Governor appoints new members to WMU Board of Trustees

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, two new leaders are set to join the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees: WMU alumnus Kurtis Trevan of Grand Rapids, CEO of Gun Lake Investments, and A. Alan Turfe of Northville, board chair of DocShop Pro.

"We are pleased to welcome Trustees Trevan and Turfe," says President Edward Montgomery. "I look forward to the expertise and insights they will add to the board as we work together to advance our University and its goals to help students pursue their goals, maintain well-being and prepare for meaningful careers."

The new board members replace outgoing Chair James B. Bolger and Trustee David Behen, whose terms expire Thursday, Dec. 31. The terms for the new members begin Friday, Jan. 1, and run through Dec. 31, 2028.

ABOUT THE NEW TRUSTEES

Trevan is not only CEO of Gun Lake Investments, he also is a co-founder. According to a press release from the governor's office, he is a citizen of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians and previously served as the treasurer for the Tribal Council and as a member of the Gun Lake Casino Board of Directors. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from WMU, a Master of Science in Finance from Walsh College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.

Turfe serves as chair on the advisory boards of NEMO Health and STEL Technologies. He is also a member of the Tespo Advisory Board. He currently serves as a private equity consultant and strategic advisor related to medical devices, life science and health care mergers and acquisitions.  He formerly served as chairman and CEO of J M Smith Corp., the fourth largest pharmaceutical distribution company in the United States that also owned pharmaceutical technology assets and retail locations. Earlier in his career, Turfe served as Group President of Anatomical Pathology at Thermo Fisher Scientific and its global headquarters was located within one of their business units, Richard-Allan Scientific. He's also held senior executive leadership roles at Fresenius Medical Care, Covidien, IDEX Corp. and General Motors. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.

Both board appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Michigan Senate.

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