Jan. 31, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Michael Pearson enjoyed acting in theater productions during his time at Grand Rapids Junior College, but never realized those studies would set the stage for a future career.
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“The first show I performed in was ‘What I Did Last Summer’ by A.R. Gurney,” said Pearson, who graduated from GRJC in 1987. “I had the lead role of Charlie and Fred Sebulske directed the show. It was my first post-high school theater experience, and I learned more about being an actor from that one show than any other production I was ever involved in.”
After earning a bachelor’s degree in communications from Michigan State University, Pearson spent a decade working in West Michigan’s film and video production industry in a variety of roles, including grip, gaffer, set designer, cinematographer, producer, director and writer.
His acting experience was just one of the useful skills he honed at GRJC.
“To this day, I use writing skills that professor Scott McNabb taught me in my first college writing course,” he said. “Fred Sebulske, who was both a professor and a boss to me when I worked at Spectrum Theater, was very influential in expanding my worldview and deepening my understanding and appreciation of diversity in all forms – art, thought, culture, etc. His stage directing class also kindled my interest in becoming a film and video director.”
He founded Pearson Creative in 1998, providing communications services to clients that included Gordon Food Service, Spectrum Health, Dow Chemical, Lake Michigan Credit Union and the Department of Homeland Security. Steelcase hired him in 2016 to create a communications department to support 8,000 global employees, 13 manufacturing centers and 14 distribution centers on three continents.
This past summer, Pearson became Steelcase’s director of Global Operations Communications.
“In this multifaceted role, I serve as the communications expert and brand leader for Global Operations and as a consultant to the senior leadership team on critical communications opportunities and challenges,” he said.
Pearson credits GRJC with providing the academic and life experiences that became the foundation for his career.
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