February, 17, 2023
BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is pleased to announce several changes to its Board of Directors. In December, we bid farewell to Toshiya Kawashima of DENSO who returned to Japan. Mr. Kawashima will be stationed in Japan’s Tohoku region, where he will manage DENSO’s Fukushima facility. Joining the board will be Mike Way, Bronson Health; Neal Graziano, W.K. Kellogg Foundation; and Frank Tecumseh, FireKeepers Casino Hotel. With these additions, BCU once again has a full board of 15 members.
Mike Way is the Senior Vice President for Supply Chain, Facilities & Real Estate at Bronson Health. Way has been with Bronson for nearly 30 years and led the organization’s supply chain, contracting, facility development and real estate management efforts. He holds a BS in Health Services Administration from Northern Arizona University and an MBA in Finance from Western Michigan University. He is a certified contract/purchasing manager as designated by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). During his time at Bronson, Way has spearheaded their environmental initiatives, which resulted in receiving the Healthcare Environmental Leadership Award in 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2007 from Practice Greenhealth, the Energy Star Label from the Environmental Protection Agency and recognition from the Green Guide as one of America’s Top Ten Green Hospitals.
Neal Graziano serves as the Director of Investments at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, based in Battle Creek. In this capacity, he helps manages $3.5 billion in assets. Founded by Will Keith Kellogg in 1930, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is the seventh largest private foundation in the United States, and the largest nonprofit in Michigan. Prior to joining Kellogg in 2007, Graziano was an associate portfolio manager at Mastrapasqua Asset Management and investment analyst at William Blair & Co. in Chicago. Graziano earned his BA in Finance from Michigan State University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He holds chartered financial analyst and chartered alternative investment analyst designations. Graziano was named on Trusted Insight’s Top 30 LPs Investing Real Assets, Real Estate.
Frank Tecumseh was named CEO of the FireKeepers Casino Hotel in December 2022. A member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Tecumseh has more than 20 years of experience in human resources, including a decade at Prairie Band Casino Resort in Mayetta, Kansas. He joined FireKeepers as the Vice President of Human Resources in 2014. Tecumseh has a proven track record of executing strategic initiatives, building high performing teams and programs that have enhanced casino operations. He currently serves as the board president for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Entertainment Corp and is a member of the Southwest Michigan Workforce Development Committee and the American Gaming Association’s Responsible Gaming Committee. Tecumseh holds a BA in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and an MBA from Baker University.
BCU President & CEO Joe Sobieralski said, “On behalf of the BCU Board of Directors and staff, I would like to thank Mr. Kawashima for his service during his tenure in Battle Creek. All of us wish him continued success in his new position back in Japan. BCU has an outstanding board of directors, which has been key to much of our recent success. In the coming months, we will wrap up our existing 5-year strategic plan and begin charting the next five years and beyond. I look forward to working with Mike, Neal, and Frank on this process. Their experience and expertise will be invaluable to BCU as we look to the future.”
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ABOUT BATTLE CREEK UNLIMITED
Established in 1972, Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is a private, non-profit corporation which serves as the economic development arm for the City of Battle Creek and manages the Fort Custer Industrial Park. The Fort Custer Industrial Park is home to over 80 businesses, including 25 international companies, and employs over 13,000 people. BCU’s mission is to build a strong community by driving strategic investment and job creation.
CONTACT
Joe Sobieralski, President & CEO
Battle Creek Unlimited
TEL 269-962-7526
