Area Executive Believes in SBA Mission

Since he believes in what the school is doing, the decision to support Oakland University's School of Business Administration (SBA) was an easy one for area business executive Timothy Healy.

"OU’s business school has been aggressive in continuing to get students in real-world business situations," says Healy, president and chief operating officer of TK Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of automotive safety device manufacturer Takata Corp.

Healy has been helping the SBA achieve its mission for six years as a member of the SBA Board of Visitors. Earlier this year, he took his support a step further by making a gift to the Dean's Initiative Fund. “I have every reason to want the school to thrive,” he says.

"Oakland University is the local university here," the Clarkston resident says. "I've lived in Oakland County since 1986, and our primary place of business with Takata is Auburn Hills."

Further, Healy says, he respects the leadership at Oakland University, beginning with President Gary Russi. "Dr. Russi is setting the pace for the school to succeed," he says.

Healy also has good things to say about SBA Dean Mohan Tanniru, who he met in the early 2000s, when Tanniru was the director of the SBA’s Applied Technology in Business (ATiB) program. Healy was impressed with Tanniru's efforts to place Oakland business students with area companies, where they completed projects under the guidance of an OU professor.

"When I saw that, I knew it tied into the mission of the school to give students knowledge of the business world on a global basis," Healy says. "It made sense to me."

The SBA's Board of Visitors strives to meet the same objective, he adds. "We're there so students not only get the benefit of the great professors at Oakland University, but insight from people who already are working in the business world."

"Support from board members helps us pilot new programs and offer timely learning opportunities for students and faculty,” says Robin Michel, the SBA’s director of development. “Expanding our reach so Oakland business students have global experiences prior to graduation is a high priority for the school.”

Article from SBA Insight Fall 2008