Saginaw Valley State University took steps and honored a local family that has been in business in Saginaw since 1905 by renaming their business center after them.
The college announced at its regular meeting Feb. 10 that it was renaming the Center for Family Business and that it would now be called the Stevens Center for Family Business. The family's name is instantly recognizable in the area thanks to
Stevens Worldwide Van Lines, which is now a fifth-generation family business that was started in 1905 when Frederick Stevens, Jr. used a single horse and cart to haul luggage and freight to and from the Michigan Central Passenger Depot. Now that company boasts over 650 agents worldwide in their moving and storage business.
"Morrie and I are deeply moved by the naming of the Center in our honor," Julie Stevens says. "The Stevens Center for Family Business would not be the success it is without the generous gifts recently made to the endowment fund, or the many area businesses who sponsor the Center's programs each year. The support of SVSU since the program's inception has been invaluable. It is a relationship that has great synergy."
The Stevens family, specifically Morrie and his wife, Julie, have helped create a support network for family businesses through SVSU and helped form the Family Business Program in 1999.
More recently, the Stevens family provided the lead gift to establish an endowment fund for the Center, and Julie led the companion fundraising campaign. Alloy Construction, Amigo, Bierlein Companies, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, Fabiano Brothers, Inc., First State Bank, Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn, Glastender Inc., Mahar Tool and Rowleys Wholesale all made contributions to the effort. Based on the support, the endowment goal was increased from $750,000 to $1 million.
Writer: Sam EgglestonSource: Julie Stevens, Stevens Worldwide Van Lines
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