Gift Advances the NU Pledge to Broaden Access to a High-Value Northwood Education
Northwood University is excited to announce a $1 million gift from Karen and Brett Sutherlin to expand NU Pledge access for middle-income students.
The gift highlights the Sutherlins’ commitment to families in the affordability gap — households earning too much for need-based aid but not enough to easily fund a university education. Their support will help students prepare to work, lead, and shape their futures.
Brett, a 1995 Northwood alumnus and CEO of Sutherlin Automotive Group, and Karen, his longtime business partner, have built ventures in automotive, technology, and digital marketing.
“Karen and Brett Sutherlin embody the entrepreneurial spirit that is the heartbeat of Northwood University,” said President Kent MacDonald. “Through their vision, discipline, and belief in earned success, they are creating opportunities for the next generation of principled entrepreneurs and business leaders. Their generous gift opens doors for aspiring students who share their drive for achievement and upward mobility. Their investment will help more students realize their potential, build successful careers, and contribute to the free enterprise system they strongly support.”
The Sutherlins’ contribution builds on momentum from a $2 million pledge by the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, which launched Northwood’s initiative to close affordability gaps for families seeking a transformative, free-enterprise education.
“This gift from Karen and Brett Sutherlin will accelerate our ability to deliver on the NU Pledge and reflects the momentum behind Northwood’s focus on access, affordability, and outcomes,” said Justin Marshall, Northwood’s chief development and engagement officer.
For Karen and Brett Sutherlin, the decision to support the NU Pledge is both personal and principled. After graduating from Northwood’s Automotive Marketing and Management program in 1995, Brett entered the family dealership business before being driven to chart his own course when the company was sold. That experience shaped the entrepreneurial foundation upon which he and Karen would later build multiple ventures.
In 2009, Karen and Brett co-founded fusionZONE Automotive, growing it into a leading digital marketing platform before its sale in 2017. They continue developing Sutherlin Automotive Group as a family-owned enterprise.
“Northwood changed everything for us,” said Brett Sutherlin. “We know firsthand the impact of a Northwood education for hardworking students. The NU Pledge supports families like ours, and giving back just felt right.”
“Education transforms families,” said Karen Sutherlin. “Brett’s Northwood connections and network fueled our growth at fusionZONE Automotive. Supporting the NU Pledge means investing in students who will build those same bonds and opportunities.”
Karen and Brett Sutherlin have remained actively engaged with Northwood University as their businesses have grown. In addition to supporting automotive-related scholarships, they sponsored the “We the People” mural on the Griswold Communications Center at Northwood’s Midland campus. Brett has also been featured in Northwood University’s speaker series, Leadership Insights: A View from the Helm, and was among the 2024 Dealer Education Award honorees.
The Sutherlins’ gift is a key contribution as Northwood enters the public phase of its $100 million When We Are Free campaign. This campaign aims to invest in scholarships, faculty excellence, student experiences, and free-enterprise leadership, with the NU Pledge for middle-income students positioned as a central initiative supported by their donation.
By supporting the NU Pledge through this campaign, Northwood strengthens its mission to educate principled leaders in free enterprise who drive global economic and social progress.
