Spartan Profiles: Glenn Oliver
Water is becoming increasing valuable as a resource, and the Great Lakes contain 20 percent of the world’s fresh water supply. Entrepreneurs are emerging in this region, such as Glenn Oliver, ’84, founder and president of H2bid.com in Detroit.
A lawyer and former member of the Detroit Board of Water Commissioners, Oliver has created an online clearinghouse for water infrastructure projects that is drawing 25,000 to 30,000 worldwide visitors a month. “When I was at Michigan State I learned that you always get more efficient pricing when you have a market,” he explains. “That is true for the water industry. We bring together water projects and vendors worldwide, and we are the first to allow e-bidding in the water utility industry, which make things simpler, more efficient and totally transparent.”
Oliver believes the $500 billion water industry offers an opportunity for Michigan to stake a leadership position with water technology and manufacturing.
Growing up as a military brat, the stepson of a U.S. Marine, Glenn went to Muskegon High School and chose to attend MSU’s James Madison College because, in his words, “That was the best pre-law program in the state.” He believes James Madison College is the best value in education today. “They taught me how to write and how to think,” he says. “They emphasize having outstanding scholars who are also outstanding teachers—like Ken Waltzer, Katy See and Curtis Stokes. Every teacher I had there was outstanding.”
When he worked for Mayor Dennis Archer, he was responsible for hiring interns. “Every student from James Madison College that we hired was as good or better than the students from everywhere else in the country,” says Glenn, who remains connected as a member of the MSU Alumni Association.
Given his passion about the water industry, does Glenn aim to become known as the state’s water king? “Well, you know, the United Nations recently designated March 22 as the World Water Day,” he notes with laughter. “Guess what day my birthday is?”