Forte named national trustee

Detroit business leader Linda Forte has been named a BGSU national trustee. The board of trustees approved her appointment to a three-year term at its Sept. 18 meeting.

Forte, senior vice president for business affairs at Comerica Inc., is a BGSU alumna, with an undergraduate degree in education and psychology. A longtime supporter of the University, she was a 2013 inductee into BGSU's Academy of Distinguished Alumni.

In her current role at Comerica, Forte is responsible for defining and driving business strategies that establish Comerica as a leader in diversity and work life practices, and is also responsible for the Comerica Charitable Foundation, Comerica Contributions and Civic Affairs.

Earlier in her banking career with the company, which she joined in 1974, she held management positions in business banking, municipalities, U.S. banking and loan administration groups, as well as positions in human resources and banking center administration.

She is board chair of the Economic Development Corp. of the city of Detroit and a director of the local Development Finance Authority, Neighborhood Development Corp. of the city of Detroit, the Henry Ford Health System and New Detroit. She also serves on the boards of the Downtown Business Improvement Zone, the Executive Leadership Council and the United Negro College Fund, among other organizations.

She has been honored for her leadership and service numerous times.

BGSU's national trustees allow the University to benefit from the talents, resources and experiences of alumni who do not live in Ohio but who can advocate for higher education and are nationally prominent in their fields. They are nonvoting members but may attend all committee meetings and serve as committee chairs.