Ceremony during 63rd International Auto Show marks a new chapter for automotive education and industry collaboration.
Northwood University marked the next phase of a major campus transformation on Friday, Sept. 18, with a ceremonial sod-turning for Wildstein Hall and the Reynolds and Reynolds Conference Center. Held during the opening ceremony of the 63rd Northwood University International Auto Show, the event brought students, alumni, donors and automotive leaders together at the site of an investment in Northwood’s future.
The project will transform the existing N.A.D.A. Hotel and Conference Center into Wildstein Hall, an entirely new academic hall that will be named in honor of Dr. Alan Wildstein and featuring a new premier conference facility supported by Reynolds and Reynolds. The connected R. Gary Stauffer Academic Building also is being reconstructed and will be named in honor of a new benefactor. Together, the spaces will give students modern places to learn and work with industry professionals while creating new opportunities for conferences and community events.
“Dr. Alan Wildstein was the first to commit to this project, and Reynolds and Reynolds has been a steadfast partner in Northwood’s automotive education,” said President Kent MacDonald. “We are also grateful to Jim Koons, the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, and other donors whose generosity has brought this vision to the construction stage, including alumnus Bill Cole, N.A.D.A., and the Mullinax family. Their support helps us build a place where students can not only learn how to succeed in business, but also how freedom, accountability, and enterprise can improve lives and strengthen communities.”
The sod-turning event was held to celebrate the new facility that will be home to Wildstein Hall and the Reynolds and Reynolds Conference Center, which is designed to accommodate up to 350 guests in a banquet setting. The broader project includes updated classrooms, collaborative learning areas, conference rooms and guest suites that will give students experience with hospitality and event operations. It will also preserve the sunken lobby associated with the original N.A.D.A. facility, a connection to architect Alden B. Dow’s legacy on Northwood’s Midland campus. Northwood unveiled a rendering and project details in July.
Friday’s sod-turning dedication followed the CAMS Industry Summit, where Koons and other automotive leaders engaged with students, faculty and alumni on issues shaping the automotive and mobility sectors. Student leaders then opened the 63rd Northwood University International Auto Show with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“This moment represents much more than the beginning of construction; it represents an investment in Northwood’s students, our university, and the future of automotive education,” stated Bella Smylie, a student from Clare, Michigan, who served as director of events for this year’s Auto Show.
“As a student, it is encouraging to see so many people come together to support our education,” Smylie added. “This project will create more opportunities for Northwood students to learn, make connections and prepare to lead.”
Dean and Associate Provost Dr. Stacey Tetloff said Friday’s events gave prospective students and families a look at the opportunities Northwood students have to work with automotive leaders.
“Students engaged with industry professionals at the CAMS Industry Summit, saw alumni and partners invest in new learning spaces, and led an Auto Show they had spent nearly a year planning,” Tetloff added. “They’re building industry relationships and taking on real responsibility while they’re still students.”
Northwood University invites additional investment from alumni, corporate partners, foundations, and friends who share Northwood’s commitment to free enterprise, innovation, and economic mobility. To learn about premier naming opportunities associated with the new academic hall, including the opportunity for a new named benefactor for the R. Gary Stauffer Academic Building, email .
Pictured from left: Bella Smylie, President Kent MacDonald, Chris Walsh of Reynolds and Reynolds, Dr. Alan Wildstein, Jim and Cece Koons, NUIAS General Chair Chase Southwick, David Reinicke of Automotive Warranty Network, Jason Brickl, Elgie Bright, Marny Ridling of Cox Automotive, and Brayden Cole before cutting the ribbon to open the 63rd Northwood University International Auto Show.
