If you're on a quest to find a greater purpose in life, you would be well served to use longtime West Bloomfield resident Craig Vanderburg as a role model.
His deepest passions have been reserved for expressing gratitude and giving to Trion clients as a strategic leader, to his West Bloomfield community as a volunteer – and to his family.
Craig is Chief Operating Officer at the well-branded Trion Solutions (TrionWorks.com), one of the nation’s Top 10 Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) with its national headquarters based in Troy, Mich. He worked with Trion Co-Founders Bonner Upshaw III (CEO) and David L. Stone (President) to help merge their two previous PEOs in 2012 and rebrand the single entity into Trion Solutions in 2013.
As a PEO, Trion relieves the stress and burden of businesses managing payroll and other HR-related functions alone. It helps companies of all sizes stay focused on their core business while being able to offer employees Fortune 500-type benefits that help retain top talent.
At the time Trion was formed in 2013, it was processing payroll and managing HR-related functions for about 4,000 client worksite employees with total payroll of approximately $85 million. Ten years later, thanks to Craig's leadership in managing operations and keeping clients happy, Trion ended 2023 serving 60,000 client worksite employees with total payroll of $1.3 billion.
Trion is one of Michigan’s top corporate growth stories in a highly regulated industry known for its many moving parts and need for extreme accuracy. To do so, a Craig Vanderburg is needed.
He is known for his immense industry experience, attention to detail, relentless energy and wit and wisdom appreciated by Trion’s 200+ team members at corporate headquarters and major offices in Scottsdale, Arizona and Aventura, Florida.
Under his leadership, Trion’s customer-service model and technology platform have become major differentiators for the fast-growing company and are considered best practices in the PEO industry. Most importantly, they have led to Trion boasting annual, year-over-year client-retention rates of 98 percent – meaning Trion clients become raving fans of the company and most remain as clients for years.
Current television commercials showcase Trion clients boasting about the value received by working with Trion. Those include Anthony Tomey, The Tomey Group; Joe Vicari, Joe Vicari Restaurants; Jenny Brown, Dutton Farm; Kamal Shouhayib, The Choice Group; Richard Adamo, The Adamo Group; Andy Appleby, the United Shore Professional Baseball League; and Jerry Niester, Red-E Parts.
“It is such a pleasure working with our team members at Trion to serve our amazing clients,” says Craig. “Our team not only is highly experienced and capable, but also loaded with outstanding individuals who our clients appreciate and enjoy working with.”
Trion practices what it preaches. For 10 straight years, the company has been named as a regional and national Best and Brightest Companies to Work For™. Trion also can be found on other notable lists, such as Top Worksites, Cool Places to Work and Corporate Culture Awards.
Craig’s passion for giving and sense of thankfulness doesn’t stop with the clients and employees of Trion Solutions.
He is actively involved in West Bloomfield and the surrounding communities and often can be seen at important events for nonprofit organizations. He is a board member of the Troy Chamber of Commerce and, closer to his West Bloomfield home, he is the Chairman of the Evans Scholars Committee at Edgewood Country Club, where he has been a member for 10 years.
This summer alone, his leadership and the work of many others, helped raise $75,000 for the Evans Scholars Foundation, a charitable trust that provides full, four-year tuition and housing college scholarships to deserving caddies. Applicants must have a strong caddie record, excellent grades, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character. In 2023, across the country, 920 caddies applied for the Evans Scholarship and 340 Scholarships were awarded for the 2024-25 academic year.
“The fact that we can change the life of a young adult and help pave the way for a career of success is absolutely one of the great gifts any of us in life can do for others,” says Craig, a graduate of Plymouth-Canton High School and Wayne State University.
“It is such an honor for us to provide full-ride scholarships to the University of Michigan or Michigan State University for someone who has demonstrated consistently hard work with outstanding character and met high academic standards – from a family without the financial resources to provide the same. It is heartwarming to see the difference we help make in so many lives,” he says.
When Craig pursues an initiative, it always is accomplished with great passion and gusto. It is the same way he lives his personal life.
He is a loving father of three – Mitch (28 years old), Lauren (24) and Christian (4) – and a friend to many. During the weekends, he can be found at Edgewood Country Club showcasing his impressive golf skills and colorful golf attire. Among the most well-known and popular members at Edgewood, the rounds with his array of regular golf partners end with congeniality and frivolity over adult refreshments in the grill. He is known for his ability to tell funny stories, remembering details from past years that entertain and impress all who enjoy his company.
When not golfing, he likely will be at his West Bloomfield home on Walnut Lake, entertaining family and friends on his pontoon boat, Wave Runners, canoe or paddleboards. Known by many affectionately as “Vandy,” he enjoys barbecuing and sharing his love of wine, bourbon and fine cigars.
He lives within walking distance to his favorite, nearby restaurant – Nonna Maria’s – where he became such a regular that it crafted, with his guidance, and permanently named a menu item after one of its best customers. “Vandy Pasta” is a delectable entrée of Rinaldi fennel sausage, creamy marinara, sauce, parmesan cheese and angel hair pasta.
Vandy also is a big fan of West Bloomfield.
“Everything you ever need can be found in West Bloomfield,” he says. “It has such amazing restaurants and shopping all within only a short drive, and I love that it is a quick drive to other places such as downtown Detroit, Birmingham, Northville and Ann Arbor.”
Craig Vanderburg lives life large – driven by the joy he finds in in living through giving and gratitude.
Whether in his capacity as the Chief Operating Officer of a major Michigan corporation, a community volunteer helping the less fortunate or ensuring family and friends enjoy forever memories of love and laughter, he is a role model for sure.
“It is heartwarming to see the difference we help make in so many lives."