Michigan Tech's Academy Of Business honors outstanding leaders in business and civic affairs, as well those who have contributed significantly to the growth and development of the College of Business. The College welcomes four new members to this esteemed group.
Steve Hicks '83, President and CEO, Longyear
Steve Hicks has served as president and CEO of Longyear LLC, a 150-year-old privately held entrepreneurial asset management firm, since 1999. Under Hicks, Longyear's enterprise value has grown significantly without any third-party capital or cash investment by shareholders. He has been involved in more than $2 billion worth of transactions, raising capital nationally on large investor projects and purchasing companies to add to the Longyear portfolio. The portfolio currently includes JML Forestry, Able Medical Devices, Northern Hardwoods, and Forestville, a unique and diverse new residential community currently in the planning stages.
Hicks served on the Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2014 and served on the Michigan Tech Fund Board of Trustees as well. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Michigan Strategic Fund (appointed by Governor Rick Snyder) from 2017 to 2021.
Mary D. Mahaney '82, Founder and President, Veridea Group
Mary D. Mahaney is president of Veridea Group LLC, a real-estate development and hospitality management company. As co-founder of the company, she managed its growth from a small family operation to a company that has developed 80 projects valued at more than $400 million, primarily across Michigan's Upper Peninsula and in Montana. Mahaney is responsible for the company's strategic execution and oversees all financial and operational activities of its commercial, residential, and hospitality properties.
James J. Martell '76, CEO, Chair, Director, Investor, Board Member
James J. Martell has spent his entire career in transportation, logistics, and aviation. He began his career loading trailers part- time for UPS. He worked his way up to management before moving to FedEx, being their first expat to open offices in Canada. Martell went on from FedEx to run his own companies. Upon selling Smartmail to DHL in 2004, Martell now serves as chair for logistic providers MyUS.com and Protrans International, and is executive chair of both Ameriflight and UShip.com. He is both an owner and a current board member for Transforce Staffing, Quality Distribution, and Baxter Inventory Systems. Martell has ownership and board leadership roles with successful transportation companies, including Elitediverse.com, Easypost.com, Americantrg.com, Gotologistics.com, and BoxLock.io. He routinely advises private equity groups Levitatecap.com, Partnersgroup.com, Onex.com, Oneequity.com, and Apax.com.
Brenda Ryan '76, President, Ryan Industries and Alliance Industries
Brenda Ryan started her career with General Motors Central Foundry Division in Saginaw, Michigan, where she served in management roles in the Metallurgy Laboratory and Product Engineering. Upon completion of graduate school, she worked at Kelsey-Hayes in Romulus, Michigan, as principal engineer and senior account manager. In 1995, she started Ryan Industries Inc., located in Wixom, Michigan, to provide warehousing, contract packaging, kitting, light assembly, and distribution services to the automotive OEMs. In 2000, she launched Alliance Industries LLC in Springfield, Missouri, to remanufacture powertrain components for the OEMs. Ryan serves as president for both companies. She is a former member and past president of the Michigan Technological University Board of Trustees.
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.
