Meet Michael VanderKooi
Degrees and Experience
- M.S., Accounting (Colorado State University)
- M.B.A., Finance Concentration (Grand Valley State University)
- B.A., Business Administration (Calvin College)
Biography and Professional Achievements
Mike VanderKooi comes to Colorado Christian University after teaching accounting, finance, and economics for 20 years at Johnson and Wales University in Denver. VanderKooi was named teacher of the year numerous times during those years and enjoyed interacting with students in many ways including acting as the faculty advisor for the finance, performing arts, musical performance, and investment student clubs. He also enjoyed his role as emcee for the annual Date Auction, the Big Man on Campus Competition, and the Student Talent Show.
VanderKooi also aided students in engaging with the low-income and senior communities by running a student-staffed volunteer income tax assistance site for numerous tax seasons. VanderKooi was engaged with the local chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants where he served for several years as the instructor for the certified management accountant exam prep courses.
VanerKooi's professional background is heavily rooted in finance since he spent several years as a bank manager, as a private lender, and as a stock broker prior to going into teaching full time. Before he went into high finance, VanderKooi spent several years in the world of performing arts as the manager of a concert hall and as the producer of a regional opera company. Since going into teaching full time, VanderKooi transitioned his professional career into the world of real estate. He now occupies his time outside the classroom owning and managing rental real estate and is starting to dabble in development as well.
VanderKooi is committed to spending his time and talents in working for the Lord's kingdom. He served as a founding board member of Hope international Schools, a Christian school for orphans and underprivileged kids in Thailand and was on the board of Project Self-Sufficiency, a Northern Colorado non-profit committed to assisting single parents in attaining higher education. VanderKooi consistently stays engaged in small, local churches where he serves on the worship team and in other musical and leadership capacities. In his personal time, VanderKooi enjoys playing almost any sport, especially golf, skiing, and basketball, and spends a lot of time traveling with his wife and kids.