Director of Corporate Engagement & Events
Special Olympics Michigan
In his eight-year tenure, Ted Grossnickle has helped revolutionize the impact of Special Olympics Michigan on the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Southeast Michigan. In Genesee County, more than 1,200 Special Olympic athletes have directly benefited from the community’s generosity thanks to his unique ability to connect corporate strategy to the nonprofit’s mission.
Special Olympics Michigan provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for people with intellectual disabilities. As the director of corporate engagement and events, Grossnickle orchestrates philanthropic investments, corporate sponsorships, strategic partnerships, and signature fundraising event strategy. Each year the funding generated through these partnerships allows more than 20,000 athletes statewide to compete at no cost to them.
Among his accomplishments, Grossnickle transitioned the Ties & Tennies Gala to Ford Field, increasing revenue for the black-tie event 250% in the past five years. He’s also grown the presence of Polar Plunge in Southeast Michigan, providing leadership on the corporate engagement strategy that led to a fundraising record-breaking $2 million in 2024.
A resident of Grand Blanc, Grossnickle also provides leadership for signature events in Southeast Michigan including the Champions Together Breakfast, Screen Door Open Golf Outing, and the Ford Underbody Golf Outing, among others. He also assists with the Honored Guest Program for Special Olympics international events such as the World Summer Games 2024 and the Unified Cup 2022 in Detroit.
Grossnickle has served for 10 years as the affiliate director and board chair of the Michigan Creativity Association and is actively involved in many local fundraising events supporting organizations including the Michigan Parkinson Foundation.