CAPITAL SOURCES
DICK DEVOS
President The Windquest Group, Grand Rapids
Dick DeVos has spent his business career working in a variety of executive positions at Amway, the NBA’s Orlando Magic and the Windquest Group, where he currently serves as its president. As president of Amway from 1993-2002, DeVos held responsibility for all aspects of the company’s operations in 50 countries and six continents. In his final fiscal year of service, Amway reported sales of $4.5 billion. Prior to assuming the presidency, he served as vice president of Amway International where he held responsibility for the company’s operations in 18 countries outside North America.
Max Friar is a lifelong resident of Grand Rapids. He founded Calder Capital in 2013. Calder is a lower middle market M&A advisory firm focused on representing sellers of industrial, distribution and business service companies with enterprise value from $1 million to $100 million. He lives in Grand Rapids with his wife, Melissa, and three children, Brenna, Max and Jack.
MAX FRIAR
Managing partner Calder Capital LLC, Grand Rapids
EDUCATION: Northwood University (B) FIRST JOB: Just like the other Van Andel and DeVos second generations, I spent my summers at Amway, initially watering trees, pulling weeds and cutting grass by hand, as they wouldn’t trust a 12-year-old with a power tool. BEST ADVICE: “You can do it.” Rich DeVos FAVORITE BOOK: “Love Your Enemies” by Arthur C. Brooks DOWNTIME: Somewhere on, under or around the water — ideally with family around me. FAVORITE GRAND RAPIDS ATTRACTION: My most favorite place is probably the older section of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. I remember Jay (Van Andel) and Dad (Richard DeVos) opening it in 1981 and the pride they had whenever they set foot in the building.
JEFF HELMINSKI
Founder, managing partner Auxo Investment Partners, Grand Rapids
Jeff Helminski is the founder and managing partner of Auxo Investment Partners, a private investment firm that has worked with multiple founder- and family-owned industrial, manufacturing and business services companies. Helminski has a diverse professional background that includes experience in private equity investing, manufacturing, engineering and high-volume assembly operations management at General Motors, and in real estate development as president of Campus Village Development Company.
MIKE JANDERNOA
EDUCATION: Michigan Technological University (B), Purdue University (M), Stanford Graduate School of Business (MBA) BOARDS: Spectrum Health Hospital Group, Broadway Grand Rapids FIRST JOB: Paperboy delivering the Muskegon Chronicle FUNNIEST WORK EXPERIENCE: Showing up to an office Halloween party dressed as a cowboy when everyone else dressed up as me. TOUGHEST LESSON LEARNED: No business opportunity is worth compromising your values for. It is critical to align yourself with people with whom you have a shared value system. LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: In college, I was the lead singer of a rock band that covered bands like Green Day and Stone Temple Pilots GRAND RAPIDS ATTRACTION: Summer concerts at Meijer Gardens FAVORITE CHARITY: Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
34 THE GRAND RAPIDS 200
Founder, chairman 42 North Partners, Grand Rapids
EDUCATION: Alma College (B) FIRST JOB: Government documents page at the Grand Rapids Public Library starting at age 15. INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE: “Cling tooth and nail to the following rule: not to give in to adversity, never to trust prosperity, and always take full note of fortune’s habit of behaving just as she pleases, treating her as if she were actually going to do everything it is in her power to do.” — Seneca SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOU: I absolutely love thrash metal FAVORITE BOOK: “Awareness,” by Anthony de Mello TRAVEL DESTINATION: I have been hiking/ backpacking in Patagonia twice and would go back tomorrow. I have never visited a more naturally stunning place in my life ADVICE TO AN 18-YEAR-OLD: Up until this point in your life, you have been judged on the basis of what you know. Studying, testing, research, writing. Exhale. Entering the workforce, you know very little and that is OK. You will gain the credibility, opportunities and rewards you desire by asking questions and being curious.
Mike Jandernoa has quite a few business and investment experiences under his belt. Jandernoa was CEO of Perrigo Company from 1988-2000, chairman of the board from 1991-2003 and continued to serve on the board until 2017. Jandernoa is founder and chairman of 42 North Partners, a family office focusing on investments, entrepreneurship and community. He is a co-founder of Bridge Street Capital Partners and lead investor and board member of Hopen Life Science Fund. He’s also co-founder and board member of investment fund Grand Angels. Jandernoa is the founder of Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring, a program for established business entrepreneurs seeking one-on-one mentoring from a West Michigan business leader. He was a CPA, having worked at BDO Seidman for seven years prior to joining Perrigo as CFO in 1979. He was later promoted to executive vice president of sales and finance in 1981 and to president in January 1983. EDUCATION: University of Michigan (B) BOARDS: Business Leaders for Michigan, Hopen Life Science Fund, Metabolic Solutions Development Company, Spectrum Health, University of Michigan president’s advisory board, Grand Valley University Foundation, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Heart of West Michigan United Way
