Why I come to the Adrian campus—and you should, too!

By Jerry Peterson ’01—Lansing Center

A large number of Siena Heights alumni (myself included) completed their studies without ever setting foot on the main campus in Adrian. This is the result of SHU’s success developing a nationally recognized online program as well as a network of remote learning centers where students can attend classes locally.

I can think of three great reasons to make the effort to go the main campus; and I have availed myself of all them. The first of these was to be part of the graduation ceremonies. I had never thought I would obtain a degree; so when I did, I wanted to note that accomplishment with a celebration and not just add another line on my resume.

Secondly, I wanted to feel the pride of attending a collegiate football Homecoming as an alumnus. Although the football program is relatively new, it has all the festivities including the makings of a fun and boisterous tailgate tradition. SHU has additional activities before and after the game to make a day of it.

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Fran Parker ’88 Leaves Retirement to Direct UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust

Fran Parker ’88 doesn’t walk away from a challenge—even one as big as creating and then leading a trust that manages the medical benefits of hundreds of thousands of United Auto Workers retirees.

Parker, after “retiring” in 2008 as president and CEO of the Health Alliance Plan (HAP), soon jumped back into the workforce. She was named executive director of the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust, which manages the benefits of approximately 750,000 retirees of the “Big Three” automakers of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler.

“(The UAW) came to me to do this because of my background,” said Parker, who has more than 40 years of health care experience. “Taking the membership of three different organizations, Ford, GM and Chrysler, with no infrastructure, you had to create (the trust) from nothing. You knew that come January 1 of 2010, these retirees depended on you.”

When the trust launched in 2010, it became the largest non-governmental purchaser of retiree health care in the U.S. The trust is governed by an 11 person Committee of Directors. All of the retiree health care liabilities were transferred to a new independent Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA). Parker said she is enjoying her latest challenge, and considers it one of her greatest career achievements.

“I kind of divide the day into thirds,” Parker said of her typical day on the job, which usually begins about 7 a.m. and ends around 6 p.m. “A third might be day-to-day running of an organization. Another third (is) trying to keep abreast of regulatory changes. And (then) some time on strategy. I try to interact with staff and others, and I spend time with our insurance carriers and medical providers.”

As a leader, Parker considers herself to be “fact-based” and “data-driven.” However, she said she also values the opinions of others in the decision making process.

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Chad Grant ’99 Named President and CEO of McLaren Oakland

Chad Grant believes work ethic and the drive for excellence can overcome many obstacles. Including age. He’s living proof.

The 40-year-old Grant has risen quickly up the corporate ladder since starting his career in health care with the Detroit Medical Center in 1995. He became one of the youngest executives in DMC history when he was named chief operating officer (COO) of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan in 2012.

In December 2014, Grant was appointed to his current position as President and CEO of McLaren Oakland, a subsidiary of the 10-hospital McLaren Health Care system.

“Even at an early age, I was always the youngest, so I had to work harder to really maintain within my peer group,” Grant said. “Even with the 10 CEOs of McLaren, I am by far the youngest. I need to work hard and learn. I think that work ethic has helped.”

The 1999 graduate of Siena Heights University’s Southfield campus said his education also set the stage for his success.

“Education is the foundation of the knowledge that I use, especially at Siena Heights,” said Grant, who received a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in nuclear medicine. “I focused on as many finance classes as I could. For me, that’s what really separates me from everyone else in my career. I took advantage of the instruction and (expertise) of the instructors at Siena Heights. … They helped me connect the dots. I use a lot of the skills even to this day.”

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