Universal Forest Products leadership team to speak at GVSU

Three members of the leadership team at Universal Forest Products in Grand Rapids will talk about “Business Lessons Learned” during the Peter F. Secchia Breakfast Lecture sponsored by the Seidman College of Business.

The event will feature William G. Currie, chairman of the board; Matthew J. Missad, chief executive officer; and Peter F. Secchia, retired chairman of the board.

The breakfast lecture will take place November 19 at 8 a.m. in the L. William Seidman Center. Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. Register at www.gvsu.edu/business.

Founded in 1955, Universal Forest Products is the nation’s leading manufacturer and distributor of wood and wood-alternative products. With facilities throughout North America, the company delivers a wide variety of products to nationwide retailers that cater to both consumers and contractors.

• Currie joined Universal in 1971. He was president from 1983 to 1990, and president and chief executive officer of The Universal Companies, Inc. from 1989 until the 1993 merger to form Universal Forest Products, Inc. In 2000, he also became vice chairman of the board of the company and in 2006 was appointed executive chairman of the board. He retired from full-time employment at the company in 2009, retaining his position as board chairman.

• Missad has been employed by Universal since 1985. He served as general counsel and secretary from 1987 to July 2011 and also held the position of executive vice president from 1996 until July 2011, when he was named the fifth CEO in the history of Universal Forest Products, Inc.

• Secchia, now retired, served as chairman of the board of Universal Forest Products. He has also served as ambassador to the Republic of Italy and is currently engaged in several community and civic activities.

For more information, contact the Seidman College of Business at (616) 331-7100.