President and CEO, Autocam Medical (John); Quality Analyst, Autocom Corporation (Nancy)
Spirit of UDM: Alumni Achievement Award
2015
Bio:
Following their years as undergraduates at University of Detroit, Nancy Greening '83 and John C. Kennedy '79 married and went on to build a successful international company while raising a family and distinguishing themselves as leaders in business and community service.
Detroit-area natives, John and Nancy each chose the University for the same reasons: being awarded scholarships to help finance their education and maintaining the Kennedy and Greening family traditions, which included three generations of U of D graduates. Both earned bachelor’s degrees in Accounting. John earned his MBA from University of Michigan.
In 1988, John purchased Autocam Corporation and served as president and CEO until August 2014, when he sold much of his interests, maintaining only majority ownership of Autocam Medical. Under his leadership, Autocam had grown to an international family of businesses, including manufacturing, graphics, retail and real estate, with 13 facilities on four continents, 2,000 employees and more than $300 million in sales. Nancy worked with John in Autocam’s early years, but she soon changed her focus to raise their four children, now in their 20s. She currently holds the position of quality analyst at Autocam Corporation.
Through the years, the Kennedys have been active in numerous civic and community organizations. They have focused much of their service and philanthropic efforts on educational institutions in western Michigan, where they live, including Grand Valley State University, Aquinas College and West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology. John also co-founded both Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy, a 6th through 12th grade college-prep school, and the AMP (Advanced Manufacturing Partnership), which provides work/study opportunities for young adults. Nancy served on the Diocesan Finance Committee and was recently named to the Meijer Gardens Foundation Board of Trustees.
The Kennedys have demonstrated their long-standing commitment to the University since graduation, when both joined the President’s Cabinet. John has served on the UDM Board of Trustees and both have served on the Board of Advisors of the College of Business Administration.
Recipients of numerous business, leadership and service awards, the Kennedys received the University’s Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award in 2006.
Distinguished graduates of the College of Business Administration, John and Nancy Kennedy were honored with the Spirit of UDM: Alumni Achievement Award on April 17, 2015.
Citation:
John and Nancy Kennedy, who met while undergraduates at the University, married and went on to build a successful international company while raising a family and distinguishing themselves as leaders in business and community service.
With expertise, dedication and passion, they expanded their firm, Autocam Corporation, to a worldwide conglomerate of businesses including manufacturing, graphics, retail and real estate with 13 facilities on four continents and 2,000 employees before they sold the company in 2014.
Deeply committed to providing economic opportunities through education, they generously contribute their service and philanthropic efforts to several educational institutions, including Grand Valley State University, Aquinas College and West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology. Demonstrating a long-standing commitment to the University of Detroit Mercy, John served on the UDM Board of Trustees and both have served on the Board of Advisors of the College of Business Administration.
An unwavering advocate for the development of future entrepreneurs, John co-founded both the Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy and the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, which provides work/study opportunities for young adults. Nancy has been an active volunteer for numerous faith-based charitable organizations, including the Grand Rapids Diocesan Finance Committee and the Manresa Retreat House. She currently serves on the Meijer Gardens Foundation Board of Trustees.