Cross, William T.
PCF Scholar-in-Residence. President and Board of Directors, Native Nations Foundation
William T. Cross, PhD, has over 40 years of experience in American Indian public policy leadership and tribal economic development. Dr. Cross was appointed to the Commission on Indian Affairs for the State of Michigan as well as many other task forces and boards involving Native American Public policy. He served on the faculty at Michigan State University where he directed the Native American Public Policy Leadership Program. In 1990, he was appointed to an Administrative Fellowship at Harvard University and also held a research appointment in the Graduate School of Education. For the last several years, his consulting firm provided strategic cross-cultural communication, management and economic development consulting services to business, philanthropic and financial institutions involved in strategic alliance with Native American Tribes. His client list includes Howard Milstein, New York Private Bank, Ari Emanuel, William Morris Agency, Jeff Jacobs, Jacobs Investments, Joe Ravitch and Jeff Sine, Raine Partners and Star Tickets. In addition to his own tribe, he has assisted the Mashpee Tribe, Jamul Indian Village, Lytton Rancheria, Quartz Valley Indian Reservation, Scotts Valley Pomo Indians, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe and others. Dr. Cross is now concentrating his efforts to the area of Philanthropy, as Foundations will be required to play an even greater role in community and economic development as government programs dwindle.
Dr. Cross served on the Board of Directors of Migizi Business Development Corporation of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, and currently serves as President of the Tribal Marine Services L.L.C. and the Native Nations Foundation. Dr. Cross is a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan and is a long time collector and promoter of the Native American Arts.
Dr. Cross was also recently published in the March/April 2012 Michigan History Magazine.
Hill, John
PCF Scholar. Higher Education Evangelist, LinkedIn
Hollister, Christine
PCF Scholar. Owner, Hollister Solutions
Email: c.hollister@sbcglobal.net
Phone: 517.281.4175
Hollister is a PCF Scholar and is owner of Hollister Solutions, a communications company specializing in public relations, writing and editing, research and analysis and project management. Hollister has more than 35 years of broad-based public and private-sector experience in a variety of management, communications, public policy, and consulting areas. She has a proven ability to work with diverse groups and projects. Before forming her company, Hollister served as director of public relations at Lansing, Community College (2003-2009), manager of a 9,000-member senior health education program at Sparrow Health System (1998-2003), vice president for operations among other leadership roles at Public Sector Consultants (1986-1993), public policy analyst at the Michigan Insurance Bureau, and special assistant among other administrative roles in the Office of Governor William G. Milliken (1973-1982). Hollister received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University and Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. Her community involvement has focused on organizations and activities that improve the lives of children and expand economic opportunities. At the Prima Civitas Foundation Hollister provides strategic communications counsel and services as needed, most recently for the “My Big Idea” magazine.
Johnson, Stefan
PCF Scholar. Director, Michigan Native Arts Collective. Director of Curation, Art Alley
Email: john3106@msu.edu
Phone: 612.385.1044
Stefan is a PCF Scholar and serves as Director and founder of the Michigan Native Arts Collective, and Director of Curation at Art Alley (http://reoartalley.com) showing his commitment to community and economic development in the arts. His entrepreneurial leadership in these roles engages the greater Lansing community by bringing a richer understanding of people and cultures to the public through the arts. Working with Michigan’s Native and non-Native artists allows Stefan to take a bottom-up approach to community and economic re-vitalization. His choice of location in Lansing’s historic REO Town places the effect of his work directly at the center of burgeoning industry and entrepreneurial growth as it happens. After receiving two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Minnesota and his Master of Arts degree from Michigan State, Stefan Johnson now works to promote community engagement as integral to his vision for successful development and re-vitalization in the Lansing and Greater Michigan area. Stefan is proud to be a PCF Scholar collaborating and assisting with staff to enhance PCF’s work with Native communities and the arts, ensuring a better future for Michigan.
Kiyak, Tunga
PCF Scholar. Managing Director, Academy of International Business, MSU
Dr. Tunga Kiyak is the Managing Director of the Academy of International Business, a nonprofit professional association, and also serves as an Outreach Specialist at Michigan State University’s Center for International Business Education and Research. Prior to his work at MSU, he was the originator and curator of "International Business Resources on the WWW," the predecessor to globalEDGE.
A frequent speaker to academic and professional audiences at events organized by organizations such as the American Marketing Association and the Academy of International Business, Tunga’s research has been published in several scholarly journals. Currently, he teaches MBA students and undergraduates at MSU, having previously taught classes at the undergraduate, full-time, and MBA levels on topics including international business, international marketing, managerial marketing, business statistics, and entrepreneurship.
Tunga holds a B.S. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Bogazici University, Turkey; an MBA in Marketing & Finance and a Ph.D. in Marketing & International Business from Michigan State University. He is a member of the Academy of International Business (AIB), the Academy of Management (AOM), and NASBITE International.
Sykes, Dennis
PCF Scholar.
Dennis is a PCF Scholar and former Executive Director for the Foundation. Dennis brings more than 35 years experience in business and operations. As the former Executive Director, Dennis helped launch PCF in 2006. He is currently assisting PCF staff in program development.
Webster, Linda
PCF Fellow.
Wiley Parker, Lisa
PCF Scholar. Outplacement Specialist/Owner, Find a Fit, LLC; Job Search Strategy Blogger, RecruiterUncensored.com
With over a decade of experience in the recruiting and staffing industry, Lisa Wiley Parker is now focusing on providing direct support to displaced professionals attempting to navigate a job search in this challenging economy. For the past 2 years as a community volunteer, Lisa has facilitated numerous job seeker networking groups, met dozens of professionals for one-on-one strategy sessions, directed workshops on a variety of job search strategy topics, coordinated multiple events designed to bring job seekers and business leaders together and actively blogged on her website RecruiterUncensored.com. Her blog content is regularly featured on Michigan State University’s “Spartans Helping Spartans” and on Capital Area District Library’s website. In 2011 she was selected as Michigan Works Association’s Volunteer of the Year for her efforts in helping over 100 displaced workers find their way back to employment.
Lisa is a firm believer in the networking process and feels it is likely the most important element in a successful job search effort. In addition to helping job seekers to best utilize and develop networking contacts, she shares the knowledge she gained aiding corporations in recruiting efforts with job seekers so they have an edge in terms of their lead sourcing, resume and interview strategy.
An active member of the community, Lisa serves as the current Vice President of Capital Area Local First, is on the planning committee for Pink Slip Mid-Michigan and sits on the Greater Lansing Insurance and Financial Services Council. Lisa is also the founder and lead facilitator of the Lansing Go Getters, a group focused on bringing job seekers, job search resources and the business community together in meaningful ways.