Amy McGraw, vice president of marketing at Tropical Financial Credit Union, has been named a 2017 Outstanding Alumni Member by Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences. The award recognizes those graduates who have achieved the highest level of professional or academic accomplishment and have proven service to the community.
McGraw graduated from Michigan State in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunications.
Following a successful 11-year career working in TV production, she took her first job in marketing with a Michigan-based financial services company. That paved the way for a new career in the credit union industry. For five years, she was in charge of marketing and business development at a prominent Detroit-area credit union. Then, in 2011, she was recruited for a position as vice president of marketing for Tropical Financial Credit Union where she oversees all marketing and communications activities for the $650 million institution. During her time at Tropical Financial, she has created several memorable and award-winning campaigns and has played a significant role in growing the credit union regionally.
“When I received the news I was so incredibly humbled by this honor,” said McGraw. “When I was a senior in high school, Michigan State was a top five telecommunications school in the country so it was the only the only university I applied to attend, and my dream came true the day I was accepted. They continue that tradition of excellence today, ranked in the top 10 in the world for communications and media studies. I owe a lot to the University and the communications school for preparing me for my life’s work, and I appreciate the alumni association for continuing to connect Spartans together throughout the world.”
Although she lives in South Florida, McGraw remains tied to her alma mater. She is the president for the South Florida Spartans, the local chapter for the MSU Alumni Association. The club organizes events where other MSU alumni can engage with each other supporting local charities, raising money for scholarships to Michigan State and organizing athletic watch parties to cheer on the Spartans among fellow alumni.
McGraw is one of just over 200 Michigan State Communications School Alumni to receive this prestigious award since it was conceived 45 years ago. Candidates must be nominated to the Alumni Board for review of their significant accomplishments in their field, community and/or university service for final consideration and selection.
She will officially receive the award at special ceremony in Lansing, Michigan on April 8th.
