Stephanie W. Bergeron became the sixth president and chief executive officer of Walsh College on January 10, 2007, after serving as interim president since September 2006.  

She has served the College as a trustee (1996); chair of the Academic Committee (2005); and a director of The Walsh College Foundation (2004).

After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from The University of Michigan in 1975, Bergeron worked as a senior accountant for Arthur Andersen. In 1977, she began a 25-year career in finance with General Motors, Chrysler, and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

Bergeron held various accounting and financial control positions at General Motors for 11 years until joining the Chrysler Corporation in 1988 as general auditor. At Chrysler, she also served as manufacturing group controller; finance director; and assistant treasurer in Corporate Finance.

Bergeron was with Goodyear Tire and Rubber from 1998 until 2003 as vice president; treasurer; and senior vice president, Corporate Financial Operations, responsible for corporate finance, accounting, tax, and treasury. She subsequently joined Bluepoint Partners, a consulting company providing advice on financial and capital structure, as president and chief executive officer.

Bergeron earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Detroit in 1981. She is a registered certified public accountant.

Bergeron is on the boards of the Henry Ford Health System; the Detroit Economic Club; The Collaborative; the Troy Chamber of Commerce, Sun Communities, Inc.; the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants; Rose Hill Center; and Rose Hill Foundation. She is also a member of the City of Birmingham Retirement Investment Committee; the City of Troy Local Development Finance Authority; the Oakland County Workforce Development Committee; and the Financial Executives Institute.

Crain’s Detroit Business named Bergeron one of its “Most Influential Women” in 1997 and in 2007.

Robert L. Minter, PhD
Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer

Robert L. Minter has more than 25 years of experience as a college business dean for public and private universities. He joined Walsh in August 2008 from Delaware State University in Dover, where he had been a professor and dean of the College of Business.

His academic administration experience includes negotiating international partnerships, accreditation, community college articulation agreements, online program support, onsite corporate programs, and working with business advisory boards.

Dr. Minter returns to Michigan after having served as professor and dean of the School of Management at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and as professor and director of staff development at the Eastern Michigan University School of Business.

Within the corporate realm, Dr. Minter administered management and professional development programs and was an organizational development consultant for Detroit Edison.

Dr. Minter teaches organizational behavior and change management. He is completing a business communications textbook and two manuscripts, and has contributed to several books and articles.

He earned Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in interpersonal communication from Miami University of Ohio. His doctoral degree, in organizational communication, organizational behavior, and industrial relations, is from Purdue University. 

Elizabeth A. Barnes, PHR
Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Administrative Officer

Elizabeth A. Barnes is responsible for human resources, career services for students and graduates, and strategic planning. In 1996, the Walsh College Board of Trustees appointed Barnes vice president after she had served as director of College Relations (1990-1996) and manager of Personnel and Placement (1985-1990).

Prior to joining Walsh, Barnes was an employment recruiter for Personnel Director Associates and an employment program coordinator for the South and West Washtenaw Consortium.

She holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification awarded by the Human Resource Certification Institute. Barnes earned a Bachelor of Business Education degree from Eastern Michigan University and completed graduate courses in management at Walsh College.

Barnes serves on the capital campaign committee for the Troy Boys and Girls Club and is the past secretary/treasurer of the Troy Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She is a member of the College and University Personnel Association, the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the American Society of Employers, the Society for Human Resource Management, and the WorldAtWork Association.

John W. Lichtenberg
Vice President, Chief Marketing and Enrollment Management Officer
jlichten@walshcollege.edu 

 John W. Lichtenberg is responsible for advertising, brand management, marketing research, public relations, enrollment, and student services.

He has more than 20 years of corporate marketing and advertising agency experience.

Most recently Lichtenberg was vice president of global marketing for Kelly Services World Headquarters in Troy. He launched and maintained marketing plans for Kelly product lines across 37 countries and was responsible for research, brand management, advertising, promotional activities, and public relations.

Lichtenberg was also senior director of global brand management and director of corporate marketing during 13 years with Kelly.In 1997, Lichtenberg established a Detroit office for the Minneapolis-based Campbell-Mithun-Esty advertising agency to support the Penske Auto Center account. Prior to that, he directed marketing and advertising for a seven-state division of Century 21 Corporate Offices in Novi and for Red Carpet Real Estate in Troy.

Lichtenberg earned a bachelor of arts degree in communication from The University of Michigan in 1986.

Audrey M. Olmstead
Vice President, Chief Development Officer

Olmstead joined Walsh in April 2008 from the Henry Ford Health System, where she was senior director, major and principal gifts. At Henry Ford, she secured major gifts, led research and planned giving, and served as a member of the capital campaign leadership team.

Prior to that, Olmstead was with the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, as interim vice president of development and alumni relations. While there, Olmstead developed plans that led to increased gift revenue and established and strengthened relationships with alumni, individual, corporate, and foundation friends.

Locally, Olmstead was with Wayne State University as senior director of development, University Advancement, and held roles at Walsh College and Oakland University. She was also an independent business owner.

Olmstead earned a Bachelor of Science degree magna cum laude in Communications and English from Oakland University, and is a certified facilitator in the Zenger Miller Front-line Leadership Program.

Helen Kieba-Tolksdorf, CPA
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Helen Kieba-Tolksdorf is responsible for much of the College’s infrastructure, including facilities, information systems, and finance.

Prior to joining the Walsh College staff, Kieba-Tolksdorf was with Oakland Community College (OCC), serving as controller, director of special projects, and chief business officer and treasurer.

While at OCC, Kieba-Tolksdorf led a successful conversion of the financial and administrative system and chaired the Criterion II Committee in a successful NCA reaccreditation visit. In addition, she led the legal and business sections for OCC’s millage passage.

During her career Kieba-Tolksdorf was also audit manager at Ernst and Whinney, specializing in education, financial institutions, insurance, health care, and pension plans. She has taught accounting at Walsh College and OCC.

A certified public accountant, Kieba-Tolksdorf received both Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in accounting degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.