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Drawing on 34 years of executive experience across a wide range of industries, Mary Tuuk Kuras serves as CEO of MTK Practical Leadership and empowers professional leaders through a common-sense approach that leverages their existing personal tools and skills to enhance leadership practices. Coaching from real-life situations and sharing valuable knowledge gathered throughout her extensive career, Mary is dedicated to promoting leadership development and helping individuals achieve their full potential.
Mary has 28 years of executive leadership experience, 24 years of executive and board-level financial services experience, 21 years of non-profit board leadership experience, 13 years of legal experience, ten years of public company board experience, four years of executive performing arts experience and three years of executive retail experience.
She is also a lifelong singer, pianist, organist and violinist. Mary’s unique blend of executive leadership experience, business acumen and musical background position her well to provide leadership and consulting in numerous sectors.
Before launching her own business, she served as President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Symphony during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a C-Suite executive for Meijer, Inc. during a time of significant expansion, and as a C-Suite executive and Chief Risk Officer for Fifth Third Bancorp during the 2008 financial crisis. Mary currently serves as a Board member of UFP Industries, Inc., a public company, and Western Alliance Bancorporation, a public company headquartered in Phoenix, AZ. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Calvin University, her alma mater.
Mary graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Calvin University in 1986, majoring in Business and Music. In 1990, she completed her J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Indiana University. While at IU, she studied organ with Dr. Larry Smith.
Mary has extensive singing experience with the Chamber Choir of Grand Rapids, West Michigan Camerata Singers, Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble, and Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus. She has also served as a professional soprano section leader with various church choirs, including Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati, and Mayflower Congregational Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She has performed as a soprano soloist with the Grand Rapids Symphony and West Michigan Symphony. Mary studied voice with Stanley Kolk and Diane Triplett Biser.
Mary and her husband, Patrick, a tenor, reside in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In their free time, they enjoy singing, concerts, hiking, cycling, boating and travel. They also cherish time with family and friends.
