SVSU Board of Control

A Saginaw resident, David Abbs graduated from Saginaw Valley State University in 1983 with a B.B.A. degree. At the time of his appointment to the SVSU Board of Control, Mr. Abbs was a Certified Financial Planner, a Certified Fund Specialist, and Registered Principal and Investment Advisor Representative with LPL Financial Services. An active member of the community, he was serving on the board of directors of four non-profit organizations. He is a life member of the National Eagle Scout Association.

Jeffrey Martin received his B.A. degree in Interpersonal Communications from Western Michigan University. At the time of his appointment, he was Community Relations Leader for the Dow Chemical Company’s Michigan Operations. Mr. Martin serves on the Executive Board of the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce, and on the Board of Saginaw Future, Inc., the Saginaw Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, the Bay Area Community Foundation, the Temple Theatre Foundation, and the Saginaw Club.

A resident of Saginaw, Leola Wilson graduated from Delta College and holds a degree in Social Work from Central Michigan University. She is a retired state social worker and dedicated community activist. A long-time member of the NAACP on both the local and state levels with ten-years of service as president of the Saginaw branch, in 2008, she was named President of the Year by the NAACP Michigan State Conference. She is a member of the Saginaw Intermediate School District, of Zion Missionary Baptist Church, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Saginaw Alumnae Chapter, among other organizations.

A resident of Saginaw, Cathy Ferguson holds a B.S. degree from Ferris State University and a J.D. from Wayne State University Law School. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, but does not actively practice law at this time. Among other civic activities, Dr. Ferguson is a volunteer with the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra.

Scott graduated from SVSU with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and applied science. He is president of Sunrise National Distributors Inc., managing member of several real estate developments, and a founding member of the Blue Water Angels and the 100 Club of Bay City. He is the former president of the board for the YMCA of Bay City and volunteers on the Bay County Growth Alliance and SVSU Board of Fellows. Scott and Nancy have two sons: Ryan, a 2008 graduate of SVSU, and Eric, a current SVSU student.

A resident of Saginaw, David Gamez holds an associate’s degree in nursing from Delta College, and a bachelor’s degree in health education and master’s in public health education from Central Michigan University. He is former president and chief executive officer of Health Delivery, Inc. in Saginaw. This non-profit federally qualified health center provides health care to migrant farm workers in fourteen counties and operates five community health centers in inner-city Saginaw.

A resident of Midland, she began as the first Executive Director for The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation in October of 2005. She served as Chief Executive Officer of Midland County’s economic development corporation, Midland Tomorrow, beginning in 1999. For two years prior to that, she served as Midland Tomorrow’s Manager of Economic Development Services. She was Midland’s first Downtown Development Authority Coordinator. She is chairwoman of the Delta College Foundation Board, the Midland Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Authority, the Midland Entranceway Initiative Task Force and volunteers on the SVSU Board of Fellows. Prior to living in Midland, Mrs. Velasquez worked for the Manhattan, Kansas Convention and Visitors Bureau. She earned a B.S. in business administration from Kansas State University and her M.B.A. from Michigan State University.

A resident of Bay City, Jerome Yantz is a graduate of Northeastern School of Commerce in Bay City and a Certified Public Accountant; he is former President and Partner of Weinlander Fitzhugh, a Bay City CPA consulting firm. Among his many and distinguished community service activities, Jerome has served as president of the Bay City Jaycees, United Way of Bay County, United Way of Michigan, Volunteer Action Center, Bay Area Community Foundation, Junior Achievement of Bay County, Bay City Country Club, Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Alliance of Bay County Public Schools, the Saginaw Valley International Torch Club and volunteers on the SVSU Board of Fellows. He has also served at the 2003-2004 District Governor for Rotary International. Among his many honors, in 2004 Jerome received from the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce an award named in this honor, the Jerome L. Yantz Partner in Education Award, for his efforts to promote interest in education.