Tim Sullivan Headshot

Timothy W. Sullivan '75

Mr. Sullivan currently serves as Chairman of BitFire, Inc., a Phoenix, Arizona-based production and transmission company in live TV broadcasting, entertainment and business. He also chairs Bandit Productions, an original programming production company in Phoenix. In addition to chairing BitFire and Bandit Productions, Sullivan currently chairs the St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a nonprofit serving 500 clients daily.
 
Work history:

  • Aug. 2014 to Mar. 2020: Mr. Sullivan served as President and CEO of the REV Group, a Milwaukee, WI-based manufacturer of specialty vehicles. 
  • July 2013 to June 2014: He was Chairman & CEO of Gardner Denver, Inc., a Milwaukee, WI-based manufacturer of oil and gas, industrial and medical equipment. 
  • 2012: Mr. Sullivan served as a special consultant to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. He chaired the Wisconsin Governor's Council on Workforce Investment and the Wisconsin Governor's College and Workforce Readiness Council. 
  • 2011: Mr. Sullivan was an advisor to CCMP, a New York-based private equity firm. Prior to 2011, Mr. Sullivan worked for Bucyrus International, Inc. for 35 years. He joined Bucyrus in June 1976, completing several domestic and international assignments. 
  • 2000 to 2010: Mr. Sullivan rejoined Bucyrus as the CEO in January 2000. He grew revenue 14-fold to $3.8B, EBITDA 850-fold to $850M and employment 12-fold to 11,800. After leading the 8th-best-performing initial public offering in the U.S. in 2004, Bucyrus was the 25th and the eighth fastest-growing company in the U.S. in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Mr. Sullivan retired from Bucyrus in July 2011 after completing the sale of the company to Caterpillar, Inc. and growing shareholder value by more than 1,500%.
  • 1999: He served as CEO of United Container Machinery.
  • 1986 to 1998: Mr. Sullivan held various middle and senior management positions. 
 
Past Chairman:
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Milwaukee
  • Bucyrus Foundation
  • Gardner Denver, Inc.
  • Genalpha, Inc.
  • Generac, Inc.
  • Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce 
  • United Way of Greater Milwaukee
 
Past Director:
  • Aurora Health Care
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Milwaukee
  • Bucyrus Foundation
  • Bucyrus International, Inc.
  • Carroll University
  • Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
  • Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc.
  • Crosby, Inc.
  • Gardner Denver, Inc.
  • Genalpha, Inc.
  • Generac, Inc.
  • Greater Milwaukee Committee
  • Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce 
  • Milacron, Inc.
  • Milwaukee School of Engineering
  • National Mining Association
  • Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company 
  • REV Group, Inc.
  • Southeast Wisconsin Business Health Coalition
  • United Way of Greater Milwaukee
  • University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Advisory Council
 
Recognition and Awards:
  • 2021: Inducted into the Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame; received the P.E. MacAllister Distinguished Alumnus Award from Carroll University
  • 2014: Received a Community Partnership Award from the United Community Center (Milwaukee, WI)
  • 2011: Named the Ernst & Young (U.S.) Manufacturing & Distribution Entrepreneur of the Year Award; given an Honorary Doctorate from the Milwaukee School of Engineering
  • 2010: Added to CNBC's CEO Wall of Fame; received the Carroll University Distinguished Alumnus Award
  • 2009: Named Harvard Business School Business Leader of the Year; received the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Great Journeys Award; named Rotary Club of Milwaukee Person of the Year; earned the Discovery World of Wisconsin Leadership Award
  • 2008: Received the Wisconsin Governor's Certificate of Commendation; named Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame Executive of the Year; received the R.W. Baird Management Excellence Award
  • 2007: Earned the Big Brothers Big Sisters Martin F. Stein Award
  • 2000: Received the Energy Tribes of America - American Spirit Award

 
Mr. Sullivan earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Carroll University in 1975 and a Master's in Business Administration from Arizona State University's Thunderbird School of International Management in 1976.
 
Mr. Sullivan and his wife, Vivian, reside in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, and Scottsdale, AZ. They have two grown children and five grandchildren.
 

Panoramic View of campus