integration of business and the arts
  • Contributions to education
  • Community involvement
  • Spiritual leadership
  • Philanthropic engagement

In the spirit of the weekend and the vision and habits that enabled them to succeed, our OBLs are not the only ones who benefit from this event. In highlighting the lessons they learned and the challenges they faced, our OBLs provide us with insight and inspiration which we can apply to our current and future efforts. In turn, we are able to share our vision and plans for the future of Northwood University while our students have the unique opportunity to communicate their entrepreneurial and enterprise aspirations firsthand with these first-class mentors.

The benefits of this kind of learning cannot be overemphasized as past student-participants in the OBL experience have gone on to become outstanding leaders themselves. The end result of our OBLs’ generosity is that we are able to continue our mission of developing the future leaders of a global free enterprise society.

Please join me in welcoming Northwood University’s 2013 Class of Outstanding Business Leaders:

  • Brian Black, President, Hatch Restaurant Management Group & Owner, Mi Piaci Ristorante and Ocho Kitchen and Cocktails, Dallas, Texas
  • John A. Boll, Sr., Retired CEO & Chairman of the Board, Chateau Communities, Inc., Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan
  • Robert L. Forbes, Vice President, Forbes, Inc. President, ForbesLife, New York, New York and Palm Beach, Florida
  • John A. Hohman, Vice President (Retired), Monroe Auto Equipment Company, Sand Point, Michigan and Stuart, Florida
  • Jim Koons (MI ’73), Chief Executive Officer, Jim Koons Automotive Companies, Inc., Tyson’s Corner, Virginia
  • John Krafcik, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor America, Costa Mesa, California
  • Anthony Lomangino, Chairman & Founder, Southern Waste Systems and Sun Recycling, Lantana, Florida
  • Jack Miller, Founder and Former President/CEO, Quill Corporation, Buffalo Grove, Illinois

Have a great weekend.

Keith

Keith A. Pretty, J.D.
President and CEO
Northwood University
4000 Whiting Drive
Midland, MI 48640
989.837.4203

pretty@northwood.edu