You’ve probably seen the names on stadium wings or listed on the side of global shipping crates. Names like DeVos and Monaghan. But unless you’re deep into the automotive world or grew up near Midland, Michigan, you might not realize they all share a specific alma mater.
Northwood University notable alumni aren’t just a list of names. Honestly, they’re a blueprint for a very specific kind of success. While Ivy League schools brag about poets and presidents, Northwood produces the people who actually run the world’s logistics, car dealerships, and retail empires.
It’s a "secret" CEO factory. Not because it’s exclusive, but because it's focused. It’s a school that literally teaches something called "The Northwood Idea," which is basically a fancy way of saying they believe in free enterprise and working your tail off.
The Titans of the Business World
When you talk about Northwood, you have to start with the DeVos family. Most people know Dick DeVos as the former president of Amway or a guy who ran for Governor of Michigan back in 2006. He’s a 1970s grad who basically personifies the school's "The Northwood Idea." He didn't just inherit a seat; he helped turn Amway into a global behemoth that redefined direct selling.
Then there’s Dan DeVos, another heavy hitter. He’s the Chairman of the Orlando Magic and a big player in the sports and business world. It’s kinda wild how much influence one family from a small Michigan business school can have on the national stage.
But it isn't just the DeVos family.
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- Tom Monaghan: The founder of Domino’s Pizza. Yeah, the guy who made delivery a global standard. He was an early student back in the 60s and turned a small shop into a billion-dollar empire.
- Stephen M. Ross: You might recognize him as the guy who founded Related Companies. He’s a billionaire real estate developer and owner of the Miami Dolphins. He’s donated hundreds of millions to education, and while he’s heavily associated with U-M now, he got his start as a 1962 Northwood grad.
- Mike Jackson: The former CEO of AutoNation. Under his lead, it became the largest automotive retailer in the U.S. He's a 1975 grad who basically wrote the book on how to modernize car sales.
Why the Auto Industry Is Obsessed With Northwood
If you walk onto a high-end car dealership lot anywhere in the U.S., there is a decent chance the owner or the GM is a Northwood alum. It’s weirdly consistent. The school's Automotive Marketing and Management program is legendary.
Take Eve Knudtsen, class of '85. She’s the president of Knudtsen Chevrolet in Idaho. She’s been a pioneer for women in a field that—let's be real—was a "boys' club" for a long time. She credits the school for giving her the grit to scale her family business into a multi-generational success.
Then you have Jeff Cauley ('83), who took a standard Chevy dealership in Detroit and turned it into one of the most elite Ferrari dealerships in North America. His son, Joe Cauley ('09), followed the same path. It’s this weirdly tight-knit network where Northwood grads hire other Northwood grads because they know they speak the same language of "profit and loss."
The Sports-to-Business Pipeline
Northwood isn't exactly a "Blue Blood" sports school like Alabama, but it punches way above its weight class in terms of turning athletes into executives.
Chris Clements is a perfect example. He’s a 1996 accounting grad who became the CFO for the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium. He took the "Timberwolves" spirit and applied it to the financial architecture of an NFL franchise.
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And for the actual players?
- Charleston Hughes: A CFL legend. A Grey Cup champion.
- Chris Wilson: He played defensive end in the NFL for years before transitioning into business.
- Brock Marion: An NFL safety with a 14-year career across the Dolphins and Lions.
It seems like Northwood teaches these athletes that their playing days are just Phase One. They don't just retire; they pivot.
Politics and Public Influence
It’s not all just spreadsheets and car lots. Northwood has a surprisingly loud voice in D.C. and Lansing.
Lisa McClain currently represents Michigan's 9th district in Congress. She’s a 1989 grad. Then there’s Candice Miller, who was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and later became the Macomb County Public Works Commissioner—a massive job in Michigan politics.
In the 2020s, we've seen even more alumni like Julie Calley (former Second Lady of Michigan) making moves. They tend to stick to a very specific political philosophy: small government, personal responsibility, and pro-business. It’s consistent.
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The New Guard: Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026
If you think Northwood is just a legacy factory, look at the younger grads making noise right now. Jason and Regina Brickl (classes of '95 and '97) are a power couple who basically built the LeadCar group from the ground up. They recently made a massive leadership gift back to the school to fund scholarships for the next generation of "principled leaders."
Then there are guys like John Hennessey, the founder of Hennessey Performance. If you like cars that go 300 mph, he’s your guy. He was honored as an Outstanding Business Leader recently, showing that the school still attracts the "disruptor" types who want to build things that go faster and work better.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume Northwood is just for "car people." That’s a mistake. While their automotive program is the gold standard, the school’s focus on the "free enterprise" philosophy applies to everything from hospitality to healthcare.
I’ve met Northwood grads who run private aviation firms and others who own massive coffee franchises like Creation Coffee (shoutout to alumni Ben Marsh and Jacob Spence). The common thread isn't the industry; it's the mindset. They approach a business problem like an owner, not an employee.
Actionable Insights for Future Timberwolves
If you're looking at this list of alumni and wondering how to replicate that success, here is the "non-corporate" advice based on their trajectories:
- Lean into the niche. Most of these people didn't try to be "general" business leaders. They dominated a specific sector—like Ferraris, direct sales, or infrastructure—and then expanded.
- Network is everything. The Northwood alumni association is famously tight. Grads frequently mentor students because they share that specific "Northwood Idea" DNA. If you’re a student, use that.
- Think like an owner early. Whether you're in an entry-level sales job or running a small startup, the successful alumni from this school all started by taking extreme personal responsibility for their "P&L," even when it wasn't their money on the line yet.
Northwood University might be a small school in the woods of Michigan, but its footprint is everywhere. From the pizza you eat to the car you drive, there is a good chance a Northwood alum had a hand in getting it to you.