ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
BRUCE TINKER
Executive, artistic director Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Grand Rapids
Bruce Tinker is celebrating his 21st season as executive and artistic director of Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and School of Theatre Arts. Civic Theatre is one of the leading community theaters in the country, enjoying 95 years of history, a state-ofthe-art facility and serving more than 80,000 patrons, with 700 volunteers and 1,500 students each year. Tinker has directed more than 100 plays and musicals for community, professional and university theaters. Recent productions for Civic Theatre include “Mamma Mia!,” “And Then There Were None,” “Shrek The Musical” and “Ragtime.” This season, he directed “Ring of Fire” and “Elf The Musical.” Prior to his work with Civic, Tinker was the managing artistic director for the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre in Fargo, North Dakota, and served on the board of the American Association of Community Theatre.
BANKING & FINANCE
MARY TUUK
President, CEO Grand Rapids Symphony, Grand Rapids
EDUCATION: Calvin College (B), Indiana University (M, JD) BEST ADVICE: Be willing to step through career doors that open up unexpectedly TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: Without a doubt, serving as chief risk officer for Fifth Third Bancorp during the financial crisis. HIDDEN TALENT: I can recite every NCAA men's basketball team champion since 1980. FAVORITE MOVIE: “The Sound of Music”
EDUCATION: University of Evansville (B), University of Nebraska (M) BEST ADVICE: John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success features prominently. When you are born a Hoosier, all life is viewed through a basketball lens. FEW PEOPLE KNOW: I worked my way through graduate school handicapping college basketball. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: Beginning the recovery from the 2008 recession included reducing the theater’s staff. We had to let very dedicated people go.
KATIE FERRIS
Tax office managing partner BDO USA LLP, Grand Rapids
Katie Ferris is tax office managing partner for BDO West Michigan. In this role, Ferris manages roughly 100 tax professionals and is responsible for leading the tax practice in all areas, including setting strategic direction as well as managing operations. She serves clients in multiple industries, including manufacturing, distribution, technology, telecommunications and construction. Her primary focus has been on federal, state, and international tax planning, consulting, and compliance for closely held businesses and their owners.
Mary Tuuk assumed leadership of Grand Rapids Symphony in January 2019 after a lengthy career in retail and finance. She served as senior vice president for properties and real estate, as well as chief compliance officer, for Meijer Inc. She also spent several years in executive positions with Fifth Third Bancorp, including a stint as West Michigan president. Now, she’s putting her lifelong interest in music — she’s a singer, organist, pianist and violinist — to work in the arts community. She also serves on the boards of UFP Industries Inc., United Bank of Michigan, Calvin University, Davenport University and the Economic Club of Grand Rapids.
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Long weekends in New York City HOBBIES: I am eager to improve my cooking skills. ADVICE TO 18-YEAR-OLD: Engage in possibility thinking; there are no constraints. LOCAL ATTRACTION: The beach at Holland State Park BUCKET LIST: Attend the Summer Olympics PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE: Helen Hunt
KRISTA FLYNN
Regional president TCF Bank, Grand Rapids
EDUCATION: Grand Valley State University (B, M) FIRST JOB: My very first job was working for my dad on our farm — working in the field, putting up hay, etc. I think that is how I learned about work ethic. My first job not working for family was at Subway as a high school student. FAVORITE QUOTE: "We spend so much time being afraid of failure, afraid of rejection. But regret is the thing we should fear most. Failure is an answer. Rejection is an answer. Regret is an eternal question you will never have the answer to." Trevor Noah FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION: Hawaii was fantastic. I also have enjoyed the countries in Europe that I've traveled thus far.
19 THE GRAND RAPIDS 200
Krista Flynn has more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry. She was the commercial banking market manager at PNC Bank, and prior to that she held various positions at JPMorgan Chase and its predecessors, including roles in middle market, capital markets, automotive specialty group and credit. Flynn is on the boards of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, The Right Place, Grand Action 2.0, Junior Achievement and K-Connect. She volunteers and supports Kids’ Food Basket, the Association for Corporate Growth West Michigan, Egypt Valley Country Club committees and Heart of West Michigan United Way. EDUCATION: University of Michigan-Dearborn (B), Walsh College (M) FIRST JOB: At 13, I worked in our church rectory office answering phones and sorting/recording donation envelopes four nights a week. FUNNIEST WORK EXPERIENCE: I ran into three executives in Rosa Parks Circle on a beautiful summer day after lunch. We chatted for a while and then headed back to work. On my walk back to the office, I got a text from one of them: “You have a big piece of lettuce stuck in your teeth.” FEW PEOPLE KNOW: I’m a closet nerd. I’ve seen the original “Star Wars” movie 71 times and can generally recite the lines along with the actors.
