Clarence Beckwith Distinguished Alumni Award: Gloria Ender
Gloria Ender is a successful business owner with an international customerÌýbase, but she is still able to donate time and energy to many causes around southwestÌýMichigan, including being a friend and supporter of Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmv.Ìý
Ender was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. When she was six, her parents brought herÌýbrother and five sisters to Michigan in order for their children to have better educationalÌýopportunities. After graduating from Saugatuck High School, Ender attended LakeÌýMichigan College, where she studied arts and earned an associate degree with honors.Ìý
In 1988, while also working as an elementary bilingual teacher at Sylvester ElementaryÌýin Berrien Springs, Ender started Freedom Finishing along with her husband, Erik.ÌýFreedom Finishing electro- and powder-coats 100,000 parts a day for businesses thatÌýinclude GM, Ford, Whirlpool, and Herman Miller. Ender became the 100% owner andÌýCEO in 2005. Freedom Finishing is Minority Owned, Woman Owned, Small Business
Woman Owned, Green Certified and ISO Certified.
Ender credits LMC with helping her overcome her lack of confidence in order to be aÌýsuccessful entrepreneur and business person: “Growing up, I thought I was going to beÌýa factory worker like my parents, and here I am owning a factory,†she says.Ìý
Ender is a board member for the Southwest Michigan Tri-County Manufacturing Coalition, the Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmv Foundation, Cornerstone Alliance Women’s Business Center, Business Alliance Support Group, and Berrien Community Foundation. She hasÌýserved on the LMC Winner’s Circle Benefit Auction Executive Committee since 2004, and frequently donates meals to various causes,Ìýincluding a recent school benefit meal for 32,000.Ìý
TheÌýClarence Beckwith Distinguished Alumni Award was presented toÌýGloria Ender in 2017. She also received the Alumni Service Award in 2006.
