Gerstacker Business Institute

Students enrolled in the Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management recently traveled to Midland, where they learned more about Carl A. Gerstacker and toured the area. On their May 21 trip, the 20 students participating in the institute’s summer session heard from current and former Dow executives as well as members of the Gerstacker family

Austin Baidas, ’92, recently shared his experience and background in business and politics with Albion students as a visiting scholar. He is the first alumnus to participate in a budding College initiative known as the Visting Scholars Program, and it seemed to resonate with the students. “Two decades or so ago, I was sitting in their position,” he said.

“As a parts intern with AIS Construction Equipment this summer, I have had the opportunity to operate many pieces of heavy equipment. Without question the John Deere 470G LC excavator is my favorite,” says Gerstacker Institute member David Brown, ’18. “Standing at 40 feet tall and weighing in at 45 tons with a price tag of $400,000, it’s a beast. Most Fridays I’m out on the AIS New Hudson branch’s test site. It’s easy to say I have some fun doing my internship.”

A renovated downtown Albion building that will serve as a hub for interaction between Albion College, the City of Albion and the region will be named The Ludington Center. The Ludingtons, a Midland-based family, have had a strong interest in the Albion community as well as a distinguished history at the College.

Failure and success live on different sides of the same coin and Laurel Draudt, who on July 1 will become the new director of Albion College’s Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management, believes it’s best to show students that in many cases, one side needs the other.