Ferris State University President Bill Pink was named one of West Michigan’s 200 Most
Influential Leaders by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business.
Ferris State University President Bill Pink was named one of West Michigan’s 200 Most Influential Leaders by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business, recognizing his leadership in supporting students and building partnerships throughout the region.
“As journalists, we’re often asked by our sources who really is pulling the strings behind the top news of the day in West Michigan. Chances are, it’s one of the 200 executives our team has profiled in this inaugural Grand Rapids 200 publication from Crain’s Grand Rapids Business,” said Joe Boomgaard, Crain’s Grand Rapids Business editor in the story.
“Consider the Grand Rapids 200 our ‘who’s who’ of power brokers across the West Michigan region, whether in manufacturing, banking, philanthropy, economic development, or a host of other key industries. It’s important to note that the people profiled in the Grand Rapids 200 did not ask to be included. Rather, this is our editorial team naming the 200 most influential business leaders in West Michigan. We based the selections purely on our news judgment.”
Crain’s Grand Rapids Business launched in 2023, bringing together MiBiz, the Grand Rapids Business Journal and Crain Communications to be a source business news, analysis, and information in West Michigan.
Pink was among six educators in the group, joined by Grand Valley State University
President Philomena Mantella, Western State University President Edward Montgomery,
Davenport University President Richard Pappas, Grand Rapids Public Schools Superintendent
Leadriane Roby and ODC Network CEO Travis Williams.
Pink became the 19th president of Ferris State University in July 2022 after serving
at Grand Rapids Community College since 2017.
The Abilene, Texas native has taught and coached in Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Oregon. He was inducted into the York College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016 for his performance as a student-athlete.
Pink’s leadership extends nationally. He was elected to the board of trustees for the Higher Learning Commission and serves on the Community College Advisory Panel for The College Board, and the American Council on Education board.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed him to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. executive committee and most recently, he was elected to the American Association of Community Colleges board. Pink is vice chair of The Right Place and will become chair in 2024.
Whitmer this year asked Pink to play a key role in helping to shape the state’s future, naming him to one of the four working groups of the Growing Michigan Together Council.