The Grand Rapids Rowing Association is honored to have several important members of the community on its Board of Advisors.

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Mike Guswiler

Executive Director, West Michigan Sports Commission

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Sandy Jelinski

Chief Executive Officer, Lake Michigan Credit Union

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Fred P. Keller

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cascade Engineering

Fred Keller founded Cascade Engineering in 1973, following an earlier career as a metallurgist with Pratt & Whitney.  Keller has led the company in its growth into a solutions-based organization with 15 customer-focused business units comprising 1,000 employees and 12 facilities worldwide, and a unique focus on sustainable products and services. Underlying Cascade’s organizational culture is Keller’s belief that business has the unique opportunity to complement its focus on financial performance with important work in the social and environmental arenas. 

Keller is past chairman of the Economic Club of Grand Rapids and has chaired several community boards.  His innovative management approach and work in advancing sustainability are featured regularly in business and industry publications, and he serves as a visiting lecturer on Sustainability at Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management.  A Grand Rapids native, Keller earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and a Master of Science in business management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

A long-time friend of rowing starting with his days at Cornell,  Keller has been a community champion for the Grand Rapids Rowing Association, helping to raise funds for the new boathouse as well as continuing support of programs, and his advice and guidance has been crucial to the Association’s continued success and growth.

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John H. Logie

Of Counsel, Warner, Norcross & Judd, LLP

 

John Logie is founder of the Health Law Practice Group at WNJ, and chaired it until becoming Mayor of the City of Grand Rapids in 1991. He continued to litigate cases for firm clients while serving as Mayor through 2003. In particular, he represents property owners in condemnation, and zoning lawsuits, and either family members or estates in will contests in Probate Courts.

As a co-chair of the Grand Rapids Rowing Association’s boathouse campaign, Logie was a critical force in re-establishing the Association’s presence on the Grand River. Logie has been a strong advocate for the Association's high school and youth programs, especially in regards to reaching at-risk populations in the Grand Rapids metro area.

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Arend "Don" Lubbers

President Emeritus, Grand Valley State University

Arend D. Lubbers became president of Grand Valley in 1969 at the age of 37, making him one of the youngest university presidents in the nation. When he retired in 2001, he was the longest-serving public university president in the country. In the 32 years in between, Lubbers led the university’s evolution from a small, liberal arts college to a regional university. Lubbers guided the university’s response to regional education needs with the establishment of the Seidman College of Business, the Kirkhof College of Nursing, and the Schools of Education, Social Work, Health Sciences, Engineering, and Communication. Also during his tenure, GVSU’s programs in music, art, chemistry, education, social work, business, and nursing have earned professional accreditations. Lubbers Stadium on the Allendale Campus is named for him.

Lubbers is a native of Holland, Mich. and a graduate of Hope College, where his father, Irwin Lubbers, served as president. He received his master’s degree in history from Rutgers University in 1956, and then taught at Wittenberg College in Ohio before returning to Rutgers in 1958 to pursue his doctorate. In 1962, Life magazine named him to its list of the top 100 young men under 40 in the United States. Lubbers came to Grand Valley from Central College, in Pella, Iowa, where he had served as president for nine years. At the time of his appointment to that position, Lubbers, at 29, was the youngest college president in the country. Don’s support of rowing started with his commitment to support and continue the rowing club at Grand Valley State, which has grown into a powerhouse among Midwest collegiate rowing programs. The recent “Lubbers Cup” regatta, held in Spring Lake, MI, was one of the largest regattas yet hosted by the University. Lubbers was also instrumental as a community advocate of the GRRA, and served as co-chair of the capital campaign for the new boathouse.

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