Steve's Story

Biography of Steve Alexander

The early years

Steve was born in Livonia but moved to Westland and attended St. John's Lutheran through 8th grade with his three sisters. He attended Huron Valley Lutheran High School for two years, then moved to John Glenn High School for his Junior and Senior years to study Robotics. Steve graduated high school in 1989 and went to Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts to begin a career in TV and Film technology. He worked at Universal Studios on "Swamp Thing Revisited" and at Disney on the preproduction of "Grease: The Musical." He returned home before the production went on tour and endeavored to act on his lifelong promise to serve in the US Military.






 

​

Military Service

While onboard McHenry, he was promoted to the "ship's legal secretary" and created technical solutions for quickly authoring and distributing documents, earning him his first Navy Achievement Medal. He took station on the ship's forward-mount 50 caliber machine gun during Operation Vigilant Warrior in the fall of 1994 to prepare defenses against Iraqi troops heading toward the Kuwait border. Steve moved homeport with the ship in 1995 to Sasebo, Japan.

Steve first served homeless people an Easter breakfast at the Salvation Army Church in San Diego. This experience awakened him to the deep need to provide human services. He formed a 90s cover band, "55 Gallon Drum," with his shipmates and played in multiple locations across Japan, even landing on a Japanese television special. During a mission in which the ship recovered embassy workers from Mogadishu, Steve accompanied the workers via hovercraft to a beachfront near Mombasa, Kenya. He helped organize a shoe drive from the ship to the local tribe during the endeavor. He led community service projects to non-profits at each port of call until his enlistment ended with an Honorable Discharge, decorated with 2 Navy Achievement Medals in October 1997.

​

​

​​

​

In Livonia

Following his military service, Steve worked in software design and development at Ford for 22 years. He is now a senior consultant for software development methodologies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship from Cleary University and an MBA in International Business from Liberty University.  Steve has led multiple innovation patents and Smart City projects across the U.S., England, and China.

Steve is active across the Livonia community and recently founded the Livonia Veteran's Connection. Following Rick Warren's "Purpose Driven Life," published in 2002, Steve has maintained the purpose of service, noting that "serving the greater good of our community is our service to God."  Steve has a sincere passion for connecting local veterans and their families to other veteran families and the resources available to them. Further, he hopes to establish a way to identify and welcome home newly returning service members to help aid their transition to being veterans in our local community.

 

​​​

Volunteerism​

Steve’s volunteerism includes:

​​​

• Habitat For Humanity service “Jimmy Carter Project”  (2000-2008)
  Building new homes throughout inner city Detroit.

• Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (2002-2008)
  Lead clothing drives and support telethon fundraisers.

• Livonia Junior Athletic League, Blue Jays Football  - Field Director / Kitchen Coordinator (2008-2018)
  More than doubled the profit of the kitchen in the first year, grew exponentially after.

• Committee Chair for three local Scouting troops  (2008-2020)
  Doubled the size of each troop in one year, increased number of outings, and restored financial viability.

• Northridge Church Men's Ministry (2010-2018)
  Provided one on one counseling for men dealing with issues ranging from divorce to substance abuse.

• World Vision (2012- present)
  Steve's family sponsors two WV children and provides support to put new water wells in desolate locations.

• President of Clements Circle Civic Association (2018 – present)
  Led the implementation of a monarch butterfly garden and food trucks.
  Established Operation Christmas Child in the local community.

• Love Runs (2024 - present)
  Steve works to raise funds to stop and prevent human tracking across southern Michigan.

• President of the Livonia Moose (2024-2025)
  Refactored our finances, restoring the lodge to profit.
  Established multiple subcommittees and increased volunteerism.

• President of the Livonia Veteran’s Connection (2024  - present)
  Establish and host events to connect veterans to resources and to each other

• Livonia AM Rotary Member (2024 – present)
  Contribute to successful execution of local charity events.

• Spree Committee Member (2025 – present)
  Contribute to the planning of Spree events.