| Bob Beam honored by Southwest Michigan Building Trades | |
| Kalamazoo, MI June 13, 2007 - Robert Beam Vice President for Business and Finance at Western Michigan University (WMU) was recently honored with a recognition luncheon sponsored by the Southwest Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. The luncheon was held at the Fetzer Center on the campus of WMU. | |
| Mr. Beam announced his retirement effective July 1 following 35 years of service at WMU. Hugh Coward President of the Southwest Building Trades stated that Mr. Beam had been the |  |
| group’s primary contact for over 20 years in regards to construction work performed by contractors signatory to the building trades. Mr. Coward stated that he “appreciated the working relationship that the building trades had with Bob which started in 1985.” Since that time nearly ¾ of a billion dollars of construction work has been completed. Mr. Coward further stated that “Mr. Beam was always upfront and honest in their relationship which is testimony to Bob's leadership and competent staff he's built.” Mr. Coward hoped that the periodic meetings between WMU and the Southwest Michigan Building Trades could continue.
Lowell Rinker, also a 35-year veteran administrator, has been named to succeed Mr. Beam. He indicated his desire to continue the working relationship between WMU and the Southwest Building Trades. Rinker, whose appointment is effective July 1, has been Associate Vice President for Business since 2002 and Assistant Treasurer to the Board of Trustees since 1992. He served as Assistant Vice President for Business from 1992 to 2002. Both Beam and Rinker painted a bleak picture regarding upcoming construction work at WMU. Since the completion of the new College of Health and Human Services building, there’s been minimal construction work performed because of a lack of state appropriations for new construction. Both stated that they don’t see any change in the immediate future because the state does not prioritize higher education funding as it has in the past. In support of their case they underscored the decline in state legislative support by stating that in1972 the state appropriation constituted 75 percent of the university’s revenue but declined to 40 percent by 2005. Meanwhile, tuition moved from 25 percent to 60 percent of WMU’s revenue. Officials in attendance from the Southwest Building Trades in addition to Mr. Coward included Terry Strunk, Field Representative, Michigan Building & Construction Trades Council; William Barker, Marketing Representative, Asbestos Local 47; Dave Rudnick, Business Agent, Laborers Local 355; Steve Claywell, Business Manager and Lance Dougherty, Business Representative, Electrical Local 445; Chad Miller, Business Representative, Carpenters Local 525; Fred Bosma, Business Agent, Bricklayers Local 9; Dennis Crane, Business Agent, Sheet Metal Workers Local 7, Bob Williams, Retired Business Manager, UA Local 357; and Ed Haynor, Consultant, West Michigan Construction Alliance. Those representing WMU in addition to Robert Beam and Lowell Rinker included Ray Wolfram, Campus Construction; Colleen Lewis, Internal Audit Director; Julie Kellogg, Auditor; Carol Hustoles, Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel; Greg Rosine, Senior Vice President, Advancement and Legislative Affairs; and Larry Tolbert, WMU Board of Trustees. | |
