The purpose of the academy is to give honor and recognition to a select group of our outstanding graduate and undergraduate alumni. It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we honor them – and thank them for their willingness to give back to our school.

School of Communication
2006 Alumni Academy Inductee

Cynthia Kay

MA in Communication, 1977

Cynthia Kay received her masters degree in communication from Western Michigan University – she received her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University .

Creative and dynamic professional -- established and respected businesswoman -- these qualities have helped make Cynthia a well-known leader in media production and corporate communications. As a professional broadcaster, Cynthia did it all; from anchoring, producing, directing and hosting specialty programming to investigative reporting, documentaries and features. In the process, she was honored with awards from United Press International, the Associated Press and she received numerous regional and local broadcast awards.

Cynthia has served as a visiting faculty member at Grand Valley State University, teaching communications, and as President of the West Michigan Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators and American Women in Radio and TV. She is currently the Past President of the West Michigan Chapter of the American Marketing Association.

A member of an entrepreneurial family, Cynthia is the founder, owner, and president of a media company -- Cynthia Kay & Company. After her award winning 13-year career in broadcasting, Cynthia formed her company in 1984 – it was incorporated by the State of Michigan in 1987. The company provides broadcast quality productions, graphics, animations, interactive CDs and DVDs, digital signage, and media and presentation training programs for clients that include Fortune 500 companies, small businesses and non-profits such as the American Cancer Society, Hope College, Huntington Bank, and Herman Miller, to name a few.

In 2005, Cynthia was honored as the Top Woman-Owned Business in her category by the Grand Rapids Business Journal and her company was named “Small Business of the Year” by the Grand Rapids Area of Chamber of Commerce.

In 2006, Cynthia was named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan and her company was named one of West Michigan's 101 Best and Brightest Companies .