Left to right: Chris Walsh, president of Reynolds, Dr. Matthew Bennett, vice president of Strategic Alliances and the Center for Automotive & Mobility Studies, Kent MacDonald, Northwood University president
Reynolds and Reynolds has donated $5 million to Northwood University to help fund the construction of the new Center for Automotive & Mobility Studies at Northwood University in Michigan, the company recently announced.
The new centre will replace the current NADA Hotel and Conference Center on Northwood’s campus. Reynolds has described the new centre as among the largest construction projects in Northwood’s history.
“As the automotive industry continues to thrive, we need creative, highly educated, and talented leaders eager to innovate and bring their ideas to fruition,” said Chris Walsh, President of Reynolds, in a statement.
He added that the company is helping to provide Northwood students with a place to “learn, grow, and become leaders at OEMs, dealerships, and companies dedicated to improving outcomes for both.”
The $5 million contribution will allow the centre’s team to build a modern facility that will help boost the educational experience for students “and serve as a hub for innovation and collaboration in the automotive and automotive aftermarket sectors,” said Dr. Matthew Bennett, Vice President of Strategic Alliances and the Center for Automotive & Mobility Studies, in a statement.
Reynolds said the goal is to have the new centre complete within the next two years and fully operational by 2026.
Northwood University and Reynolds are also teaming-up to create a talent recruitment program aimed at bringing the “best and brightest” Northwood graduates across all majors to auto retail.
