Gary Mitchell Woodbury

GARY MITCHELL WOODBURY, Age 85, passed away on June 9, 2026. He is survived by two sons, William F. Woodbury (Jody) and Gary M. Woodbury, Jr.; four grandchildren, Christopher “Chip” Woodbury (Brandi), Jonathan Woodbury (Caroline), Lesley Mayer (Jeff), Peyton Woodbury; two step-grandsons, Blake Young (Natasha), and Joshua Young; and eleven great-grandchildren.

He retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) in June, 2003. He also served as President of the Small Business Foundation of Michigan and as Secretary of Small Business Resource Center, Inc. and its three subsidiary corporations.

Following retirement from SBAM he consulted with various Michigan and national associations and foundations including the Small Business Foundation of Michigan, the Michigan Institute of Laundering and Drycleaning, the Michigan Forestry and Park Association, Impression 5 Science Center, was appointed President & CEO of the Michigan Dyslexia Institute in September, 2006 and remained in that capacity until 2015. He also consulted with St. Luke’s Clinic in Jackson, Michigan on behalf of the Weatherwax Foundation and was retained by the Blue Ribbon Coalition to help facilitate a strategic plan for the organization. He facilitated a Board Governance session for the Michigan Association of United Ways and a Town Hall meeting for The Michigan Oral Health Coalition. In March, 2011 he facilitated a planning session for the Charlotte, MI City Council. He also facilitated a strategic planning session for the Greater Lansing Association of Realtors in December, 2013.

Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, he was a graduate of Ottawa Hills High School and Hillsdale College. Following college he joined the National Retail Furniture Association in Chicago where he was employed in the Education, Sales and Convention divisions. In 1965 he joined the Michigan League of Savings Institutions and eventually became the Executive Vice President and Treasurer of the organization. He also owned and operated three small businesses.

He was on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee and served two terms as President of the City Club of Lansing, was on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, the Board of Directors of the Michigan International Trade Coalition, the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of National Small Business Association (NSBA), the Executive Board of the Alumni Association of Hillsdale College, Chairman of NSBA’s White House Conference on Small Business Committee, Chair of the Michigan Small Business Development Center Advisory Council, Chair of the National Advisory Board of the Association of Small Business Development Centers headquartered in Washington, D.C., was a member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Advisory Council of Association Executives, was Chair of the Board of Directors of the Mildred B. Erickson Fellowship for Adult Scholarships at Michigan State University, was on the Board of the Oldsmobile Classic and served on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of the Stop Suicide Alliance. He was a member of the Advisory Council of the Cowles House Society of Michigan State University, and served on the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and as Chair of the Michigan Society of Association Executives.

In September 1993, President Clinton appointed him one of eleven Commissioners to the White House Conference on Small Business Commission. Subsequently, he chaired ten state conferences that preceded the June 1995 White House conference on Small Business.

During Small Business Week in May, 2000 the Chief Counsel of Advocacy for the Small Business Administration (SBA) presented him with a Lifetime Special Achievement Award for Advocacy, stating that “Woodbury is one of the nation’s most visible small business advocates”. At the time it was only the third time in the history of the SBA that a Lifetime Award for Advocacy had been presented.

In May, 2006 he was presented with the Dr. John C. Howell Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service by the Michigan Dyslexia Institute and in October, 2006 was named to the Michigan Society of Association Executives Hall of Fame.

He was formerly a member of Walnut Hills Country Club; Michigan Athletic Club; Capitol Club, University Club of MSU, and the Hannah Society and Huntington Club of Michigan State University.

He attended St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in East Lansing.

In accordance with Gary’s wishes, a private graveside burial will be held for immediate family. There will be no public funeral service. The family is grateful for the love, prayers and support offered during this time.

Memorial contributions may be made in Gary’s honor to the Michigan Dyslexia Institute or Impression 5 Science Center (please find links below).