As CEO of the ODP Group, Craig Gunckel (T’94) believes great organizations are built by great leaders. This inspired him and his wife, Michelle, to make a gift naming the career advising suite in Purdue’s new Mitch Daniels School of Business building, helping Boilermakers develop the skills and confidence to lead and succeed.
Craig’s leadership expertise has guided a distinguished career. He currently leads more than 18,000 coworkers throughout North America across Office Depot, OfficeMax, ODP Business Solutions—one of the country’s largest business-to-business distribution networks—and Grand & Toy. Michelle studied physical therapy at Indiana University and met Craig at a classmate’s wedding. “Since I attended IU, you can only imagine we had the ‘house divided’ license plate right away, but we love the competition,” she says. “I also love my career choice and being able to help people.”
After 10 years as a physical therapist, Michelle chose to stay home with the couple’s sons—Payne, Hayden, and Logan. A devoted mother, she enjoys giving back and serves as vice president of philanthropy for the Young Men’s Service League in Atlanta.
The couple’s middle son, Hayden, eventually followed his father’s path to West Lafayette to study aeronautical and astronautical engineering. “I knew Hayden was going to be an engineer and that Purdue would be a great fit for him,” Michelle says.
The Gunckels’ experience as Purdue parents has given them a front-row view to the university’s impact on students. Through their support of the business school, they hope to help young Boilermakers thrive professionally.
For Craig, their gift is also personal. “Purdue changed the trajectory of my life,” he says. “The education I received, the people I met, and the experiences I had prepared me for opportunities I could never have imagined. If we can help students gain the confidence, guidance, and leadership skills they need to succeed, that’s an investment worth making.”
A member of the Daniels School Dean’s Advisory Council, Craig has been encouraged by the vision and momentum created by Dean Jim Bullard. “Having strong technical expertise combined with business acumen, leadership capability, and an understanding of free enterprise is incredibly important,” Craig says. “Jim understands that—and he’s building something very special at Purdue.”
The Gunckels’ support of the Daniels School is part of a broader commitment to the university, as they are also proud supporters of Purdue Athletics and active members of the John Purdue Club.
“Much of our charitable giving has focused on helping young people realize their potential through education,” Craig says. “Our hope is that this investment helps Purdue continue developing exceptional leaders who will make a positive impact in business, their communities, and the world.”
—Matt Schnepf
