Board of Control Chair Pledges Bequest to Michigan Tech
Marty Richardson, chair of the Board of Control, and her husband, Jerry Richardson, have made a planned gift of $1 million to Michigan Tech's Board of Control Endowment Fund. The endowment produces income to fund special projects as recommended by the president to the Board of Control.
Philanthropy is a cornerstone of the Michigan Tech tradition, Richardson explained. Alumni, Board members and friends who give their time and money keep Michigan Tech strong for future generations. "Once our loved ones are taken care of, we couldn't think of a better place to invest part of our estate than Michigan Tech," she said. "The return on this investment, when we are gone, establishes a very positive legacy of 'creating the future' beyond our lifetimes. What could be more fulfilling than that?"
The Board of Control Endowment Fund succeeds the Board of Control Scholarship Fund, which helped many alumni attend Michigan Tech, such as Dave House, chair of the current Generations of Discovery Campaign. The new fund was established at Marty Richardson's suggestion.
"Marty and Jerry have shown remarkable leadership with their giving,” said Shea McGrew, vice president of advancement and president of the Michigan Tech Fund. "Marty was the initiator of the Board of Control Endowment Fund and has encouraged Board of Control members and others to contribute to it. As board chair, she sets a fine example for all Michigan Tech volunteers."
Richardson is the retired president of Services Marketing Specialists, a consulting firm established in 1989 to provide full-service marketing and communications support to professional service firms and business-to-business organizations. She worked in marketing, communications and business management for more than 30 years, after earning a Master of Science in Business Administration degree from Michigan Tech's School of Business and Economics in 1979.
In 2005, former Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed her to the Michigan Tech Board of Control, and the Board elected her chair in 2010. She has also served on the boards of the Greater Detroit Chapter for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and the Corporate Economic Council of the NAWBO. Crain’s Detroit Business named her one of Detroit's 100 most influential business women.
Her husband, Jerry Richardson, was born and raised in Birmingham and graduated from Michigan State University with a BS in Engineering, followed by an MBA in Materials and Operations Management. He worked for General Motors for 30 years, in purchasing, plant operations, strategic planning and product engineering.
Since retiring, the Richardsons are living on their trawler, Monarch.