Guy Sawyer, Chairman of the Board - First Vice President, R.W. Baird and Co.
Guy holds a senior position as a First Vice President with Robert W. Baird & Company. He is a Certified Financial Planner ® practitioner with more than 18 years investment industry experience. He and his team provide wealth management and investment banking services for business owners. Before joining the investments industry, Guy served as a senior development officer for a Chicago-based, non-profit organization where he was responsible for major gift acquisitions from wealthy families and private/corporate foundations. Outside of his client base, Guy’s business and philanthropic expertise has benefited several not-for-profits, including Compass College of Cinematic Arts, where he serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He also is actively involved with Young Life. Guy earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Wheaton College in Illinois.
Mike Wekall, Vice Chairman - Entrepreneur/Business Consultant
Mike Wekall is bringing years of professional expertise to small and medium-sized businesses where, as a development consultant to top ranking management, he is helping them create achievable strategies for growth and long-term sustainability. Retired CEO of Colonial Title, Mike spent most of his career in the real estate field as a Title Insurance professional, as well as a commercial loan officer for GMAC-Income Lending Division. In 1996, after more than 17 years in sales and leadership roles with Chicago Title, Stewart Title and others, Mike founded Colonial Title, an organization that became an industry powerhouse through its initiation of automated developments. With operational efficiency and customer service in mind, Mike launched a software-based, back-office automation application that set the stage for driving industry-wide consumer efficiencies. This signature application became Colonial Title's ExpressNet, an industry changing tool that generated the fastest and most accurate process in the industry, while creating significant productivity gains for its users.
In addition to helping businesses grow, Mike continues to spend time in the field of film and media where he has been an Executive Producer for several films. He also assists numerous non-profit organizations with their visual media, among them Athletes In Action, Campus Outreach, and Alliance Defense Fund. Mike serves as Vice President on Compass College of Cinematic Arts’ Board of Directors.Jay Greer, CPA, Treasurer - Vice President, Cardinal Health
J
ay Greer is a Vice President with Cardinal Health, a Fortune 20 Company, and oversees a cutting-edge information technology business that enables hospitals nationwide to standardize their data for driving substantial cost savings. During his 10 years at Cardinal, Jay also has managed the integration of new acquisitions, developed and launched a pioneering freight management business, and consulted on supply chain and efficiency opportunities at many of the top hospitals in the U.S. Prior to his Cardinal tenure, he started a surgical repair service that he took, in less than five years, from conception to clients in over 35 states. The company grew to one of the top three market share leaders in the industry. He sold the company to Cardinal in 1999. Prior to starting his repair company, Jay was a hospital executive and holding company Board member for eight years. Jay executed several acquisitions, start-ups, and turnarounds during his tenure at the Hospital holding company. He acquired his public accounting experience in auditing, tax, and consulting over a seven-year period, between Deloitte Touche and KMPG. Jay is an Elder at Christ Community Church in Rochester, MI, and serves on the Board of another not-for-profit and small business. He has held the executive committee position of Treasurer on Compass College of Cinematic Arts’ Board of Directors since 2007. Jay also is the proud parent of a Compass 2011 Alumnus.
Art Brown - Retired Executive, Walt Disney World
Art Brown recently retired from Walt Disney World, where he worked for over 21 years managing Walt Disney World’s construction program and project management organizations and projects. Prior, Art was Director of Construction for a nation-wide restaurant company, before moving to Orlando, Florida, where he began his long-term succession of Disney management positions.
A graduate of The United States Military Academy at West Point (BS), The Ohio State University (MS) and Fairleigh Dickinson University (MBA), Art spent the first part of his career as a 24-year veteran of the United States Army, retiring as a full Colonel with the Legion of Merit and numerous other awards, having served in various command, staff and teaching positions throughout the United States, Viet Nam, Thailand and Germany, as well as being a graduate of the Air War College and the Army’s Command and General Staff College. His last posting was as a Vice-President for Military Construction in the Army’s Corps of Engineers.
Currently, Art is District Governor of Rotary District 6980 in Central Florida, where he oversees more than 2,000 Rotarians in 50 clubs, following having served in various Club and District leadership roles for the previous 17 years. He also is very active in his community and church, having served for the last 16 years on the Dr Phillips YMCA Board of Directors; for six years as President of his homeowners association; for six years as President of the West Point Society of Central Florida; and for over 23 years in varying church roles, including President of his church’s men’s group, Church Council, Administrative Board, Head Usher, Recreation and Wellness Committee, Lay Activation Team, Habitat for Humanity Team, and more. In addition, he is an active soccer referee and lacrosse umpire for high school and college adults and youth. In 2010, Art brought his leadership skills to Compass College of Cinematic Arts, where he serves on the Board of Directors.
Rick Eldridge - CEO/Producer, ReelWorks Studios
Rick Eldridge is CEO/Producer of ReelWorks Studios, a multifaceted film/video post-production company in Charlotte, NC. Rick has over 30 years in the entertainment business as a musician, producer, director and entrepreneur; and has been involved in every facet of creative development and production management in the industry. His resume is a road map to an extraordinary career that includes the best and most respected names in the industry: Universal, Disney, Sony, Fox and ESPN, to name a few. His creative vision has led to numerous projects including: The Ultimate Gift (feature film), Bobby Jones – Stroke Of Genius (feature film), Hermie & Friends (animated series), Gigi (animated series), Struggle And Triumph (2008 Olympic feature), The Prize (World Cup Soccer TV special), The Perfect Game (feature film), Running the Sahara (feature documentary), and Trinity Goodheart (feature film). Currently, Rick is preparing for a sequel to the award-winning film The Ultimate Gift, called The Ultimate Life, as well as a 3D animated, theatrical feature film based on his “Hermie” series. Also in development is the feature film, Buster, about the life of world heavyweight champion boxer James Buster Douglas. Under the same roof is GlueWorks Creative Management, an animation company prized with numerous awards of excellence for animated series, such as Hermie & Friends, Gigi, The Pond, Horned
Avenger and On the Farm. Rick is a graduate of Bevard College in Music/Performing Arts, with advanced studies in theory and composition at UNCC and digital recording at Full Sail School of Recording Arts. He serves on several educational, charitable, civic and college/university boards, including on Compass College of Cinematic Arts’ Board of Directors.
Pete Hoekstra - President, Hoekstra Global Strategies
The Honorable Pete Hoekstra is president of Hoekstra Global Strategies. As one of the few former U.S. Congressmen with experience as a Fortune 500 business executive, Pete brings a unique blend of expertise and perspective to the global marketplace and public policy arena. Pete serves as a senior advisor at Dickstein Shapiro LLP in the firm’s Public Policy and Law Practice, where he provides business consulting in intelligence and national security, education, and labor.
Prior to founding Hoekstra Global Strategies, Pete served in the United States Congress for 18 years, representing Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District from 1993 to 2010. Pete was named chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in 2004 and held the post until January 2007. He served as the top Republican on the committee until December 2010. In his role, he was responsible for helping to lead Congressional oversight of U.S. intelligence during its modernization to confront the threats of the 21st century global war on terror, including restructuring the intelligence community with landmark legislation following the 9-11 Commission report. Prior to his appointment as committee chairman, Pete served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence. Pete also served as chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and authored a variety of studies and reports, including Education at a Crossroads, Crossroads 2000 and the American Worker Project. For his work in Congress, Pete received numerous awards, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce "Spirit of Enterprise" award, the "Hero of the Taxpayer" award from Americans for Tax Reform, "Public Official of the Year" Award from Habitat for Humanity of Michigan, and the "Faith, Family and Freedom" and "True Blue" awards from the Family Research Council. He also has been recognized by the National Association of Manufacturers. In 2008, Pete was appointed as an Officer in the Order of the Orange-Nassau, a royal honor from the Dutch government. In December 2010, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) awarded Pete with its “Agency Seal Medal”. In January 2011, the Director of National Intelligence awarded him with the “National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal.”
Before his election to Congress, he worked for 15 years at office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller Inc., where he held the title of vice president of marketing. In addition to serving in board of director positions for Compass College of Cinematic Arts and for West Michigan Community Bank, Pete serves on the advisory boards of Newsmax and SR Technologies, Inc. Pete holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hope College and a master’s of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.Keri Lowe - President, Compass College of Cinematic Arts
Keri Lowe is President of Compass College of Cinematic Arts. Keri has an extensive background in business leadership and management in the entertainment, education and travel industries. Her most recent experience, before coming to CCCA, was serving as Chief Operating Officer at Eagle Productions in Orlando, Florida, where she oversaw the film and video production of leading entertainment and educational clients, including The Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios, Monsanto, Motorola, Montel Williams Show, Mattel Toys, The Disney Institute, Harcourt Publishing, Scott Foresman Publishing, Orange County Schools, Osceloa School District and more. She also was the Executive Producer for several national PBS documentaries, including Zora’s Roots, River Into the New World and The Sponge Divers of Tarpon Springs. Prior, she oversaw the Public Relations team for Disney Vacation Club. Her marketing tenure at the prestigious Robison, Yesawich and Pepperdine Advertising Agency included managing the publicity and promotional efforts for the some of the world’s largest travel industry clients. Previously, she was a college instructor, teaching English, Marketing, Advertising and Behavioral Science. Keri has won several top awards for her leadership, film and promotional work, including Telly, Addy, Golden Bell, Golden Image, and National Microphone Awards. Keri holds a Journalism and Communications degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, with specialty in Film and Television and a minor in Psychology. She also served as a lay minister for over 25 years where she continued her studies in counseling, particularly from a Christian perspective. Keri is a board member on charitable, civic, entertainment, and educational boards. Additionally, she’s an avid reader and, as a hobby, continues to edit book manuscripts for published authors.
Geary Maiuri - Dean of Student & Community Services, Macomb Community College
Geary Maiuri has worked for Macomb Community College for the last 28 years. During his time at the college, he has held the positions of Dean of Community & Student Enrichment, Director of Professional and Continuing Education, Associate Dean of Business Administration, and Dean of Community Services and Continuing Education, and on two separate occasions, he has served the college in interim Vice Presidential capacities.
Prior to working for the college, Geary held various personnel and labor relations positions with the Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen of America, Inc. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Eastern Michigan University and a Master’s degree in Business Management from Central Michigan University.
Bill McKendry - Chief Creative Officer/Founder, Hanon McKendry
Since co-founding Hanon McKendry in 1994, Bill has been key in both the creative and business leadership areas of the firm. He has been a contributor to over 800 award-winning programs and has helped the organization grow rapidly from just four employees to the largest advertising/branding firm in Michigan outside of the Detroit area. While Hanon McKendry works with traditional corporate brands, such as Rubbermaid, Rayovac, and Target stores, it is known mostly for its national, award-winning work for nonprofit organizations, including Young Life, the National Christian Foundation, Focus on the Family and World Vision.
In 2007, Bill was the driving force behind the formation of the Gravity Six Alliance – a six agency alliance designed to bring more work, talent and attention to the West Michigan advertising and design community. In 2008, Bill and Hanon McKendry acquired an equity stake in the leading web marketing and development firm MINDSCAPE, which is now named MINDSCAPE at Hanon McKendry. Other notable career highlights include being inducted (1999) into the American Advertising Federation's (AAF) Hall of Achievement, as well as having his work featured on BBC's Commercial Breakdown and the syndicated television show World’s Greatest Commercials.
He started his career in Denver, Colorado, working for Tracy-Locke/BBDO. His previous client experiences have included American Express, Dodge, Taco Bell and Kohler.
Bill has a Marketing and Advertising degree from the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. Bill’s film industry experience has included directing the creative marketing efforts for feature films Uncle Nino and End of the Spear, as well as for the documentary Beyond the Gates of Splendor. He has provided distribution and marketing counsel for the feature films The Ultimate Gift, Frontier Boys and a film currently in development, Mickey Matson. In 1997 Bill helped to form Compass Arts, which served as the launching pad for Compass College of Cinematic Arts. He currently is on the school’s Board of Directors and served as Founding Chairman during its first nine yearsTyler Jackson (Ex Officio) - President, Still Waters Media
Tyler Jackson is a filmmaker based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and owner of Still Waters Media. His film talent ranges from script writing to consulting to production. Currently, Tyler is busy writing a feature film script and has a WWII documentary in progress. He also is a camera operator on the Emmy Award Winning kids show, Come On Over. As a junior in college, Tyler won first place at National Religious Broadcasters for the short film, A Fallen Soldier. Serious about the film industry from a young age, Tyler, at age 21, was the director of photography on a small independent film that had a limited national release. Tyler is President of Compass College of Cinematic Arts’ Alumni Association and serves ex officio on the school’s Board of Directors. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Moody Bible Institute and is an alumnus of Compass College of Cinematic Arts.
