- Michael K. Clifford
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Michael K. Clifford
Michael K. Clifford born in 1954 is an American business man who is credited with leading the first regionally accredited non-profit university to convert to a for-profit company in American history. He is viewed as an education entrepreneur, finance strategist, and catalyst for creating high growth education companies, specifically in the online sector.
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Early life
Michael Kevin Clifford was born at Saint Mary's Catholic Hospital in Reno, Nevada in 1954 to parents William Henry Clifford Jr. and Ruth Grace Roth. William was the house band leader at a local reno hotel. Clifford was raised in Phoenix, Arizona where his father owned a local radio station. From an early age, Clifford showed an attraction toward music. He would spend many of his formative years playing in rock and roll bands. Along with Clifford's father, Clifford's high school band teacher, J.D. Marsh, encouraged him to pursue his love of music.
Formative relationships
In 1981, Clifford became a Christian;[1] his decision to commit to a personal relationship with Christ marked a significant new direction in his life. Clifford joined Phoenix First Assembly of God where he would become friends and partner with pastor Tommy Barnett. Clifford volunteered to help expand the small church of 60 into the fastest growing church over the following fifteen years. Clifford practiced innovative forms of fundraising in order to build the church. These methods placed Clifford in proximity with leaders of Catholic and Evangelical charities and organizations.
Clifford's personal and professional life was shaped by friendships with many of these key cultural leaders, including Pastor Tommy Barnett (founding senior pastor of the megachurch Phoenix First Assembly of God), Dr. Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ), Dr. Roy A. Herberger (president emeritus of Thunderbird Graduate School), and Dr. John Sperling (founder of University of Phoenix and the Apollo Group). Others include, Father John Bertalucci, Father Michael Scanlon of Stubenville University, and Author Jamie Buckingham.
Clifford's relationship with Bill Bright was what sparked his interest in education.
Career roles
Clifford's career roles have included rock and roll musician, political fundraiser, education entrepreneur, investor in education and niche start-ups, and philanthropist.[2]
Business philosophy
Clifford's business approach included the following pillars: knowledgeable investors, seasoned management, and niche platform companies.[3]
His education start-ups have been guided by his "Four Gospels of Higher Education": 1) Full & Equal Access – Giving every student who is willing to make the required effort the opportunity to acquire a quality college education, 2) Affordable – Lowering tuition and fees so the focus is on getting an education, not financing an education, 3) Timely & Relevant – Facilitating faster completion with lower debt and equipping graduates with relevant, real-world skills, 4) Purposeful & Ethical – Equipping graduates with a strong ethical moral compass and the motivation to give back to their communities.
Accomplishments
Clifford's company, Significant Federation, LLC, is the umbrella organization for SignificantPartners LLC, a group of private, silent partners with Clifford deploying $100MM a year for the acquisition of education properties.[4]
Bridgepoint Education was formed by Michael K. Clifford with Louis A. Falcigno as an education boutique provider of online degrees, and has been transformed into the large education holding company called Bridgepoint Education Group, listed as the 22nd fastest growing company in America by Forbes Small Business.
Grand Canyon University In November 2003, Clifford became the catalyst to organize the investment capital, the management team, and core strategy for the relaunch of the failing Grand Canyon University. The university became the first regionally accredited non-profit university to convert to a for-profit company in American history, and the turn-around modeled the acquisition approach Clifford used in six additional universities, emphasizing the online education model.
Additional schools include L.A. College, Chancellor University (formerly Myers University in Cleveland, OH), InterAmerican College.
Additional achievements include charity fund raising resulting in excess of $400MM, a 1986 front-page article in the Wall Street Journal featuring him as the highest paid political consultant in America. He produced the award winning documentary D.O.P.E., and founded the charity organization Boat Angel.
Though Clifford has never attended college, he is the recipient of several honorary doctorates.
References
- ^ <"College, Inc. (2010)">. <Frontline>. By <David Fanning>. Perf. <Auron Math, Martin Smith>. <PBS>. <WGBH>. <4 May 2010>.
- ^ significantfederation
- ^ 2.
- ^ significantfederation
News articles
verticalnews.com capitalroundtable.com cleveland.com
Categories:- 1954 births
- American businesspeople
- Living people
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