The Wakefield Memorial Building Foundation

Marvin J. Suomi, President

The Wakefield Memorial Building Foundation

Marvin J. Suomi was born in Wakefield, Michigan. Upon graduation from high school, he completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Michigan and Princeton University.  He joined Kajima International, one of the largest construction and real estate development firms in the world, in 1979.  He was appointed an officer in 1982 and elected to the Board of Directors in 1984.  Presently he is an officer or director of numerous Kajima companies worldwide.

Mr. Suomi is a passionate and committed supporter of the liberal arts and he serves on the governing/advising boards of Allegheny College, California Lutheran University, Finlandia University, University of Hawaii, and the University of Michigan.  He is also a Trustee and Visiting Fellow of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. In 2005 he was presented the Doctor of Humane Letters at Concordia University where he was instrumental in establishing the Center for Hmong Studies.

Mr. Suomi has never forgotten his ties to the Upper Peninsula and, as exhibited in the Wakefield Memorial Building project, he continues to look for new ways to enhance the lives of the people who live there. 

Mr. Suomi has appointed a 10 member Advisory Council of local citizens to help him with the project and in essence serve as the voice of the community.  This Advisory Council consists of Julie Hautala (Chair), Dave Lynott, Loraine Mussatti, Mark Stempihar, Roger Suomi, Mike Yon, John Siira, Eugene Maki, Tim Makela, and Richard Bolen.  Reed Harris serves as a Director of the Foundation and Project Manager to assist both Mr. Suomi and the Advisory Council in their efforts.