Page 10 - March-2023-FOCUS

CHAMBER NEWS FOCUS MAGAZINE | MARCH 2023

Meet Our New Chamber Board Members

he Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce is Ruis has served on several boards, including the MSU
delighted to welcome three new members to its Alumni Club of Mid-Michigan, Grand River Connection,
T2022 Board of Directors. We are pleased to introduce NextGen, and Capital Area Michigan Works! His father,
you to the three newcomers: Kelly Preston (Capital Steel & Richard Ruis, was a board member of the Lansing Regional
Wire), Tom Ruis (PNC Bank), and Susi Elkins (MSU Federal Chamber of Commerce and was chair of the board in 1999.
Credit Union).
Ruis earned a Bachelor of Finance degree from the Eli
Kelly Preston Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. He
Capital Steel & Wire lives in East Lansing with his wife and two daughters.

Kelly Preston is the owner and Susi Elkins
president of Capital Steel & Wire, an MSU Federal Credit Union
innovative manufacturer, distributor,
and supplier of steel bar and wire Susi Elkins serves as the Chief
products. Capital Steel & Wire is Community Impact Officer at MSU
celebrating 22 years as a leader in the Federal Credit Union. Elkins joined
steel and wire industry. MSUFCU in 2022, and currently
Preston
oversees the Credit Union’s
In 2001, Preston established Capital Steel & Wire with Community Impact Division which
her late husband, serving as the chief financial officer for Elkins includes marketing, corporate
several years before taking the helm as company president communications, community
in 2015. engagement, financial education and university relations
teams. Ms. Elkins also serves as the President of Ever Green
Under Preston's leadership, Capital Steel & Wire has 3C, a Credit Union Service Organization, and President
experienced significant business and financial growth. of the Desk Drawer Fund, a foundation supporting
Capital Steel & Wire has received national certification for the MSUFCU and Oakland University Credit Union
the past three years as a Women Owned Business by the communities.
WBENC and WOSB and is a member of the Association of
Women in the Metal Industries. Prior to joining MSUFCU, Ms. Elkins served as the Director
of Broadcasting and General Manager of WKAR Public
Preston was awarded the Capital Area Manufacturing Media, after moving through the organization from a
Council's top honor as Executive of the Year in 2015, where production assistant to management positions before
she served as vice president for several years and is being named General Manager. During her time at WKAR,
currently CAMC treasurer. Ms. Elkins launched the first ATSC 3.0 experimental station
licensed by the FCC to a public media organization, and
A graduate of Michigan State University, Preston resides in founded the station’s NextGen Media Innovation Lab to
DeWitt and is the proud mom of three grown children. accelerate development of public service applications and
NextGen business services for public broadcasters.
Tom Ruis
PNC Bank Elkins holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunication
and a master’s degree in educational technology, both
Tom Ruis has over 20 years of banking from Michigan State University. l
experience in the Mid-Michigan region.
As a senior vice president with the PNC
Financial Services Group, he manages Chamber Events
a diverse portfolio of clients in various
industries such as manufacturing, Your Connection to Professional
wholesale, distribution, and healthcare. Development and Networking Success
Ruis
From professional development to
Ruis is passionate about providing value and exceptional networking, the Lansing Regional
service to his clients and is committed to understanding Chamber of Commerce hosts events to
their goals and helping to implement their financial fit every need.
strategies and policies. He believes his primary goal is A full list of events is located on the
to make clients feel secure in knowing their needs and Chamber Calendar on the LRCC website.
wishes are heard and addressed promptly.

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