Jim BachmeierFerris State University President David L. Eisler announced today that Jim Bachmeier, associate vice president for Strategic Initiatives at Grand Valley State University, will become Ferris’ vice president for Administration and Finance. Bachmeier replaces Jerry Scoby who retired from Ferris June 7.
“I am delighted to have an individual with Jim’s strong record of administrative, financial, operational and professional accomplishments and community engagement serve in this key leadership capacity. He will be a strong addition to our executive team and University community,” said Eisler.
Bachmeier is a certified public accountant with 30 years of higher education experience. He joined GVSU in 1995 as assistant vice president for Business and Finance and assistant treasurer, Board of Trustees. He was promoted to associate vice president of Business and Finance in 2004 and to vice president for Finance and Administration and treasurer, Board of Trustees, in 2006. In August 2016, he accepted his current position as associate vice president for Strategic Initiatives. Before joining GVSU, he served as vice president for Finance and Administration at Western Nebraska Community College.
“I am so pleased to be invited to join the Ferris State University team. I look forward to building on the many strengths and traditions of such a relevant, transformational institution and a high-performing Administration and Finance area,” said Bachmeier.
In his new role as Ferris’ vice president for Administration and Finance, Bachmeier will serve as the chief financial officer of the University, as a member of the president’s executive team and as treasurer of The Ferris Foundation. Units reporting to him include Athletics, Auxiliary Enterprises (including Residential Life and Dining Services), Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Physical Plant (including planning, design and construction) and Public Safety.
While at GVSU, Bachmeier was responsible for significantly increasing the University’s housing capacity, improving the University’s credit rating from A to A+, managing an endowment of more than $100 million, leading a budget process through two recessions and a decline in statewide population, and achieving unprecedented athletic program success.
Bachmeier is currently serving or has served on numerous boards including the SmartZone Local Development Financing Authority, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Lakeshore Advantage, Disability Network-Lakeshore, Greater Ottawa County United Way and West Michigan Strategic Alliance.
He has a Master of Business Administration from Chadron State College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Black Hills State University.
He will begin his new position on July 22, and he and his family plan to relocate to Big Rapids.