When Dale Elliott earned his MBA in 1979, he added his name to a long list of family members with Michigan Tech degrees.
"My brother got his electrical engineering degree in the mid-'60s," said Elliott. "Two brothers-in-law, a sister-in-law, as well as a niece and her husband all have MTU degrees. Our family believes in the value of a Michigan Tech education."
Elliott's career in business has been remarkable—and he traces its success directly back to the training he received at Michigan Tech. "Because of the instructors that I had, I not only learned business fundamentals, but also how to apply those principles," he said. "That helped me right away in my career, and it's a big reason we are such enthusiastic supporters of Michigan Tech."
After starting at Brunswick Corporation post-graduation and spending 11 years with Emerson Electric, Elliott took a position with Snap-on Inc., as president of the industrial and power tool business. In 2001, Elliott was named chairman, president, and CEO of Snap-on. Over the next three years, he developed the strategy and tactical plans that set the stage for the company's future growth and profitability.
After retiring from Snap-on, he became president of American Standard, a global leader in the bath and kitchen market with 56 manufacturing locations around the world and over 26,000 employees.
Currently, Elliott is president and CEO of FCM Advisory Group, a business consulting company he founded in 2007. He has focused his efforts on a process called "Full Circle Management," which ensures that the activities of the entire organization are aligned with company strategic goals and objectives.
Philanthropy Three Ways: Scholarships, Facilities, Professorships
Elliott and his wife Judy, a Copper Country native, support three major initiatives in the College of Business's strategic plan: scholarships, facilities, and professorships.
In 2012, the Elliotts, along with their daughters Nicole and Jennifer, established the Elliott Family Annual Scholarship. Three years later, that grew into the Elliott Family Endowed Scholarship, which supports first-generation college students and those needing extra funds to get through tight financial spots. To date, the Elliotts' scholarship has helped more than 50 students.
"Sometimes things come up that put people in financial distress. We wanted to help those students be able to continue their education and graduate. Also, I was a first-generation college student," Elliott said. "My father put my brothers, sisters, and me through college. He was a firm believer in education and providing an opportunity to people who were willing to work."
The Elliotts also support Michigan Tech facilities, and have committed a $500,000 leadership-level gift to the Center for Convergence and Innovation (CCI), which will house both the College of Business and College of Computing. Co-locating the two colleges will help create the kind of graduates Elliott feels will be difference-makers.
"Tech graduates are going to be so far ahead of the average college graduate," he said. "We need to lean into that business and computing partnership. People who understand both business and technology are going to be more successful than those who are good at one or the other. The strength of both programs is driving our desire to support this new facility."
"Most companies hire graduates knowing it will probably be two years before they're productive because you have to train them. If Tech can continue to produce graduates who are ready to do the work right out of the box, it'll be obvious to everybody that we offer a higher-quality education."
The final prong of the Elliotts' philanthropy is in professorships. Michigan Tech's goal of enrolling 10,000 students by 2035 will require more than 400 tenure-track faculty. Endowed faculty positions attract elite educators, whom the Elliotts agree will be critical in upholding Tech's tradition of educational excellence. To contribute to this effort, they plan to establish the Elliott Family Endowed Professorship in the College of Business with an estate gift.
"You need high-quality educators to have a good education," Elliott said. "There were a lot of pragmatists on the faculty when I got my MBA. I learned what a solid balance sheet meant and how to have a good handle on your cost structure. I had a great understanding of those things early, so I didn't have to learn them on the job."
Belief — in Education and in Michigan Tech
The fact that Elliott's priorities parallel Michigan Tech's is no surprise. He has been active in service to the University since 1996, having volunteered for three stints on the Michigan Tech Fund Board (1996-2006, 2009-13, and 2019-21). His roles included chairing the finance and audit committee, chairing the investment committee, and chairing the board. Elliott provided leadership through challenging financial times and changes in University administration.
In addition, Elliott has been a member of the President's Advancement Council and the College of Business National Advisory Board. He was Tech's Midyear Commencement speaker in 2014 and was granted an honorary PhD from the University. In 2019, he was named to the Academy of Business. Most recently, in 2023, Elliott was honored with the Michigan Tech Alumni Award for Outstanding Service.
It's an exemplary record in business, service, and philanthropy–-all of which Elliott connects back to the training he received at Tech.
"Michigan Tech creates graduates who know how to pitch and catch right from day one," Elliott said. "The impact Tech had on our lives and on my career is central to our support of education and our belief in its importance to the future."
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
