Fresh Water-Healthy Lives

Mary McKinney Schmidt
Writer and Great Lakes Advocate
If you have suggestions and comments,  
contact
mary@freshwaterhealthylives.org
Copyright 2008 Mary McKinney Schmidt
Copyright 2008 Mary McKinney Schmidt
About the Author
    Mary McKinney Schmidt  is a writer and Great Lakes advocate.  
    She wrote a monthly opinion column on the Great Lakes for The Holland
    Sentinel from 2006 through February of 2008.  She created and maintains
    her own website at http://www.freshwaterhealthylives.org.  In addition, she
    has published articles in The Grand Rapids Press and the Great Lakes
    Town Hall website.  Her essay, “Can One Person Make a Difference?” was
    read in the opening session of the 2006 Healing Our Waters Coalition
    meeting in Cleveland, Ohio.

    Ms. Schmidt worked with the board of the Holland League of Women
    Voters to make Great Lakes legislation a top priority for 2007.  She
    designed and moderated the League's first public forum on water
    diversion legislation and was awarded the Michigan chapter’s “Belle
    Ringer” award for her efforts.  

    She was one of three panelists speaking on “How to make a difference in
    preventing an environmental crisis,” a 2007 public forum sponsored by the
    Muskegon Area Sustainability Coalition, The Center for Economic Security
    and The Knickerbocker Theatre.

    A repeat guest on “Talk of the Town” radio show on WHTC 14.50AM, she is
    a frequent speaker at organizations throughout western Michigan
    including the 2008 Grand Rapids Water Festival, P.E.O. International, the
    Sierra Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, Holland Garden Club,
    and local churches and elementary schools.  

    Prior to moving to western Michigan in 2005, Ms. Schmidt was the
    President of Customer Partnerships for Baxter Healthcare, reporting to
    the corporation’s chairman and CEO.  While with Baxter, she served on the
    Board of Directors for the National Center for Healthcare Leadership, the
    National Committee for Quality Healthcare, the Health Industry Group
    Purchasing Association, and the Nashville YWCA CABLE program.  She
    was a Steering Committee Member for Baxter’s Award for Operational
    Excellence and was the Founder and Steering Committee Member for
    Baxter’s Marketing Leadership Team.  

    Ms. Schmidt completed an MBA in Marketing from Michigan State
    University in 1980.  A 1977 graduate from Michigan State University with a
    B.A. in Marketing, she was a member of the 1973 Michigan State University
    Big 10 Championship Women’s Tennis Team.  
Mary McKinney Schmidt