Change Ups: Klohs earns leadership award

Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place Inc. recently received the International Economic Development Council’s Jeffrey A. Finkle Organizational Leadership Award for leading the economic development organization with integrity, tenacity and a philanthropic spirit that has resulted in significant long-term economic growth. Klohs demonstrates a vast knowledge of intricacies in the economic development profession and continues to play a pivotal role in the continued success of her organization and the communities she serves. 

ADVERTISING

The Image Shoppe has rebranded itself with an updated brand mark to align with the growth the company has undergone since its inception in 2003. The remainder of the rebrand will be rolled out in a phased plan, including a new website launch planned for first quarter 2017.

AWARDS

The American Heart Association will honor the following individuals Dec. 2 with Richard M. DeVos Awards at the 20th anniversary Heart Ball: The Richard M. DeVos Award for Medical Excellence, Dr. Ashraf Mansour, vascular surgeon at Spectrum Health; The Richard M. DeVos Award for Community Excellence, Elsa Prince Broekhuizen and in memoriam to Edgar Prince.

The Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan announced the recipients of its Local Peacemaker Awards for transforming the idea of a center for conflict resolution into a reality: Rev. Vernon Hoffman; Dr. Henry J. Holstege, Jr. and Dr. Robert Riekse.

Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids recognized the following community partners with its best in class Goodwill Awards: Legacy Award, Meijer Inc.; Collaborative Partner Award, City of Portland and Steelcase Inc.; Community Partner Award, Grand Valley State University and McCahill Group; Donated Goods Award, Girls Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore; Talent Award, Clark Retirement Community and USF Holland Inc.

Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce announced the 2016 Agents of Change: Hoby Thrasher, Bear Lake Tavern; Jason and RandiLynn Talsma, Blended Furniture Market; Allen Serio, Burning Foot Beer Festival; Ellen Berends, First Fridays; John Severson and Megan Byard, Muskegon Promise; Erin Kuhn, Port Day; John and Barb Hermanson, Sails Ablaze; and Toni Seyferth, Muskegon STAR! Student Program.

BANKING

Holland-based Macatawa Bank announced Angela Chiu joined its mortgage team as mortgage loan officer in the Zeeland market.

CONSTRUCTION

Miller-Davis Co. in Kalamazoo welcomed Elizabeth (Liz) VandenHeede as a communications specialist. VandenHeede will support internal and external communications and marketing and work closely with the business development manager. She was previously a communications analyst at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek and focused primarily on digital marketing and communications.

Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Michigan awarded Vos Glass (Glazing Award) and Architectural Metals, Inc. (Exterior Finishes Award) with the 2016 Excellence in Construction Awards for their work on the Audi GR/Fox Porsche project in Grand Rapids.

DESIGN

Thompson Remodeling won a Bronze Award in the Specialty Room/Niche Space Category in the 38th annual Qualified Remodeler magazine’s Master Design Awards Contest.

EDUCATION

Baker College in Muskegon announced Richard Bush was named dean of the College of Information Technology. He was recently executive director of eLearning Services at Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, where he served for more than 15 years.

Mike Arendsen joined Zeeland Christian School as director of finance and operations, the first person to hold the position. Arendsen wrapped up a 30-year career at Herman Miller Inc., where he served as a senior finance analyst for new product development.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Kingma’s Market held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 14,000-square-foot facility in Ada Village with a projected opening in fall 2017 that will create 35-40 new jobs. Rowster Coffee will open an in-store café. Kingma’s also announced it has entered an agreement with Fish Lads and Carvers’ Grand Rapids Finest Meats.

GRANTS

Grand Rapids-based Komen Michigan and Komen Detroit announced Susan G. Komen awarded the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit with more than $600,000 in new funding for breast cancer genetics research, which is part of Susan G. Komen’s national announcement of $32.7 million in new breast cancer research grants for 2016.

GOVERNMENT

Kent and Ottawa counties were recognized by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Child Support for their “best job efforts” collecting child support and establishing paternity.

FOOD INDUSTRY

Y’OPA Frozen Yogurt is hosting a Thanksgiving food drive through Nov. 14. Canned food items can be dropped off at Y’OPA Frozen Yogurt, 165 W. Centre Ave., Portage.

HEALTH

Family Health Center in Kalamazoo announced the additions of chief dental officer Lisandra Soto; the hiring of five full-time dentist positions; and intends to close its dental clinic on Gull Road on Dec. 2.

Jenison Psychological Services announced the additions of Nicholas Debernardi and Allie Rauser to its team. Debernardi, fluent in English and Spanish, specializes in college-aged clients; Rauser specializes in child and adolescent aged clients. JPS also added a state-of-the art play therapy office with an attached space for parental consultation.

LEGAL

The Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan marked its 30th anniversary as a nonprofit community dispute resolution center, serving seven counties in West Michigan that provides mediation services on a sliding scale, mediation training, restorative practitioner and restorative practices training. Last year, the DRCWM served 1,302 individuals, mediated 429 cases and mediated 74 percent of its cases to full or partial agreement.

Intellectual property law firm McGarry Bair will relocate to Arena Place on 45 Ottawa Ave. NW from its current location at 32 Market Ave. SW. The firm will occupy 10,000 square feet of Arena Place on the seventh floor, filling up the rest of the building’s available office space.

LEISURE & RECREATION

SMG-managed DeVos Place announced it finished second in the second annual Michigan Battle of the Buildings Energy Summit by, in 2015, decreasing energy usage by 6.03 percent; installing new equipment; reducing wasted resources by replacing hundreds of fluorescent lights with LED lighting; and replacing six air handling units and converting men’s restroom stalls to solar power with an automatic flush feature.

LOGISTICS

LeanLogistics in Holland announced Glenview, Illinois-based industrial packaging manufacturer Signode Industrial Group is its new managed transportation services customer. LeanLogistics’ MTS team now manages the transportation for 18 clients around the world.

MANUFACTURING

Impact Label Corp. relocated to a 32,500-square-foot facility at 8875 Krum Ave., Galesburg to meet existing customer demand and fuel growth. The company formerly was based in Kalamazoo for more than 50 years.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Sabo PR added Holly Wolniakowski and Megan Josefowicz to its team of communications professionals.

PUBLIC SERVICE

Gov. Rick Snyder announced the appointments of Martin Wagar, of Kalamazoo, to the Michigan Board of Real Estate Appraisers; and David Galbreath, of Lowell, to the Board of Mechanical Rules.

REAL ESTATE

Signature Associates’ Kalamazoo office hired Tom Hohm as a sales associate.

TECHNOLOGY

Holland-based SpinDance Inc. has formed a new venture, InfiniteKey, to pursue the development and commercialization of micro-location technology that enables any smartphone to use bluetooth connectivity as a key in a variety of products and settings. SpinDance president Mike Ellis recently purchased the former Holland Rescue Mission building at 159 South River Ave. in downtown Holland to be InfiniteKey’s office and test facility.

TRANSPORTATION

The Barry County Transit in Hastings is the recipient of the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration’s Administrator's Awards for Outstanding Public Transportation Service in Rural Public Transportation.