REAL ESTATE & DEVELOPMENT
SAM CUMMINGS
Managing partner CWD Real Estate Investment, Grand Rapids
Sam Cummings has dedicated the past 28 years of his life to preserving Grand Rapids’ history and revitalizing the community through the built environment. He and his partners, Scott Wierda and Dan DeVos, are working to bring “new vision, vibrancy and vitality to the urban core and community.” Since forming CWD Real Estate Investment in 2008, the trio has assembled more than 3 million square feet of retail and urban office real estate in West Michigan. Prior to forming CWD, Cummings was founding principal and president of Second Story Properties. Under his leadership, Second Story developed and renovated more than 24 properties and 850,000 square feet of office, residential and mixed-use assets. Previously, Cummings also served as partner and president of Macroe Properties.
DAN DEVOS
Chairman, CEO DP Fox, Grand Rapids
EDUCATION: Northwood University (B) BEST ADVICE: “If you have a dream, give it a chance to happen.” Rich DeVos. My Dad was always there with an encouraging word, a smile and a belief that anything was possible. His enthusiasm was contagious and a great example for us all. ADVICE TO AN 18-YEAR-OLD: I had the privilege of attending a Grand Valley State University graduation last year and was able to share a few words with the graduates. It was a great honor. My message to them was all about mindset — about how there is great power in your state of mind. The famous football coach, Lou Holtz, used to say that life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it. I’m a firm believer in that.
EDUCATION: Calvin University (B) FIRST JOB: I grew up on a farm. … My first nonfarm job was manual labor for Doc Zuchowski, a concrete contractor in Newaygo, doing footings, walls and flatwork. FAVORITE QUOTE: “You have to have your foot in the field.” My dad HOBBIES: Learning, cooking, listening to music, hiking, biking, skiing, enjoying Lake Michigan and the outdoors, art, vintage cars, maritime history and architecture TRAVEL DESTINATIONS: Savannah, Georgia; Key West, Florida; and the west coast of Ireland when not in Michigan
GARY GRANGER Chairman, CEO Granger Group
Gary Granger has 42 years of leadership experience in all phases of the development process. He demands quality, value and the highest possible returns for investors on every project in which he is involved. Prior to his namesake company, Granger began his career as a field engineer with his family’s business Granger Construction Company, where he eventually served as its president for five years. The company grew significantly during his tenure there. In 1997, he established Granger Group to pursue his vision of achieving an extraordinary level of excellence in delivering the built environment. In its first 17 years, the real estate investment and development company established many essential business and community partnerships, leading to over $1 billion worth of successful developments in Michigan and throughout the U.S. Granger Group provides investment, financing, development, design/build, asset management and property management services.
Dan DeVos wears a lot of hats. He is chairman and CEO of Fox Motors, Fox Harley-Davidson and Fox Powersports; majority owner and CEO of the Grand Rapids Griffins; owner of DP Fox Sports and Entertainment; chairman of the Orlando Magic, Lakeland Magic and Orlando Solar Bears; and vice chairman of RDV Corporation. DeVos serves on the Amway board of directors, is a partner with CWD Real Estate Investment and Georgian Automotive Group, and is a limited partner of the Chicago Cubs. He also serves as vice chairman of the Grand Valley University Foundation and chairman of the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation.
ROBERT GROOTERS
President Robert Grooters Development Company, Grand Rapids
EDUCATION: University of Colorado (B) TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: Completing a very large project with many moving parts (i.e., rebuild Herpolsheimer’s) into one division. HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR DOWNTIME?: I am the type of person who always wants to better myself and learn continuously. So, I spend most of my down time reading books, newspapers and magazines, as well as devotionals.
77 THE GRAND RAPIDS 200
Robert “Bob” Grooters was born and raised in Grand Rapids. After beginning his career working for a regional grocery distributor, he became involved in an industrial metal salvage operation, where he said he began to realize the “tremendous need” for industrial space in the West Michigan market. He visualized assisting West Michigan businesses by providing “cost-effective” industrial and office space at highly visible locations. Robert Grooters Development Company is a developer of industrial and manufacturing buildings in the region and has created numerous business parks in West Michigan. The company now owns nearly 2 million square feet of space. Through management, leasing, expansion and more, the Grooters team has helped hundreds of large and small companies. Grooters and his wife Sharie have been married for 58 years. They have two children and five grandchildren. FIRST JOB: A&P Foods, Spartan Stores TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: Developing River House, the tallest building in Grand Rapids, and Bridgewater Place, the fourth-tallest building in Grand Rapids BOARDS: Seidman College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board, Gilmore Car Museum board of trustees DOWNTIME: Boat trips, classic car shows, golfing BEST ADVICE: Be fair, always speak the truth and help others
