Meijer chief visits Haworth College of Business
Sept. 13, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- Hank Meijer, co-chairman of Meijer Inc., will speak at Western Michigan University Thursday, Sept. 20, as part of the Haworth College of Business Distinguished Speaker Series.
Beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Brown Auditorium of Schneider Hall, Meijer will discuss "Meijer: The Road Ahead."
Meijer joined his family's company in 1979 as assistant advertising director. Today, as co-chairman, he oversees Meijer's more than 140 self-service, combination supermarket and discount department stores in five Midwestern States.
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Michigan, Meijer pursued a career in that field. He began as a reporter for a Southeast Michigan newspaper group and rose to become editor and eventually publisher of the Community Crier in Plymouth, Mich., before joining the family business.
He has maintained his interest in publishing. His book, "Thrifty Years," is a biography of his grandfather, Hendrik Meijer, and chronicles the founding and growth of the company. He has also written articles about Michigan Senator Arthur Vandenburg, which have been published in the Michigan Historical Review and the "Encyclopedia of the United States Congress."
In addition to his current corporate responsibilities, Meijer
has served as honorary co-chairman of capital campaigns for the
Grand Rapids Public Library and the Urban Institute of Contemporary
Arts; president of the Family Service Association of Kent County;
vice president of the Grand Rapids Area Council for the Humanities;
and a director of Fifth Third Bancorp and the Gerald R. Ford
Museum Foundation.
The Distinguished Speaker Series, now in its sixth year, brings
business, education and government leaders to campus to discuss
a variety of topics of interest to the University and Southwest
Michigan. Business and community leaders, as well as WMU faculty,
staff and students, attend the events. Dr. Christopher M. Korth,
WMU professor of finance and commercial law, is founder and chairman
of the series.
Members of the media are welcome at the lecture, which is by invitation only. To make arrangements to attend, media representatives should call Jessica English in the Office of University Relations at (616) 387-8423.
Media contact: Jessica English, 616 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu