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 |
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| 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 |