SVSU Board of Control

Lt. Governor John D. Cherry is the 62nd Lt. Governor of the State of Michigan and a seasoned leader who has successfully worked to ensure that state government is efficient and shares Michigan's priorities. He has more than 20 years of service in the Michigan Legislature as a State Representative, State Senator and Minority Leader. Cherry has received many awards and honors and was named the 2005 Conservationist of the Year by the Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC). He also served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Midwest Higher Education Compact and was a past chair of the International Great Lakes Commission.
As a legislator, Cherry focused on the issues that were most important to Michigan citizens - families, the quality of life in Michigan, the environment and Michigan's great outdoors. He has authored and co-sponsored several milestone Michigan laws dealing with workers' rights, environmental protection and conservation.
Cherry received a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan in 1973 and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Michigan, Flint in 1984. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Saginaw Valley State University and an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from Central Michigan University.

Education:
• University of Michigan, B.A., 1973
• University of Michigan- Flint, MPA, 1984
• Saginaw Valley State University, Honorary Law Degree
• Central Michigan University, Honorary Doctor of Public Service

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.

Lindsay Stevens Eggers serves as the President and COO for Stevens Group, Inc., a nationwide family-owned moving & storage company that’s been doing business for more than 110 years. Prior to her current role, she served as the Vice President of Finance at Stevens. As a key leader since 2009, Lindsay leads her team to act with accountability, focus and excellence.

Previous to her career at Stevens, Lindsay worked at Accenture Consulting, specializing in PeopleSoft Financial Software Implementations. She holds a Master’s of Business Administration Degree from Ross School of Business and Bachelor of Science Business Administration Degree (graduating Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Colorado.

She currently serves as President and COO for the Stevens Group, Inc. Board of Directors, a Saginaw Advisory Board member for Chemical Bank, a Board member of the Michigan State Chamber of Commerce, a Board Member for the READ Association of Saginaw, Trustee for the Bay Area Community Foundation, member of the Bay Area Community Foundation Women’s Philanthropy Circle, serves as the Treasurer for Linwood Beach Association and volunteers as a Sunday School teacher for Church of The Hills in Bellaire, Michigan. Lindsay was previously the Junior and Senior High School Youth Group Director at First Presbyterian Church, served as a Board and Finance Committee Member for the YMCA, was Chairman of the Next Generation Affinity Group for the Stevens Center for Family Business and was Chairman of the READ Association of Saginaw.

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.

Rajkumari “Raj” M. Wiener is the founder of RWC Advocacy—a governmental affairs law firm. Prior to starting the firm, she served as Director of the Michigan Department of Public Health overseeing health policy, local health departments, human water supply, air, food and work environment quality. She was the Chief of the Bureau of Health Facilities regulating all licensed health care facilities and Certificate of Need approvals for medical services. She also served as Deputy Director of the Department of Licensing & Regulation (Now Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs), overseeing licensing of occupations, health care professions and the Insurance Bureau (now OFIR).
She also worked on Capitol Hill for 9 years as a key legislative and political advisor to former United States Congressman Bob Traxler. Raj was admitted to the practice of law in 1984.
Raj serves on the board of Sparrow Hospice House; she is a past local board member and founder of organizations promoting youth physical activity, hockey, lacrosse, and majority owner of a NAHL Jr. Hockey team.
Raj is a graduate and recipient of the distinguished alumni award of Saginaw Valley State University and the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America.

Education:
• Columbus School of Law, Juris Doctor, December 1983
• Saginaw Valley State University, Bachelor of Science, Biology, 1973
• Central Michigan University, Master of Sport Administration, 2014

Community Involvement:
• Williamston Sunrise Rotary
• Williamston United Methodist Church
• Community Volunteers for International Programs (MSU) Board
• Sparrow Community Care Board
• Sparrow Hospice Advisory Board
• Saginaw Valley State University Foundation Board
• Steiner Chorale