A Northwood Alumnus, Brett Sutherlin is Owner and CEO of Sutherlin Auto Group
Northwood University invites students, faculty, and community members to the latest Leadership Insights: A View from the Helm speaker series installment on April 3, featuring automotive industry leader and Northwood alumnus Brett Sutherlin.
Sutherlin is the owner and chief executive officer of Sutherlin Automotive Group, a second-generation family-owned dealership network known for its remarkable growth and profitability. A 1995 graduate of Northwood University’s Automotive Marketing and Management program, Sutherlin has established himself as a leading entrepreneur and innovator in the automotive sector.
In 2009, Sutherlin founded fusionZONE Automotive, a digital marketing company that became one of the nation’s largest providers of digital solutions for automotive dealers. Serving over 2,000 dealership clients, fusionZONE was sold to Primus Capital in 2017. Over the last decade, Sutherlin has been involved in more than 20 businesses with billions of dollars in annual revenue and has successfully exited multiple ventures, collectively valued at over $500 million.
“We are thrilled to welcome Brett Sutherlin back to Northwood University to share his entrepreneurial journey and leadership philosophy with our students and community,” said Dr. Kristin Stehouwer, academic vice president and provost for Northwood University, and moderator of the Leadership Insights series. “Brett exemplifies the spirit of innovation, determination, and free-enterprise leadership that defines The Northwood Idea. His experience in both digital marketing and automotive retailing offers valuable insights for aspiring leaders across industries.”
Established in 2023, Leadership Insights: A View from the Helm connects the community with influential leaders who have shaped industries through their expertise, values, and commitment to excellence. The series’ name is inspired by Dr. James Duderstadt’s book View from the Helm, and each session is designed to bring C-suite-level insights to audiences eager to learn from accomplished executives.
Past speakers include former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos; William S. Stavropoulos, former CEO, chairman, and chairman emeritus of the Board of Directors of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow); Terence F. Moore, former MidMichigan Health System (MyMichigan Health) president; Chris Clements, senior vice president and chief financial officer for the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium; Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association; Thomas Doll, former president and chief executive officer at Subaru of America; Dr. Gad Saad, Northwood University international best-selling author and visiting professor/global ambassador for The Northwood Idea; and Bob Kron, president and chief operating officer of The Rydell Company.
The April 3 Leadership Insights event featuring Sutherlin will take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Griswold Lecture Hall on Northwood’s Midland campus. There is no cost for admission, though attendees are asked to RSVP here.
