Name Peter Secchia Role Businessman | ||
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Education Michigan State University | ||
John russell peter f secchia breakfast lecture
Peter F. Secchia (born April 15, 1937) is an Italian-American diplomat and businessman. Secchia served as the United States Ambassador to Italy from 1989 to 1993.
Contents
- John russell peter f secchia breakfast lecture
- Peter f secchia breakfast lecture
- Career
- Awards
- Memberships
- Secchia Stadium
- Secchia Center
- References
Peter f secchia breakfast lecture
Career
Secchia served in the United States Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959 and graduated from Michigan State University in 1963 with a degree in economics.
Secchia is a fund-raiser in the Republican Party in Michigan. He started as chairman of the Kent County, Michigan Republican Committee and later became the chairman of the 5th Congressional District of Michigan committee. He was elected to be Michigan's Republican National Committeeman in 1980, 1984, and 1988. Secchia was a Vice Chairman of the Republican National Committee and headed its Midwest Region. He was host chairman of the 1985 RNC Midwest Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Secchia was on the national advisory committee of the 1988 George Bush for President Committee. Secchia also founded the Lake Michigan Conference, and was a National Co-Chair of the Dole for President Campaign.
From 1989 to 1993 Secchia served as the US Ambassador to Italy.
Secchia has served as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Universal Forest Products, a company that manufactures engineered wood components and operates manufacturing plants and distribution centers in the United States (98), Mexico (2), and Canada (2). He has served as Chairman of the River City Food Company which has 29 restaurants, catering facilities, and banquet locations in the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
In 1994 he was appointed to chair the Secchia Commission I by Governor John Engler of Michigan which was focused on improving government services. Secchia Commission II focused on public sector pensions.
Awards
Memberships
Secchia is on the Executive Committee of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation and is the overseer of the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids and Gerald R. Ford Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan and is the past chairman of the library's Endowment Committee and Strategic Planning Committee. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors of the Bush Presidential Library Foundation, the Baker Institute at Rice University, and served for twelve years on the board for John Cabot University in Rome.
Secchia is a member of the National Italian American Foundation Council of 1000. He was founding president of the West Michigan Lodge of the Order of Sons of Italy in America (OSIA); he inaugurated the Festa Italiana, the region’s largest annual ethnic festival and has participated in and sponsored many Italian-American events. He was awarded the NIAF Special Achievement Award for International Affairs, The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Public Service Award, and lent his name to The Founding Values Initiative Award... the "Secchia Award for Heartfelt Commitment."
Secchia Stadium
In September 2010, Secchia made a $1 million outright donation to his alma mater, Michigan State University, to be used to build a new stadium for the women's' softball team. In appreciation of his gift, the facility was named Secchia Stadium. It was built at Old College Field and the first game was played in the 2011 season.
Secchia Center
The 8-story building of the MSU College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids campus was named after Peter Secchia for his generous donation to the university. The building is part of the Grand Rapids Medical Mile.