‘Leadership Insights — A View from the Helm’ to showcase influential business leaders
Northwood University is pleased to announce a new speaker series, “Leadership Insights – A View from the Helm” to give our greater community access to influential and effective leaders.
“‘A View from the Helm’ is a term introduced in a book by the same name, written by Dr. James Duderstadt, who served as president of the University of Michigan from 1988 to 1996,” explained Northwood President Kent MacDonald. “We thought it was fitting, as this discussion series will feature notable leaders like Dr. Duderstadt, who have held c-suite or similar positions.”
The series will consist of three to four events throughout each academic school year. It will feature inspiring leaders who will give students and guests an inside perspective related to leadership.
On occasion, the Leadership Insights series will feature more than one guest, including the inaugural evening with William S. Stavropoulos and Terence F. Moore. This series will provide insights into the guests’ personal stories and thoughts related to a wide range of leadership topics.
“Our community has been blessed with dynamic, world-class leaders like Terry and Bill,” stated Dr. Kristin Stehouwer, academic vice president and provost of Northwood University. “We are thankful they are investing their time to help our students and greater community benefit from their wisdom.”
All of the Leadership Insights events will take place in a lively question-and-answer format. Through these conversational exchanges, guests will share their stories and discuss topics of interest.
During each event, the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions. They will have the ability to submit questions through electronic polling software.
Northwood students, alumni, faculty and staff, as well as members of the greater Midland area and beyond are invited to this series. The sessions will be livestreamed to reach online students and individuals living in other locations in the U.S. and internationally.
The first event featuring Stavropoulos and Moore is set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at the McNair Center. A reception will follow.
Stavropoulos has had a storied career
Stavropoulos, former CEO and chairman, is chairman emeritus of the Board of Directors of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow).
His career with Dow spanned 39 years, serving in a variety of positions in research, marketing and general management. He served as president and chief operating officer from 1993-1995; president and CEO from 1995-2000; chairman and CEO from 2000-2004; and chairman from 2000 to 2006.
During Stavropoulos’s tenure as CEO, Dow Chemical Company underwent a major transformation, the centerpiece of which was a total restructuring of the company. Under his leadership, Dow’s productivity improved; its stock price increased significantly; and the company became less dependent on the sale of commodity chemicals, which made it less subject to the cyclicality of the commodity chemical market.
Stavropoulos is past chairman of the American Chemistry Council, Society of Chemical Industry, and American Plastics Council. He is a past board member of Maersk Inc. and Tyco Inc.
He has received many honors throughout his career, including being named an Archon by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch in 2010. He also was inducted into the Midland County Sports Hall of Fame as a ‘Professional Baseball Visionary in 2010, and the Junior Achievement of Central Michigan’s Business Hall of Fame in 2005.
Stavropoulos also has received Institutional Investor magazine’s award as one of the Best CEOs in America; the Society of Plastic Engineers Annual Business Management Award; Société de Chimie Industrielle’s Palladium Medal Award; Chemical Industry Medal Award from the Society of Chemical Industry; Man of the Year Award from the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce; CEO of the Year Kavaler Award; Ellis Island Medal of Honor; Man of the Year Award from Hellenic American Bankers Association; and Man of the Year Award from the American Hellenic Education Progressive Association.
Stavropoulos has a rich history with Northwood. He is a recipient of the University’s Outstanding Business Leader Award (2004) and the Naegele Distinguished Community Service Award (2007). He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Northwood in 1998.
Currently, Stavropoulos serves as chairman and founder of the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a social enterprise founded in 2006 that owns and operates the Great Lakes Loons and ESPN 100.9 FM. The Great Lakes Loons are a Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and members of the Midwest Baseball Minor League.
He also serves on the board of directors of Univar Inc.; Teradata Corporation; Kissner Holdings; Artis-Naples; and the Forum Club of Southwest Florida. He is on the advisory board for Metalmark Capital LLC, and is a former adviser partner to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC. He is a trustee of the board of Fidelity Equity and High Income Funds. In addition, he is a member of the Science Advisory Board of the University of Notre Dame and the Board of Trustees of Fordham University.
Together, with his wife, Linda, Stavropoulos established the Bill and Linda Stavropoulos Family Foundation, which supports educational, religious, civic, recreational and cultural non-profits.
Moore is renowned former healthcare network president
Moore served as president of the Midland Hospital and then MidMichigan Health System (now called MyMichigan Health) for 31 years. He also served as executive in residence at Saginaw Valley State University, as well as president of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance He has authored, co-authored and co-edited nine other books and more than 100 articles, including a monthly career column he authors for the Midland Daily News, a Hearst publication.
A U.S. military veteran, Moore was inducted into the National ROTC Hall of Fame’s inaugural class, and he received the Saginaw Valley State University’s Distinguished Service Medallion Award in 2017.
Moore’s many academic credentials include an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from Central Michigan University and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Northwood.
His storied career includes numerous awards, including three of Michigan’s highest awards for healthcare executives: the American College of Healthcare Executives Regent Award; the Michigan Health and Hospitals Association Meritorious Key Award; and the Michigan Health and Hospitals Association Leader of the Year.
“To have leaders of this caliber involved in our inaugural Leadership Insights event is an honor,” shared President MacDonald. “We look forward to seeing students and community members on Sept. 28.”
Seating is limited, and attendees need to register online at https://bit.ly/3BT8qCx.
