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10 Within 10 Recognition

Steve McIsaac '11

Steve McIsaac's previous headshot for the Alumni Awards where he is wearing a light blue button-down shirt with a dark blue suit jacket that has light blue stripes and he has short brown hair and is smiling with teeth.

Major: General Management

Job title and Employer: Senior vice president of brokerage operations for Nolan Transportation Group, a leading third-party logistics business in the domestic full truckload market.

Current city and state: Lake Orion, MI

Hometown: Clarkston, MI

What is your favorite memory of CMU?

The collaboration in the school of business and being a part of some really cool team projects. Our team won the project award, and I remember during finals week getting presented a plaque and a membership to Business Week!

What has been your coolest moment since graduation?

For work, it would be helping take a company from fewer than 20 employees to over 1,200 today and being named an equity holder in the business in 2016. Personally, it would be watching my baby daughter, Ava, be born. She is my new "why." 

What are you proudest of?

I am most proud of being a very small part in the growth of several others' careers and watching them blossom into excellent leaders. Going to large company outings and seeing other department leaders who came from under your mentorship is amazing. We have three CMU grads on our executive leadership team!

What advice would you give to new graduates?

Don't be afraid to work for a smaller, "unheard of" company. No one knew who Nolan Transportation Group was when I took the job in 2011, and we've grown into a top 10 revenue producer in our space. You can make a real impact at a smaller company, and you will often find happiness tied to autonomy and making a difference.  Also, pick a leader who will challenge you to grow beyond your comfort zone and work on your skillset. 

What has your work life taught you?

No matter what happens, keep going. People often talk about work-life balance; however, if you find something that truly makes you happy, you are never truly working. 

What about CMU helped you succeed?

Working in small groups in the College of Business. I did feel like I had a leg up on some of my competition out of school because I learned how to work with all sorts of people during my time at CMU. Some of these larger universities just lecture and take two tests per semester. CMU drives value by team collaboration and preparing you for the real world with an internship. 

10 years of 10 within 10 - 2023 update

Steve McIssac wearing a light blue colored button down shirt with a color, dark blue dress coat with light blue stripes, short brown hair, outdoor greenery background.Current city and state: Grand Rapids, MI

Current job title and employer: President & CEO at West Michigan Transport

What is happening in your life today that you didn't expect when you were named one of the 10 within 10?

We did not expect to uproot our family and move across the state for the 2nd time in 5 years. We are very excited to be back on this side of the state and are looking forward to the next chapter in our journey. I've changed employers after a wonderful journey at NTG. Honestly never thought I'd leave that business. We are opening a new office in Grand Rapids, MI, soon and will be looking to hire 100 teammates in the next 24 months.

When you think of CMU today, what word comes to mind?

Grit. There is no better word to describe the brand of students and the kind of work ethic they come with after graduating. Give me 10 CMU grads to build a business with any day of the week, and we will see positive results. Pound for pound, CMU is the Grittiest University in America.