Pete Battey for Kentwood Public Schools Board of Education
Experience & Qualifications
Family Trip 2027 to Iowa State
My first job at Steelcase was in the factory on night shift, building drawers and desks. After earning my degree, I returned to Steelcase where I have worked full-time for 24 years as a product engineer. I am currently the director of resident engineering. I am responsible for teams of engineers that maintain and improve our product designs in each of our factories in North America and Europe. In addition, I am now supporting systems change to work on inclusion and belonging at Steelcase as well.
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I have served on the Kentwood school board for 12 years, most of them as the treasurer. I earned the award of merit from the Michigan Association of School Boards. I also volunteer for the Michigan Center for Civic Education. In my volunteer capacity, I continue to oversee programs including We the People, Mock Trial, and more. This last May, I supported the National High School Mock Trial Championship as it was hosted in Michigan for the first time. I continue to believe and advocate for those academic programs which have transformative potential for students.
After attending Hamilton, Crestwood, and East Kentwood High School, I went to Iowa State University. I have a BS in mechanical engineering from Iowa State, an MS in engineering management from Western Michigan, and an MBA certificate in design and innovation management from Kendall College.
