Inspire, Winter 2004

16 Winter 2004 The Alumni Association presents the 2004 Alumni Awards Jeffrey Montie ’83 Alumnus of the Year “Jeff was one of the most focused students that I can remember,” recalled Ron Walker, chair of the department of business administration. “He seemed to understand what God had in mind for him even as an undergraduate here at Cedarville.”What God apparently had in mind was to take Jeff to one of the top jobs at one of America’s best-known companies. After graduating from Cedarville with a bachelor of arts degree in business, Jeff earned an M.B.A. from The Ohio State University. He worked in brand management for Procter & Gamble for two years before beginning his climb in the Kellogg Company in 1987. His ascent took him through marketing, management, and innovation positions in Kellogg’s U.S. Cereal, Canada, South Africa, Germany, and Europe divisions. Following work as division president for Kellogg’s U.S. Morning Foods and then North America Morning Foods, Jeff came to his current position as president of Kellogg North America, where he is responsible for five North American divisions with about 15,000 employees and net sales of $6 billion. He is also a member of the Kellogg executive management committee. Through all of his achievements, including a Young Professional Achievement Award from Ohio State, Jeff has not forgotten the ’Ville. He describes Cedarville as a “great Christian environment providing direction and guidance for daily living” and a “solid academic foundation.” He has graciously assisted the University by speaking to its business students about Kellogg’s strategic planning approach. Jeff and his wife, Becky (Davis) ’83, reside in Portage, Michigan with their children, Steven, Scott ’08, and Kristie. Jeff remarked, “God has a plan for each of us, and He provides for us and guides us in the ordinary, routine circumstances of life.” Ed Greenwood Honorary Alumnus of the Year Ed’s relationship with Cedarville University dates back to the days of the Baptist Bible Institute (BBI), when Ed and his wife, May, were students in BBI’s first day program. BBI moved to Cedarville College in 1953, and Ed’s heart has always held a special place for the institution. Following service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Ed earned a B.A. at Bryan College and an M.Div. at Denver Seminary. He pastored a church in West Virginia before returning to Cedarville in 1963 as a faculty member. Ed’s teaching career at the ’Ville spanned 26 years. He served as acting chair of the English department for two years and director of summer school for eight. As the director of summer school, he initiated the alumni children’s summer tuition benefit program, which is still active today. While teaching, he found time to earn an M.A. at the University of Dayton and a D.A. (doctor of arts) at Middle Tennessee State University. Ed retired as a professor of English in 1989. Since then he has continued to foster his relationship with the University, making annual visits from his home in Lakeland, Florida and praying faithfully for the institution. “Their home in Florida is constantly filled with visitors from Cedarville: students, alumni, and professors,” noted his daughter, Esther Greenwood Lanham ’75. “My parents are encouragers, pray-ers, and provide a godly example of how Cedarville alumni can impact their world for Christ and for the University.” Ed and May have a family full of former and current Cedarville students: a son, Tim ’73, and his wife, Jan (Spradlin) ’73; a daughter, Esther Greenwood Lanham ’75, and her husband, Mike; grandchildren Aimee Greenwood Hoskins ’98 (and her husband, Dave ’96), Paige Greenwood ’04, and Michelle Lanham ’07; and one great-grandson, Zachary Hoskins.