Grand Rapids Business Journal 05.17.21

GR CHAMBER creates minority business councils.

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MAY 17, 2021 VOL. 39, NO. 10

The Business Newspaper of Metro Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon & West Michigan

THIS WEEK

MCKINNEY DRIVES INCLUSIVE CHANGE New executive director of Grand Rapids Pride Center is rooted in a ‘community caretaker’ approach. Page 13

Beauty in the eye of the beer-holder City Built’s locally produced can art earns national recognition.

Ehren Wynder

ewynder@grbj.com

Court order Proposed council would be charged with developing a statewide plan to improve judiciary.

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Steady progress Comerica’s statewide economic index climbs for third consecutive month.

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City Built Brewing Co. came out like a lion in March when USA Today published its 10Best Readers Choice Awards for 2021. The Grand Rapids-based brewery known for its experimental, funky brews and Puerto Rican-inspired cuisine won Best Beer Label for Prague Underground Czech Pilsner.

City Built Brewing also won third place for Best Brew Pub 2021, coming in behind HOMES Brewery in Ann Arbor and The Brewery LBK in Lubbock, Texas.

The notoriety from Best Beer Label drove up sales of Prague Underground, which is good news for City Built Brewing and owner Edwin Collazo, because it’s a beer his team is excited to continue brewing. Depending on tank space, Prague Underground will be brewed two or three times a CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

The Prague Underground cans, designed by Elliot Chaltry, contain a take on the heraldic lion featured on the coat of arms for the former Kingdom of Bohemia, now the modern-day Czech Republic.

Courtesy City Built Brewing Co.

West Michigan one step closer to 90% trash reuse

BUDGET BRIEF City Manager Mark Washington presents first look at proposed spending plan for next fiscal year.

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Kent County DPW narrows anchor tenant search for Sustainable Business Park down to two finalists.

THE LISTS

Rachel Watson

rwatson@grbj.com

The area’s top banks Page 8 The area’s top credit unions Page 11

The Sustainable Business Park could be home to more than a dozen businesses once completed. Courtesy Kent County DPW

Kent County is another step closer to turning its trash into treasure with the Sustainable Business Park project.

The Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW) in 2018 set a goal to divert 90% of Kent County-generated trash that goes to landfills by 2030 by building a Sustainable Business Park on 250

GRBJ.COM Vol. 39, No. 10 $2.00 a copy. $59 a year © Entire contents copyright 2021 by Gemini Media. All rights reserved.

Inside Track ...... 13 Guest Columns.. 16 Something for everyone Change-Ups ..... 20

TEEN REBRANDS, expands apparel company.

Calendar .......... 20 Public Record .... 21 Street Talk ...... 26

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acres of land adjacent to the South Kent Landfill on the Allegan County-Kent County line in Dorr Township and Byron Center.

As the Business Journal reported in October, the DPW drew nine proposals from around the world during its request for proposals (RFP) phase.

The DPW at its March board of directors meeting selected two finalists as possible anchor tenants — Madrid-based Urbaser and Philadelphia-based Continuus Materials.

Tim Mroz, vice president of strategic initiatives at The Right Place, is on the project’s RFP advisory/evaluation committee. He said both anchor tenant candiCONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 17, 2021

3

GR Chamber creates minority business councils State eyes

revamp of court system

Groups will guide chamber’s work and outreach, create peer networks, foster minority business growth, inclusion.

Proposed council would be charged with developing a statewide plan to improve judiciary.

Rachel Watson

rwatson@grbj.com

The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce has taken its diversity, equity and inclusion goals to the next level by creating three minority business councils.

The Grand Rapids Chamber hosted a virtual town hall last month introducing the Hispanic/ Latino, Asian American and Black Minority Business Councils that will guide the chamber’s efforts to listen and deliver programming for minority business communities and foster minority business leadership, growth and belonging within the greater Grand Rapids area.

The Hispanic/Latino Business Council chair is Ruben Ramos, managing partner at R&R Mechanical Services in Grand Rapids; the Asian American Business Council chair is Floriza Genautis, principal and founder of Management Business Solutions in Wyoming; and the Black Business Council chair is James Byl, founder and owner of Multi-Automatic Tool & Supply Co. in Walker.

According to Dante Villarreal, VP of talent and business development at the chamber, all three of the chairs were participants in a cohort-based, three-year cham-

Danielle Nelson

dnelson@grbj.com

As a result, the chamber decided to create the minority business councils, which Villarreal said will take a global view of who the chamber is serving and how they are connecting, and its activities will be driven by a goal of achieving equitable outcomes through partnerships.

“Everyone plays a role in equitable economic development — the private sector, the banks, chambers of commerce, educational institutions,” Villarreal said during the town hall. “The equity gap is so large that no one gets a

The state’s judiciary branch is assembling a diverse team of professionals to craft a plan for the legal system to operate in unison.

There are more than 200 courts across Michigan, including its Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, District Courts and Probate Courts, among others.

Although stakeholders have not yet been named to the team that will be called the Michigan Judicial Council, there will be 29 members and they will include judges, administrators, attorneys, county clerks, and members of the public who are not attorneys to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion.

The judges will be nominated by various associations including the Michigan Judges Association, Michigan Probate Judges Association, Michigan District Judges Association, Association of Black Judges of Michigan and Michigan

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

The minority business council chairs and business liaisons are, from left, Ruben Ramos, Yadira Garza-Malone, Nate Phillips, Floriza Genautis and James Byl. Courtesy Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce

ber program called Elevate Minority Business. The three individuals showed strong leadership in helping to develop the foundation of the councils and were seen as the logical choice to lead each group.

“We picked strong leaders that were employers here in town and showed a strong desire to impact their community,” Villarreal said.

The councils were formed in response to needs that became apparent during the pandemic, the chamber said.

In June 2020, Kent County formed the Kent County Small Business Recovery Program. The

program worked to distribute short-term financial support to businesses dealing with barriers such as language, general business knowledge and being part of underserved communities.

The county partnered with the Grand Rapids Chamber to administer the program. The chamber’s work with the program provided primary research on the state of small business in West Michigan, and it also illuminated gaps that, if left unfilled, would greatly reduce the ability of minority-owned businesses to survive the pandemic and resulting economic downturn.

Teen rebrands, expands apparel company Eion Jackson increases social media marketing and sales on his way to becoming a ‘designer to watch.’

Rachel Watson

rwatson@grbj.com

Eion Jackson is one of those rare high school seniors who knows exactly what he’s going to do with his life, and he’s already making it happen.

As the Business Journal reported in 2020, Jackson, who will graduate from Hudsonville High School on May 27, founded the urban streetwear apparel business JCKS Apparel in 2019.

By last year, he was selling products including T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, swimwear, hats and accessories such as lanyards, stickers and fanny packs — all with a theme of exploration and travel — in 17 states and Puerto Rico.

This year, the 18-year-old rebranded the clothing company under his full name, Eion Jackson, at eionjackson.com, as an intentional move from being seen as just a growing brand to now being seen as a growing designer.

“I wanted it to be more per-

sonal than what it was before,” Jackson said, noting that he looks to designers such as Reese Cooper and Virgil Abloh for inspiration and may eventually branch out into other kinds of custom apparel and accessories.

Year over year, Jackson grew sales by 2,000% and his social media following by 300%. By end of the first quarter in 2021, he had already surpassed all of 2020’s annual sales.

His latest product line, Reach for the Stars, includes hoodies, T-shirts, trucker hats, shorts and swim trunks and was released April 9. It elicited a global response, with hundreds of customers waiting online for the products to be released. Once the collection went live, sales were coming in at $1,000 per minute, and most of the items sold out within a week. Just a few were left in his shop as of early May, but Jackson was in the midst of planning his next product drop to launch this month.

As a young minority designer, Jackson also uses his voice and growing platform to call attention to relevant issues. His product release before Reach for the Stars was called Dream Chasin’ and included T-shirts and sweatshirts in different colors with images of Martin Luther King Jr., and a portion of the profits from

those product sales were donated to the NAACP. It was released in January and February and sold out by March.

Jackson now has customers in 44 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Brazil and Belgium.

The latter is the newest country in which he built a following and one of the last countries Jackson visited on a family vacation prior to the pandemic.

Since last year, Jackson upgraded his computer design software to Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; shifted some of his manufacturing to local suppliers; and invested in his own equipment, such as a screen printer, sewing machine and vinyl cutters, to do some of the production himself. He also began handling his own packaging to better control the details.

Missy Jackson, a managing partner at the business consulting firm The Vantage Group, is a big supporter of her son’s business, financially and otherwise, and she said it has been “incredible” to watch him grow since last year.

“His marketing efforts have been a huge contributing factor to his growth over the last year,” she said. “He has been strategic in his ads with Instagram and CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Eion Jackson models some of his own urban streetwear apparel designs. Courtesy Courtesy Brett Carlson

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MAY 17, 2021

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Comerica’s index climbs for third consecutive month

Comerica Bank’s Michigan Economic Activity Index showed the state is continuing to benefit from the rebounding U.S. economy, but challenges remain.

The bank’s Michigan index, which it reported April 29, increased in February to a level of 104. February’s reading was 21% higher than the historical low reached in June 2020. The index averaged 99.9 points for all of 2020, 9.1 points below the index average for 2019. January’s index reading was 102.9.

This month, Comerica rolled out new methodology for its state economic activity indexes, making some adjustments to the subcomponents and their weights in order to better align with state-level gross domestic product. The bank also rebased the subcomponents of its indexes to average 100.

Comerica’s new Michigan Economic Activity Index increased for the third consecutive month in February.

The Michigan Economic Activity Index consists of nine variables: nonfarm payroll employment, continuing claims for unemployment insurance, housing starts, house price index, industrial electricity sales, auto assemblies, total trade, hotel occupancy and sales tax revenue. All data are seasonally adjusted. Nominal values have been converted to constant dollar values. Index levels are expressed in terms of three-month moving averages.

Six out of nine components were positive for the month, including nonfarm payrolls, unemployment insurance claims (inverted), house prices, industrial electricity demand, hotel occupancy and sales tax revenue.

The three components retreating in February were housing starts, light vehicle production and total state trade. The bank said it expects Michigan to continue to benefit from the rapidly reflating U.S. economy this spring; however, the auto industry, along with other manufacturing and construction industries, is being held in check by supply chain constraints, including a global shortage of computer chips.

Several assembly plants in Michigan temporarily shut down this spring and/or throttled back production. Chip manufacturers are ramping up production, and Comerica expects computer chips to remain in tight supply through the summer and possibly later.

Payroll employment gains in March were subdued, as the manufacturing sector gave up some jobs.

Robert Dye, senior vice president and chief economist for Comerica, spoke to the Business

Journal this month about the index.

“There are two central issues in Michigan right now,” Dye said.

“First, that the state is participating in the lift from the reflating U.S. economy, demand for Michigan products is increasing, and so businesses are renormalizing — so it’s very nice to see that — but at the same time, the durable goods manufacturing sector is being held in check right now because of a very tight supply chain: the computer chip problem is well-documented, (and it’s) holding back production of automobiles, leading to some factories/assembly plants to throttle back production or to close down for brief periods.

So, it’s a mix.”

Dye said the computer chip shortage is partly due to the freezing weather in Texas that occurred in February, knocking out power and shutting down two major factories in Austin that produce computer chips for global markets.

It’s also partly due to production slowdowns or shutdowns that happened when COVID-19 first hit the U.S. He said state trade is always one of the more volatile components of the index, and it retreated when Michigan did not have as many goods to export due to production pauses.

Dye said housing supply continues to be a problem, as existing home sales pulled back in March, and new housing starts are sluggish due to lumber prices nearly doubling from a year ago, plus appliances and other components required to build homes are backlogged due to COVID-19. He said it is still a “fundamentally positive” sign that consumer confidence is high enough that demand for housing is strong, and demand for autos is strong.

“The bad news is Michigan can’t participate in meeting that demand to the extent that you would like because of supply chain issues. It is a ‘good news economy’ fundamentally, but good news is creating the bad news on the supply chain side.”

Dye cited the economic theory that supply chain constraints will eventually solve themselves because as prices for commodities like homes, lumber, autos and computer chips go up, producers will be motivated to ramp up production.

“There’s a balancing act that is currently underway, and my expectation is that as we get into the fall and certainly by the end of this year, we’re going to see more balance in supply chains,” he said.

“We’re going to see that … proDye ducers who had to shut down last spring and created some of these very tight conditions now will be ramping up.”

Heading into summer, Dye said there will be a long sorting-out CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 17, 2021

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City manager presents first draft of FY22 budget Plan continues current service levels and meets financial obligations for existing contractual agreements.

Ehren Wynder

ewynder@grbj.com

Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington recently presented the first of several planned reports on the fiscal year 2022 preliminary fiscal plan to the city commission.

The proposed $546 million spending plan continues current service levels and meets financial obligations for existing contractual agreements, which is something that many municipalities across the country have not been able to do due to the pandemic.

The recommended “continuation” budget also aids in pandemic response and local economic recovery. The general operating fund portion of the proposed budget is just shy of $156 million — 29% of the total budget.

During his remarks, Washington said the pandemic has affected every aspect of the Grand Rapids community and has forced the city to be even more creative to maintain essential services.

He said the demand on essential services increased and intensified during the pandemic; therefore, the city focused on continuity of services in the proposed budget — nurturing the momentum of recovery and providing transformational investments where possible.

The city estimates $36 million in lost general fund income tax revenues between FY21 and FY22 and a total of $60 million through December 2024 (halfway through FY25). It is estimated income tax revenues will not recover to their pre-pandemic level until after FY26, since growth projections are slow and steady and do not indicate immediate or rapid recovery.

On average, local income taxes account for 70% of general fund revenues. This anticipated loss accounts for a reduction between 12% and 17% in general fund income tax revenue, Washington said.

This reduction is due to workers who were laid off or furloughed during the shutdowns as well as individuals who typically work in the city, but reside outside the city limits, now having the option of allocating the portion of their wages they earned working from home to be non-taxable by the city of Grand Rapids.

Despite projected income tax shortfalls, funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will enable the city to sustain services in the current fiscal year and support future budgets through FY25. The city expects to receive $94 million in relief through the ARPA over two fiscal years. The first payment of $47 million is expected this month and the remaining payment should arrive one year later.

The city will leverage the majority of ARPA relief money to

replace revenue shortfalls, improving the sustainability of the general fund. Specifically, just over $36 million of ARPA funding is allocated to backfill the income tax revenue shortfall for FY21 and FY22, which will sustain current services. And when the city’s full five-year fiscal plan is taken into consideration, Washington recommends that $60 million be used for revenue replacement, which accounts for 64% of all ARPA funding.

Due to the city’s financial position prior to the pandemic and federal relief funding, drastic

cost reduction measures — such service reductions, significant increases to fees and staff layoffs — have been avoided to date, he said. In a forward-looking move, the city previously decreased spending by $22 million last year just as the pandemic began with the adoption of the FY21 budget.

Washington said the city’s main financial challenge going forward will be to manage through lagging revenue resulting from the economic challenges that continue during FY21 and will likely extend into the first half of FY22. While all funds will

be impacted, he said the general fund has been impacted the most severely due to the loss of income taxes resulting from increased unemployment and decreased non-resident withholding.

In addition to revenue replacement, the following $2.15 million of ARPA investments are recommended for immediate investment in FY22 and are included as part of the FY22 preliminary fiscal plan: •Master plan funding — $250,000 •Housing practice leader contract — $100,000 •Funding for local special events

— $300,000 •Homeless outreach staffing — $1,500,000 As part of the fiscal plan adoption process, the commission will engage in a separate process to finalize the programming of $10.2 million of the ARPA funding dedicated specifically for FY22 to help encourage economic recovery, address the needs of vulnerable populations or allocate for other non-income tax revenue replacement to maintain services.

This post-budget allocation CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

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MAY 17, 2021

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

Beauty in the eye of the beer-holder CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

year, he said.

The iconic Bohemian lion emblazoned on the can is reflective of a lot of strategic changes over the past year. Late in 2019, the brewery made changes to its brew team, and in early 2020, the brewery made specific changes about what it was going to brew, how it was going to brew and how it was going to package beer. All of this, of course, was being decided before City Built knew it was walking into a pandemic.

“What COVID did was just fast-forward our idea,” Collazo said. “We were having a hard time

making the beers that people did want fast enough, so we took a bunch of beers we were making and stopped making them, and we were able to focus on this new brand of beer.”

The COVID-19 pandemic led to more sales of packaged beer, so to spice-up the can labels, City Built tapped on the shoulders of local artists Elliot Chaltry and Kyle DeGroff.

“We seemed to be attuned to the same things as far as our place in the community, so it was an instant match,” Collazo said.

The first project DeGroff did for City Built was the labels for a new stout series based on different

boil times.

“For us, we were just trying to learn about different boil times,” Collazo said. “So, we did three, six, 12 and 24 (hours) … when Kyle came back with his art, the thing that drove the idea for the art became the branding for the beer.

Every time we get art from him, he tells us why he drew it.”

DeGroff ended up creating art based on the Fibonacci sequence of numbers, where the subsequent number is an addition of the last two numbers. The art in turn influenced the boil times, so the brew team changed the boil times to three, five, 13 and 21 hours.

“Boiling a beer for 21 hours is cool, but I think you can achieve a lot of the same things in six,” Collazo said in hindsight.

Because the state executive orders at the beginning of the pandemic meant City Built wasn’t serving customers in its taproom, the brew team ended up pumping out brand after brand, leaving DeGroff to pass some of the work

onto Chaltry, who would be the artist behind the Prague Underground cans.

City Built’s Prague Underground is an herbal, spicy take on the classic Pilsner, a beer style that originated in what is now the Czech Republic. Chaltry began doing research on Prague and the Czech Republic to develop imagery that would pay homage to the Pilsner’s origins.

The lion on Prague Underground’s cans comes from the heraldic lion featured on the coat of arms for the former Kingdom of Bohemia, now the modern-day Czech Republic.

In 2020, DeGroff and Chaltry collectively did 17 different art projects for City Built Brewing.

Good art comes with a steep price tag, though. With all the projects the two artists had done for City Built over the last year, the company was looking for ways to offset the cost.

Collazo contacted Middleton Printing, which the brewery utiliz-

es to print its beer labels, to print a coffee table book featuring the can art of DeGroff and Chaltry and telling the story of City Built’s challenges and triumphs over the past two years.

“My goal is to print that book and have it available for sale on Black Friday,” Collazo said. “You could come in, pre-order it as a Christmas gift, and then we’d send it. We want to make it a big deal.”

Collazo said the lion is here to stay, and it already made a second appearance on another beer. Krewe de Rex is a roasty, dark Czech Lager, featuring a black, horned version of the lion on its cans. Collazo said the plan is to seasonally rotate Krewe for the fall and winter and Prague for the spring and summer.

Chaltry’s Bohemian lion also can be seen on City Built glassware, hoodies and t-shirts on sale at its taproom. The brewery also plans to feature it and other iconic faces on the cement barriers dividing its outdoor seating space from Monroe Avenue.

Teen rebrands, expands urban streetwear apparel company CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

has grown his followership significantly.

When things really started taking off for him is when he began making his packaging more personal. He almost always includes a handwritten note, complete with his signature on it, thanking his customers for their

orders. He also asks them to post pics of themselves wearing his designs and tag his company page on Instagram. If they do, he will reshare their post on his company page.

Not only are people regularly doing this, but he is also now getting shout-outs by other fashion enthusiasts on TikTok and Instagram about being a ‘designer

to watch.’”

Jackson plans to attend Grand Rapids Community College this fall in pursuit of an associate degree in business and a certificate in entrepreneurship. He said he is looking to build operational, financial and accounting skills to give him a solid foundation for the future, as he plans to grow his business for the long haul.

The young designer said while he is aware that not many other high school students are serious entrepreneurs like himself, all he knows is he is pursuing his passion.

“I’m just doing what I love in making designs, and then people are buying them,” he said.

Jackson added the pieces he is releasing currently are limit-

ed-edition items, and since he plans to make a name for himself on the global stage, customers should hang onto those items as an investment.

“Someday, they might be worth quite a bit of money,” he said, smiling.

More information about Jackson’s business and a link to his shop is at eionjackson.com.

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GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 17, 2021

Banker uses position to teach kids about finances Alexandra Crow works with Junior Achievement in the classroom to enhance financial literacy.

Danielle Nelson

dnelson@grbj.com

One United Bank of Michigan employee is on a mission to ensure children understand the value of money before they grow older.

Alexandra Crow, relationship manager for United Bank of Michigan, is volunteering with Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes (JAMGL). JA is an organization that uses volunteers to teach children in grades K-12 about jobs, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

Laura Lutterbeck, district director and chief marketing officer for Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan and Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes, said JAMGL was started in 1955 and now covers 50 counties in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. JA has been around for more than 100 years.

“United Bank is a longtime supporter of Junior Achievement,” she said. “United bankers have been classroom volunteers for over 20 years. As a new United banker, I had the opportunity to attend one of Junior Achievement’s fundraising dinners. JA volunteers and students told their stories of involvement and how JA’s educational and fun curriculum taught them life lessons that would benefit them for years to come. The stories they told really moved and motivated me to get involved with the organization.”

In her day job at the bank’s Rockford branch, Crow supervises the daily operations of the branch and services a variety of new account and lending needs. But at least one to two times per school year, since April 2019, she has ventured into classrooms at Northview Public Schools and Grand Rapids Public Schools to work with kindergartners and first-, fourth- and fifth-graders.

“Junior Achievement has preset curriculum for each grade level,” she said. “In kindergarten we learn about making choices, needs vs. wants, earning, saving and sharing money. First grade introduces students to entrepreneurship and the concept of needs and wants, and investigates the ways families spend money to acquire goods and services. Fourth grade dives into entrepreneurship, providing students with a practical approach to starting a business while preparing them to be entrepreneurial in their thinking to meet the requirements of a demanding and ever-changing workforce. And the fifth-grade lesson will cover information about America’s free market system and how it serves as an economic engine for businesses and careers.

“The curriculum also introduces the need for entrepreneurial and innovative thinking to meet

the requirements of high-growth, high-demand careers and it explores the concept of globalization in business,” she said. “JA makes volunteering so easy. They give you everything you need to present and the order in which to present it. All you need to do is study through it prior to presenting each lesson to the class. Generally, each grade level will receive five, 30-to60-minute lessons.”

In an infographic published in 2018 by Visual Capitalist in collaboration with Next Gen Personal Finance, a nonprofit that provides a free online curriculum of personal finance courses geared to students, it showed the U.S. ranked 14th in the world in terms of financial literacy (57%), behind Germany (66%) and Canada (68%), but CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

A local volunteer presents the Junior Achievement Our Family curriculum to a first-grade class. Courtesy Audrey Hutchinson

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GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 17, 2021

THE LIST

Top Area Banks (RANKED BY 2020 COMMERCIAL LOAN PORTFOLIO) Top executive(s) 1

Mercantile Bank of Michigan 310 Leonard St. NW Grand Rapids 49504 p (616) 406-3000 f 726-1500 mercbank.com

2

Year established No. of W. Mich. in W. Mich. employees

No. of W. Mich. locations

2020 commercial loan portfolio

Commercial loans as percentage of all loans

Commercial deposits

Retail loan portfolio

Retail deposits

Robert Kaminski

1997

311

7

$1.81B

91%

DND

$189M

$1.06B

Macatawa Bank 10753 Macatawa Drive Holland 49424 p (616) 820-1444 f 396-7369 macatawabank.com

Ronald Haan

1997

355

27

$1.22B

85%

$1.33B

$211.75M

$978.78M

3

ChoiceOne Bank 109 E. Division Ave. Sparta 49345 p (616) 887-7366 f 887-7990 choiceone.com

Kelly Potes Bradley Henion

1898

155

19

$826M

DND

$1.69B

$290M

DND

4

United Bank of Michigan 900 East Paris Ave. SE Grand Rapids 49546 p (616) 559-7000 f 559-4631 unitedbank4u.com

Arthur Johnson Joseph Manica

1887

176

13

$537.95M

52%

$299.06M

$487.56M

$349.38M

5

West Michigan Community Bank 5367 School Ave. Hudsonville 49426 p (800) 664-1778 f 669-7496 wmcb.com

Philip Koning Jim Bishop Rick Wieringa Mike Skinner Dan Pickard

1976

100

7

$525.9M

91%

$431.63M

$49.18M

$217.67M

6

First National Bank of Michigan 141 Ionia Ave. NW Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 242-6500 f 242-7708 fnbmichigan.com

Jefra Groendyk Daniel Bitzer Michael Hollander

2006

90

7

$524.04M

96%

$520.15M

$23.52M

$106.41M

7

Grand River Bank 4471 Wilson Ave. SW Grandville 49418 p (616) 929-1600 f 929-1610 grandriverbank.com

Mark Martis Marcia Borowka Elizabeth Bracken Patrick Gill Todd Gray

2009

63

2

$310.59M

87%

$211.06M

$46.46M

$102M

Horizon Bank 250 Pearl St. NW Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 214-3748 horizonbank.com

David Quade

2016

24

2

$186.08M

DND

DND

DND

DND

First Community Bank 4455 Cascade Road SE Grand Rapids 49546 p (616) 454-8447 f 454-2465 firstcb.com

Mark Brant

1996

10

1

DND

DND

DND

DND

DND

Level One Bank 2355 Burton St. SE Grand Rapids 48334 p (616) 872-4400 f 469-2882 levelonebank.com

Patrick Fehring Greg Wernette Douglas Kohlbeck

2016

10

1

DND

DND

DND

DND

DND

Northpointe Bank 3333 Deposit Drive NE Grand Rapids 49546 p (616) 940-9400 northpointe.com

Charles Williams Michael Winks Kevin Comps Brian Kuelbs Sara Amy Bryan Neitzelt John Scattergood Mark Brown Steven Davids

1999

379

5

DND

DND

DND

$3.21B

$2.03B

Old National Bank 5200 Cascade Road SE Grand Rapids 49506 p (616) 228-6000 oldnational.com

DND

2015

DND

4

DND

DND

DND

DND

DND

8

Best and brightest Mercantile Bank of Michigan was named one of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in 2021.

Promotion ChoiceOne Bank has promoted Lucas Marble to branch manager of its Rockford Division office.

He was previously the assistant branch manager.

Appointed role Mike Hollander of First National Bank of Michigan was appointed by the bank’s board of directors as the market president of its Grand Rapids location.

Most ethical

The Grand Rapids Business Journal list of top area banks, ranked by 2020 commercial loan portfolio, is the most comprehensive available. The list is based on responses to Business Journal surveys. The Business Journal defines "West Michigan" as Allegan, Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties. The Business Journal surveyed 38 banks; 12 returned surveys and 12 are listed. To be considered for future lists, email dnelson@grbj.com. DND = Did not disclose

Old National Bank was recognized by Ethisphere as one of the 2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies.

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10

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 17, 2021

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GR Chamber creates minority business councils CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

pass in serving our communities of color. And it’s not just about making a referral to another entity or having a staff person that maybe is bilingual. It’s about really investing in our communities of color and having the right people in the right seats.”

During implementation of the Kent County Small Business Recovery Program, Villarreal said the chamber heard from businesses that “feel they’re alone, no one knocks on their doors and asks them, how are you doing, how can we help?” and as a result, many of the businesses struggled to be ready with the proper documentation to apply for the COVID-19 relief loans and grants available.

Villarreal said the minority business council chairs will help guide the work of the chamber as it serves underrepresented communities; create peer-topeer networks that strengthen individual businesses and foster a sense of belonging for all; create a framework that activates minority business owners as community trustees in the areas of economic development, advocacy and leadership; and ensure the voices of the minority business communities they represent are being heard. Although the councils will be limited to about 10 business owners each, Villarreal said there will be opportunities for any minority-owned business to get involved at some level.

Ramos said the peer groups will alleviate the problem expressed in the old adage, “It’s lonely at the top.”

“I believe that having a sounding board, having a group of peers who share the same set of goals (and) stories of success and failures is probably one of the most powerful things that entrepreneurs can do,” Ramos said. “(A forum) where you’re able to share and discuss, whether it be wins or losses related to the many hats that we wear as business owners, whether it be human resources, talent attraction and retention, or whether it be creating policies and procedures. … I believe that when one is alone and leading a business, tremendous opportunities can be lost because we don’t have that group sounding board.”

Byl said inviting business leaders of color to corporate, nonprofit and school boards; CEO roundtables; city councils; industry-specific trade organizations; and other leadership spaces is an important step in changing the pattern of disinvestment in communities of color.

“To have some representation is extremely important, because if you notice, a lot of the policies we have now were created two or three generations ago when there wasn’t any representation,” he said. One of the goals of the minority business councils will be to invite leaders of color into those spaces where decisions are being made, he said.

Villarreal said it’s a documented fact that minority-owned businesses hire more minorities. Additionally, 90% of all job creation happens through second-stage businesses, which have $1 million

in sales or more and 10 or more employees, he said. However, a study of the greater Grand Rapids area revealed it only has about 30 minority-owned second stage businesses, which Villarreal said is “unacceptable.” The chamber created the Elevate Minority Business program in 2017 with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and a goal of creating more second-stage minority businesses. But more needs to be done, he said, adding the new minority business councils will each work to set their own job creation and business creation and growth goals for the communities they serve.

Ramos said he would like more minority business owners to feel comfortable asking for assistance and resources, whether it be through joining the chamber or via other opportunities. Genautis echoed that, saying, “If you never ask the question or never raise your hand, the answer is always no.”

Byl added business owners such as himself want to hear from other minority business owners and see more of them get involved in leadership. Right now, it feels to him like only about 20% of business owners are involved in the community outside of running their business.

Genautis encouraged entrepreneurs not to be afraid to try and fail, because everyone does.

“This council will be great for us to really take a look at … all those failures that we have, share those experiences (and) make us a stronger, better community, especially these minority businesses, to really elevate our growth to that next step.”

In addition to creating the minority business councils, the Grand Rapids Chamber also has designated two staff members to serve as minority business liaisons: Yadira Garza-Malone as the Latinx business liaison, and Nate Phillips as the Black business liaison. Both are membership engagement managers at the chamber. Villarreal said the chamber has a third staff member from its business services team in mind to serve as the Asian American business liaison, as soon as the individual wraps up projects she is currently working on.

Bios for each of the minority business council chairs and the business liaisons are available at bit.ly/chamberbios.

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

THE LIST

MAY 17, 2021

11

Top Area Credit Unions (RANKED BY TOTAL ASSETS) Chief executive officer/ chief elected officer

No. of W. Mich. service Year established locations/ in W. Mich. employees

Total assets (as of 12/31/ 2020)

No. of members (as of Associations/ 12/31/2020) accreditation memberships

New to the team Member services

1

Lake Michigan Credit Union P.O. Box 2848 Grand Rapids, MI 49501 p (800) 242-9790 lmcu.org

Sandra Jelinski Gretchen Tellman

1933

41 1,167

$9.24B

487,405

NCUA, CUES, MCUL, NAFCU, chamber of commerce, Local First, BBB

2

MSU Federal Credit Union 3777 West Road East Lansing 48823 p (517) 333-2424 msufcu.org

April Clobes

2017

1 9

$5.7B

302,576

NCUA, MCUL, CUNA, CUES, chamber Checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates, of commerce, CCUFC, SHRM mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, vehicle loans, youth accounts, business accounts and IRAs

3

Consumers Credit Union 7200 Elm Valley Drive Kalamazoo 49009 p (800) 991-2221 consumerscu.org

Kit Snyder Brent Bassett

1951

22 360

$1.48B

108,902

CUNA, CUES, NCUA, FHLB, MCUL, Simple, interest or business checking accounts Right Place, Southwest Michigan and access to more than 30,000 fee-free ATMs; First, Lakeshore Advantage, Forest eBanking – 24/7 account access through online, Hills Business Association, Local mobile, text or voice access; business banking First, Home Builders Association of services and loans; mortgages, home equity (and Greater Grand Rapids, Home Builders HELOCs), auto, RV, boat, motorcycle and personal Association of West Michigan, Grand loans, credit cards – rewards, low-rate and Rapids Association of Realtors, business options; savings - special savings, Greater Kalamazoo Association of Christmas account, money markets, CDs, youth Realtors, West Michigan Lakeshore accounts and IRAs; retirement planning services; Association of Realtors, Women’s educational blog featuring free financial wellness Council of Realtors West Michigan, information Women’s Council of Realtors Southwestern, ACUMA, MMLA, Battle Creek Area Association of Realtors, Commercial Alliance of Realtors, Grand Rapids Area Chamber, Byron Center Chamber, Cutlerville Gaines Chamber, Wyoming Kentwood Chamber, Grandville Jenison Chamber, Battle Creek Chamber, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber and more

4

Adventure Credit Union 630 32nd St. SE Grand Rapids 49548 p (616) 243-0125 f 243-9970 adventurecu.org

5

Community West Credit Union 5801 Broadmoor Ave. SE Kentwood 49512 p (616) 261-5657 f 698-0955 communitywestcu.org

Savings accounts, checking accounts, mortgages, insurance, investments, commercial lending, home equity loans, auto loans, credit cards, online banking, ATM services

Ann Marie Nelson David Ferguson

1936

6 106

$415.89M

30,603

NCUA, MCUL, CUNA, NASCUS, BBB, Four percent Edge checking, savings, CDs, money CUES, GRACC, GRAR markets, mortgages, auto loans, business lending, investment products, retirement planning, financial consulting

Jon Looman Pamela Hove

1967

6 78

$228.02M

22,229

NCUA, CUES, CUNA, MCUL, area chambers of commerce and BBB

Mobile and online services, high-interest checking accounts, savings accounts, HSA accounts, lowinterest consumer loans, low-interest mortgages, mortgage refinance, home equity, HELOC, construction loans

6

Bloom Credit Union 1414 Burton St. SW Wyoming 49509 p (616) 452-2161 f 252-2545 bloomcu.org

Daniel Baines Roxanne Speck

1951

5 43

$168.89M

14,134

NCUA, MCUL, CUNA, NASCUS, BBB, CUES, various chambers of commerce and Creston Business Association

Free checking, online banking with alerts, versatile app (w/ mobile deposit, ATM finder, bill pay, money mgt.), 30,000 ATMs, credit score analysis, all types of loans, business loans, Visas, financial planning

7

Family Financial Credit Union 3575 Henry St. Muskegon 49441 p (231) 733-4600 f 733-1631 ff-cu.org

Deb Dietz Linda Shepich

1942

4 44

$143.43M

16,472

NCUA, MCUL, CUNA

Full-service credit union, loans, CDs, checking, Visa, mobile banking, bill pay, business accounts

8

Best Financial Credit Union 1888 E. Sherman Blvd.

Muskegon 49444 p (231) 733-1329 f (231) 737-1425 bestfcu.org

Morgan Rescorla

1955

2 45

$116.72M

11,977

MCUL, ECUC

Loans, real estate lending, direct deposit, debit cards, credit cards

9

Meijer Credit Union 2410 Gaynor Ave. NW Grand Rapids 49544 p (616) 784-4822 f 784-3442 meijercreditunion.com

Matthew Yanoschik Tom Riddle

1958

2 36

$81.57M

14,455

NCUA, MCUL, CUNA, CUES, TEA, Savings, loans (personal and business), SHRM, Rockford Chamber of mortgages, CDs and money market, IRAs, ATMs, Commerce, Grand Rapids Chamber of checking, HSAs, home banking, mobile and text Commerce banking, RDC, bill pay and mobile bill pay, service centers, audio response, e-statements, mobile wallet

10

Muskegon Co-Op Federal Credit Union 1051 Peck St. Muskegon 49440 p (231) 726-4871 f 722-2628 muskegoncoop.com

John Rupert James Lewis

1949

2 30

$79.47M

9,771

NCUA, MCUL, CUNA, chamber of commerce

Secure checking, savings, loans, money market, debit cards, home banking, CDs, IRAs

11

Kenowa Federal Credit Union 1905 28th St. SW Wyoming 49519 p (616) 534-3307 f 534-9811 kenowacu.com

Kathy Meekhof Jerry Payne

1959

1 10

$29.72M

2,636

NCUA, MCUL, CUNA, Grandville Chamber of Commerce

Mortgages, loans, Visa, checking/savings, bill pay, IRAs, mobile banking

12

Thornapple Credit Union 202 E. Woodlawn Ave. Hastings 49058 p (269) 948-8369 f 948-9431 thornapplecu.com

DND

1964

3 29

$1.9M

7,067

NCUA, MCUL, CUNA, NASCUS, BBB, Electronic loan closings, credit cards, mortgages, Barry County Chamber of Commerce home equity lines of credit, remote deposit capture, online bill pay, HSAs, IRAs, financial counseling, secure checking

ATL Federal Credit Union 841 36th St. SW Wyoming 49509 p (616) 267-4285 f 249-3666 atlfcu.com

Robert Shane Benjamin Judd Tim Wulford

1956

1 6

DND

DND

NCUA, CUNA, BBB, WyomingKentwood Chamber of Commerce, MCUL

Loans, mortgages, savings, debit and credit cards, ATMs, internet and audio access, bill pay, mobile banking, checking, Visa gift cards, remote deposit capture, annuities

Kent County Credit Union 1619 Plainfield Ave. NE Grand Rapids 49505 p (616) 336-3490 f 363-3666 mykccu.com

Barbara Page Jon Denhof

1956

2 23

DND

DND

NCUA, MCUL, CUNA, Creston Business Association, Creston Neighborhood Association, chamber of commerce(s)

Consumer loans, mortgages, home equity, free checking, savings, term certificates, Visa credit cards, IRAs, youth accounts, online/mobile banking

The Grand Rapids Business Journal list of top area credit unions, ranked by total assets, is the most comprehensive available. The list is based on responses to Business Journal surveys. The Business Journal defines "West Michigan" as Allegan, Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties. To showcase a broader range of credit unions, the Business Journal extended the usual West Michigan area by also surveying credit unions within surrounding counties. The Business Journal surveyed 59 credit unions; 14 responded and 14 are listed. To be considered for future lists, email dnelson@grbj.com. DND = Did not disclose

Kory Brown and Matt Miller have joined Lake Michigan Credit Union. Brown is serving as a commercial lender in its Grand Rapids location.

Miller is a mortgage loan officer in the Traverse City region.

Different faces Adventure Credit Union has welcomed Teresa Shore and Betsy Ferwerda to its Alpine and Plainfield offices. Shore is the new Plainfield branch manager and Ferwerda is managing both the Grandville and Alpine branches.

Additional staff Consumers Credit Union has added Steve Glascock as manager of its new Grand Haven office, which is set to open this summer. Brett Clark also joined Consumers as its new mortgage loan officer.

Acquisition Shareholders and regulators approved United Federal Credit Union’s acquisition of the assets and liabilities of St. Joseph-based Edgewater Bank.

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12

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 17, 2021

Advantage Commercial Real Estate drops first market report West Michigan inches closer to ‘normal’ with even retail leases seeing an uptick.

Ehren Wynder

ewynder@grbj.com

Advantage Commercial Real Estate Services LLC released its first quarterly market report since opening at the beginning of 2021.

“We understand that to better serve the community, we must be able to make quick, calculated, and local decisions,” said Managing Principal Mark Ansara. “Our decision to structure the company around our clients, the true trailblazers, supports those that are actively seeking growth throughout Michigan and beyond.”

The industrial commercial real estate was marked by a robust demand for warehousing space caused by a need for quick and efficient distribution of goods in Q1, according to the Advantage report. The pandemic further accelerated an already flourishing e-commerce industry, with nearly 35% of industrial leasing activity in 2020 being directly related to it.

Supply chain safeguards such as reshoring of manufacturing and the desire to build and store safety stock of product has kept industrial vacancy rates at historic lows.

In West Michigan, vacancy rates are currently hovering around 3%, according to the report. Nationally, square footage demand for big-

Pinnacle Construction’s new industrial development in Walker will be anchored by German Auto Service. Rendering courtesy Pinnacle Construction Group

box warehouses (200,000+ square feet) grew by 24.75% in 2020.

Advantage is generally seeing physical expansion in the way of renovations and additions; however, new construction likely will begin to rebound this year as well.

Steel prices are at their highest levels in over a decade, yet experts say this often is a harbinger of an economic recovery to come.

The findings are supported by NAI Wisinski West Michigan’s recently released Q1 market reports. Notable activity included Pinnacle Construction building a 15,750-square-foot industrial development project at 2189 Avastar Pkwy. in Walker. The project will be anchored by German Auto Service with available suites ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 square feet.

Pinnacle plans to complete the construction this summer.

NAIWWM reported an overall vacancy of 3%, with an average rate of $4.28 per square foot.

Additionally, Pfizer recently broke ground on its $465 million pharmaceutical production facility located at 7171 Portage Road, Portage. The 420,000-square-foot facility plans to be operational by 2025 and will add roughly 450 new jobs in the Kalamazoo area.

Conveyor Concepts of Michigan, a maker of structural steel and material handling equipment, is spending $1,303,837 to add 30,000 square feet to its existing facility in Coopersville. The building is located in the Midway Industrial Park off Main Street. With this expansion, Conveyor Concepts ex-

pects to create four to six new jobs over the next two years.

The office real estate was marked by fewer long-term leases and expansions. As employees choose to either continue working from home, or not work at all, Advantage saw hesitancy to sign long-term leases or to expand, specifically in the office market.

In West Michigan, the number of office leases signed dropped 24% year-over-year, according to the Commercial Alliance of Realtors. Total market activity across all property types declined by 11%.

As some workers eventually start returning to their offices, Advantage expects to see employee density per square foot decrease and a slight reversal of the collaborative work environment trend

that has characterized the office market over the past five years.

Grand River Bank recently opened its second branch at 50 Crahen Ave. NE in Grand Rapids Township, NAIWWM highlighted in its Q1 report. The branch offers a full range of services and will employ retail bankers, commercial and mortgage lenders, operations personnel and administrative staff.

Additionally, KinetaCare Physiotherapy, an outpatient physical therapy clinic in Colorado, moved to Byron Center in 2014 and relocated to 4675 32nd Ave. in Hudsonville earlier this year.

Office vacancy was 5.5%, according to NAIWWM, and the average asking rate was $15.60 per square foot.

Retail in West Michigan is back on course after being thrashed by the pandemic. Retailers, specifically food concepts, continue to face the reality of adjusting to the delivery and take-out model relative to dine-in, but Advantage saw many of those establishments weather the storms better than expected.

Activity in the West Michigan retail market has stayed consistent in Q1, with a 1.9% uptick in leases signed, and there are few permanent closures. As adjustments are solidified, Advantage expects the retail market in West Michigan to maintain a steady course.

NAIWWM saw a total retail vacancy of 7.4% in Q1 and an average rental rate of $10.46 per square foot.

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INSIDE TRACK

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 17, 2021

13

McKinney looks to drive inclusive change New executive director of Grand Rapids Pride Center is rooted in a ‘community caretaker’ approach.

Rachel Watson

rwatson@grbj.com

J

azz McKinney’s converging identities and abilities could be exactly what the Grand Rapids Pride Center needs in its next season of service to the LGBTQ+ community.

McKinney — who identifies as a Black and Indigenous two-spirit individual and a transmasculine nonbinary person whose pronouns are they/them — became executive director of the Pride Center in March after taking on the role of interim executive director in October when the nonprofit’s former leader, Thomas Pierce, stepped down.

A native of Detroit, McKinney earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Grand Valley State University in 2009 and a Master of Arts in counseling psychology from Western Michigan University in 2014.

McKinney started volunteering at the Pride Center close to a decade ago, most recently serving as chair of the Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming committee and as its representative on the board of directors. Then, the opportunity to become interim executive director arose.

The Pride Center, in its announcement of McKinney’s hiring on March 22, thanked Pierce for his nearly three years of service and said that McKinney brings a “unique perspective on how complex West Michigan can be for a (Black, Indigenous person of color, or BIPOC) person to navigate.”

“Jazz is not afraid of change and eager to listen to multiple perspectives while staying true to advocating for those most oppressed,” the organization said. “The GRPC community is excited to begin a new decade with Jazz McKinney at the helm. We are prepared to

bring a hunger for change, intentional leadership and the practiced inclusivity required to build a community center where all of us feel like we belong.”

McKinney knows about belonging. Growing up in a closeknit neighborhood in Detroit, they were raised by their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, all of whom are still alive.

While their mother, Juanita, had them at 17 and their parents never lived together, McKinney still had plenty of male role models growing up, including a godfather, stepfather and second stepfather when their mother remarried, as well as a community of unofficial uncles.

“I loved it because it was the type of neighborhood where everybody on the block was my grandmother or my aunt, and I could be six houses down and whoever’s house that was could come outside, I would get in trouble, they would call my mom and then I would get in trouble again … but it was very close-knit,” McKinney said. “I’m still friends with some of the people I grew up with on the block and still friends with some of the people my mom grew up with. … I grew up with a very well balanced (set of role models).”

McKinney was an only child for 12 years until their brother was born, and they ended up helping care for him when their mom was experiencing mental health difficulties.

“I’m the oldest kid on both my mom and my biological dad’s side, so I just kind of have that oldest kid mentality — a caretaker mentality.”

McKinney was inspired to pursue psychology not only by their mother’s mental health struggles, but also by her successes. When they were 6 years old, their mother went back to school to earn a degree in psychology, and McKinney tagged along to class and became

JAZZ MCKINNEY Organization: Grand Rapids Pride Center Position: Executive director Age: 34 Birthplace: Detroit Residence: Grand Rapids Family/household: Spouse, D.L. McKinney; caregiver to their children, Rian, 6, Tai, 15, and Jacob, 22; mother Juanita also lives with them Community/Business Involvement: Co-owns a consulting business, Paradigm Shifts Consulting, with their spouse; is on the DEI committee of MomsBloom; serves on the Grand Rapids Public Schools Montessori advisory council Biggest Career Break: “The Pride Center is a culmination of a lot of hard work I’ve put in in the community, between doing individual consulting and training, and education and community building,” as well as individual counseling as an LGBTQ therapist at the YWCA West Central Michigan and residential clinical management at D.A. Blodgett-St. John’s before coming to the Pride Center.

Jazz McKinney started volunteering at the Pride Center close to a decade ago, most recently serving as chair of the Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming committee and as its representative on the board of directors. Courtesy Grand Rapids Pride Center

fascinated by the topics.

“I had a lot of fun because it was almost like I was in class myself, and I’m a dork; I’m a lifelong learner, so I love school,” they said.

After finishing graduate school — during which McKinney did internships and volunteer work in various mental health and LGBTQ advocacy settings — at the age of 28, they landed a job as a clinical specialist at a crisis intervention hotline. Much of the time, people needed someone to talk to when they were feeling down, but sometimes, McKinney had to talk suicidal individuals out of killing themselves.

“I had to figure out, what does each person need? What do they need me to say? How can I tap into trying to figure out who this person is and what interests they have that I could talk about to keep them going and really try to figure out their ‘protective factors,’ we call them. What is it keeping them here on this Earth? It could be anything — sometimes, literally the only thing I had was, ‘Hey, you told me you were a Christian and you believe that if you do this, you’re going to go to hell. You don’t want to go to hell, do you?’ Sometimes, that was all I had. Most of the time, it was kids or pets, though.”

McKinney next became the LGBTQ domestic violence/sexual violence outreach therapist for the YWCA West Central Michigan, where they worked for three years, then took the job of residential clinical manager at D.A. Blodgett-St. John’s. During their six-month tenure at DABSJ, they worked to make the campus more LGBTQ-friendly, along with providing clinical insight and analysis

of data, patterns and best practices for the integration of therapy services into the 24-hour mental health behavior stabilization program.

When the pandemic hit, DABSJ had to downsize its staff, and McKinney was laid off in April 2020.

They were a stay-at-home parent once again for the next six months, enjoying time with the family.

McKinney said this love of being a caretaker is part of their two-spirit identity. In the Native community, they said, a two-spirit individual is a community caretaker, a connector, a marriage counselor and a healer, among other nurturing roles.

Because McKinney loved being at home, they weren’t planning to go back to work until Pierce called and said he was stepping down, and would McKinney consider taking over as The Pride Center’s next leader.

McKinney said they feel as though this moment is the perfect time to implement a new vision and goals for the nonprofit, which historically — reflected in its former name, the Lesbian and Gay Network of West Michigan — has served white lesbian and gay individuals better than all individuals within the BIPOC, 2S-LGBTQ community.

“I’m Black, I’m Indigenous, I’m trans, I’m two-spirit, I’m nonbinary, I am not a Christian in West Michigan, I’m physically disabled, I have a traumatic brain injury, I have mental illness,” McKinney said. “That’s not to say that I’m the perfect conglomeration of a person to serve these communities well, but at least I have a little bit more knowledge … of how the system

treats people like me.”

McKinney said the first step they are taking in forging a more inclusive Pride Center is a series of community listening sessions the organization can then use to create a new strategic plan. They said they also want to build on the work Pierce did with expanding social groups and focusing on LGBTQ-inclusive health care, while adding more LGBTQ-friendly service providers to its resource list, such as more lawyers, real estate agents and therapists.

On June 20, the Pride Center will host its first virtual Pride Festival on Facebook, which will feature live and recorded entertainment such as drag shows, singers, spoken word artists, comedians and more, to raise funds for the nonprofit. Typically, about 90% of its budget is raised at Pride Fest, and when it was canceled last year due to COVID-19, the nonprofit struggled.

McKinney said they have a big job ahead of them, but they have already accomplished much by giving the community a renewed sense of hope, and they feel they are the right person for the job at this time.

“I get to do education and training, I get to do mentoring, but I also get to work with the LGBTQ community every day, I get to work with the most marginalized people, all the way to (being) in a room with other EDs and CEOs. I’m still trying to realize, ‘Oh yeah, you belong in this room, too.’ I get to work with everybody, and I get to utilize every single skill that I’ve ever learned growing up, in school and in life. … It is such a culmination of everything.”

14

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 17, 2021

West Michigan one step closer to 90% trash reuse CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

dates have proposed solutions that would provide an array of output products from waste materials diverted from the landfill.

“The great thing about this is we’re working with companies that aren’t converting waste into just one product. They’re actually producing a portfolio of different products, which allows them to diversify their investments and create hopefully a more stable operating environment,” Mroz said.

In addition to the ability to sort out metals and plastics and redirect them into recycling markets, both companies proposed composting solutions for organics.

Additionally, one of the outputs Urbaser produces is renewable biofuels from a waste treatment/ biomethanization process. Continuus Materials, on the other hand, takes thin-film plastics — which have posed a huge issue for Kent County’s sorting equipment and recycling processes — and converts them into construction boards similar to plywood that are used in commercial roofing projects — a needed innovation at a time when lumber and other materials prices are soaring.

Dar Baas, director of the Kent County DPW, said the evaluation committee in late April and early May conducted initial interviews with the finalists and will be making site visits to the companies’ U.S. facilities in June, if all

want to be sure that we’ve made a goes as planned.

Barring any COVID-19-related good recommendation that goes to delays, Mroz said the hope is to the Board of Public Works and ulbe able to choose one finalist in timately to the Board of CommisJune, conduct due diligence, and sioners and the community to kind begin negotiations by October, on of go, ‘OK, here’s what this looks the way to hopefully having the like; are we ready to do this?’”

As important as the anchor anchor tenant complete its facility at the park and start operations by tenant selection process is, Baas said there is an equally important 2024.

The RFP specified the anchor set of other activities happening tenant facility will be designed, to ensure the Sustainable Busibuilt, permitted, operated and ness Park can be up and running to meet its waste maintained by diversion goals by the company.

“We’re going to move 2030, a target date The county will as fast as we can, but Baas said is still be a partner in ensuring there is in a judicious way. We “very attainable.”

First, the DPW adequate infrawant to be sure that has to raise about structure and ma$18 million to covterials available we’ve made a good to process, and recommendation that er infrastructure improvements on it will handle regoes to the Board of the property besiduals that canfore construction not be processed.

Public Works and can even begin.

RFP respondents ultimately to the Board The Michigan were required to demonstrate they of Commissioners and Economic Develhave the capac- the community to kind opment Corporation (MEDC) proity to convert at least 50% of the of go, ‘OK, here’s what vided a $75,000 this looks like; are we site readiness inbound waste grant with a lomaterials, which ready to do this?’” cal match of the both finalists did. same amount in Baas said the Dar Baas November to help multi-step probring the projcess is intentional.

“While it feels like it’s taking ect closer to shovel-ready status, a little longer than we want it to, which includes the creation of I think that care of how we’re ap- adequate utility and roadway inproaching it is important,” he said. frastructure. Another grant from “We’re going to move as fast as the MEDC is helping the DPW we can, but in a judicious way. We get engineering and architectur-

FIGHT STROKE F.A.S.T. FACIAL DROOPING ARM WEAKNESS SPEECH DIFFICULTIES TIME

al drawings done. And the DPW also is pursuing grants from the Michigan Department of Transportation and other sources on the infrastructure side, as well as looking into more local match dollars. The county also is keeping an eye on state legislative changes that could lead to more tax dollars being available to support recycling infrastructure projects such as this.

Baas said it’s hard to say how high labor and materials costs will have risen by the time the DPW is ready to gather construction bids, but it’s another factor the team is watching.

The DPW also is beginning initial conversations with potential secondary and tertiary tenants.

One example is Eddystone, Pennsylvania-based AeroAggregates, which turns 100% post-consumer recycled glass into lightweight foam powder that can be used in civil engineering projects such as roadbed building. Baas said this company would require a minimum of 15,000 tons of glass feedstock annually to support a plant within the Sustainable Business Park. The DPW is about to conduct a study of how much recyclable glass is available in Michigan each year, using a grant it received from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). Baas said all he knows for sure is the Kent County Recycling & Education Center processes about 3,000 tons of glass per year from the residen-

tial recycling programs. Other sources could include glass from construction, post-manufacturing or automotive waste, but it’s still unknown at this point how consistent those streams would be.

Mroz said The Right Place is actively marketing the Sustainable Business Park to other complementary businesses and developers across the country in order to fill up the 12 or more spaces available in the park.

While many of the projects The Right Place helps market are huge job creators, Mroz said the Sustainable Business Park will be less traditional, in that its goal is to “put West Michigan on a global map as a leader in sustainable economic growth and sustainable technologies.” Currently, the U.S. — except for a few locations on the West Coast — lags behind Europe and Australia when it comes to waste diversion and reuse, he said.

The locations in California that are doing similar projects are heavily subsidized by the state government, whereas Kent County’s goal is to have the Sustainable Business Park be just that — a self-sustaining, revenue-producing business development.

“The goal is to have (the world) start realizing that West Michigan is a hotbed of innovation when it comes to the circular economy and the green economy … which is an industry segment that is going to do nothing but grow over the next several decades,” Mroz said.

“Everybody’s got trash.”

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04 OF 11

“We started down this strategic planning journey and asked ourselves: What are our gifts? How can we differentiate ourselves?” Andy recalls. “That’s what started us down the road of focusing on Recovery.

“One of the biggest things we struggled with is the revolving door and this constantly unaltering life pattern.

The men we served were trapped in homelessness and addiction. While giving them a meal and shelter was good and important work, it wasn’t getting them off the carousel.

We decided to give men a hand up rather than a handout so we could make a real difference in their lives.”

GETTING OFF THE CAROUSEL Andy Odehnal on the transformative power of Guiding Light When Andy Odehnal joined the board of Guiding Light in 2010, the nonprofit was still very much a traditional homeless shelter – providing warm meals and safe overnight beds to the men in Heartside.

An accountant by training, Andy had been introduced to Guiding Light by a fellow classmate in Leadership Grand Rapids. The Christian values of the nonprofit “totally fit” with Andy’s desire to get involved and to give back, so he said yes without hesitation when asked to join the board.

“I could certainly relate to the work Guiding Light was doing back then for those experiencing homelessness,” Andy says. “Our day room was open; we took in men at night and provided a lunch every day.

“I love how we’ve evolved since then. When I joined the board, we didn’t have a dime on our balance sheet and had to tap into our line of credit. Strategically, we were lacking a sense of identity and what really made us different from our peers within a three-block area of Heartside.”

Andy credits the leadership of Executive Director Stuart Ray, who brought a business leader’s eye and acumen to the nonprofit, and the vision of the board for transforming Guiding Light into an organization focused on getting men off the street and onto a payroll.

Today, Guiding Light Recovery is an intensive drug and alcohol recovery program designed to give men structure and opportunity to engage in change. The four- to sixmonth residential program combines evidence-based practices, life-coaching, therapy, support groups, spiritual direction and resources to equip men to stay sober and live life in a new way.

Recovery is provided at no cost to those who qualify. Men who enroll are provided with educational classes based in principles of behavioral therapy. Each week, they attend group therapy sessions and individual therapy sessions with a licensed counselor specializing in addiction.

Men also have weekly sessions with a life coach and a spiritual director, as well as daily personal contact with outside community support groups who are all committed to their recovery. Those who complete the Foundations portion of Recovery have the option to move to Iron House, Guiding Light’s sober-living apartment setting that provides a safe and secure environment in a residential area outside the inner city.

“We struggled at the beginning, and I remember a lot of heated conversations,” Andy recalls. “We realized we had to demand something of the men, so we established a rigorous intake process many have deemed controversial since we turned people away.

‘‘

If they’re not willing to do that good work and abide by our strict rules, we don’t accept them.

The men have to have skin in the game, too.

”

This earned Guiding Light Recovery a reputation on the street as “no-joke recovery.” Andy points to the stats as vindication: 78% of the men who complete Foundations

and move to Iron House are still sober a full year later. By contrast, only 33% of men in other recovery programs are still sober 12 months after leaving their programs.

Guiding Light’s transformation paralleled Andy’s own career overhaul. A native of Kalamazoo, Andy completed a degree in accounting at Western Michigan University.

During college, he worked part-time for a homebuilder and loved it, but listened when “everyone said work with your head not your hands.”

Andy married his high school sweetheart, Becky, who is now a nurse manager at Spectrum Health, and the couple moved to Hudsonville. He started his career in public accounting, earned his CPA designation and then completed an MBA at Grand Valley State University, which allowed him to move in-house with some large West Michigan companies doing internal auditing before transitioning into the role of CFO. “I always loved homebuilding and knew I someday wanted to start my own company,” Andy notes. “I gave the accounting thing a shot, but kept coming back to working with my hands. I had gotten my builder’s license in college, so I started acquiring the tools I would need.

“I wasn’t sure I was ready, but when the last of my three sons became a senior in high school, I knew it was time.”

Andy launched Welcome Home Remodeling in 2017, specializing in residential projects. His sons have all helped out with the business, which has grown steadily, and he’s now preparing to welcome his youngest son, Mason, into the company full time after he graduates from college this spring.

Over the years, his whole family has volunteered with Guiding Light to help serve holiday meals to the community. Just as Andy was taught the importance of giving back for your blessings, he’s raised his sons to see the importance of volunteering with an organization that resonates with them.

“Faith is central to who I am as an individual,” Andy says.

“I’m thankful to God for how blessed I’ve been. I wanted to select an organization to serve with, and faith had to be a critical component. Christ is at the center of the mission of Guiding Light, which fits well with my personal values.

“You can’t deny the power Christ has in changing people’s hearts and lives. It’s pretty clear how God has blessed this organization. We’re doing the right things.

Donors are seeing and understanding that. Success begets success. When you’re doing good work, it’s easier to win others to your cause.”

Through the guiding light of God’s Spirit, Guiding Light partners with individuals to fulfill their God-given potential through rescue, recovery and re-engagement in the community.

GIVE SECURELY ONLINE AT GuidingLightWorks.org/Give

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MAY 17, 2021

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

COMMENT & OPINION

GUEST COLUMN Ann Harten

There is something for everyone in West Michigan

T

he other day I met someone and we exchanged conversational pleasantries. As is the norm, our conversation meandered to discuss our origins. “Are you from West Michigan?” this person asked me. My answer: “I am now.”

After her look of puzzlement, I elaborated, “We have lived here for 15 years after relocating from Chicago. Before that, we lived in New York, and before that it was Philadelphia in the early ’90s.”

And then I finished with, “And West Michigan is unlike any of those places.”

You may think that my emphasis was used to imply a negative, but I assure you it is just the opposite. Having lived and worked in three of the largest cities in the country, I possess a rather unique perspective in terms of drawing a comparison. One would assume, correctly so, that those cities offer arts, education and opportunity. They most certainly have great health care, wonderful mass transit capabilities and exciting nightlife. New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia exude energy and are magnetic to companies and highly skilled talent.

So why, you might ask, is this area of the Midwest so delightful in my eyes? Why did we put down anchor for the past 15 years?

The word “anchor”’ provides a

GUEST COLUMN Adam D. Bruski

Buyer beware in hot housing market

R

eal estate in Michigan is a “seller’s market” this spring, which is all the more reason for buyers to proceed with caution.

Record low inventories of homes for sale have led to bidding wars between eager buyers. Low inventory and limited selections also are leading buyers to forego their “dream home” and take what is available — especially when life events such as a new child or a work relocation make entering today’s market necessary.

In the rush to secure an available home, prospective buyers still must take time to understand what they are buying — the good and the bad. Under Michigan’s Seller Disclosure Act, residential property sellers are required to provide potential buyers with information on visible and not-so-visible facts about the home.

The law requires sellers to use a specific form and disclose, among others, the following information about the home: •Existence and condition of numerous appliances and amenities •Evidence of water in the basement or crawl space •Condition and age of the roof •Condition of the plumbing, elec-

clue. I’ve been here for 15 years, long before the COVID-19 pandemic gave many Americans a new list of priorities when searching for a place to live. The things that made large cities attractive — abundant nightlife, thriving arts culture, bustling shopping districts, small quaint restaurants, amenities at your apartment doorstep — are largely diminished. In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan writes, “the old New York won’t come back.”

In contrast, the things that make West Michigan an attractive place to live have become even more important in the new, post-pandemic reality. Compared to large metropolitan areas, West Michigan has a much lower home-buying cost, which means you can even afford a house with a yard, or even a home office.

Another outstanding offering of this area is abundant outdoor recreation options. During the pandemic this has meant that you don’t have to be confined to your house while social distancing. But as always, you can be outside enjoying our 130 miles of trails or the longest freshwater coastline in the U.S., no matter what the season is. And yes, you can enjoy the outside even in the winter. If you’ve never seen Lake Michigan, it looks more like an ocean

trical and heating systems •Any history of insect infestation •Environmental contamination •Shared fences, roadways, driveways or other common areas with neighbors •Encroachments, easements and zoning violations •Structural modifications, alterations or repairs made without necessary permits or licensed contractors •Settling, flooding, drainage, structural or grading problems •Major damage to the property from fire, wind, flooding or landslide •Farm or farm operation in the vicinity or proximity to a landfill, airport, shooting range, etc.

•Outstanding municipal assessments or fees •Pending litigation that could affect the property or the seller’s right to transfer the property Some of these requirements are straightforward. Others, however, are vague, leaving room for interpretation that can lead to disagreements and lawsuits between buyers and sellers. For example, neither the disclosure form nor Michigan law defines what constitutes “evidence” of water in the basement or crawl space. Neither are clear on what to do when water damage has been mitigated by drainage improvements.

Home inspections are an important tool for buyers, but they do not always catch every defect, especially when the seller actively conceals a problem with the property. In some unfortunate instances, the first time a new homeowner learns about the yearly basement flooding or the leaky roof is when the spring rains come. Depending on the closing date, this can be nearly a year af-

than a lake. All along Michigan’s West Coast, you can access the water without spending a fortune or sitting in an hours-long traffic jam. In West Michigan, we also have mountain biking, skiing,

kiteboarding, hiking, 4-wheeling, dune riding and many other outdoor recreation activities.

Even our art scene is making CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

GRBJ.COM EDITOR

Tim Gortsema: tgortsema@grbj.com DIGITAL EDITOR

Tom Mitsos: tmitsos@grbj.com

MI VIEW WEST Garth Kriewall

ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR

Ehren Wynder: ewynder@grbj.com

Michigan journalist, kriewall@hotmail.com

STAFF REPORTERS

Danielle Nelson: dnelson@grbj.com Rachel Watson: rwatson@grbj.com Ehren Wynder: ewynder@grbj.com STATE LEGISLATIVE REPORTER

Capital News Service: freedma5@msu.edu ART DIRECTOR

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Michelle VanArman: mvanarman@hour-media.com

We pay our workers entry-level wages for entry-level jobs.

Is it our problem they can't find entry-level housing?

ter the sale. Other issues may take years to discover.

If a buyer believes the seller did not adequately disclose defects under the Disclosure Act, there are some remedies available.

However, the range of options is limited by “as is” clauses in most real estate purchase agreements.

These clauses typically state the buyer has had the opportunity to inspect the property, perform any requested testing and research the title and is purchasing the home “as is” with full knowledge of any defects or deficiencies.

Although this can shield a seller from a great deal of liability, it is not the end of the road for an ag-

grieved buyer.

If the seller acted in a fraudulent manner, the “as is” clause of the purchase agreement may not protect them under Michigan law. In general, to prove fraud, the buyer must be able to show the seller knew about the defect, misrepresented or failed to mention the defect when required, knew the buyer was relying on these statements and the misrepresentation damaged the buyer as a result.

Even in today’s tight housing market, buyers should still take the steps that will help prevent CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

CORRECTION A May 3 Business Journal story, “Nonprofit makes history, charts course for the future,” incorrectly listed Raycheen Sims’ title. Sims is co-pastor at Dream Builders International Church with her husband.

She became Family Network’s parttime program coordinator in 2018 and then was appointed as Family Network’s full-time director of operations after the retirement of Dale Echavarria in late 2019.

CORRECTION In the May 3 Business Journal story “UFP Industries puts workers on path to success,” an incorrect number of previous graduates was listed. UFP Business School launches a new two-year cohort every year.

Nine students graduated in 2018, four in 2019 and four in 2020, for a total of 17. In August 2021, 14 students are set to graduate, and a new cohort will be ready to launch in September.

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GENERAL EDITORIAL INQUIRIES editorial@grbj.com GENERAL SALES INQUIRIES advertisingsales@grbj.com Grand Rapids Business Journal (ISSN 10454055) is published biweekly, with an extra issue in December, by Gemini Media, 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Telephone (616) 459-4545; Fax 459-4800. General e-mail: bjinfo@grbj.com. Periodical postage paid at Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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LETTERS POLICY: The Business Journal welcomes letters to the editor and guest commentary. Letters and columns must include the writer’s name, address and telephone number. Guest columns do not necessarily reflect the philosophy of the Business Journal.

Letters and columns may be edited for reasons of space or clarity. Please submit to: The Editor, Grand Rapids Business Journal, 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or email bjletters@grbj.com.

PUBLISHED BY GEMINI MEDIA, LLC CEO Stefan Wanczyk PRESIDENT John Balardo

Applauding the power of understanding.

BRENT GEERS Founder of Geers Law

Grand Rapids Community Foundation knows West Michigan’s most dedicated professional advisors don’t have just one role. In their personal and professional lives, they are activators who create informed impact.

Brent sees the possibility of what can be. He believes in asking openended questions to draw out fruitful conversation and understanding, and sees estate planning as an avenue to empower and provide for those you love.

Please join Grand Rapids Community Foundation in celebrating Brent Geers, founder of Geers Law and a member of the Community Foundation’s One Hundred New Philanthropists. Find more passionate advisors making a difference in our community at grfoundation.org/advisors.

18

MAY 17, 2021

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL GUEST COLUMN Michelle Gray

Financial literacy vital to long-term success

A

bout two-thirds of Americans lack financial literacy — a concept that if understood and applied can change the course of one’s future — according to FINRA’s most recent National Financial Capability Study.

If you are not sure how to properly manage your finances and budget, you’re more likely accumulate unsustainable debt, fall victim to fraud or face long-term repercussions, such as poor credit, bankruptcy and housing foreclosure.

Household budgeting, learning how to manage debt and evaluating the tradeoffs between different credit and investment products are just a few skills that fall under the umbrella of financial literacy.

They’re also lessons that when learned and applied early in life can make significant impacts on your long-term financial health. Today, fewer than half of U.S. states require students to take personal finance courses, according to the Council for Economic Education.

This is a missed opportunity for the remainder of the country and for millions of students who would benefit greatly from a better understanding of finances.

While it’s no substitute for formal courses, there are some steps that each person can implement today to improve overall financial health.

CLASSICAL JAZZ NPR Blue Lake Public Radio has been providing Classical Music, Jazz, and NPR News programs to the people of West Michigan since 1982. It is on the air for you every day... even during this pandemic. Your support is needed now more then ever to continue this service. Please take a moment today to make a contribution online at bluelake.org/pledge or text BlueLakeRadio to 44321 Your gift will help! Thank You. We are here for you

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CREATE A BUDGET Follow the 50/30/20 or the 70/20/10 budgeting methods. In both methods, the first and largest number is for your needs, including food, shelter and clothing. The second number is for your wants and the third number should be invested or, if you have substantial debt, used to make additional payments toward paying off your debt.

Get in the habit of holding budget check-ins with yourself, spouse, or family. These don’t need to be long or complicated

meetings, but by reviewing your spending, savings and progress together regularly, you’ll ensure that you stay on track to achieving your goals.

MANAGE BILL PAYING You have a lot going on in your life and it’s easy for bill payments to be unintentionally swept under the rug. To avoid late fees and lessen the hassle of paying bills, consider taking advantage of automatic payments as well as text and email alerts. If you keep a calendar, try setting up recurring notifications.

CHECK YOUR CREDIT SCORE You’re entitled to one free credit report annually through the three major credit bureaus, for a total of three reports a year. You can check your credit score by visiting annualcreditreport.com. If you find any errors on the report, be sure to dispute them in a timely manner by notifying the associated credit bureau of the inaccuracy.

MANAGE YOUR DEBT Consumers often get into debt because they increase spending and reduce payment. To effectively manage debt, it’s important to do the opposite: reduce spending and increase payment. If debt is excessive, contact your lenders or credit card company to negotiate repayment, consolidate loans or even find debt-counseling programs.

INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE Take advantage of your employer’s 401(k) plan and make a goal to contribute enough to receive the full employer match. If possible, it’s a good practice to increase your contributions at least annually by a minimum of 1% until you reach the IRS contribution maximum. One percent is a small number, but over time this can have a significant impact on your retirement savings.

Becoming financially literate involves learning and practicing a variety of skills, but the efforts will, almost literally, always pay off.

Taking intentional steps to improving your personal finance will set you up for success — both today and in the future.

Michelle Gray is a participant services specialist at Greenleaf Trust where she provides education and communication services to clients with retirement plans.

Comerica’s index climbs for third consecutive month CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

process about what parts of the economy can return to business as usual and what constraints will remain due to COVID-19.

“An example of that is back-tooffice,” he said. “What percentage of employees are actually coming back to the office? And the impact on retail trade? We went through a very strong movement toward online shopping, and will some of that revert? (There’s been changes) in housing patterns impacting the commercial real estate market, and the multi-family housing market is in a state of flux right now. So there (are) an awful lot of unsettled conditions that are going to take a

year, two, maybe even three or longer in certain parts of the economy to really know what ‘steady state’ looks like coming out of COVID.” He added the vaccine program has positively affected the economy, as April was the second month in a row that saw strong consumer confidence, with more people going about their business and spending money.

“It is my hope and belief that the worst of COVID is behind us, and states can continue to make progress toward renormalization, but there are always risk factors out there that happen, and perhaps a further hybridization of COVID could be an issue, but that’s the downside risk,” Dye said.

You know where you’re going; we’ll help you get there.

Financial decisions carry great responsibility.

Grow, sustain and share your wealth more confidently with the holistic financial guidance of Plante Moran Wealth Management with you every step of the way. plantemoran.com/WealthManagement

20

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 17, 2021

ACCOUNTING

Rehmann won Clearlyrated’s Best of Accounting Diamond Award for providing superior service to its clients for at least five consecutive years. Rehmann received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 from 82% of its clients, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 43% in 2020.

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

ddm marketing + communications hired Michael I. Brown as sales and marketing director.

Grand Rapidsbased Deksia LLC acquired Roundpeg Inc., a full-service marketing agency based in Indianapolis. The acquisition allows both companies Brown to expand the services they offer clients, with a larger team to accommodate those clients.

Holland-based Boileau Communications hired Chris Kemperman as media producer. Kemperman will support the company’s growing video and multimedia production business.

ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING

Abonmarche is the recipient of the 2021 Firm of the Year Award conferred annually by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan for excelling in community engagement, advancement of the engineering profession and ACEC involvement.

American Institute of Architects Grand Rapids announced the following new members or roles: Megan Feenstra Wall(Mathison|Mathison Architects), president; John Rizor (Progressive AE), vice president; Steve Romkema (Fishbeck), new member and secretary; Jade Heiler (Fishbeck), new member; Season Gilliam (GMB Architecture +

MAY 17-JUN 6 Krasl Art Center New Exhibitions. Boom Bloom, featuring Nikki Renee Anderson and Renee Robbins, in KAC’s main gallery, and The Undetectable Presence: A Selection of Sculpture, by Mike Slaski, in the artlab. Cost: free and open to public.

707 Lake Blvd., St. Joseph. Information/ registration: (269) 983-0271 or krasl.org.

MAY 17-JUN 12 LowellArts GETAWAY New Gallery Exhibit. Featuring artwork by 100 artists from Michigan that celebrates the places or moments in time that provide us a chance to retreat, relax, and recharge.

Tuesday-Friday,10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday, noon-5 p.m. LowellArts Gallery, 223 W. Main St. Lowell. Information/registration: lowellartsmi.org/getaway.

MAY 19-20 Embracing Imperfections founder Shandy Longcore/Michigan District of Kiwanis Youth Summit On Suicide Livestream. Includes a variety of presentations and breakout sessions, mental health resources, coping strategies and grieving the loss of a friend or loved one.

May 19 high school event is from 11 a.m.1:30 p.m. and May 20 middle school event is from 8-10 a.m. Information/registration: embracingimperfections.org/youth-sum mit.

MAY 20 Family Business Alliance Peer Group and Recruitment Social. Join FBA staff, peer group participants and other family business members for drinks and apps to learn more about what makes FBA’s Peer Group Program valuable. 4:30-6:30 p.m., JDEK at Margaux, 235 Louis St. NW. Cost: free. Information/registration: members. fbagr.org/events.

MAY 20 Grand Rapids Young Professionals Virtual Tour of Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia. 4-5 p.m. Cost: free.

Registration: bit.ly/JimCrowTour.

MAY 21 Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of

Engineering), new member; and Anne Doornbos (TowerPinkster), new member.

ARTS

Michael Catching joined the Grand Rapids Art Museum staff as membership manager.

AWARDS

Owner and president John M. Leese announced Harvey Lexus of Grand Rapids has been awarded Elite of Lexus status for 2020.

The city of Grand Rapids received a 2020 gold medal rating from CityHealth for improving the health and well-being of its residents through policies that make lasting impacts in the everyday quality of life. It also received a bronze medal for earned sick leave policies.

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport has been named Airport of the Year in the air carrier category by the Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics.

BANKING

Arbor Financial Credit Union opened its 12th location at 3961 32nd Ave. in Hudsonville, its third site in West Michigan.

ChoiceOne Bank announced the promotions of Sherri Campbell to vice president, BSA and security officer; Tyson “Ty” Schmidt to assistant vice presiCampbell dent, ChoiceOne Bank, registered representative, Infinex Investments Inc.; Tracy Adams to officer, ChoiceOne Bank, registered representative, Infinex Investments Inc.; and Kara Lambourn to administrative officer.

Kalaczinski named MOA’s Educator of the Year Lillian Kalaczinski, an associate professor for Ferris State University’s Michigan College of Optometry, has been named the Michigan Optometric Association’s 2021 Educator of the Year. Kalaczinski is a 1998 MCO graduate following three years in the pre-optometry program at Ferris. Kalaczinski served as director of vision services at a Grand Rapids-area community health center before joining the MCO faculty in 2015. Kalaczinski also is chief of primary care services at the University Eye Center, and an adviser to registered student organizations unique to the college.

Union hired Melissa Swetz as a mortgage loan officer in the Kalamazoo market, specifically at the downtown office.

Old National Bank has been recognized

by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies.

CONSTRUCTION

CD Barnes Construction has honored Kalamazoo-based Esper Electric with its Key To Our Success Award for its efforts on the Kalamazoo Youth for Christ’s new City Life Center, in recognition for subcontractors who exemplify the best in performance, quality, and communication on CD Barnes’ projects.

EDUCATION

An eight-person Baker College Cyber Defense Club undergraduate student team recently earned the top spot at the statewide 2021 Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC), part of the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, created by the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security.

Kalamazoo-based Consumers Credit

Coopersville High School sophomore

Commerce 3rd Friday Networking Lunch.

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Amped Reality, 2923 28th St. SE, Kentwood. Cost: $17/members, $22/nonmembers. Information/registration: bob@southkent.org.

JUN 4 Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce Connected Chamber Women. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Stonewater Country Club, 7177 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Caledonia. Cost: $15/members.

Information/registration: Bob@southkent. org.

MAY 22 Grand Rapids Public Library/Cherry Health-Westside Health Center EatPlayGrow Program. Focus: energy balance, students will learn what it takes to attain a healthy weight through balancing energy in, with energy output.

For parents and kids pre-K and younger.

Class curriculum incorporates art-making, storytelling, music and movement activities into fun, hands-on educational lessons. Select either 10:30 a.m. or 2 p.m. at Grand Rapids Public Museum, 272 Pearl St. NW. RSVP in advance at grpm.org.

MAY 25 Wyoming Business Leaders Meeting.

8-9 a.m., Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW, Wyoming. Information/registration: (616) 261-4500 or d.kuba@instantcashmi. com.

MAY 27 The Wege Foundation 24th Annual Speaker Series Webinar. Topic: Healing Relationships With The Natural World,

by Robin Wall Kimmerer, author, educator, enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. 4-5:30 p.m. RSVP by May 26 to wegespeaker2021.eventbrite. com.

JUN 2 Meeting Professionals International Michigan Chapter Virtual Year-End Awards/Recognition Event. 4-6 p.m.

Cost: $30/members and nonmembers. Information/registration: bit.ly/ MPIAwards.

JUN 4 Saugatuck Center for the Arts Jump Into Summer. Featuring live music, visual arts, community art projects, all-ages activities and local vendors. 5-9 p.m., SCA Outdoor Plaza Stage. Information/ registration: sc4a.org/event/jump-intosummer.

CHANGE-UPS & CALENDAR

JUN 4-6 Festival of the Arts PLEIN AIR (Outdoors). Will include musicians and landscape artists within designated social zones and throughout downtown Grand Rapids. Festival-goers will be encouraged to purchase food and drinks from local restaurants and enjoy them in social zones where live art and musical performances will be taking place all weekend long. Information/registration: festivalgr.org.

JUN 7 Wedgwood Christian Services 36th Annual Charity Golf Classic. Includes 18-hole scramble, practice green, driving range, cart, two meals, door and contest prizes. Egypt Valley Country Club.

Information/registration: https://www. wedgwood.org/golf.

JUN 8 Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce Creating An Ideal Workspace Webinar. Four design principles to be discussed by Nikki Probst, vice president of marketing and business relations, Custer Inc. 10-10:45 a.m. Cost: free/members, $20/nonmembers. Information/registration: (616) 392-2389 or info@westcoast chamber.org.

JUN 8-29 Grand Rapids Young Professionals Golf Clinic. June 8: 6-7:30 p.m., June 15, 22, 29: 6-7 p.m., Thornapple Pointe, 7211 48th St. SE. Cost: $60. Information/registration: bit. ly/GRYPGolfClinic.

JUN 9 Kellogg Bird Sanctuary Birds and Coffee Zoom Chat. Examining grassland birds, including the Northern Bobwhite, Eastern Meadowlark and Bobolink. 10 a.m.

Shelbie Schoenborn has been nominated has a delegate to the Congress of Future Medical leaders – National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists, an honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields.

Student researchers at Hope College in Holland won three regional awards for excellence from the Midwestern chapter of Psi Chi the International Honor Society in Psychology for student-faculty collaborative research projects.

FOUNDATIONS

Grand Rapids Community Foundation promoted Ann Puckett to director of IT. Ken Fawcett, Healthier Communities at Spectrum Health, and Brandy Lovelady Mitchell, Kent Intermediate School District’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, joined Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s 12-member board of trustees.

Hungerford Technologies’ Kimberly Livingston was elected president of Cascade Community Foundation’s board of directors for 2021. Livingston

Cost: free. Information/registration: bit.ly/ BirdZoom.

JUN 10 Builders Exchange of Michigan Brews, Builders and Benefits. Networking opportunity. 3-5 p.m., Building Bridges Professional Services, 1530 Madison Ave. SE. Information/registration: (616) 9498650 or courtney@grbx.com.

JUN 11 Multi Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing. 8 a.m. tee time, Gleneagle Golf Club, 6150 14th Ave., Hudsonville. Cost: $110/golfer, $400/foursome. Information/ registration: Bob@southkent.org.

JUN 12 Cumulus Radio Muskegon Summer Wine Up. Wine festival will feature 20 different wineries and more than 100 different wines. 2-8 p.m., Hackley Park, downtown Muskegon. Cost: $15, includes four wine sample tickets. Information/registration: muskegonsummerwineup.com.

JUN 14 Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce Government Matters Zoom Meeting - with Elected Officials. 8-9 a.m.

Information/registration: (616) 531-5990 or michelle@southkent.org.

JUN 14-MID AUG Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Camp Curious Program. Includes in-person and virtual options. For kids pre-K through 12th grade, using the museum as a learning lab through a variety of camp offerings. Cost: $35 for single day, in person camps; $40 for multi-day Digital Discovery sessions, with discounts available for museum members. Information/ registration: grpm.org/Educlasses.

JUN 15 Family Business Alliance First Annual Fore Family Golf Outing. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thornapple Pointe, 7211 48th St. SE. Cost: $100/person, $400/foursome, cocktail hour only/$40. For members and hole sponsors only. Information/registration: members.fbagr.org/events/details/

will join CEO Justin Swan to lead the foundation’s new initiatives, including the establishment of endowment funds for Forest Hills-area residents beginning later this year.

GOVERNMENT

Kent County has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2019.

The city of Kent wood hired longtime civil engineer James Kirkwood as its director of engineering and inspections.

Kirkwood

The Kent County Health Department has successfully completed a review process to maintain national accreditation status through the Public Health Accreditation Board.

HEALTH

Catherine’s Health Center opened two additional locations during its 25th anniversary: Catherine’s Health Dental Center, 781 36th St. SE Grand Rapids, and Catherine’s Health Center at Streams of Hope, 280 60th St. SE Grand Rapids.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

CHANGE-UPS POLICY: The Business Journal welcomes submissions to the Change-Ups section. Send announcements concerning personnel changes, new businesses, changes of address etc. to Change-Ups Editor, Grand Rapids Business Journal, 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or email bjchangeups@grbj.com.

fore-family-golf-outing-719.

JUN 18 Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce 3rd Friday Networking Lunch.

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., outside Craig’s Cruisers, 5730 Clyde Park SW, Wyoming. Cost: $17/ members, $22/nonmembers. Information/ registration: southkent.org.

JUN 22 Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Live Broadcast of 3rd Annual West Michigan CEO Summit. Chaired by Michael Davenport, president and CEO, Jireh Metals. 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $250/members, $300/nonmembers.

Information/registration: https://www. grandrapids.org/event/west-michiganceo-summit.

JUN 29 Wyoming Business Leaders Meeting.

8-9 a.m., Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW, Wyoming. Information/registration: (616) 261-4500 or d.kuba@instantcashmi. com.

MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS Information: Stephanie Bradley, (616) 233-3577 or sbradley@experiencegr. com.

CALENDAR POLICY: The Business Journal welcomes submissions to the calendar section. Send items to Calendar Editor, Grand Rapids Business Journal, 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or email bjcal endar@grbj.com. Submissions must be received at least three weeks prior to the event.

The Business Journal calendar posted on the publication’s website (grbj.com) includes listings for events extended beyond those printed in the weekly publication that are limited by space restrictions.

PUBLIC RECORD MORTGAGES

Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds KUJACZNSKI, Doug et al, Wells Fargo Bank, Algoma Twp., $434,400 SLYWKA, Bradley M. et al, Macatawa Bank, Ada Twp., $660,000 BARNES, Michael et al, Guaranteed Rate, Cascade Twp., $375,000 GARDENTOWNAPTS LLC, MSU Federal Credit Union, Wyoming, $1,605,000 CLARK, Kyler D. et al, Dart Bank, Ada Twp., $348,100 HASSE, Arthur A. et al, PNC Bank, Ada Twp., $600,000 FOLLETT, John C. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Caledonia, $472,000 T BOSGRAAF HOMES LLC, TCF National Bank, Byron Twp., $408,100 KAMAL, Hemaa et al, Home Point Financial Corp., Parcel: 411425296001, $400,000 730 LEONARD STREET PARTNERS LLC, Commercial Bank Greenville, Parcel: 411324101034, $2,164,000 BAJEMA, Justin et al, Mercantile Bank, Cannon Twp., $1,184,000 NOBEL, Joseph, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Cascade Twp., $424,000 KUO, Edward et al, Crosscountry Mortgage LLC, Parcel: 411425296004, $361,500 HADZIMUJIC, Senad et al, Century Bank & Trust, Ada Twp., $375,000 VANCE, Caton et al, Neighborhood Loans, Parcel: 411417152015, $390,600 CHAFFIN, Michael et al, Neighborhood Loans, Cannon Twp., $510,400 BANISTER, Daniel J. et al, Grand River Bank, Grandville, $420,000 WHITE, Donald J. et al, Mercantile Bank, Kentwood, $696,000 LEININGER, Erick R. et al, Ally Bank, Cascade Twp., $377,224 HOODA, Jaipal S. et al, Loandepot.com, Parcel: 411425251011, $347,500 PETERSON, Julie, Loandepot.com, Grattan Twp., $395,400 AMATO, Christopher et al, Ally Bank, Parcel: 411411477011, $349,917 2451 MIDTOWN GREEN PROPERTIES LLC, Lendingone LLC, Parcel: 411430280027, $621,000 LARSEN, Brian et al, Old National Bank, East Grand Rapids, $460,000 JACKSON, Holly et al, Ruoff Mortgage Co., Parcel: 411424400094, $505,000 EL-ALI, Ahmad M. et al, Neighborhood Loans, Cannon Twp., $454,100 MORELLI, Christopher et al, TCF National Bank, East Grand Rapids, $546,600 TRUONG, Anh et al, Huntington National Bank, Cascade Twp., $380,000 HEATHCOMMON LLC, Mercantile Bank, Parcel: 411402101005, $525,000 HESSLER, Carl J. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411011202010, $436,000

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL MARKS, Russell D. et al, Inlanta Mortgage, Courtland Twp., $381,000 NYENHUIS, Trista et al, United Wholesale Mortgage, Ada Twp., $377,457 WOLFE, Adam et al, New American Funding, Parcel: 411425127009, $434,000 MACKENZIE, Christopher et al, Churchill Mortgage Corp., Gaines Twp., $362,900 BIRCHMEIER, David J. et al, Wells Fargo Bank, Parcel: 411401101037, $406,000 BROWN, Andrew D. et al, Quicken Loans, East Grand Rapids, $370,000 ELTAHWY, Ehab et al, Success Mortgage Partners, Plainfield Twp., $548,250 VERHULST, Craig B. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Plainfield Twp., $365,000 BOATRIGHT, Ronald R. II et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Cannon Twp., $635,000 LEMON, Daniel et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Caledonia, $418,000 GOMEZ, Santiago et al, Finance of America Mortgage, Parcel: 411431179024, $387,000 BRINKS, Lucas A., Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411933400047, $358,662 PEARSON, Eric et al, Consumers Credit Union, Parcel: 411428426007, $548,250 BEAUCHAMP TRUST, Quicken Loans, Parcel: 411324453132, $363,000 MITCHELL, Cody et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411411477040, $593,052 BRUNO, James F., United Bank, Ada Twp., $364,000 POPP, Joshua et al, Mercantile Bank, Parcel: 411428279018, $429,100 NSC GRAND RAPIDS NORTH LLC, Alliant Credit Union, Grand Rapids City, $18,000,000 NELSON, Eric W. et al, Private Mortgage Wholesale, Ada Twp., $480,000 GHUNEIM, George et al, Huntington National Bank, Cascade Twp., $774,000 PETERSON, Kevin et al, Northern Mortgage Services, Ada Twp., $390,000 SIDEBOTHAM, Larry et al, MSU Federal Credit Union, Cascade Twp., $831,300 NSC WALKER LLC, Allian Credit Union, Walker, $18,000,000 LUKE, Alexander et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, East Grand Rapids, $378,000 BURKE, Ryan, Cardinal Financial Co., Cannon Twp., $477,073 VONE, Benjamin et al, Macatawa Bank, Cannon Twp., $540,000 JW REMODELING, Adventure Credit Union, Parcel: 411819177024, $757,500 MEYERS, Dustin L., West Michigan Community Bank, Algoma Twp., $393,750 KHACHATUROV, Vadim et al, Neighborhood Loans, Parcel: 411411477007, $537,000 MEYER, Malinda et al, Grand River Bank, Cascade Twp., $434,080 KAHN, Daniel B., Mid America Mortgage, Vergennes Twp., $365,750

KIDAMBI, Pranav, Old National Bank, Parcel: 411411477036, $715,500 HENSLEY, Micah R. et al, Independent Bank, Algoma Twp., $560,000 MILLER, Michael et al, Primelending, Parcel: 411413101002, $548,250 ALLOR, Ryan D. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Ada Twp., $1,000,000 LAURIE, Carl, Michigan First Credit Union, Plainfield Twp., $390,450 SARSAM, Tony B. et al, Independent Bank, Ada Twp., $750,000 HICKS, David G. Jr., Crescent Mortgage Co., East Grand Rapids, $1,107,500 LACKS, Ryan R. et al, Fifth Third Bank, East Grand Rapids, $1,370,000 WATSON, Nicholas et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Ada Twp., $825,000 WILDFEUER, Mariana, Ruoff Mortgage Co., East Grand Rapids, $357,200 ENG, Donna S. et al, Old National Bank, Ada Twp., $525,000 BENJAMIN, Paula F., Lake Michigan Credit Union, Cascade Twp., $403,750 LAMMERS, Brendan, Lammers Trust, Parcel: 411324335127, $380,000 SCHAMPER, Shane et al, Neighborhood Loans, Gaines Twp., $398,050 PANTER, Adam H. et al, Capitol National Bank, East Grand Rapids, $840,000 JENSEN, Joseph M., Lake Michigan Credit Union, Solon Twp., $381,900 T BOSGRAAF HOMES LLC, TCF National Bank, Cascade Twp., $9,080,358 BRAS, Jose M. et al, Old National Bank, East Grand Rapids, $491,250 DT GRANDVILLE LLC, Fifth Third Bank, Grandville, $862,500 BOLLING, Lindy E. et al, Guaranteed Rate, East Grand Rapids, $393,000 KOLKER, Hope P., Quicken Loans, East Grand Rapids, $351,500 STARNES, Steven A. et al, Farmers Bank & Trust, East Grand Rapids, $510,000 KIM, Francis et al, Fifth Third Bank, Ada Twp., $570,000 ATTO, Frank et al, Nations Reliable Lending, Byron Twp., $355,785 SEGEBARTH, David et al, Independent Bank, Cascade Twp., $737,000 FERRO REAL ESTATE LLC, Michigan Certified Development Corp., Parcel: 411436451030, $617,000 BOEHM, Blake et al, Neighborhood Loans, Parcel: 411810152007, $342,000 SHAMSI, Zain et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Ada Twp., $396,000 BONT, Bradford L. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Cascade Twp., $380,400 KISELEVACH, Michael et al, Huntington National Bank, Cannon Twp., $465,000 WIACEK, Michael et al, PNC, Bank, East Grand Rapids, $358,400 FRAUNGRUBER, Scott et al, Huntington National Bank, Ada Twp., $550,000

V3 PROPERTIES INC. et al, Grand River Bank, Grandville, $4,000,000 BEACH, Shane et al, Quicken Loans, Cascade Twp., $347,779 KROHN, Kary, Cardinal Financial Co., Parcel: 411430381023, $468,272 GRB PROPERTIES LLC, Arbor Financial Credit Union, Grand Rapids City, $1,015,000 RYDER, Eric, ChoiceOne Bank, Cannon Twp., $387,500 KIRKMAN, Lisa et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Cascade Twp., $1,260,000 TOLSON INVESTMENTS LLC, Waterford Bank, Cascade Twp., $1,700,000 WIGGINS, Scott R. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Byron Twp., $444,500 KILNER, Joseph B. et al, Northern Mortgage Services Lowell Twp., $359,000 BUTLER, Lewis et al, Finance of America Mortgage LLC, Cascade Twp., $432,000 ROGERS, James M. et al, Wyndham Capital Mortgage, Plainfield Twp., $387,000 HARRISON, William C. et al, TCF National Bank, Grattan Twp., $390,500 KENT, Heath et al, Draper & Kramer Mortgage Group, Parcel: 411909127065, $485,000 NIRAULA, Daksha K. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Gaines Twp., $372,400 SCHUT, Jason, Quicken Loans, Byron Twp., $435,600 KLOOSTERMAN, Carl et al, Top Flite Financial, Grattan Twp., $518,500 WADE, John A. et al, Top Flite Financial Grattan Twp., $548,250 COBERLY, Chad A. et al, Fifth Third Bank, East Grand Rapids, $505,000 SWENSON, Christopher et al, Independent Bank, East Grand Rapids, $669,500 SIDDIQUI, Fazeel, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411324453092, $679,050 VALCQ, Michael et al, Homestead Funding Group, Ada Twp., $480,000 MULJONO, Arii S. et al, Provident Funding Associates, Spencer Twp., $349,800 VANESS, Joseph et al, Ruoff Mortgage Co., Byron Twp., $470,700 BREITFIELD, Kenneth Jr. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Cannon Twp., $451,743 SMITH, Wesley A. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Caledonia, $363,600 WALKER, Stacie et al, AmeriFirst Financial Corp., Gaines Twp., $402,550 CUSHMAN, Kyle S. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Cannon Twp., $600,000 DAR LINC LLC, Commercial Bank, Plainfield Twp., $670,000 KAREL, Patrick et al, Mortgage 1, Caledonia, $460,000

MAY 17, 2021

DYKSTRA, William C., Mutual of Omaha Mortgage, Courtland Twp., $350,000 KELLY, Michael E. Jr. et al, Better Mortgage Corp., Parcel: 411430252041, $370,000 FIELDS, Brent et al, Huntington National Bank, Plainfield Twp., $400,000 WILLIAMS TRUST, Mercantile Bank, Ada Twp., $495,000 KADIRIC, Muhamed et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Ada Twp., $857,000 CUBILLO, Hans A. et al, Inlanta Mortgage, East Grand Rapids, $371,250 MERIDETH, Jedediah J. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Cascade Twp., $461,200 SHOAF, Randy S. et al, PNC Bank, Caledonia, $352,000 HERMANN, Jack, Quicken Loans, Parcel: 411430330005, $363,500 NORTHBROOK 8 LLC, West Michigan Community Bank, Plainfield Twp., $420,000 RAM LLC et al, Valley Site Farms LLC, Parcel: 411313129011, $375,000 SCAFE, Michael W. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Byron Twp., $506,250 KAUSCH, Stephanie et al, Old National Bank, Algoma Twp., $389,500 OKORO, Isidore U. et al, Northpointe Bank, East Grand Rapids, $411,000 SASSANO, David et al, Benchmark Mortgage, Parcel: 411810127006, $362,500 MAYTON, Adam J. et al, Northpointe Bank, Cascade Twp., $399,000 DEERING, Kirk et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Rockford, $415,000 CUNNINGHAM, Thomas R. et al, Prime Choice Funding, Ada Twp., $482,900 SCHULZ, Susan L. et al, Bank of America, East Grand Rapids, $367,100 NUIVER, Joshua et al, Northpointe Bank, Bowne Twp., $542,376 MEEKHOF, Joshua A. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411428203011, $548,250 JOLMAN, Jacob A. et al, Grand River Bank, Cascade Twp., $548,250 BOSMAN, Colin B. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, East Grand Rapids, $652,000 RIETEMA, Bradley D. et al, United Bank, Cascade Twp., $386,200

PUBLIC RECORD AVAILABLE ONLINE: For the full version of this week’s Public Record, visit the Grand Rapids Business Journal’s website at grbj.com.

Financing

Buyer beware in hot housing market CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

disappointment and expense after the closing. It is crucial to engage a reputable inspector who can investigate any items the buyer has specific concerns about after viewing the property. Buyers also should scrutinize the seller’s

disclosure statement and ask the seller questions about any issues that appear on the form.

If a buyer discovers a defect after the sale, it is important to act quickly. Fraud can be difficult to prove in court, and the longer a buyer “lives with” a problem the less likely a court is to deter-

ELEVATED.

mine it is a serious misrepresentation by the seller.

Adam Bruski is an attorney in the law firm Warner Norcross + Judd LLP who concentrates his practice in real estate transactions and litigation. He can be reached at abruski@ wnj.com.

There is something for everyone in West Michigan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

a comeback, with all four of our largest museums open to the public, the symphony doing outdoor concerts, and ArtPrize (the largest art competition in the world) will be returning fall 2021.

If this is the first time you’re hearing of West Michigan, consider this: it was the fastest growing economy in the U.S. in 2017, according to Highlight Data.

Between 2010 and 2019, over 26,000 new residents moved to the Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA from other states or counties, according to the U.S. Census. That’s because they recognize the same thing I did 15 years ago: West Michigan is a great place to live and work. From IT to finance, mar-

keting to engineering, HR to sales, manufacturing to health care, our companies are thriving. These job fields are spread across a few main industries — manufacturing, health care, agriculture and tourism. Innovative companies are growing here too, with a very robust incubator mindset, and growing resources and funding. In short, there is something for everyone in West Michigan.

And if you’re thinking, “I don’t know how to find a job and relocate to a new state, especially in the middle of a pandemic,” don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Our region is home to Hello West Michigan, an award-winning organization that helps new residents connect with hiring employers and find their fit in the

community. Learn more about the region and their free services at www.hellowestmichigan.com, the regional hub of information.

Come visit, stay awhile, and find your place to thrive. If you make the move, perhaps, you’ll find yourself telling people you’re anchored here too.

Ann M. Harten is the CHRO and global vice president of Haworth, an office furniture manufacturer located in Holland. Her career in HR and IT has taken her all over the country living in top cities, but a move to West Michigan in 2005 opened her eyes. After discovering the hidden gem, she co-founded and leads a nonprofit called Hello West Michigan, which promotes the region as a destination for top talent.

Independent Bank offers a variety of financing options for equipment, commercial real estate, working capital, and more to ensure that if your business has a need, you’ll have a solution.

Contact your local commercial banker today!

Scott Rowley SVP, Commercial Banking 616.233.7113 SRowley@ibcp.com

IndependentBank.com

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GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 17, 2021

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

Spectrum Health announced president and CEO Tina Freese Decker was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of 2021’s Top 25 Women Leaders, the second consecutive year Freese Decker has been named to this list.

The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute and CEO Vanessa Greene are now aided by a 17-member consultative council intent on growing the nonprofit organization in fighting racial and ethnic health care disparities in West Michigan. The diverse group is drawn from all sectors to tackle deeply rooted issues in the local Black and Latinx communities to achieve healthier outcomes.

The Body Mind Being Project announced it is a nonprofit for those in the community that are less financially or culturally capable of accessing education, services and yoga training. Details: bodymindbeinginstitute.org.

Wyoming-based Metro HealthUniversity of Michigan Health developed a 24/7 home-monitoring program

for select COVID-19 patients that allows medical professionals to monitor their progress around the clock.

HOSPITALITY

Kalamazoo-based Wings Event Center has achieved Global Biorisk Advisory Council STAR accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities.

LEGAL

Amanda M. Fielder, a partner with Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, has been named a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Bodman PLC announced Brian E. Kersey of the firm’s Grand Rapids office has been appointed co-chair of the aviation law and finance practice group and Lindsay M. Cummings has been admitted as a member of the firm; and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce has appointed Wayne D. Roberts of the firm’s Grand Rapids office as chair of the Chamber’s Tax Policy Committee.

ranked as a 2021 Best Law Firm by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, as well as Litigation-Banking & Finance.

Mika Meyers PLC Grand Rapids attorney Benjamin A. Zainea was selected as a member of the Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2021 Go To Lawyers.

Rhoades McKee announced Jackie Gordon and Patrick Sweeney were recently elected as shareholders. With over 47 attorneys and three offices (Grand Rapids, Hastings, and Holland), the firm has grown to include 44 shareholders; J.R. Poll has been named chair of the nationally recognized medical malpractice legal team.

Susan S. Linker joined Mika Meyers PLC’s business and commercial, real estate, and trusts and estates practice groups as a paralegal.

James K. Scheper joined Wheeler Upham P.C. as of counsel.

Velo Law announced a merger with the law firm of VanHattum & Associates.

Keller & Almassian PLC was regionally

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP attorney

Ojone E. Ameadaji has been named to the 2020 Lawyers of Color’s Hot List. The Hot List features 100 attorneys of color who are under the age of 40.

Millman announced the addition of a new branch in Appleton, Wisconsin, making it the second addition to NorthStar and the first out-of-state expansion.

MANUFACTURING

RETAIL

Flow-Rite hired Angela Paauwe as operations director.

TECHNOLOGY

Dematic announced the appointment of Michael Larsson as executive vice president. He will be based in the company’s North American headquarters in Grand Rapids.

Lacks Enterprises Inc. named Nick Hrnyak its CEO. Richard Lacks Jr. has transitioned to executive chairman of the board; Mike Clover has been promoted to president; and Scott Chaudoir has been promoted to CFO. Kurt Lacks remains chairman of the board.

NONPROFITS

West Michigan Partnership for Children announced the addition of Nakia Kyler as its first chief engagement and equity officer.

REAL ESTATE

NorthStar Commercial president Steve

Byron Center-based SpartanNash was recently honored as a 2020 Gold Plate Awards recipient in the 50-199 stores retail category for its Family Meals at Home campaign to encourage families to stay strong with family meals.

Dewpoint promoted Hunter Scott to sales executive with a focus on the Southwest Michigan region.

Gary Galindo joined Fusion IT LLC as dispatcher and service team lead.

Kent County Board of Commissioners chair Mandy Bolter recently announced she will convene a new Kent County Broadband Subcommittee charged with assessing barriers to broadband service throughout the county, developing collaborative strategies to break down the barriers and identifying federal, state and local funding models to support the strategies.

Banker uses position to teach kids about finances CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

ahead of Botswana (52%).

The infographic also showed that only 16.4% of U.S. students were required to take a personal finance class in school.

According to Jason Dorsey, president of the Center for Generational Kinetics, the Generation Z population (who were born after 1996) is seeing how the millennial population (born between 1981-

1996) is struggling with wages and college debt, so they are taking note and doing things differently.

“I’m always surprised by how much these kids already know,” Crow said. “We’ll have discussions of how items in the lessons may be similar to something they’ve seen before — the students love to share their ideas and experiences.

If something is new, they’re eager to learn — seeing their wheels spin when posed a question is so inspir-

ing. Junior Achievement has spent so much time and effort creating practical lessons and materials to educate students about things they will encounter at some point in their life. As a volunteer, I have the fun job of presenting and discussing the material with the students.

Whether it’s opening up their first lemonade stand or concocting a new service or goods to sell, every JA session presents a practical lesson.”

In a traditional school year, Lutterbeck said JAMGL impacts about 70,000 students.

In a normal school year, approximately 16,000 educators collaborate with 17,000 volunteers to work in 28,000 classrooms at 328 schools in the region.

Despite the pandemic that disrupted the 2019-20 school year, there still were 247,350 JA volunteers nationally who helped 4,777,567 students in 208,373 class-

es at 21,503 schools.

“Pre-pandemic volunteers had physical program materials consisting of books, games, fliers and posters to bring into classrooms,” Crow said.

“Now, there is an online platform consisting of interactive content with virtual options. There are downloadable and fillable documents for teachers to distribute to their class so the kids can interact along with us.”

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 17, 2021

City manager presents first draft of FY22 budget CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

process will allow more time and discussion regarding this $10.2 million to discuss the proposed major expenditure categories, which are aligned with the commission’s near-term focus areas.

At the conclusion of the process, a budget amendment will be prepared for commission consideration to appropriate the $10.2 million in ARPA funds for FY22.

Implementation processes, including requests for proposal, to achieve the outcomes envisioned by the allocations would follow, as necessary.

Washington recommended reserving the remaining $21.65 million of the $94 million in ARPA funds for investments in the years beyond FY22. Nearly all those funds are proposed to be reserved in anticipation of additional revenue loss or needed recovery investments. The only other specific investment recommended at this time for those years is an additional $500,000 for the master plan.

“Our city government’s resilience in the face of these challenges is due to the undaunted spirit of our community, commitment and adaptability of the city workforce, robust collaboration with our partners, and to the foresight of our strategy and existing plans,” Washington said. “While pivoting and prioritizing were necessary, the soundness of our strategic plan has been confirmed by the challenge of COVID-19. We are stronger and more capable as a result.”

The preliminary fiscal plan also recommends capital investments of $96 million in FY22 and $428.2 million across all five years (FY22-26). These investments are made possible through a variety of funding sources including the general operating fund, bonds, federal and state allocations, leveraged funds, millages, Vital Streets income tax, rates and grants.

Capital investments related to health and environment account for 61% of all capital investments ($58.39 million) and include all environmental services department (including the water resource recovery facility and stormwater/green infrastructure investments), water department, and parks and cemeteries projects — as well as all investments in LED lighting. Mobility investments account for 22% of all capital investments ($21.71 million) and include Vital Streets, sidewalks and trail investments.

In addition to capital funding provided for lead service line replacements, beginning in FY22, the city will invest in private lead service line replacements located in the neighborhoods of focus using operating dollars provided through a $5 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant. Through FY25, 86% of this investment, or $4.16 million, will take place in the third ward, and 14% will take place in the first ward.

The FY22 preliminary fis-

cal plan recommends more than $25.62 million in direct city investment that Washington said will contribute to more equitable policies, practices and outcomes.

Some of the significant investments include: Regional Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan investments including increased supply of affordable housing and increased access to and stability of affordable housing — $6.8 million •Neighborhood of Focus/Third Ward Equity Funding — $2 million (potential ARPA) •Staff Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training — $40,800 •Support for the Michigan Indigent Defense Fund — $700,000 •GRow1000 2.0 — $1,200,000 •To College Through College (T2C) Studio — $112,386 •Grand River Equity initiatives — $284,166 •Neighborhood Match Fund — $100,000 •Neighborhood Association support — $562,671 •Lead service line replacements focused in Third Ward Neighborhoods of Focus — $1.74 million •Office of Oversight and Public Accountability — $408,781 •Thrive Outside — $193,290 •Bill assistance for water, sewer and refuse — $221,200 •Housing lead remediation — $2.2 million •New housing development/lead hazard position — $146,940 •DASH Bus operations — $2.4 million •Neighborhood of Focus-based transportation solutions like car share — $200,000 •Cure Violence evidenced-based crime reduction program — $100,000 •Violence reduction — $1 million (potential ARPA) •Additional violence co-response — $1 million (potential ARPA) •Other items of note in the preliminary fiscal plan include: •Sworn staffing levels are maintained for police and fire with no change from FY21 levels.

•Three non-sworn positions have been reassigned from the police department to other community services such as lead home programming, communications and neighborhood engagement.

Three radio technicians have been reallocated from the police department to the community dispatch department.

•Police spending is up approximately $700,000 over last fiscal year, but the expenses represent 35.8% of general fund expenditures in the FY22 proposed budget — down from 38.5% of the adopted FY21 fiscal plan.

•Property taxes will increase due to the voter-approved parks millage. This millage increased 0.9353 mills to 1.25 mills; however, the overall property tax millage will only increase by 0.2222 mills due to decreases in other components of the millage that include city operations, library and refuse.

The city commission will review the preliminary fiscal plan during an online committee of the whole at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 18.

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GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

State eyes revamp of court system CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Tribal State Federal Judicial Forum. Ultimately, the Michigan Supreme Court will choose the members in the near future because the deadline for interested applicants was May 7.

They will be tasked with developing a strategic plan for the improvement of Michigan’s judiciary.

According to the Supreme Court, Michigan’s legal system operates as a non-unified trial court system with varying and complicated funding structures, a multitude of case management systems and many local court rules across the state.

“With nearly 600 judges, 242 courts, and more than 160 funding units, our judiciary is decentralized, complicated and difficult to coordinate,” said Chief Justice Bridget M. McCormack. “The Judicial Council will play a critical role in consulting the public, bringing together a wide range of viewpoints and developing a path forward that maintains judicial independence, expands access to justice, strengthens transparency and increases efficiency.”

Over the past few years, leaders in Michigan’s judicial system have formed numerous groups and have been working on various initiatives to address the needs of the court including establishing the Justice for All Task Force, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration, MiFILE, MI-Resolve, Trial Court Funding Commission, Virtual Courtrooms and Problem-Solving Courts.

However, Judge Terence J. “T.J.” Ackert of Kent County Probate Court said they have a long way to go.

“The MiFILE system, which has been developed and allows for an electronic filing system for filing and serving court documents online, is an area — electronic filing — the courts are moving toward, but we have a long way to go,” he said.

“Currently, Kent County does not have an electronic filing system, except for the Specialized Business Docket, so we need to work on that issue.

“The Trial Court Funding Commission was established some time ago — within the last 10 years — and that is creating a stable funding system. Right now, 26.2% of trial court funding in Michigan is generated by the trial courts, $418 million of which comes directly from criminal defendants.

That process, the courts have determined is unsustainable over the long term, so we are looking at ways to enhance and improve the funding system.”

Ackert said they have virtual courtrooms that were established because of COVID-19 and as of February they have logged more than 2 million hours of Michigan virtual court hearings by Zoom.

They now are looking at how to expand that technological access.

“One of the issues is, how do we make the trial courts across Michigan unified in the technology that is needed to access the courts virtually so that there is sufficient connectivity with the court and that the technological equipment is consistent throughout the courts and that we lobby the state to continue its efforts to expand the Wi-

Fi and internet connectivity and capabilities throughout the state,” he said. “That is extremely important because in the Zoom hearings more rural areas of the state have more difficulty ensuring that its connectivity is stable because if it is not stable you cannot have hearings.”

Although leaders in the legal system already are looking at those issues, Ackert said the Michigan Judicial Council will be looking at having a long-term strategic planning process. Ackert said he anticipates the council will have many subcommittees working on dif-

ferent issues, which may include initiatives that already are in the works such as funding, but there are many more problems that need to be addressed through planning.

Chief Judge Susan Dobrich of the Cass County Probate Court said this is not something new.

She said other states such as Minnesota, Arizona and Illinois have established strategic planning for their court systems, but one of the differences is the approach. Michigan is doing it by a bottom-up approach rather than a top-down approach.

Ackert said the goal is to develop

a strategic plan over a 12-month period and have that plan implemented and updated throughout the years.

“From my perspective, I believe the courts need to conduct themselves much the same way as the private marketplace,” he said.

“Companies and organizations all do strategic planning, and the strategic planning is set to give stability and continuity in the operation of the company or the organization so that if there are changes in executives or leadership, then there still remains continuity and stability in the operation of the company or the organization. That is what we are looking at for our courts.”

For example, a change in Supreme Court chief justice should

MAY 17, 2021

not upset the whole system.

“We still need to have continuity and stability in the strategic planning of the court. We don’t want to have a situation where when we have new justices and elected officials come into the court system, they decide, ‘Well, I am not going to continue that program anymore, I am going to start these programs,’” he said. “While they can still be interested in initiating new programs, we don’t want to have programs that the judicial system believes are beneficial to stop. They need to continue, and they need to address needs and address concerns into the future.

That is what the public needs from our court system and we are going to give it to them.”

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GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 17, 2021

The pause that refreshes Room to grow.

C

ity Built Brewing Company no doubt was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the brewery managed to find ways to innovate and still drive sales, to the point where it may not want to go back to normal.

While the taproom still operates at 25% capacity, the brewery set up a socially distanced bar line, where customers can order their food or drinks and take them outside The bar line added sales volume for the brewery, owner Edwin Collazo said, but when the taproom is back up to full capacity, that means the bar line will have to be retired.

“That doesn’t mean we no longer have a line. It’s just no longer a comfortable line. It’s no longer spatially distanced. There’s not a lot of room,” Collazo said.

Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.’s establishment of refreshment areas has been a serious boon for business, Collazo said.

Customers to City Built no longer need to wait for a table. They’re only waiting to order and receive their drink, and from there they can enjoy it anywhere within the refreshment zone.

BUSINESS JOURNAL STAFF

Monroe North is one of three refreshment areas DGRI established in July 2020 to promote outdoor business and recreation in the midst of the pandemic.

Within the refreshment areas, patrons of participating restaurants, pubs and entertainment venues may carry an open alcoholic beverage of up to 16 ounces in a container designated by a “Monroe North Refreshment” sticker.

The Monroe North refreshment area stretches the entire block of 820 Monroe, where City Built is located, and goes as far north as the Homes at River’s Edge, all the way down Monroe and Ottawa avenues to Trowbridge Street. The refreshment zone also includes 6th Street and Canal parks along the Grand River.

“I think from the consumer point of view … it’s not like you show up and, ‘in 45 minutes we can help you,’” Collazo said. “It’s ‘we can help you now. You just got to find a space outside.’”

Even at a quarter of its original capacity, City Built has 148 seats within a tennis ball’s throw of the front door. The brewery recently renovated its outdoor social zone

with picnic tables and potted plants, and the “welcome center” tent the brewery set up during the winter still stands across the street.

Additionally, City Built patrons tend to take their beers a short walk down the street to Field & Fire Café, which also has outdoor tables and shelters.

“We bring (Field & Fire) beer, because people who drink beer tend to leave messes and think their mom lives here,” Collazo said.

CLEAN SWEEP Wise Men Distillery lent a helping hand to the zoo recently.

The Kentwood-based distillery donated 192 gallons of hand sanitizer to John Ball Zoo, which will be enough hand sanitizer for the zoo’s entire 2021 season.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to donate hand sanitizer that will help the zoo continue to safely provide an opportunity for families throughout West Michigan and beyond to enjoy a visit and the wonderful programming that John Ball Zoo has provided for generations,” said Tom Borisch, co-founder of

Wise Men Distillery. “Community support is part of the cornerstone of our mission to be good stewards of our business and the community in which we do business.”

With the pandemic impacting its traditional business, Wise Men Distillery shifted much of its focus to producing hand sanitizer to not only help keep its business going but also help meet the increased demand for the product.

Throughout 2020, John Ball Zoo also had to be agile and increase its health and safety protocols for guests, which has continued into the zoo’s 2021 season. The zoo quickly added handwashing and hand sanitizing stations throughout its facilities. While these added expenses were an unexpected hit to the zoo’s budget, its partnership with Wise Men Distillery will save the zoo about $4,000.

“Wise Men Distillery’s generosity is appreciated for many reasons. While it provides some budgetary relief, it also helps support our commitment to our guests’ health and safety,” said Bethany Stowe, John Ball Zoo development director. “They are a wonderful community partner, and we look forward to continued opportunities to collaborate and celebrate our community with them.”

Wise Men Distillery produces gin, rum, vodka, whiskey and bourbon at its distillery and tasting room at 4717 Broadmoor Ave. SE in Kentwood. A future downtown location is in the works.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Horizen Hydroponics sold 2021

STREET TALK “Grow Room” calendars in an effort to bolster local food pantries.

Each calendar sold for $5, with every dollar being split between Feeding America of West Michigan, Greater Lansing Food Bank and Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes.

Horizen Hydroponics committed to match the dollar amount collected from each purchase. In addition, Detroit Nutrient Company and Pheno Hut Seed Bank also committed to match the final amount donated to each food pantry. Each organization will receive $1,000.

“These calendars are not only fun and feature some of our valued local customers’ grow rooms but also are going to three amazing organizations,” said Horizen Hydroponics owner Bridgette Ujlaky. “We know these three food pantries provide a valuable service for those in our community.”

Each month the Horizen Hydroponics 2021 calendar features images from local grow rooms.

Local growers participated in the contest in late 2020 to determine if they made it into the calendar.

Those not chosen for a monthly spot were placed on the January 2022 page at the end of the yearly calendar, Ujlaky said.

“It is part of the culture of our company to be active in helping our community where we can,” she said. “After the turbulent year of 2020, we hope the money these calendars will generate will help put food on people’s tables.”

The company has locations in Lansing, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids and the Growers Outlet in Byron Center. Its website is www.

HorizenHydroponics.com.

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LEADERS, DOERS, SHAKERS, AND MOVERS Who is a woman who moves? She could be anyone in the community and you might not recognize her power or influence if you just passed her on the street, but on the inside she has a passion and dedication that can make a difference. She’s the one who creates environments that allow future generations to move to the next level. She moves obstacles out of the way for others, she moves resources closer to those who need them, she moves people to change the way they think, she moves the earth under our feet, and she even helps move us in and out of our homes. Most importantly, she moves herself and other women forward, in both traditional and non-traditional career paths.

Though they represent a wide range of roles — whether CPAs, advisers, lawyers, bankers, digital and technology experts, aestheticians, real estate agents, architects, childcare and early education providers, or non-profit leaders — the women in this section all have one thing in common: they’re moving Grand Rapids to the next level.

As our city continues to expand, these are the women who contribute their all to ensure we’re not just growing, but thriving. And, they do it all while taking care of kids at home or sending grown kids off to college. They serve as partners, caregivers, volunteers, mentors, and advocates. They balance their complex and ever active lives with grace and grit. Who are they? Find out here.

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

BDO USA, LLP is a leading national professional services and accounting firm providing assurance, tax, and advisory services to privately held and publicly traded businesses, as well as to family offices and high-net-worth individuals. BDO’s West Michigan practice is one of more than 60 across the United States and has been established in the local community for more than 100 years. Exciting changes have emerged more recently, and while the firm has always placed an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, within the last decade they have welcomed several female partners.

The West Michigan practice is proud to celebrate five women partners who work hard and lead every day.

Katie Ferris started her accounting career at BDO, joining the company in 2004. She was promoted to tax partner in 2015, and to her current role as tax office managing partner in 2019. She manages approximately 100 tax professionals and leads the tax practice in all areas.

Ferris serves clients in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, technology, telecommunications, and construction, with a primary focus on federal, state, and international tax planning, consulting, and compliance. She also assists clients with estate and succession planning, accounting, mergers and acquisitions, and IRS tax examination.

She has been recognized by Grand Rapids Business Journal as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan, one of Grand Rapids’ 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders in West Michigan, and as a 40 Under 40 Business Leader.

Luanne MacNicol has been a partner since 2019 and is a leader in BDO’s ERISA Services Group. She joined BDO in 2004 and has more than 20 years of public accounting experience, specializing in the area of employee benefit plan audit services. She serves as lead partner for several publicly traded and privately held plan sponsors and leads a dedicated team focused on providing plan audits. She is a regional practice leader and serves as a technical resource for audit teams and clients in BDO’s Central region. She is also involved in BDO’s National Assurance initiatives including development of auditing tools and training programs.

MacNicol is actively involved in BDO’s ERISA Center of Excellence and is a frequent contributor to the center’s thought leadership publications covering emerging trends impacting plan sponsors.

Carlye Klimek, came to BDO in 2009 and served as tax managing

director before becoming a tax partner in 2017. She works with large corporate businesses, both public and private, including implementing tax strategies, assisting with complex mergers and acquisition, and working closely with BDO’s Specialized Tax Services group in the areas of international taxation and multi-state planning. Internally, she leads the sales effort for the West Michigan Tax Practice.

Sara Hendrix, became tax partner at BDO in 2018. She is known for her versatility and breadth of capabilities. Hendrix works with both public and private clients, and with insurance companies all over the country, with a primary focus on and passion for client services.

Kelli Olson, is BDO’s newest tax partner, having been promoted in January. Like Ferris, she began her accounting career with BDO, starting in 2007. She leads BDO’s local private client services group, working closely with Ferris to manage and support the group that serves high-net-worth individuals, complex multi-generational families, family offices, trusts, and estates. Olson has extensive experience with federal, state, and international income tax planning as well as estate and charitable planning. She works closely with her clients and their team of advisors to provide strategic tax vision.

In addition to her private client focus, Olson also serves closely held businesses in a variety of industries, including manufacturing and distribution, government contracting, and technology, and also has experience with multi-national corporate tax and complex partnership taxation, including both private equity-owned companies and fund side consulting.

While inclusion has been a key goal for BDO, more importantly, these new partner roles have been filled organically, with the right individuals, each having earned the positions they hold and having established themselves as respected professionals.

What’s also worth noting is the longevity of service for many in the company. Ferris, who has been with BDO for nearly 20 years, says, “For me, it’s about opportunities, both locally and nationally. I’m also passionate about our West Michigan offices and our people.”

BDO’s core purpose is helping people thrive, every day. For Ferris and her colleagues, who collaborate regularly, it’s a driving force that applies as much to their clients as it does to themselves and their other peers. “We all get excited to help our clients, our employees, and our community succeed,” Ferris says. “Helping people thrive is what motivates us and keeps us going every day; that’s a big part of what gets us up every morning.”

Katie Ferris,

Tax Office Managing Partner

Sara Hendrix, Tax Partner Carlye Klimek, Tax Partner Luanne MacNicol,

Partner, ERISA Assurance Services

Kelli Olson, Tax Partner BDO West Michigan 200 Ottawa Ave. NW, Ste. 300 Grandw Rapids, MI 49503 616.774.7000 bdo.com

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

Rose Coonen, attorney and owner of Coonen Law, PLLC, graduated magna cum laude from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2003. She has extensive experience in probate and trust administration, estate planning, and business planning. Coonen started her career as a general practice attorney, but soon found that estate planning and business planning were areas where she could have the most impact on families and in the community. Seeing the many ways that an estate plan can fail, she devotes her time and her practice to helping families set up the legal safeguards they need, such as wills, powers of attorney, trusts, patient advocate designations, and even child protection plans to avoid any missteps.

Beyond simply a preparer of necessary documents, Coonen serves as a personal family lawyer to many, ensuring their plans continue to work for them throughout their lives and after their deaths. “This seemed to be an area where I could really help people to avoid court and avoid conflict,” Coonen says. “I’ve come across enough plans that people thought were written correctly and they weren’t — and they didn’t work when they needed them. It’s my goal to prevent that stress and heartache.”

Coonen’s mission with her firm has been to get the word out and educate people; to show them that if they have a plan and it hasn’t been updated, or hasn’t been reviewed recently, that there’s potential that it may not serve them. And, if they don’t have a plan, they need to, because the state will provide a default plan for them, and it may not be what they desire.

“I’ve seen so many families that have gone through probate court or have been tied up in litigation for years and it’s just destroyed their relationships. Nobody wins,” Coonen says. “So, that’s what drives me. I seek to understand how we can protect the family and provide not just a plan, but preserve those relationships and also provide a legacy.”

One of the ways Coonen works to inform families and help them take the necessary steps toward creating an estate plan before they need it; before it’s too late, is to host free webinars. Through these resources, people see what happens when the don’t plan or they don’t review their existing plans regularly — and how putting in the

effort today can save time, money, and struggle in the long run.

While having the right documentation in place is extremely important, Coonen recognizes that these safeguards often need to be taken a step further, especially for families with minor children.

She urges those clients to work with her to set up child protection plans that will fill in the gaps. In addition to long-term guardians, families should name short-term guardians in case of emergencies, as well as create detailed instructions they can give to babysitters and caregivers. “These enhanced plans add an extra level of security and peace of mind that can be invaluable in times of crisis,” Coonen says.

Coonen also works frequently with families with children with special needs. In that arena, there’s a greater need for a plan that encompasses every individual and addresses different family dynamics. These holistic plans ensure that everyone is on the same page and the details are spelled out, and there’s no potential for conflict or having to go to probate court.

She recently published a book on special needs planning called Estate Planning When You have A Child With Special Needs: Plan Your Estate Well, At The Right Time.It serves as a guide for parents on what to look at for different ages and stages of a child’s life, and provides information that empowers them to make their own decisions.

Coonen is supported by a small, but powerful team. Jenna Dolezan (not pictured), client services director, focuses on delivering outstanding service and prioritizing client relationships. She shepherds clients through the process and acts as a liaison between them and members of the firm. Amy Anderson, legal assistant, responds to client inquiries and oversees the daily operations of the firm to make sure things run smoothly. Brooke Knapp, director of marketing, handles marketing and social media presences, as well as preparing educational materials.

Coonen Law, PLLC, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2021. In the last decade, they have helped clients protect over $149 million in assets through estate planning. “We’re proud that our clients have allowed us to serve them and help them protect those assets,” Coonen says. “My goal is to be a trusted advisor who helps families make the very best personal, financial, and legal decisions.”

Rose Coonen Attorney

Coonen Law, PLLC 5035 Plainfield NE, Ste. A Grand Rapids, MI 49525 616.951.1531 coonen-law.com

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

With more than 30 years of banking and financial experience, Liz Bracken eagerly embraced the challenge of opening an independently owned bank in the midst of the Great Recession in April 2009.

Since then, Bracken has worn many hats as president, CFO, and COO of Grand River Bank, a locally focused, relationship-driven banking institution.

Bracken says it was an opportunity to build a bank on a cultural foundation she and the other founders were passionate about: to treat others the same way they would want to be treated. Today, that core operating principal of mutual respect and caring for others has afforded them tremendous growth and success. “We succeed when our team, our customers, and our community succeed,” she says.

Grand River Bank’s mission has always been to provide an exceptional experience for customers and a fair return to investors, and create an environment where team members thrive. Serving the West Michigan community is top of mind for the team.

“Our focus has always been on delivering a more personalized service to our clients. We like to say we craft solutions for people — and we can,” Bracken

Liz Bracken

President/CFO/COO Grand River Bank 4471 Wilson Ave. SW Grandville, MI 49418 616.929.1600 grandriverbank.com

says. “At Grand River Bank, we’re really about making and building relationships with our customers and we try to be of service to the community as a whole.

That’s the hallmark of who we are.”

To extend that mission and to reach a broader audience, Grand River Bank recently opened a second location in the Ada-Cascade area at 50 Crahen Ave. NE, Grand Rapids. While the bank has many customers in the region already, providing a full-service second location that is more convenient to the southeast quadrant of the city is expected to increase its customer base. The bank has been able to grow the business, nonprofit, and government sectors more quickly with their courier service, which brings the bank to the customer.

“Many people prefer to use technology for their banking,” Bracken says. “But, if they have a problem, they want to be able to speak with a person who can help solve it as quickly and efficiently as possible. We blend the convenience of digital tools with in-house support to help people when they need it.”

Grand River Bank is also passionate about working with local nonprofits. They strive to be a partner for them from volunteering, to matching employee donations, to serving as board members, to offering competitive pricing on products and services. “This is something that we feel we should be doing, but also something that we love to do,” Bracken says.

“We appreciate the work that our nonprofits do and how hard their jobs are. We believe that by pricing our products and services reasonably, they can use more of their money to support their mission."

As a woman in the banking arena, Bracken shares the same struggles as many female professionals. “I’ve had to invest a lot of time and energy to get where I wanted to go, even foregoing my original aspirations, but banking has provided me a wonderful career and I’ve been fortunate to work with some really fantastic people along the way,” Bracken says. “The reality is you have to fight for yourself. The world will never value you more than you value yourself.”

Joanna Chulick Owner and COO

GreenCup Digital Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616.929.0181 greencupdigital.com hello@greencupdigital.com

GreenCup Digital is a website services provider specializing in website design and support, social media management, content creation, search engine optimization, and more. In 2018, Joanna Chulick, purchased the company — then GreenCup Design — from well-known business leader and entrepreneur Veronica Kirin. Being an already well-established business with a secure client base and an excellent reputation, it was an opportunity Chulick felt compelled to pursue.

Since then, she has grown GreenCup to offer a full suite of services and expanded her team to better support existing and new clients. Chulick credits part of the company’s success to her team; in particular three women.

Forming a high-functioning dream team was, in some ways, serendipity.

Kendra Higgins, director of marketing and client experience, was already a contractor for GreenCup when Chulick purchased the company. She started out as lead web designer and developer, with additional skills in marketing and sales. Since her promotion to her current role, she’s blossomed, and thrives on helping clients develop digital marketing strategies to grow and succeed.

“She does such a great job of making sure clients are getting the support they need,” Chulick says. “She has experience in every service we offer, so she can determine what’s going to benefit the client the most.”

Anne DiVitto, project manager and social strategist, connected with Chulick at a networking event. After a couple of collaborations, DiVitto realized she wanted to be a part of the GreenCup team — and Chulick enthusiastically agreed. “We hit it off right away, comparing notes about our similar paths, and decided we wanted to work together,” Chulick says. With career in technology spanning more than 20 years, DiVitto is a wearer of many hats. She’s in charge of writing content and planning social media strategies, as well as project management where she keeps timelines organized, ensures deadlines are met, and sets appointments and meetings.

The newest member of the core team is Carly DeVries. Chulick says the company’s growth required the addition of a second project manager and

DeVries was an ideal fit. With a background in marketing and advertising, she knows the product and knows what she’s talking about when working with clients. “She thrives on processes and timelines and is really good at whipping everyone into shape,” Chulick says. “She brings a lot to the table and I’m not quite sure how we kept things together before she got here.”

And then there’s Chulick herself, owner and COO (Chief of Other… stuff no one wants to take care of, she jokes). Because

of her competent team, she’s been able to step away from handling client projects and now focuses on the day-to-day details that keep the business running. But that doesn’t mean she’s not still a driving force and an upholder of the values that earn them business and referrals. “Our clients like the way we treat them,” Chulick says. “We make sure they understand what we’re doing and why, and then we empower them to take the reins after our work is done.”

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

For Janet Romanowski, real estate is less about the properties her clients buy and sell and more about the people she helps along the way. Whether it’s assisting clients in achieving the dream of home ownership for the first time, or guiding them through the process of saying goodbye to the home they raised their family for years, she takes pride in her work. In her nearly 20 years of experience as a top producer, Romanowski always creates a positive, memorable experience for her clients.

The real estate market is hot in West Michigan right now, and Romanowski is in the thick of it, with referrals coming in from former clients and agents in other states who know she will take good care of the people they send her way. Many are relocations, which is particularly encouraging for Romanowski.

“I’m excited about the big city that Grand Rapids is becoming,” Romanowski says. “It’s evolving to be a go-to spot for people around the country and I love having the opportunity to be a resource for them.”

One of the reasons Romanowski is so highly sought after is the white-glove service she provides her clients. She strives to give each individual her

Janet Romanowski Realtor, ABR

Greenridge Realty EGR, Romanowski Homes 2213 Wealthy St. SE East Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616.458.3655 office 616.318.0065 cell romanhousekey.com

Driven by loss, a passion for educating, and a sense of responsibility to change the conversation around suicide — or even have productive conversations about it — Vonnie Woodrick founded i understand in 2014. That was 11 years after losing her husband.

She says depression took his life. The illness won. He didn’t want to die; he only wanted his pain to end.

That’s the message that she wants to reach more people: that suicide can be a terminal side effect of brain/mental health illness. Not a choice. Not an act that should be stigmatized. And certainly not a crime, which is where the phrase “commit suicide” is derived.

Based in Ada, Woodrick says, the non-profit organization i understand exists to be a resource in the community, providing compassionate comfort to individuals in a number of ways. These include hosting events, support groups, and weekly walks; airing the “Be the One” podcast; and offering speaking engagements on mental health and surviving the loss of a loved one to suicide.

The organization has partnered with Spectrum Health’s Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, funding a full-time, dedicated clinical nurse who educates hospital staff and provides those in mental health crisis with educational resources and emotional support. At the hospital, there’s also a sensory room for children needing a place of comfort and calm.

There are also i understand care packages available through the hospital system, Network180, and the Michigan Sherries’ Association.

One of the more important missions for Woodrick is to change how people talk about and view mental health and suicide — and she believes that goal is achieved by changing the language; changing the definition of the word suicide. “Today, suicide is defined as ‘the intentional taking of one’s own life,’ ” Woodrick says. “We’d like to see it described as it truly is: a side effect of a brain/mental health illness or pain, and the result of wanting one’s physical or emotional pain to end.”

To further this endeavor, she’s created a petition that calls on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the National Alliance on Mental

Illness to publicly affirm i understand’s more accurate, updated definition by including it in the literature and on their websites. Those interested in contributing their voice can go to: iunderstandloveheals.org/ petition to sign.

“We’re not talking about suicide and mental health the way we should be talking about it,” Woodrick says.

“For all other illnesses, we speak with compassion and listen with understanding, and that’s my goal for mental health and brain health issues. Because right now we judge them.”

One of the biggest myths out there is if people talk about suicide, it’s going to give someone who is suffering the idea. But it’s likely that person already has that thought. Instead, talking about it can help deescalate those feelings, especially when the focus is on the illness rather than the act. “We need to start recognizing pain,” she says. “If someone in our lives has gone through a traumatic event, such as losing their job or divorce, or is experiencing isolation, bullying, heartache, or financial loss, they need to be checked in on.”

To learn more, look for Vonnie Woodrick’s book i understand: Pain, Love, and Healing after Suicide, available on Amazon and the i understand website.

Vonnie Woodrick Founder

i understand P.O. Box 822 Ada, MI 49301 Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800.273.8255 iunderstandloveheals.org

full attention, and always makes sure no client ever feels as though she’s too busy to support them. “I put everything into their search, often working sunup to sundown, consulting with builders, talking with schools, setting up tours,” Romanowski says. “I go the extra mile for them.” That above-and-beyond service can be anything from helping those new to the city find doctors, dentists, schools, contractors, and more to helping with home staging for sellers and doing the legwork to find properties that aren’t on the market yet.

Romanowski — and her signature approach — is in such high demand that she’s continued to grow her team. A recent addition to her team has been shadowing Romanowski to pick up her style and learn how she operates. “It’s really important to me that if someone is going to work with us at Romanowski Homes, they’re going to get the same empathy and meticulous care I would provide them,” Romanowski says.

One of the other advantages buyers and sellers enjoy when working with Romanowski is her experience. In a competitive market like Grand Rapids, working with Romanowski and her team can be invaluable. As a seasoned professional, she has strategies, connections, and leverage that other real estate agents may not. “Years of being in the business count, but so do relationships,” Romanowski says. “It’s not only what I know, but who I know.”

However, it’s not all business. Romanowski also makes strong connections and nurtures relationships with her clients — many of which evolve into friendships that last years beyond their initial interaction. That’s a difference homebuyers will feel immediately. She’s there for the entire process and well after.

“The goal of my work is to ensure that my clients have an expert in their corner to navigate all of the ins and outs that can come up in any transaction,” Romanowski says. “Your Realtor should be someone you trust and someone you’re confident that has your back every step of the way.”

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

Founded in 1941, Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors is a full-service accounting and advisory firm that works with businesses, non-profits, families, and individuals to provide professional services including accounting, tax, auditing, fraud and litigation services, business advisory services and trust, estate and technology services.

A Grand Rapids institution for 80 years, the firm named Peggy Murphy its first female shareholder in 1995, and Carla Grant in 2001.

Murphy and Grant were pioneers in the accounting industry and paved the way for future generations within the firm.

In 1999, Adriane Schrauben, CPA, MBA, a Grand Valley State University junior, interned at the firm and in 2014, she became one of its eight current shareholders.

“I’m proud to be a female shareholder in a profession that has 23 percent on average of females in this position. Males and females enter the profession at equal rates, but women aren’t reaching the highest leadership roles,” says Schrauben, who directs the firm’s governmental auditing and estate and trust practice teams.

A leader in her organization, Schrauben strives to support and develop future female leaders that will continue to make Grand Rapids a great place to live and work. “The Grand Rapids business community is unique because of how much businesses support each other. I think there is a sense of camaraderie and a feeling of ‘being in it together,’ ” says Schrauben, who is also the board treasurer for North Kent Connect, an organization that provides access to basic needs and promotes economic independence for area residents.

One team member who credits a great deal of her success to the leadership that came before her is Tessa Keena, CPA, senior manager.

Keena leads the firm’s accounting solutions team, and in July will celebrate 10 years with Hungerford Nichols.

“This firm has encouraged me to have a voice, has contributed to my learning and growth, and has given me a platform to help others through my leadership position within the firm and volunteer and board positions outside of the firm,” says Keena, who was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan State Board of Accountancy in 2019, and was also a member of the 40 Under 40 Business Leaders in 2020.

A Grand Rapids native, Keena was a single mother out of high school and had a career in cosmetology before transitioning into

public accounting. For a period of 10 years, she worked on her education while balancing working and being a mother. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University and went on to earn her Michigan CPA license.

“There were many times of doubt and discouragement, but I did not let myself succumb to those feelings,” says Keena, who is married with a daughter now in college. “What I have learned through each opportunity and challenge is that we all have the ability to push past adversity, defying the limits to our success. Many times, it takes the support and encouragement of others every time we have to make the choice.”

Schrauben agrees. “Women often have a different perspective and their own set of challenges,” she says. “Sometimes just being an example, being able to collaborate, and having an open door policy makes an impact.”

Schrauben, who married her high school sweetheart and is the mother of two teenage daughters, sees it as a privilege and responsibility to mentor a new generation of leaders. In addition to the company’s women’s initiative, Hungerford Nichols has a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team with scholarship opportunities and an expanded internship program.

“One of our firm values is support. A lot of my clients are in support fields like education and nonprofits. Helping them run their organization and providing solutions to their problems allows them to continue to provide support to the community,” Schrauben says.

In service to her community, Keena is on the board of directors for several nonprofits including The Brains Foundation, the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce where she is creating opportunities to promote financial and accounting literacy.

For Schrauben and Keena, it is clear that their commitment to their clients and community is matched by their company’s commitment to its people.

“Our people are our most valuable asset, and our leadership is committed to growing leader and community representatives, not just accountants,” Keena says. “It is evident through the financial investment our firm places in our continuing education and leadership training as well as our community involvement opportunities.”

Adriane Schrauben, CPA, MBA-Shareholder

Tessa Keena,

CPA-Senior Manager Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors 2910 Lucerne Dr. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546 616.949.3200 hungerfordnichols.com

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

When Coleen King started her career in marketing, she knew two things: she wanted to be the best, and she was willing to put in the time, effort and energy it took to get there. Over the next 40 years, she built a career that included breaking barriers as the first woman in sales at a local Lansing TV affiliate and founding an internationally recognized marketing agency.

King grew up in West Michigan and credits one of her teachers at Forest Hills Central with pointing her to the media and communication industry. After graduating from Michigan State University, she worked at Avery Knodel, a prestigious national rep firm in Chicago, where she negotiated with the nation’s largest ad agencies on behalf of Kellogg, Sears, Unilever, American Dairy and Proctor & Gamble. Eventually, her love of Michigan brought her home and she became the very first female sales representative in the history of WLNS TV, Lansing’s CBS affiliate. Not deterred by the challenges of breaking into a male-dominated field, King quickly rose to become the top-performing regional sales manager for two different local television affiliates during her career in media.

In 1999, King decided to retire. Her clients, however, had other ideas and continued to seek her expertise in communications and strategic planning. She loved being able to maintain the strong relationships she’d developed, and quickly realized that her next adventure was King Media.

King Media now provides full-service marketing, advertising, public relations and digital media services to clients across the country.

King leads a talented team of professionals and uses her expertise in strategic communications to help clients move the needle. She is especially passionate about projects that strengthen communities.

King has located each of her three offices in places that have special meaning for her: East Lansing, home of her alma mater; St. Joseph, a place of century-old family roots; and most recently Ada, where a high school teacher changed the trajectory of her life.

“Opening an office in Ada was intentional. I wanted to give back to the community that shaped me,” King says. “Our commitment to building foundations, relationships and success stories is what defines King Media. Now we can invest in new relationships as well as strengthen our current ties in West Michigan.”

Her work has garnered 46 national and international awards since 2015 – including PRNEWS Boutique Firm of the Year – demonstrating that King Media’s work is on par with industry leaders around the world. In addition to awards that recognize her agency’s public relations work, King has been named an honoree for the PRNEWS Top Women in PR and PR People of the Year awards. She was also humbled to receive the Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences 2020 Outstanding Alumni Award.

Coleen King

President & Founder King Media 660 Ada Dr. SE, Ste. 202 Ada, MI 49301 616-.63.2390 kingmedianow.com

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

At Legacy Trust, we focus on three things — you, your family, and the generations that follow. It’s our mission to create lasting legacies by providing trusted advice and support that reduces the burden and worry of financial decisions. We know that creating and sustaining financial legacies doesn’t happen overnight.

Our investment team, led by Laina Mills, will work to help you grow your legacy using a disciplined, thoughtful approach. We recognize that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions when it comes to investment strategy and we work with your unique considerations to develop the best portfolio for you.

We approach investments as owners, not traders, and believe that quality businesses create lasting wealth for their owners over long periods of time. This core

Laina Mills

Chief Investment Officer Legacy Trust 99 Monroe Ave. NW, Ste. 600 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616.454.2852 legacytrust.com

At Legacy Trust, we talk a lot about “answers for life.” But what does that mean? It means we’re here to give our clients the confidence they need through life transitions that are filled with uniquely delicate questions, served through a trusted and local-to-West Michigan lens. Ask your self these questions: ‘Is my retirement plan strong enough?’ ‘How do I approach selling my business?’ ‘Should I establish a family trust?’ ‘How can I ensure my family is taken care of when I’m gone?’ ‘And what’s more: what do I want my lasting legacy to truly be, for my loved ones?’

At Legacy Trust, we are resolute in our local pride and independence. As a chartered trust bank, we are held to the highest standards of fiduciary responsibility, compliance and governance by a truly local board of directors. To this day, the entire management team and board of directors reside in West Michigan, ensuring decisions are made locally and never handed down by remote corporate officers.

For you, that means our unbiased advice is truly personal, professional, and immediate.

Our institution is proud to be led by President and CEO Tracey Hornbeck. She is responsible for all aspects of business, from strategic planning and profitability, to employee and client engagement.

Prior to Legacy Trust, Hornbeck has long been building a legacy of her own working in the banking industry where she most recently served as regional chief financial officer and senior vice president with financial oversight for a multi-state region of more than $16 billion in assets and over 3,000 employees.

Hornbeck’s achievements have earned her recognition as a Top Woman in Finance, Regional

Thought Leader, YWCA Women of Achievement, Inforum Inner Circle Leader, and 40 Under 40 by the Grand Rapids Business Journal. She was also named as a Top 200 Business leader in West Michigan during its inaugural year in 2019 and again in 2020 by the magazine. Truly living Legacy Trust values, she is committed to the West Michigan community through her service on several boards including John Ball Zoo as board chair, WMCAT as board secretary, and the Grand Rapids Symphony as board treasurer.

Hornbeck is generous with her time and has a passion for mentoring others, particularly through career transitions. She resides in Ada with her husband and three teenage boys. During her free time, she likes to fish and walk her two dogs.

Tracey Hornbeck President and CEO

Legacy Trust 99 Monroe Ave. NW, Ste. 600 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616.454.2852 legacygr.com

belief informs our investment philosophy and helps us focus on building quality portfolios that will stand the test of time to help build your legacy.

In her role as chief investment officer of Legacy Trust, Mills leads the development, execution and oversight of the firm’s investment philosophy and asset management strategies, including asset allocation guidelines, tactical positioning, portfolio construction, and investment policy design. She also directly manages key individual and family office portfolios, working alongside the firm’s wealth management staff to deliver investment solutions that are customized to meet client needs. Mills deeply values her client relationships and the role she plays in working alongside them to help sustain and build their legacies.

Mills has made a commitment to the highest professional standards in the investment industry by earning the Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner designations, and has been regularly featured in local media to discuss the investment outlook for the stock market and various economic topics. She has been named to the Grand Rapids Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Business Leaders and the American Bankers Association’s national 40 Under 40 in Wealth Management list in recognition of her accomplishments. Outside of work, she is deeply engaged with the West Michigan community and serves on several boards, including Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, the Downtown Market, Opera Grand Rapids, and Catholic Charities West Michigan. She resides in Lowell with her husband and 4-year-old son.

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

Mercy Health is a non-profit health care system serving Grand Rapids, Muskegon, the Lakeshore, and the surrounding communities in West Michigan. It is known for providing compassionate care, employing the latest technology, and harnessing its award-winning expertise to improve the health of the residents and communities it serves.

Among its staff are the following four women leaders who have earned their status as Women who Move.

Kristen K. Woods, M.D., MMM, president of Mercy Health Physician Partners, presides over Mercy Health’s employed medical group in West Michigan, which includes nearly 800 physicians and advanced practice providers and 1,200 staff members in more than 85 locations.

Woods is passionate about improving the health of communities throughout the region by reducing social disparities, promoting wellness, and creating convenient access to high-quality health care. She strives to return joy to the practice of medicine for the physicians, providers, and colleagues who these days with COVID-19, bravely serve the people of West Michigan. In addition, Woods has served as a mentor to women who strive to achieve professional excellence and advance their leadership skills.

Karen M. Kennedy, M.D., regional medical director and lead family physician for Mercy Health Physician Partners, is a transplant from Brooklyn, New York. During her decade with Mercy Health, Kennedy has continued her leadership and dedication to residency physician programs, served in underserved offices, and direct-to-employer care realms. She is known for representing her colleagues on various Mercy Health and community boards and cultivates community partnerships by fiercely supporting her organization’s core values. A vivacious

speaker for local and national health organizations such as the American Heart Association, Kennedy practices what she preaches with regard to healthy eating and exercise to optimize mental and physical health.

Michelle Peña, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, is chief nursing officer for Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, and leads more than 2,000 nurses and clinicians.

Peña strives to create an environment where individuals can grow professionally and practice at the highest level of their abilities.

In such an environment, the very best patient care excellence is achieved. This professional environment is one reason why Mercy Health Saint Mary’s has earned Magnet Recognition, a designation that less than 7 percent of health systems have achieved. Peña believes that the excellence in care extends beyond the hospital walls and works to improve the overall health of communities in the areas of COVID-19, human trafficking, and health disparities.

Michelle Rabideau, CFRE, MPA, president of Saint Mary’s Foundation, is a national leader in philanthropy, raising more than $100 million for various organizations including the Saint Mary’s Foundation, the fundraising arm for Mercy Health Saint Mary’s.

Rabideau is passionate about health care, empowering women, and community service. She is a recognized leader in our community promoting her passions into purpose and people. Rabideau believes that mentoring others to be their very best self means that they will be more highly engaged and simply happier. She is inspired when people come together for common goodwill to make a positive difference, and believes that’s when true transformation happens.

Mercy Health 200 Jefferson Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616.685.5000 mercyhealth.com

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

With a background in childcare and preschool teaching and a passion for educating young children, Kelly Russell founded Milestones Child Development Center in 2005. Since then, Milestones has grown into an institution that now serves more than 1,000 families at five locations across West Michigan.

Russell says the programming lays the foundation of early education, furthers children’s cognitive, language, social, emotional, physical, and creative development through play-based methods, and focuses on nature as a way to enrich each student’s learning. In the Milestones environment, each child is given opportunities to explore their surroundings and expand social and problem-solving skills.

She says as a locally owned company, Milestones Child Development Center, places children first, takes pride in their state-of-the-art facilities, has a strong commitment to the highest quality staff, and uses the application of proven education techniques.

For parents who want to invest time and specialized care into the overall wellbeing of their children, Russell says Milestones is the ideal choice. She says the staff at Milestones believe it is essential for parents, teachers, and families to work as a team with a common goal to continually develop and increase children’s knowledge and growth. Parents are

Kelly Russell

Owner/Acting President Milestones Child Development Center – Central Office 4527 Cascade Rd. SE, Ste. B Cascade, MI 49546 616.551.3200 milestonescdc.com

Directly after college graduation in 2011, Kendra Pfaff, who grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, opened a cash-for-gold store. It became the launching point for Pfaff Jewelers, a fine and custom jewelry store she owns and operates today. Born out of the desire to bring new life into family heirlooms brought into her store, Pfaff Jewelers is now a go-to for those who want to create custom pieces from their precious gems and metal treasures. “I take great pride and pleasure in rescuing these pieces, which otherwise might be salvaged and sold just for the individual parts,” Pfaff says. “Thanks to my team’s expertise and modern equipment, we’re able to offer this service for a fraction of the price that other stores might charge.”

When people think of jewelry stores, those sterile, often intimidating shops in a mall may come to mind, however, Pfaff says her store is nothing like their competitors — and that’s by design. Where the big names are mostly just financing companies, Pfaff isn’t in the sales game; they’re in the service business. And, that difference is felt immediately when entering the store. She says her staff isn’t on commission, so their focus is on finding the right item for their customers, not selling them the most expensive one.

“I’m most concerned with how we’re benefitting the customer and that we’re operating in the most costefficient and effective way,” Pfaff says. “Whether it’s something as small as changing out a gem on a piece of costume jewelry or creating a fully custom piece out of someone’s heirloom jewelry, we listen to our customers and strive to deliver exactly what they want.”

More than just a family jeweler, they have become a popular place for a number of offerings not available from other retailers. Pfaff says watch repair services keep them buzzing all day long, from new bands and band adjustments to the most affordable watch replacement batteries in town. They also buy gold, and regularly shop their competition to make sure they’re always the highest payers. And, one of the

biggest draws is that they sell estate and pre-owned jewelry — one of the few stores in the Greater Grand Rapids area that has a sufficient selection. In their heirloom stock, they have pieces that range from everyday fashion jewelry to glamorous bridal sets.

“We don’t want to sell our customers something they can’t afford, and we don’t want to sell them a credit card and have them go into debt, either,” Pfaff says. “If they tell us they have a smaller budget, we’ll suggest to them either a lab-grown diamond — which can be significantly less expensive — or guide them toward the pre-owned section where they can find a beautiful piece that looks just like new.”

It’s this blend of service and selection — and an attitude of helpfulness shared by all the staff — that gives shoppers a wholly positive experience. “Our mentality is not that we’re doing you a favor, but that we’re happy to have you,” Pfaff says. “We’re developing a more modern take on jewelry stores, and the level of service is so much higher than what’s expected and what’s been provided in the past.”

Kendra Pfaff Owner

Pfaff Jewelers 4000 Chicago Dr. SW Grandville, MI 49418 616.532-.435 pfaffjewelers.com

encouraged to be involved and partner with teachers and caregivers to assist their children in reaching their fullest potentials.

She says the certified and degreed teachers at the center serve as role models and are consistently encouraging students to reach new levels, and they recognize that children are capable of many things.

“Teachers embody the roles of facilitators, observers, and evaluators — all in a warm and supportive setting,” Russell says.

Milestones Child Development Center is an awardwinning institution, having been voted Top Daycare Center in Grand Rapids by GR Kids for 2019, 2020 and 2021 and the No. 1 childcare institution in the Best of Grand Rapids Magazine 2019-20 readers poll.

As the creator, developer, and owner of the center, Russell’s mission has been to provide a safe and nurturing environment designed to meet the developmental needs of young children. She says she puts her heart into every aspect of Milestones, and the most common compliment she receives is the overall feel that the center, the teachers, and the administration provide a secure atmosphere to families.

Russell laid the foundation for the united community that is Milestones. This spring, knowing the need for quality care and education for young learners, she broke ground on another center on Wilson Avenue in Wyoming area. This step was not without risk, given the uncertainties the pandemic has brought to businesses, individuals, and families.

Last year was not at all what anyone expected.

When other businesses were forced to shut down, she sought out ways to safely stay open to care for essential workers’ children. She also found a means to keep her staff safe and stay open for the families that needed the center as a resource. Her common phrases include, “How can I help?” and “How will that impact our families or staff?” She is selfless all while making smart informed business decisions. As a pillar in the world of education, Russell “moves” anyone she comes into contact with. Moves to educate. Moves to impact. Moves to change their future.

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

When Krista Flynn fell in love with banking during a college internship, she never looked back. Now, as regional president for TCF Bank in West Michigan, she oversees a team of more than 20 relationship managers, with more than $1.2 billion in loan outstandings.

“My work is the perfect mix of using analytical, sales, and outgoing people skills. I enjoy being a connector and finding ways to help others succeed in their business,” says Flynn, who was at JPMorgan and its predecessors for 18 years, and six years at PNC Bank before joining Chemical Bank in 2018, which in now TCF Bank and will become Huntington Bank this summer after the planned merger.

Raised south of Detroit, Flynn is a first generation college graduate who worked her way through the University of Michigan so she could graduate without debt. Earning her bachelor’s in finance, Flynn subsequently received her master’s in finance at Walsh College, and is currently enrolled in an Executive Women’s Leadership Certification through Cornell University.

Flynn has multiple leadership roles at work and in the community, and currently serves on the executive committee of the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

“Grand Rapids is a place where business leaders

Krista Flynn

Regional President TCF Bank West Michigan 150 Ottawa Ave. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616.588.7424 tcfbank.com

are also community leaders,” says Flynn, who is highly involved with KConnect, The Right Place, and ACG West Michigan. “It is a unique business community where leaders genuinely want to help each other succeed.”

Flynn notes that businesses, public entities and the non-profit sector all work hand in hand to make the region a great place to work, live, and play.

“It’s in our DNA to give back to our communities in a tangible, active way,” says Flynn. “It is really amazing to see collaboration on community projects that make Grand Rapids a better place.”

For her role, Flynn makes an impact by influencing her network to focus on important continuous improvement in areas like diversity, equity and inclusion, economic development, regional talent retention, and equitable achievement for all children from prenatal to college to career.

In the Grand Rapids area, she sees companies needing support in attracting and developing talent. “I have several clients who have limited top-line growth simply because they don’t have the workers they need to take on new business,” Flynn says. “We need to work harder with community colleges and skilled trades schools to get them the resources needed to develop the talent right here in West Michigan.”

Dedicated to her clients, Flynn says that establishing trust is key to finding mutually beneficial solutions to almost every problem. “We work with our clients to understand how to find the win-win solution.”

Flynn found her own win-win this year with video-conferencing, and being able to connect more frequently with her employees in the large geographic area she covers.

“There is an element of culture that gets missed, and I think the future will bring some form of hybrid so we can stay connected to those further away on a more regular basis,” she says.

For her dedication to her work and community, Flynn has received honors including Grand Rapids 40 Under 40, 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders in West Michigan, 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan, and was nominated for Newsmaker of the Year in 2019.

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

Whitney Mooney, along with her husband Sean, own the Knapp’s Corner location of The Goddard School, a trusted preschool institution with franchises all over the country, including several in greater Grand Rapids. Goddard Schools offer learning programs for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years.

When the Mooneys were expecting their first child, they toured several schools and centers where their daughter, now age 4, could be cared for while they both pursued their careers. After visiting one of the Goddard Schools, they quickly fell in love with it — so much so that they immediately started making plans to purchase their own franchise. While they prepared to open their location, their daughter attended another Goddard School and, today, attends the one they own and operate.

“We are a family-owned business, and the main reason we started this endeavor was to bring quality, early childhood education to this area,” Whitney says. “We were born and raised in Grand Rapids and see this as a way to give back to our community by educating our future leaders and people who want to stay in the city and contribute its prosperity.”

One of the features that attracted the Mooneys to The Goddard School is its play-based FLEX Learning (Fun Learning Experience) program. Based on research on how children learn best, and focused on building academic, creative, social, emotional, and physical skills, the curriculum and programming offer each child a well-rounded experience.

The Goddard Schools set themselves apart from daycare and babysitter scenarios, as well as similar early education institutions, in that their instructors are professional teachers, and their lead teachers are required to have a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in early childhood development or a child-related field. They’re knowledgeable in developmentally appropriate practices for the age group they’re teaching and they write their own lesson plans, as opposed to other schools where the director or corporate team write those plans. This allows for a more customized approach that is built on observance and fact-finding and, it means that they’re teaching to the children in their care and not just what is expected for a particular age group.

Most important is that the children are joyful, having fun, and

interested in what they’re learning, which sets them up for success, boosting confidence and better preparing them for when they enter kindergarten.

From the parents’ perspective, there’s greater peace of mind.

Paragons of cleanliness and security, Goddard Schools’ health and safety standards are above and beyond what licensing requires in Michigan and also what the CDC recommends at this time. They perform unannounced quality assurance checks to ensure staff is following procedures and protocols, and they also have high-tech iris scanners that prevent uninvited guests from entering the locked facilities.

It’s the combination of safety, nurturing, and education that allowed Whitney to continue to follow her career goals, before the Mooneys purchased and opened their own Goddard School. “I understand the struggle that moms have with the choice of staying home with their children or working out in the professional realm,” Whitney says. “I am passionate about providing parents with a safe space that allows their children to receive the same loving care that they would give. When my daughter attended her first Goddard School and I was working in hospitality, I felt supported, and I wanted to give that same support to other people.”

Whitney has a second child on the way, which has really reinforced the path that she and Sean are on as owners of a Goddard School.

“What’s wonderful about this stage in our life is that we’re on the same playing field with all of the parents here,” Whitney says. “We’re going through all the same struggles with raising children and working, and I love that I can communicate and really relate with parents that way, too — as a peer.”

She and Sean understand how hard it is for parents to leave their young children. Making sure that they’re getting quality care while also achieving educational milestones is not just important, it’s crucial. Whitney finds great reward in providing this option. “Owning a preschool that enriches people’s lives, helps support parents, and creates a community is the best thing I could have ever imagined for my life,” Whitney says. “We love Grand Rapids and I want to instill that love in these children and encourage them to stay here and grow this wonderful city we call home.”

Whitney Mooney Onsite Co-Owner

The Goddard School – Knapp’s Corner 2911 Knapp St. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525 616.208.9292 goddardschool.com

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

For Angela Visbeen, it’s not easy to talk about her work as president of Visibility and Director of Sales and Marketing at Visbeen Architects without mentioning another Visbeen, her husband of six years, Wayne, the Principal and Founder of the firm.

“Wayne creates a wake, and I manage that wake,” says Angela, who began working with Visbeen Architects in 2003 when it was an 11-yearold boutique architecture firm based in Grand Rapids.

“Angela is being too modest,” Wayne says. “I equate her to a movie director. She is not on screen, but behind the scenes, she makes things happen. She has made us a national brand and a household name in the architectural world.”

Indeed, Angela has expanded the Visbeen brand to include home plans that are published and sold internationally, she’s fostered relationships that have resulted in Visbeen homes in 48 states and 13 countries, and has tapped into online, broadcast, and print platforms, including TLC’s “Playhouse Masters” to promote the firm.

Visbeen Architects has also appeared in American Dream Homes, Houseplans.com, Custom Home, Builderhouseplans.com and The Wall Street Journal. Angela also initiated a video series that allows potential clients to experience the firm and tour completed homes, and set the stage for video entries into national and local award shows.

With hundreds of awards and recognized internationally, Visbeen Architects is a custom residential, retail and commercial architectural firm under the umbrella of Visibility, which Angela says includes Vision Interiors and ancillary projects. “I manage other opportunities for design such as logos or industrial design that do not fall into either architecture or interior design,” says Angela, who oversees projects from concept to completion and manages all new business partnerships.

The mother of a son in eight grade, and a daughter in seventh, Angela says she has had a year like no other. Most years, her and Wayne spend 40 percent of their time traveling for business. They’ve even worked together on a partnership with clients in India. Yet despite staying close to home because of the coronavirus, this year

has been busy for Visbeen Architects. Angela explains it’s because people are spending more time at home than ever before, and are investing in their home.

This has played a role in the design of homes moving forward with accommodations for adults working from home, and children learning from home. While waterfront home designs are a specialty of Visbeen Architects, Angela says the company showcases a range of styles to create a residential space that will grow and change along with the needs of the residents.

“Because my family is very important to me, it is very important that we create homes for families,” Angela says. “ I believe in home and the power of home, and your home being a haven.”

One place Angela did travel to this year was to Washington, D.C. where she hosted the Best in American Living Awards (BALA), which is the culmination of all the best residential designs as determined by the National Association of Home Builders. As a member of the NAHB Design committee, Angela has hosted this awards ceremony for five years in a row, although this year was the first time it was held virtually.

In addition to her work for the NAHB, Angela has had a presence closer to home working on volunteer and charity projects to benefit Make-A-Wish, the Children’s Leukemia Foundation, the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Runway for Charity, Habitat for Humanity, and Bethany Christian Services.

A graduate of Calvin College, Angela is originally from Indianapolis and a true Colts football fan. While her official title is Director of Sales and Marketing, her email signature states quarterback. “Partly that is because I love football so much — my son plays football — but it is also because everything for these companies comes in through me and I delegate where it should go,” she says.

Her love of football is exceeded only by her love of Indy Car racing, and she’s been to every Indy 500 since 1997. One of her favorite moments at the firm was when she got to meet an Indy winner when he and his wife wanted to build a home. “That was a pretty great day,” she says.

Angela Visbeen

President, Visibility Director of Sales and Marketing Visbeen Architects, LLC 662 Croswell Ave. SE East Grand Rapids, MI 49506 833-VISBEEN visbeen.com

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

As managing partner at business consulting firm The Vantage Group, Inc., Missy Jackson brings a unique and diverse skillset to help business leaders better understand their employees and solve company problems. From coffee bean farmers in Central America to executives of multimillion-dollar businesses, her focus has always been empowering clients on their journey to becoming successful.

She works with clients in a wide range of industries on leadership development, sales, talent acquisition and retention, strategic planning, team building, reducing bias in talent related decisions, career development, and management consulting. Her background in social work gives her a rare perspective when helping business leaders improve and understand themselves and their personnel.

Jackson’s training and education in social work have become invaluable as leaders address pressing concerns of today, including social issues, conflict resolution, and often-overlooked people skills such as listening and communication. She says regardless of the industry or problem that needs to be solved, improvements within an organization can always be traced back to its people. Her work often involves helping leaders understand and support the challenges their employees face.

While people issues have always existed in business, Jackson says, the distinctive stressors in recent years — generational transitions, the global pandemic, and

Missy Jackson

Managing Partner The Vantage Group, Inc. 6701 Old 28th St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546 616.676.3330 vantagegroupinc.com

As uncommon as it may be to see a woman practice law in the white-collar criminal defense realm, what’s more uncommon might be finding a firm that characterizes itself as compassionate and warm.

However, that’s Britt Cobb’s signature approach and it’s what makes Cobb and her colleagues at Willey & Chamberlain stand out from other firms in the field.

“Our team truly cares about the people we represent,” Cobb says. “We understand there’s a human side to every situation and that every individual has a story to tell.”

Practicing law since 1998, Cobb is an attorney and firm partner at Willey & Chamberlain. She began her practice in Denver, Colorado and relocated to Grand Rapids in 2006. She has worked for only two firms in her 20-plus-year career, serving exclusively as a criminal defense attorney.

Cobb has been with Willey & Chamberlain since 2007. She credits her longevity, in part, to the strong relationship she’s built with Chip Chamberlain and Larry Willey, the firm’s founding partners — both of whom she sees as mentors, colleagues, and friends.

In her nearly 15 years at the firm, Cobb’s practice has included state and federal trial and appellate work, including work across Michigan on felony and misdemeanor cases. She has shifted her focus to her federal practice in Michigan, which encompasses everything from minor federal offenses to serious drug trafficking and fraud cases.

Cobb is known as a conscientious, detail-oriented legal adviser who also brings warmth and caring to her interactions. While she and the Willey & Chamberlain team are backed by their experience and the resources, they need to skillfully handle their cases, they also focus on helping people get their lives back on track — and not let their humanity get lost in the criminal process. “We assist our clients legally, but also as individuals, whether it’s finding them the right counseling or delving into other kinds of support they may need,” Cobb says. “For me, I think a large part of

that approach comes from being a woman and having that nurturing tendency; it’s the mom in me coming out.”

Cobb’s compassionate nature also comes through in the pro bono work she seeks out through various programs. “I’m always keeping an antenna up for projects that I can contribute to,” Cobb says. Locally, she has volunteered to help criminal defendants, whether getting their records expunged following changes to Michigan’s marijuana laws or getting them released from county jails to protect them from widespread Covid-19 outbreaks. She’s also donated her time and expertise to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, aiding with clemency petitions that were precipitated by changes in federal drug laws.

“A big part of what we do at Willey & Chamberlain is try to help people come to terms with their past, deal with their present, and be optimistic about their future,” Cobb says. “We promise our clients that we are going to communicate with them, and counsel them, and be their champions in the courtroom.”

Britt Cobb

Attorney and Partner Willey & Chamberlain LLP 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Ste. 810 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616.458.2212 willeychamberlain.com

social and racial injustice — have resulted in record levels of disengaged employees. She predicts this will continue if leaders focus only on business and not their team.

“We’ve seen a growing demand from people across all industries who want business leaders who demonstrate effective, empathetic, and humancentered leadership,” Jackson says. “Leaders can have great business acumen and experience, but when they don’t have a people-first mentality, they forget one of the core principles of leadership: Businesses cease to exist without people.”

Jackson often works with C-level executives to help them better understand how to get the most from each employee, empower people to further build business and attract, retain, and develop employees who fit the company’s culture. Her work with business leaders on solving people-related issues has led to increased employee engagement, higher-performing teams, and better business results for her clients.

Having built her own business and worked in the corporate sector, Jackson says she can relate to the challenging issues many companies face. She started in the business world more than 20 years ago in the commercial and residential construction industry, serving in business development, sales, and project management roles.

Jackson then co-founded and owned a direct trade coffee business before she returned to the corporate world as the lead strategist overseeing lean process for sales, sales enablement, and strategic selling at Herman Miller.

Jackson says the most rewarding part of her job is being able to provide the insight and skills for people to thrive as leaders, which gives them the ability to help others prosper. While each leader is exclusive, Jackson’s passion and drive for improving their lives and work remain the same.

She emphasizes the importance of understanding even the best business strategies cannot deliver desired results if leaders don’t take the time to think through their plans to develop and connect their talent and business strategies. Whether it’s talent management, strategic planning, process improvement or coaching, Jackson and the Vantage Group’s ultimate goal is to help create stronger communities, better businesses, and high-performing teams.

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

Betsy Fahlen-Alverio opened Waxology in 2012, after her own search for an experienced waxing salon in Grand Rapids came up short.

Diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Fahlen-Alverio struggles with excessive hair — a side effect of the disease brought on by higher-than-normal hormone levels. There was little she could do to control it, and she felt embarrassed by the extra growth on her face and body. She wanted to find a place that concentrated on waxing only, so she wouldn’t feel inhibited or judged. When she didn’t find one, she sought out the extra training to become an expert herself, through specialty aesthetician schools in Wisconsin and Chicago. And, she did it all while raising a child as a single mom.

While many spas and studios offer waxing, it’s not likely to be their primary focus. They may be experienced in facials and massages or manicures and pedicures, however, when it comes to waxing—especially for delicate skin — it’s a procedure best left to the professionals. Waxology specializes in women’s Brazilians and brows and prides itself on being Grand Rapids’ first salon solely dedicated to skilled hair removal. “With Brazilians in particular, clients want to know that their technician knows exactly what they’re doing,” FahlenAlverio says. “At Waxology, there’s nothing we haven’t seen before.”

For more than five years, Fahlen-Alverio ran the business by herself.

She knows she’s made a difference in the community, just through the stories she’s heard from the clients. “People are grateful and thankful to have Waxology as a resource,” she says. “Whether they’ve had some kind of hormonal imbalance brought on by medication, PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), menopause, or genetics, they can leave our salon feeling their best. They don’t have to feel self-conscious about chin hair, or wearing a bikini, or bumps from shaving. Even men with hairy backs come to see us so they can feel more comfortable taking their shirts off at the beach.”

Being able to regain some self-assurance sounds appealing, but many people are dissuaded from waxing because of how it’s been portrayed in movies and TV. However, it doesn’t have to be a scary, scream-inducing experience. Through the first time can be a bit

painful, it can be greatly reduced just by going to a studio that specializes in waxing. And, that discomfort decreases the more times the procedure is performed. “We’re experts and we’re able to minimize the pain because we’re confident and skilled in what we do,” Fahlen-Alverio says. “We can do it really quickly and talk our clients through it with calming conversation. Most of the time, it’s the anticipation, and when it’s over they realize it wasn’t a big deal at all.”

There are also many benefits to waxing versus shaving. Those who suffer from ingrown hairs or stubble bumps don’t have to worry about those after-effects with waxing. Skin may be sensitive for about 24 hours, but the result is about 4-6 weeks of being hair free.

When it does grow back, it comes in finer and thinner. After several appointments, the whole process becomes a breeze.

And that realization is catching on. In the last 18 months, FahlenAlverio has been able to add employees, and now has 14 waxologists, sugarists, and support staff — all women. Adding to the team has allowed Waxology to expand their services as well. Those now include waxing, sugaring, brows and lashes, and dermaplaning. “The nice thing about having a diverse group of technicians is that is they all have their own ideas and skillsets, and the services they can provide are a perfect complement to waxing,” Fahlen-Alverio says. “If a client is getting their brows done, they can also get them tinted — or, they can get that service, plus a lash lift and tint. Everything we do is related.”

This growth has also allowed her to open a second Waxology location. The original, with three rooms, is in Breton Village and the newest, with six rooms, is in Rockford — just off Main Street. They also now offer monthly memberships for brows, Brazilians, and brow-Brazilian combos for frequent visitors who want extra savings.

Between the two studios, Fahlen-Alverio has been able to build a multifaceted team of every demographic. “We all have different personalities and there’s nothing ‘cookie-cutter’ about us,” FahlenAlverio says. “That’s by design. I want everyone who comes through the door to feel they can relate with our staff. It’s really important to show — as a business — that we love all women.”

Betsy Fahlen-Alverio Owner

Waxology Grand Rapids Location 1844 Breton Rd. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616.309.0561 ilovewaxology.com

accessible In this ever changing environment we want you to know that we are here for you. Like you, we are making the decision to do what is best for each individual, whether it be working from home or in the office. No matter our location, we are committed to maintaining the level of service that our clients rely on even while we are not all together. At Colliers, we understand that business is done differently now and we will continue to adapt to the new “normal.”

Since March, we have seen our clients and community experience the devastating effects of COVID-19. As the managing director, I am proud of how our advisors and staff have weathered this storm, working tirelessly to see our clients succeed.

Although we continue to face challenging times, West Michigan has been resilient and we are stronger than ever before.

Jon Potvin Managing Director Colliers | West Michigan

Kathryn Teklinski Operations Director Colliers | West Michigan

Grand Rapids | Holland | Lansing | Traverse City | +1 616 774 3500 | wwwcolliers.com/westmichigan