Bio of kate pew wolters

Kate Pew Wolters, a longtime philanthropist and granddaughter of one of the founders of Steelcase Inc., plans to retire from the company’s board of directors later this year after serving in the position for more than two decades.

Pew Wolters informed the Grand Rapids-based office furniture maker’s directors on Feb. 19 that she intends to retire when her current term ends in July.

Bio of kate pew wolters Tribally-owned investment firm acquires second commercial cleaning company. Project Director Jennifer Lawson, Ph. Wilson, Jr. I'm direct.

The move coincides with the company’s annual shareholders meeting.

Pew Wolters told Crain’s Grand Rapids Business that her year tenure on Steelcase’s board was “a long time for anyone to be on a for-profit or not-for-profit board,” and that it felt like the right time to depart.

“I wanted to be the one to make the decision, and I looked at my life and said, ‘Why not now?’” Pew Wolters said.

Keep up with all things West Michigan business.

Kate pew wolters foundation It took time for a career plan to develop. Now, I think about the good stuff. Director, Strategy and Planning. She grew up in a pretty vocal family

Sign up for our free newsletters today.

Pew Wolters joined the board in when her father, the late Robert Pew II, served as the chairman and had been instrumental in the company’s growth, including going public in

“Since my father just happened to be the board chair, I had the pleasure of having him ask, which is always fun to have your father ask you to do something pretty incredible,” Pew Wolters said.

She joined the board during a challenging time for Steelcase in the early s, when the company was unprofitable and shedding hundreds of jobs under the leadership of Jim Hackett, who served as CEO from  

During her 23 years on the board, Steelcase also received numerous industry awards, celebrated years in business in and introduced several new chair models and companywide sustainability initiatives.

More recently, Pew Wolters witnessed firsthand how the COVID pandemic upended the office furniture industry. In March , under former CEO Jim Keane, the company had reduced or halted operations at its global manufacturing and distribution centers before returning to a sense of normalcy in the following years.

Bio of kate pew wolters center GVSU, established in , has 25, students. And have liquid hand soap in a pump on hand, because she finds the texture of bar soap — you guessed it — slimy. Layton, Ph. She would join the choir and graduate from Ottawa Hills High School in

Even today, the industry is grappling with a shifting marketplace contending with moves to remote and hybrid work environments.

“I was amazed how well we handled a difficult situation,” Pew Wolters said of the pandemic.

Her board tenure also has spanned three CEOs: Hackett, Keane and now President and CEO Sara Armbruster.

Pew Wolters said hiring a top executive is “probably the most important thing that a board does.” 

Looking ahead, Pew Wolters said she feels optimistic about the future of Steelcase. She credits her board colleagues for a good experience during her tenure and noted that her decision to retire wasn’t made because of any disagreements with the company.

Bio of kate pew wolters net worth

Bio of kate pew wolters husband

“I think a lot of (the decision), for me, comes with really feeling confident in the leadership at the company, both at the board level and executive level — not that I have felt uncomfortable, but it’s been a tough 20 years on and off, and so I’d rather leave at a time when I think I feel some optimism,” Pew Wolters said.

Pew Wolters will remain connected to Steelcase through her role as a chair of the Steelcase Foundation, an independent foundation that makes grants to nonprofit organizations.

She previously headed the Steelcase Foundation as executive director before her appointment as chair in  

“Kate’s legacy at Steelcase, in Grand Rapids, and beyond is significant,” Armbruster said in an emailed statement. “Her tireless advocacy for our employees and people throughout our communities make her a truly empathetic leader.

Bio of kate pew wolters foundation Lubbers president of GVSU, — shared a vision to establish an anchor institution of higher education and applied research on philanthropy in Michigan. June 2, PM. We work with nonprofits and foundations, scholars and students, and partners in business and government to connect practitioners to the information and skills they need to make change for good. Meet Our Team.

We’ll miss her insights but are thankful for her continued leadership of the board of the Steelcase Foundation. We wish her all the best as she continues to impact lives through this important work.”

Pew Wolters also currently serves as president of the Kate and Richard Wolters Foundation, which she co-founded with her late husband, Richard, in  

She serves as a board member for multiple organizations, including the ACLU of Michigan, DisArt and First Steps Kent.

She also serves as a member of the board of trustees of Grand Valley State University and the Grand Valley University Foundation.

Pew Wolters’ grandfather Walter Idema founded Steelcase in along with Peter Martin Wege and David Hunting Sr. 

Additional members of the founding families who now remain on the Steelcase board of directors are Chairman Robert C.

Pew III, Peter M. Wege II and Jennifer Niemann.

More from Crain’s Grand Rapids Business:

Corewell Health plans $80M service center at long-vacant GM site in Wyoming

Grand Action named Newsmaker of the Year by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business

Tribally-owned investment firm acquires second commercial cleaning company