CIVIC LEADERS

MONICA KING

CEO Gun Lake Investments Gun Lake Investments, an economic development corporation for the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe, in 2022 named Monica King its full-time, permanent CEO. King served GLI in an advisory capacity for three years and became its interim CEO in July 2021 following the departure of former CEO Kurt Trevan. Prior to joining GLI, King served as CEO and managing partner of DWH, a business advisory firm in Grand Rapids. GLI is the tribally owned, nongaming investment arm of the Gun Lake Tribe. It manages a portfolio of equity and debt investments in real estate and operating companies. With more than 20 years of finance and operations experience at companies of varying size and scope, King brings expertise in managing acquisitions, integrations, and infrastructure development and implementation to the organization. Earlier in her career, she gravitated to the operations side of the automotive industry in her work at Eaton Corporation, rising from collections specialist to financial planning manager for a division between 2001 and 2008.

EDUCATION: Western Michigan University (B)

DARWIN “DAR” BAAS

Director Kent County Department of Public Works, Grand Rapids Dar Baas’ focus is the emerging circular economy, providing leadership and visioning to deliver waste diversion, energy recovery and sustainable material management strategies. Baas brings more than 25 years of environmental management experience in the public and private sector with experience in emergency response, hazardous waste transportation, environmental contracting, industrial cleaning, landfill, transfer station, material recovery facility and waste-to-energy operations. His current project is the county’s $500 million sustainable business park on 250 acres next to the South Kent Landfill. He also is involved policy formation at the local, state and national levels.

EDUCATION: Davenport University (B), Grand Valley State University (M) FIRST JOB: Resource recovery specialist, Ottawa County Health DepartmentEnvironmental Health Division BOARDS: Energy Recovery Council and Energy Michigan HIDDEN TALENT: I have a 3rd Dan black belt in Okinawan Shorin Ryu FAVORITE MOVIE:“A River Runs Through It” DOWNTIME: I enjoy day trips in the convertible, sitting on the front porch of my log home, enjoying time with family and friends, trying out area restaurants, brewpubs and distilleries throughout West Michigan.

MARTIN STEIN

Founder, managing director Blackford Capital, Grand Rapids

ROSALYNN BLISS

Mayor City of Grand Rapids With almost 20 years of private equity experience, Martin Stein leads the firm’s acquisition sourcing activities and has served on the boards of 15 of the firm’s platform portfolio companies. Additionally, he has served as board chair for nine of the firm’s platform investments. He has been involved in 50-plus acquisitions, investments, recapitalizations and exits worth approximately $750 million in transaction value, including multiple cross-border transactions spanning from Europe to Asia. Prior to founding Blackford Capital, Stein worked as a consultant with Mercer Management Consulting where he developed growth strategies for Fortune 500 clients such as Sears, Dow, Searle Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and PacifiCare Health Systems. He has authored three Harvard Business School case studies and is a frequent keynote speaker at industry conferences.

EDUCATION: University of Chicago (B), Harvard Business School (M) HIDDEN TALENT: I’m a good cook. I was once a chef in Paris — a sous chef, to be exact — and served as the president of the Advisory Council for the University of Chicago Food Committee, helping to design all meals for the dining services. BUCKET LIST: Running a 100-mile ultramarathon, which won’t happen as long as my kids are in the house.

Rosalynn Bliss became Grand Rapids’ first female mayor on Jan. 1, 2016. She previously served as a Second Ward City Commissioner for 10 years. She has over 20 years of experience in the field of social work, especially in the areas of domestic violence and child welfare. Bliss serves on the boards of the Downtown Development Authority, Experience Grand Rapids, Convention Arena Authority, Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority, Interurban Transit Partnership and many others.

EDUCATION: University of South Alabama (B), Michigan State University (M) FIRST JOB: Working at the concession stand at a two-screen movie theater in my hometown. FUNNIEST EXPERIENCE IN THE WORKPLACE: When people don’t realize I am the mayor, and they are complaining about local elected officials. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE FACED: When I was a child, I was diagnosed with a rare bone disease that resulted in multiple surgeries on my legs with much of my childhood being spent in a wheelchair, on crutches or using a walker. I had some very difficult days and challenges and learned a great deal about the importance of being optimistic, believing in yourself, recognizing that your challenges do not define you … along with the incredible power of people.