Change Ups: Bethany manager has ties with agency

Bethany Christian Services’ new regional marketing manager, MeiLi Wieringa, has personal ties with the Grand Rapids-based global nonprofit adoption, child welfare and family preservation agency. Bethany helped assist Wieringa’s family with her adoption from South Korea. Wieringa has worked in Japan and Switzerland and is a brand ambassador for the Van Andel Institute J-Board. Her national and local advertising experience includes working on accounts such as American Honda/Acura, La-Z-Boy, Grand Rapids Griffins and Consumers Energy. 

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

The Image Shoppe, a brand marketing agency in the Wealthy Business District, has earned certification as a Benefit Corporation, the first marketing agency in the state to do so. B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

AWARDS

Clark Retirement Community announced long-time volunteers John and Pat Bergstrom have earned the 2016 Volunteer of the Year award from LeadingAge Michigan for providing extraordinary service to seniors. The Bergstroms have served Clark for more than 20 years in a variety of roles. 

Holland-based Jolt Energy Storage Technologies LLC has won the 8th Annual Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge in the chemistry category at SAE World Congress. The company will receive $50,000 worth of business commercialization acceleration services and cash.

Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce’s April 27 “E-Awards” at Muskegon Country Club will recognize the following 2016 Entrepreneurs of Excellence, one of whom will be announced as Muskegon’s 2016 Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year: Wes Eklund, Fleet Engineers; Chris Witham, Motion Dynamics Corp.; Michael Brower, Chad Doane and Joel Kamp, Pigeon Hill Brewing Co.; Kathleen and John Riegler, The Cheese Lady; Mark Gongalski, Eric Hoffman and Jeff Jacobson, Unruly Brewing Co.; Troy Wasserman and Angie Nelund, Wasserman’s Flowers & Gifts; and Jake Nash, West Michigan Finishes.

BANKING

Josh Schaendorf has joined Macatawa Bank’s mortgage team as assistant vice president, mortgage loan officer, in the Grand Haven market.

Lake Michigan Credit Union has hired James Snave, senior vice president of wealth management. Snave assumes the lead management role at Lake Michigan Investment Services.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Gill Staffing has opened a new location at 12470 Felch St. in Holland.

Palace Sports & Entertainment in Auburn Hills announced a partnership with Michigan Office Solutions as the official print services partner of the Detroit Pistons. MOS will provide a large scale printer, technical support and training, and traditional branding elements inside The Palace and on pistons.com.

CONSTRUCTION

Kent Companies Inc. announced the promotion of Jonathan Lotton to division manager for building restoration and waterproofing.

EDUCATION

Gina M. Bovee has joined Grand Valley State University’s development team as director of endowed and planned giving. She will work closely with donors in GVSU’s Gillett Society and help grow the university’s endowed funds.

ENVIRONMENTAL

ASTI Environmental director of West Michigan Joe Buetler led a round table discussion titled “Environmental Due Diligence for Potentially Contaminated Properties/BEAs” at the State Bar of Michigan’s Real Property Law Section’s “Groundbreaker” event held in downtown Grand Rapids.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

ARGI announced the addition of Ray Llewellyn, financial advisor.

Mattson Financial Services LLC has purchased a 9,000-square-foot building at 3226 28th St. SE. The entire building will be renovated and MFS will occupy the main level.

FOUNDATIONS

Saint Mary's Foundation senior special gifts officer Kelli Smith has been named a Certified Fund Raising Executive by CFRE International.

GRANTS

Catherine’s Health Center received a $21,970 grant from Susan G. Komen Michigan to fund its Count Me In program,which helps women have access to screening and diagnostic services that reduce burden and open doors to care needed when cancer is suspected or diagnosed.

HEALTH

Cherry Health has received a $120,000 gift from the Cherry Health Foundation to support the Durham Clinic, a fully integrated care clinic for adults that uses an interdisciplinary team-based approach to manage chronic physical and/or mental health conditions.

Gentiva Hospice will relocate its office in July to a 5,740-square-foot space at 625 Kenmoor Ave. SE in Metro Village. This will be Gentiva’s third location in West Michigan.

HUMAN SERVICES

Wedgwood Christian Services announced the promotion of Alison Lisiak from advancement specialist to advancement officer. She will maintain and deepen relationships with existing Wedgwood supporters.

INSURANCE

The Gremel Group announced Krista Davis has joined the insurance and benefits agency as an account executive.

LEGAL

Hilger Hammond PC attorney Mark Rysberg has been named to Thomson Reuters Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for 2016.

Kreis, Enderle, Hudgins & Borsos PC announced attorney John Gardiner in the Kalamazoo office and attorney Allison Sleight in the Grand Rapids office have been named partners. Gardiner’s main practice areas include employment law, litigation, criminal defense, business law and governmental law. Sleight has practice experience in family law and commercial litigation.

Verity Law PLC announced the addition of Lisa A. Nugent, associate attorney. 

LOGISTICS

John Schoonveld of Reefer Service in Hudsonville was named Carrier Transicold’s Dealer Service Manager of the Year. Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature-controlled cargoes with equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility.

MANUFACTURING

Jenison-based Pleotint founder and CEO Harlan Byker was a key presenter at the recent Building with Glass; Aesthetics and Functions conference in Singapore. Byker’s talk focused on dynamic thermochromic windows, with a nod toward the Suntuitive Glass he invented.

Pro-Vision Video Systems has promoted Andrew Beach to director of sales and service.

PRINTING

Advantage Signs & Graphic Solutions is expanding its partnership with HP Inc. to include the HP Scitex portfolio of industrial printers for the sign and display industry. This includes the HP Scitex FB550 and FB750 Industrial Printers and the complete line of FB inks and accessories.

PUBLIC SERVICE

Gov. Rick Snyder announced the appointment of David Sawyer of Grand Rapids to the State of Michigan Retirement Board; the appointment of Maryam Komejan of Holland to the Michigan Task Force on Physician’s Assistants; and the reappointment of James (Chip) Falahee of Portage to the Certificate of Need Commission.

REAL ESTATE

Jamie Hughes has joined Signature Associates in Muskegon as a sales associate.

Sun Tile Agency has hired Donna Price, company controller, and Jeannine Pryor, escrow assistant.

SCIENCE & RESEARCH

VanAndel Research Institute presented scientist Matthew L. Meyerson with the 2016 Han-Mo Koo Memorial Award for his contributions to the understanding of cancer genomics and targeted therapies.

TECHNOLOGY

Open Systems Technologies has been named for the seventh consecutive year a 2016 Tech Elite 250 company by CRN, a brand of The Channel Co.

TrackCore Inc. has been named a finalist in the RFID Journal Awards in the category of Best Use of RFID to Enhance a Product or Service.

Trivalent Group Inc. in Grandville has been named a WatchGuardONE Platinum Partner by WatchGuard Technologies, a global leader in multi-function firewalls.