Change-Ups: Greenleaf Trust builds dedicated facility

Change-Ups: Greenleaf Trust builds dedicated facility
<strong> Courtesy Greenleaf Trust </strong>

Greenleaf Trust’s newest facility is dedicated to its in-house research team. The 6,200-square-foot building, 277 S. Rose St. in Kalamazoo, is adjacent to its headquarters at 211 S. Rose St. It features an all-glass trading room, private office and meeting space, and an open seating area to accommodate gatherings and events. Greenleaf Trust’s expansion comes as the firm has grown client assets to more than $16 billion, up approximately $7 billion in the past five years. Both properties are owned and managed by Catalyst Development Co. LLC.

ACCOUNTING

Rehmann announced promotions in its Grandville office: Aaron Darland, manager; Brad More, project coordinator; and in Grand Rapids: Amy Nguyen, assurance-in charge; Michael Levitt, assurance manager; and Paul Gregg, advisory and tax manager.

ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING

Benton Harbor-based Abonmarche acquired Milanowski & Englert, a Grand Haven-based professional services firm. The historical lakeside firm now joins Abonmarche as one of its 10 offices across southwest Michigan and northern Indiana.

AWARDS

Sandi Frost Steensma, president and CEO of Kennari Consulting, is the recipient of The Girls Choral Academy’s Giving Girls a Voice Award. 

The Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan recently honored Leslie King Friday, founder and president of Sacred Beginnings, with the 2021 Trust Award.

BANKING

Mortgage Executive Magazine recently announced Independent Bank was in the top 100 publicly traded banks and mortgage companies in America for 2020, and that its mortgage loan officers were in the top 1% of mortgage originators nationally for 2020.

United Federal Credit Union in St. Joseph added four new branches in southwest Michigan as part of its acquisition of Edgewater Bank, and has hired four former Edgewater employees: Tim Dyer, commercial lending group manager, and commercial loan officers Lisa Hammett, Jeff Hannan and Amy Homich.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Benton Harbor-based Wightman named Stefany Holland commercial sector specialist; George Kacan, regional director of Wightman’s Royal Oak office and education market sector leader; Steve Carlisle, chairman of the company’s board of directors as well as the government sector leader; and Lee Petcu, utilities market sector leader

Entrepreneurs’ Organization West Michigan elected Wade Wyant as president for 2021-22.

JetCo Solutions announced the addition of Nick Howell as a research specialist.

The Michigan Works! Association recently named Ryan Hundt chief executive officer.

EDUCATION

Davenport University was named the safest campus in Michigan and among the top safest universities in the country by YourLocalSecurity.com, partner of SafeStreets — an ADT authorized provider.

Big Rapids-based Ferris State University’s Bachelor of Science degree in Automotive Engineering Technology ranked 7th in that category by Collegegazette.com.

Grand Valley State University researcher and professor of water resources Alan Steinman, the Allen and Helen Hunting director of GVSU’s Annis Water Resources Institute, will serve a two-year appointment to the National Academy of Sciences committee to oversee Everglades restoration.

Kuyper College announced Butterball Farms Inc. and Lumbermen’s Inc. are participating in the college’s urban WorkPlace Partnership initiative — the only one in Michigan where students can earn a degree and have a part-time entry-level position lined up to help pay tuition costs while gaining years of work experience.

ENERGY

Consumers Energy ranked as one of the top 20 best employers for women in the country and No. 1 in Michigan, according to Forbes Magazine.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Kalamazoo-based Greenleaf Trust has been recognized as one of the 2021 Best Workplaces for Millennials, based on analysis of survey responses from more than 5.3 million current employees.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Zeeland-based Creative Dining Services promoted Jane Newton to associate vice president of people services and Susan Golder to associate vice president of marketing and business development.

GOVERNMENT

City of Grand Rapids deputy city manager Eric DeLong announced his intent to retire in early 2022.

Derek Melville joined the city of East Grand Rapids as its parks and recreation director.

GRANTS

Hope Network is the recipient of a five-year $1.4 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration to serve approximately 30,000 individuals each year through its Zero Suicide initiative.

HEALTH

Carly Whetstone joined Hospice of Michigan as grief support services manager.

Clinical stage biotechnology company Tetra Therapeutics announced the retirement of chief executive officer Mark Gurney. Chad Coberly, former chief operating officer of the company, succeeded Gurney.

LEGAL

Foster Swift Collins & Smith announced Cheryl Coutchie joined the firm as chief operating officer. She succeeds Terry Blakely, who retired after 18 years in this role with the firm.

Melissa Papke, partner and chair of Varnum’s real estate practice group, has been recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a Go To Lawyer for Real Estate and Condo Law.

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP partners Mark K. Harder, Laura A. Jeltema, Susan Gell Meyers and David L.J.M. Skidmore were recognized as distinguished practitioners in private wealth law in the Chambers High Net Worth 2021 guide; W. Michael Van Haren, of counsel, was recognized among the senior statespeople; and partner Richard A. Roane was selected in family/matrimonial law.

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP opened an office in the new Warner Building, 180 E. Water St. in downtown Kalamazoo, consolidating an office and its eDiscovery Center. The 13,720-square-foot office space will house 22 attorneys and staff, as well as the firm’s eDiscovery Center.

LEISURE & RECREATION

Wayland-based Gun Lake Casino provided over $704,000 in quarterly incentives to team members for their continuous support and dedication. Since 2011, GLC has awarded over $18 million through quarterly bonus programs to its team members.

MANUFACTURING

Sports bra manufacturer SHEFIT Inc. purchased land at 3413 Quincy St. in Hudsonville to expand its headquarters in a new 75,000-square-foot building.

Dematic announced Alexandre Guiard will join its team as senior vice president, project execution, Americas, based in the company’s Grand Rapids Americas headquarters.

X-Rite appointed Dustin Bowersox in the newly created role of textile and apparel business development manager.

NONPROFITS

Benjamin P. Nimphie, an associate of the Grand Rapids office of Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, has been appointed to a three-year term on the InterAct of Michigan board of directors. The nonprofit provides a range of mental health and substance abuse services that focus on building hope and wellness for low-income individuals in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.

Katherine West joined the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County as its communications coordinator.

Local First relocated to 111 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids, 49503.

Seniors Moving Smarter hired Matt Teitsma as operations manager and Lori Tack as creative director.