Kalsec’s George Todd Receives Distinguished Alumni Award

George Newell Todd has been named the 2021 Distinguished Alumni by the Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The honor is given annually to a Kalamazoo Valley alumnus who has earned distinction in his career and used his education toward the betterment of the world community.

Todd recently retired as executive chairman of the board of directors at Kalamazoo-based Kalsec, Inc., a global food ingredient company and a leading brewing industry supplier of advanced hop products. Kalamazoo Valley’s Kalsec Center for Sustainable Brewing is located in the college’s Culinary and Allied Health building on the Bronson Healthy Living Campus.

Todd became Kalsec’s president in 1998. He has also served as chairman of the board of the Kalamazoo Nature Center, as a board member of Pathfinder International and on the board of directors of First National Bank of Michigan.

The 72-year-old is actively involved in supporting sustainable agriculture and education with Earth University in Costa Rica where he received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.

Todd, a Vietnam veteran, attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College from 1971 to 1979, 1986 to 1992. He also took non-credit courses between 1986 and 2006. He went on to attend Western Michigan University. Todd and his wife Clare live in an earth sheltered, passive solar home that they built in 1980.

Alumni relations coordinator for Kalamazoo Valley, Denise Thomas, said Todd was chosen for the honor because of his commitment to education and his devotion to the betterment of humanity. She noted that he’s an inventor with five patents. “George Todd is a prime example of a lifelong learner who has devoted his life to helping others throughout the world,” Thomas said. “We’re pleased to recognize his achievements with the Distinguished Alumni Award.”