Change Ups: AvaSure honors provider organizations

Change Ups: AvaSure honors provider organizations

Belmont-based AvaSure recently honored provider organizations that use video patient monitoring to help achieve health care’s Quadruple Aim of population health management, patient and staff satisfaction, and lower spending. Awards were conferred during the inaugural AvaSys Symposium in Grand Rapids. Receiving honors: Joyce Ornelas, University Health System, accepting the Superstar Monitor Award on behalf of Hadi Al-Juboori; Melinda Stretzinger of Ochsner Health System, Hub and Spoke Award; Brad Playford, CEO/founder, AvaSure; Cecilia Fleming of Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center, Path-to-Zero Award; and Brenda MacPherson of Spaulding Hospital Cambridge, Safety Net Award.

ARTS

The Frauenthal Center in Muskegon named Eric Messing as its executive director.

The Grand Rapids Public Museum’s new exhibit titled “The Life of the Mind” explores mental health treatment from the late 18th century through today and examines the evolution of mental health care based on an increase in knowledge of how the brain and mind works and on society’s changing perspectives of mental illnesses.

Grand Rapids Public Schools junior Katelyn Sheneman’s painting, “What Makes the World Go ‘Round,” was chosen as the top winner of the fifth annual SmartArt competition among Grand Rapids Public Schools’ high school students, sponsored by Consumers Energy. Sheneman won a $1,000 college scholarship and prominent display of her winning creation in downtown Grand Rapids during ArtPrize Nine.

ASSOCIATIONS

Michael Van Denend joined the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan as executive director. He succeeds Dixie Anderson, who has held the post for 22 years and is retiring later this year. Van Denend previously was Calvin College Alumni Association’s executive director the past 33 years.

AWARDS

Collective Idea and Elzinga & Volkers, both based in Holland, are the recipients of the West Coast Chamber’s Business Leadership Award.

DeVos Place painter Scott Luce’s custom DIY-built Gypsy Queen Bowtop camper won Best Bohemian Living in the 2017 Tennessee Tiny House Festival. 

Grand Rapids Law Group PLLC attorney Elizabeth Rosario is the recipient of the Michigan Office for New Americans’ Business Leader Award.

Rosa Parks Circle was named one of five Great Public Spaces on the American Planning Association’s annual Great Places in America list.

BANKING

Consumers Credit Union in Kalamazoo hired Chuck Gower as mortgage loan officer of the credit union’s Battle Creek and Coldwater offices; Charles Young as mortgage loan officer of its Cascade and Gaines offices; and Cindy Vader to the mortgage department as a loan officer.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Paul M. Keep joined The Leadership Group LLC as a consultant.

Sun Title Agency announced the additions of Sara Julius as chief operations officer, Elena M. Kroll as controller, and Katherine Mead as human resource manager.

The West Michigan Small Business Development Center announced the addition of Ed Garner as regional director. Garner will provide comprehensive leadership, oversight, planning, resource development, coordination and management of the SBDC West Michigan regional office. 

CONSTRUCTION

The Associated Builders and Contractors Western Michigan Chapter announced it hired Aubrey Meikle as education and training coordinator and Claire Broekhuizen as office and events manager.

Sir Home Improvements in Kalamazoo hired Mike Smith as its production manager.

EDUCATION

Baker College launched its first publication, “PURSUIT: The Official Magazine of Baker College,” designed to inform readers with features on Baker College’s leaders, students and alumni.

Hope College in Holland received a 2017 Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments from the Council on Undergraduate Research. The award draws from CUR’s Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research document that presents criteria for exceptional undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity programs.

The Olivet School of Business was renamed the McGraw School of Business at Olivet Nazarene University in recognition of the success and continued support of alumnus Michael “Mick” McGraw.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

O'Keefe announced Katie Gerdes joined the firm as an associate.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Crust 54 with two Holland locations now offers large group reservations at its South Washington restaurant, which can host office parties, rehearsal dinners, holiday get-togethers or any kind of event.

GOVERNMENT

Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss joined more than 130 mayors from across the country along with the Trust for Public Land, National Recreation and Park Association and Urban Land Institute in launching a 10-minute walk parks advocacy campaign, establishing a goal that residents of Grand Rapids live within a 10-minute walk – or a half-mile – of a high-quality park or green space.

GRANTS

Alano Club of Kent County is the recipient of a 7,500 grant from the Peter C. & Emajean Cook Foundation.

Muskegon-based nonprofit Pioneer Resources, which offers an array of services for persons with disabilities, received two grants: $249,800 of the Affordable Housing Program offered by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and made possible with a sponsorship from Community Shores Bank that will be used to construct a home on Mill Iron Road in Muskegon; $20,000 from the Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland Area to renovate Pioneer Resources’ new location at 12330 James St., Suite 20B, Holland.

HEALTH

Lakeview Assisted Living in Battle Creek, a Ganton Senior Community, was recognized as a 2017 recipient of the Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award for its dedication to improving the lives of residents through quality care through the National Quality Award Program presented by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living.

National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy in St. Joseph announced the launch of a new credential, Nutrition Wound Care Certified, a specialized certification for the Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist involved in wound care.

HUMAN SERVICES

Jason Beckerleg joined Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice as creative director and webmaster.

LEGAL

Fraser Trebilcock attorney Melisa M.W. Mysliwiec was named a 2017 Rising Star in Michigan on the 2017 list of Super Lawyers.

MANUFACTURING

Grand Rapids-based Autocam Medical announced its Plymouth, Massachusetts, facility was recertified to ISO 13485:2016.

NONPROFITS

Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids Inc. reopened its flagship store at 3270 29th St. Progressive A & E worked with Goodwill on what the remodel should encompass, which includes, but is not limited to, a sitting area and room for DIY instruction.

Grand Rapids Community Foundation announced the addition of Ashley René Lee as vice president of public relations and marketing and the promotions of Kate Luckert Schmid to vice president of program and Laurie Craft to vice president of community investment.

Read Muskegon announced the opening of its Muskegon Heights Family Literacy Center at 26 E. Broadway Ave.

RELIGION

The Catholic Information Center and Paulist Fathers of Grand Rapids recently celebrated their 70th anniversary. Their ministry has brought countless numbers of people into the Catholic Church, has helped those who have felt alienated to reconcile with the Church and to create ecumenical and interfaith relationships within West Michigan. The CIC has been an integral part of downtown Grand Rapids since 1947 when it opened its first building on lower Monroe moving to Ionia in 1964 and then to Cathedral Square in 2008.

RESTAURANTS

Seventy-Six has opened at 52 W. Eighth St., Holland. Amenities include a restaurant, bar and private dining room, and serves a variety of modern American food, cocktails with a twist and an eclectic ambiance.

SERVICES

Rick Dawson was named manager of building products distributor of Beloit, Wiscosin-based ABC Supply Co. Inc.’s location at 2601 S. Division Ave. Dawson will manage daily operations, develop relationships with area contractors and guide them to build their businesses for the long term. He began his career with the company in 2015 as an outside sales representative at the Grand Rapids location before transitioning to manager of the branch in Hudsonville .

SUSTAINABILITY

Spectrum Health’s sustainability program manager Sarah Chartier is the recipient of West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum’s 2017 Future Hall of Fame Award.

TRAVEL & TOURISM

Travel destination promoter Brand USA recently captured on video Michigan attractions including Ah-Nab-Awen Park in Grand Rapids and Mount Pisgah Dune Boardwalk in Holland, among other locations, aimed at attracting international visitors. The videos were filmed in partnership with Travel Michigan and the Pure Michigan campaign.