SVSU Board of Control

Luis Canales was appointed executive director of global government affairs in October 2017. He leads the development and implementation of Nexteer’s global government affairs policies. He is responsible for Nexteer’s legislative and regulatory advocacy on issues that impact current and future product go-to-market strategies. He reports directly to the president and is a member of the Global Operating Committee.

In 2010 prior to the purchase of Nexteer by Pacific Century Motors, Mr. Canales became director of global external affairs and led the development of the Nexteer brand. He was responsible for all publicity activities during Nexteer’s initial public offering on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2013. Mr. Canales was appointed to his most recent role of executive director of global corporate affairs in 2015. He led the development of Nexteer’s sustainability monitoring and reporting framework and the publication of Nexteer’s first Sustainability Report in 2016.

Mr. Canales began his automotive career with General Motors as a summer engineering intern in 1987. He held various engineering positions on the development of electric power steering at the company’s advanced product center until 1996 when he was assigned to the advanced chassis center at GM Opel’s operating unit in Germany.

In 1999, Mr. Canales was appointed international business development manager at Delphi Steering. He was responsible for structuring new ventures and alliances as well as mergers and acquisitions. In 2003, he became the halfshafts business line planning manager. In 2005, he was appointed the steering business line planning and marketing manager, responsible for strategic planning for the hydraulic power steering, electric power steering, steering columns and intermediate shafts product lines. Mr. Canales was named director of corporate strategy in 2009.

Mr. Canales holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Business Administration from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He was appointed in June 2017 as a trustee of Saginaw Valley State University by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. He also serves on the Saginaw Valley State University Foundation board. He is currently a Notre Dame Alumni Diversity Council regional director and vice president of the Great Lakes Bay Notre Dame Club. In addition, Mr. Canales serves on the boards of the Saginaw Community Foundation and the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce. He is also a past vice president of the Great Lakes Bay Hispanic Business Association.

Mr. Carmona earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Saginaw Valley State University. Mr. Carmona has distinguished himself as a successful business leader, experienced developer and visionary community leader. He is the owner of Sunrise National Distributors, Inc., a Michigan-based, national distributor of automotive aftermarket products. He also is the owner of several real estate development companies and serves as the managing member.

Scott has received numerous professional honors including: Distinguished Laureate of Junior Achievement’s Business Hall of Fame (2006); SVSU Outstanding Alumni Award for the College of Science, Engineering & Technology (2005) and SVSU’s Business and Industrial Development Institute Entrepreneur of the Year (1997).

A steadfast community supporter, Scott lends his expertise to a variety of civic and professional boards and organizations including the Bay County Growth Alliance, Dow Bay Area Family YMCA (Past President) and the McLaren Bay Special Care Hospital board of directors.

Mr. Carmona sits on the SVSU Engineering Advisory Board and the SVSU Foundation Board, and is a contributor to the SVSU Engineering Racing Lab. Scott’s generous philanthropic efforts focus on youth and education by granting over 50 scholarships annually.

Scott and his wife, Nancy, live in Bay City. They have two sons, Ryan (Amanda) and Eric.

JoAnn Crary is the President of Saginaw Future, a non-profit economic development organization. She has held that position since 1993. Crary completed her undergraduate degree from Ferris State University and has a Masters degree from Central Michigan University. She is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute and is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional. She was recently awarded the Fellow Member and Honorary Life Member designations by the International Economic Development Council.

Crary is a member of the MEDC Collaborative Development Council, an advisory group representing the 10 economic development regions in Michigan. She was the 2015 Chair of the 5000 member International Economic Development Council’s Board of Directors and is a member of the Committee for Professional Conduct and the Economic Development Research Partners. In 2016, Michigan’s Governor Rick Snyder appointed JoAnn to serve on the 21st Century Economy Commission to help recommend a vision for Michigan’s economic future.

JoAnn serves on many local boards and commissions including the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce, Dow Chemical Community Advisory Panel, City of Saginaw Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Huntington Bank Market Area Board and Saginaw Valley State University Board of Fellows.

Dennis is Founder and Director of Rysenia Capital Solutions, LLC, a professional services firm which provides comprehensive business practice consulting services to small and middle market companies. Previously, Durco was President and Chief Financial Officer for Michigan Orthopedic Services, LLC. Durco also held various Chief Financial and Chief Operating Officer position for several entrepreneurial companies including consumer products, software, and laser guided navigation. These experiences included frequent international travel abroad. Durco became a certified public accountant while employed at Price Waterhouse during the first six years of his career. Durco is a member of the American Institute of CPA's, the Michigan Society of CPA's, and is an original member of the Bank of Ann Arbor's Technology Industry Group. He is presently a board member for the Common Bond Basketball Club, Inc., Livingston County Catholic Charities, and has held various Board positions during his career both in the for profit and not for profit sector. Durco holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from The Ohio State University graduating from the Honors Accounting program.

Mr. Kulkarni is the founder and CEO of the software company InfoReady Corporation and the IT consulting firm GDI Infotech, Inc. He also serves on the board of directors for Ann Arbor SPARK and leads the organization’s Foreign Direct Investment Committee. Mr. Kulkarni holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Mumbai University in India and a master’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from West Virginia University.

John is the retired CEO of Yeo & Yeo, PC, (a Certified Public Accounting Firm that is ranked as one of the top 100 largest CPA firms in the country) a position he held for 15 years. He spent over 40 years with the company throughout his career. Kunitzer is a certified public accountant who graduated from SVSU in 1973 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He has been actively involved in the community over the years, serving as chairman of the Saginaw County United Way fund raising campaign, past president of the Saginaw Valley Rotary Club, past member of the city of Saginaw Hospital Finance Authority, past president of The Saginaw Club. He currently is a member of the Saginaw Diocese Finance Committee, board member of the Michigan Catholic Conference Lay Employees’ Pension Board, a member of the Saginaw Valley Rotary, and serves on the Saginaw Township Pay Planning Commission.

Ms. Rupp was appointed to the SVSU Board of Control in 2015. She recently retired from The Dow Chemical Company as the corporate director of service management in the Business Services Group. Her career with Dow has included responsibilities as research & development director supporting multiple business, global regulatory affairs director, global remediation director and global director of business process services.

Jenee L. Velasquez 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. 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 as well as completing an executive education course at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Her current community activities include serving as a member of the Chemical Bank Midland Community Bank Advisory Board, Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance Board, Chair of the Saginaw Valley State University Board of Control, Saginaw Valley State University Board of Fellows, Saginaw Valley State University Board of Control Business, Finance, Audit and Facilities Standing Committee, Past Chair of the Delta College Foundation Board, Past Chair of the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Authority, Vice President and Assistant Secretary for The Michigan Baseball Foundation - Grants Committee Chair, Chair of the Midland Entranceway Initiative Task Force, Past Chair for Michigan Non-Profit Association Board, Greater Midland Community Centers Trustees Board, Past Chair for Leadership Michigan Advisory Board, MidMichigan Health Board and Planning Committee, Midland County Juvenile Care Center Advisory Board, Midland County Drug Court Steering Committee, Chair of the Midland City and County Joint Building Authority, Midland Rotary Foundation Board, Michigan Municipal League Foundation Board, Robert C. Reinhardt Library Trust Fund, Council of Michigan Foundations Public Policy Committee, Midland Area Chamber of Commerce, Midland Rotary Club, Local Development Finance Authority Board, Dow Community Advisory Panel, Junior Achievement Classroom Volunteer, Leadership Midland Alumni, and 1000 Leaders/Leadership Saginaw Alumni.

Recognitions include being named in 2016 to Crain’s 100 Most Influential Women in Michigan by Crain’s Business Detroit, the 2013 YWCA Women of Achievement Award for Community Leader, the 2012 Great Women of the Great Lakes Bay Region Award, the 2012 Margaret Ann “Ranny” Riecker Meritorious Service Award, Zonta Club of Midland 2010 Woman of Distinction Award, 2009 Junior Achievement of Central Michigan Rising Star, 2006 Ruby Award, Girl Scouts of Mitten Bay 2003 Woman of Distinction Recipient, 2002 Midland Leader of the Year, 2002 Chamber of Commerce Commonwealth Award for Innovation, 2000 ATHENA Award Recipient, Northwood University Silver Circle Recipient, Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow and Midland Rotary Club Golden Goose. She is a past president of the Leadership Midland Alumni Association and Midland Rotary Club and Past District Secretary for Rotary District 6310.