Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
William A. Suneson, Arts ’87
Brewster, Mass.
As a senior in high school, Bill Suneson had no plans to attend Marquette. Instead, he was more focused on attending a southern college to hone his tennis skills. That all changed after a frank conversation with his dad, who told him a pro tennis career was not going to happen and Bill should count his blessings that Marquette accepted him. Heeding his father’s sage advice, in June 1983, Bill boarded a train, traveling 24 hours from Boston to Milwaukee (with a stop in Chicago), and arrived at Marquette, sight unseen, as a member of the Freshman Frontier Program (FFP). He never looked back.
Bill’s career since graduation has led him on quite the entrepreneurial journey. He is the CEO and co-founder of Bindable, a tech-enabled solutions provider for alternative insurance distribution. Suneson also co-founded and now serves on the board of GradGuard, a digital insurance platform for college students. Bill is energized by the challenges of building new ventures and collaborating with teams of mission-driven professionals.
In addition to his professional career, Bill prioritizes service by giving back to his community. He and his family have volunteered for many years with My Brother's Keeper, an organization that delivers food and furniture throughout the year to people in need in southeastern Massachusetts, with an additional focus on providing Christmas gifts to children during the holiday season. Bill currently serves as chair of the development board, a role he took on after My Brother’s Keeper expanded its services to his hometown of Fall River, Mass.
He has internalized the Marquette mission and tries to lead by example daily, both professionally and personally. He relies on his faith to guide him on that path, and he continually strives for excellence. Bill plans to continue his professional journey by using servant-leadership to create positive outcomes for his employees, customers, partners, and investors.
Fun Facts:
Name a Marquette faculty or staff member who had an impact on you, and how.
Mary Minson from the FFP program really helped me (and many others) transition to college life at Marquette. I had never visited campus before making a last-minute decision to attend via FFP and wasn't sure what to expect. Mary’s graciousness and guidance helped instill in me a love for Marquette, and after my FFP summer, I couldn't wait to come back for my first semester.
What is one of your favorite Marquette memories?
I have so many fond memories of Marquette both from my time as a student and since that it’s hard to pick just one. However, I’ll never forget the moment my wife (also a Marquette grad) and I dropped off our twin sons for their freshman year at Marquette in 2017. Even though it was something we knew was coming for 18 years, I remember how anxious we all were when the time came.
Our last orientation event together was the Welcome Mass outside in the middle of campus. During the Mass, shortly before we said our goodbyes, I had an overwhelming feeling that we were home. It was a magical and faith-confirming moment and affirmed that Marquette was the right place for our boys and our family.
Leave a congratulatory message for Bill!