Community Recognition Alumni Award

Bob Van Deventer, ’74, is a community leader who is wholeheartedly committed to advancing the connection between Great Lakes Bay Region and Central Michigan University. Bob is the current CEO/President of the Saginaw Chamber of Commerce and has acquired four-star accreditation with the U. S. Chamber. He is known and respected among civic leaders as a “consensus builder” and “bridge builder”. 

Bob represents the values and principles of CMU like no other. He is an avid supporter of CMU Athletics, the College of Business and the College of Health Professions. In addition, he is a long-time member of CMU’s Alumni Board of Directors and has worked diligently on the capital campaign for the College of Medicine as a member of the Saginaw Committee. When the concept of the College of Medicine came along, Bob wholeheartedly agreed to join the regional fundraising team. His wife Deb, says among his countless volunteer roles, CMED is “nearest and dearest to his heart.”

As President of the Great Lakes Bay Regional (GLBR) Alliance effort he made the biggest push for Isabella County to join, which would bring CMU into the mix. He was instrumental in the development of the GLBR Institute for Leaders program and has encouraged CMU employees to also participate. Bob works with the City of Saginaw, the surrounding townships, and other businesses to ensure a safe Saginaw. He promotes The Dow, First Merit Bank Park, the Saginaw Zoo, the Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum, the Saginaw Art Museum, the Japanese Garden, and The Temple Theatre. Recently he has worked with Saginaw County and the City of Saginaw Police Departments to host a “light up the neighborhoods” of residential areas in the city of Saginaw. He works with both Covenant HealthCare and St. Mary’s Hospital to improve the health of the community, and is a fantastic resource for local educational and philanthropic organizations such as the Saginaw Community Foundation. 

Bob and his wife Deb have been residents of the Saginaw area since 1974. They have two married children and two grandchildren.