Larry D. Grant’s four-and-a-half decade career, serving as CFO, COO, and strategic executive, focused on raising funds, managing business reorganizations, and developing/refining mission-critical strategic partnerships. Mr. Grant served several industry segments (both for-profit and not-for-profit), including study-abroad, international maritime, medical devices, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and biological controls.
Mr. Grant most recently served as CFO, COO directing ship operations, and VP of Strategic Initiatives for Semester at Sea from 2013-2020, a 60-year-old study abroad program of the Institute for Shipboard Education, with 73,000 alumni. Semester at Sea, together with its academic partner Colorado State University (CSU), provides a full semester study abroad set of accredited undergraduate coursework. Working with key Board of Trustees members and incumbent CEOs, he played a vital role in the successful restructuring of the Semester at Sea business model. Key results included significantly strengthened financial condition, greatly improved operations, and a long-term, cost-effective cruise ship solution. Mr. Grant coordinated several Trustee committees, including finance, investments, audit, and strategic planning.
Mr. Grant began his career in public accounting with the international accounting firm KPMG. He attained his certified public accountant status in 1976. Mr. Grant is a 1974 graduate of Iowa State University, majoring in Accounting/Industrial Administration.