MARQUETTE, MI— The former CEO of the Northern Michigan University Foundation was given more than $244,000 in a severance agreement that included a provision to downplay his departure.
That’s according to the Detroit News, which obtained the agreement between Brad Canale and NMU under the Freedom of Information Act. In a story Saturday, the News said both sides in the June, 2025 settlement “would keep the terms of the deal ‘strictly confidential’ and would only disclose them if forced by law.”
Canale served nine years at the post.
NMU Spokesman Derek Hall provided Public Radio 90 with the following statement:
As is the practice with many universities, and employers in general, we do not discuss personnel issues publicly.
As is also the practice with many Michigan universities, the State of Michigan, and, again, employers in general, severance payments are sometimes, but not frequently, made to employees who are being separated to bring finality to the situation and to resolve any and all outstanding issues. Such arrangements avoid the uncertainty, cost, and time associated with employment disputes.
It’s unclear what sort of dispute Canale and the university might have had.
Canale was head of the NMU Foundation when it acquired the former Marquette General Hospital property and selected Veridea Group to develop the site. It was the only developer to bid on the project. Veridea Group CEO Robert Mahaney was on the NMU Board of Trustees at the time.
In 2024, Veridea purchased the site from the Foundation for $2.5 million. The hospital project received $8 million in funding from the state and another $8 million for demolition purposes.
In 2022, 109th District Rep. Sara Cambensy, in response to concern from constituents, asked Attorney General Dana Nessel to investigate the sale of the property, citing what appeared to be a conflict of interest and possible misuse of public funds. Nessel’s office declined, saying it “hadn't been presented with sufficient grounds to open an investigation.”
