Change Ups: New director’s goals include bedside research

Researcher Dr. Janet Niemeier is the new director of the John F. Butzer Center for Research & Innovation at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Her goal is to bring research to the bedside, generating evidence-based, innovative treatment and applying it as quickly as possible to help people recovering from serious injuries or illnesses. Niemeier is a board-certified rehabilitation psychologist with more than 25 years of clinical care and research experience for people with brain and spinal cord injuries, stroke and other disabilities.

ACCOUNTING

Plante Moran, for the 20th consecutive year, was named to FORTUNE magazine’s list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. The firm ranks No. 20 and appeared in the March 1 issue of FORTUNE magazine.

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

JohnsonRauhoff in St. Joseph is the recipient of two Gold Daveys in the food/beverage commercial and photography categories in the 13th annual Davey Awards.

LKF Marketing in Kalamazoo hired Teri Williams in the newly created position of production artist.

ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING

The Michigan Department of Transportation and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan presented Bergmann with a 2018 MDOT-ACEC Partnership Charter Award for its role on the bridge portion of MDOT’s I-75 reconstruction project in Monroe County.

ARTS

Grandville Arts & Humanities announced Roberto (Bert) Jara was named chief executive officer. 

AWARDS

Dr. Valencia Agnew is the recipient of the 2018 Giants’ Eugene Browning Medical Service Award.

Grand Rapids Community College Police Academy students Tracy Harrell and Yamel Marmolejos-Tolentino are the first recipients of the $1,500 Bragg, Harvard, MuhammadSmith Why We Can’t Wait scholarship for students in criminal justice, education or health care who plan a career in public service.

Newaygo-based Camp Newaygo Assistant Director Jalisa Danhof and Radford University’s Anja Whittington were recognized for their ongoing research on the impact of girls’ experiences at camp with the Eleanor P. Eells Award for Excellence in Research Practice from the American Camp Association.

Superior Business Solutions in Kalamazoo is the recipient of the 2018 Best of Print & Digital Award from NAPCO Media and Butler Street.

BANKING

Adventure Credit Union opened a Wyoming branch at 5165 Wilson Ave. SW.

Sparta-based ChoiceOne Bank has partnered with Detroit-based Autobooks to integrate bank accounts with financial tools that speed cash flow, reconcile accounts and accelerate growth.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Rhoda Kreuzer and team of Partners In Action Inc. have moved to 967 Spaulding Ave. SE, Suite F, Ada. Their phone number remains the same: (616) 457-3453.

Tim Parker, president of West Olive-based Grand Angels, joined ACRE AgTech’s board of directors.

Trinity Clemens was named director of programs of the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan.

CONSTRUCTION

Lakewood Construction in Holland announced Chad Nienhuis joined the firm as director of pre-construction services.

EDUCATION

Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University Dean of Academic Affairs Charles Wright was elected to the board of directors for the International Council of Fine Arts Deans for a three-year term.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Jason Wenk, founder of the Inc. 500 and the 10th fastest-growing company in America, FormulaFolios, was selected as an Endeavor Entrepreneur.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Baroda-based Dablon Vineyards received from Wine Enthusiast Magazine a 90-point rating, the magazine’s highest ever given, for its Estate 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Kalamazoo-based Michigan Brewers Guild elected its 2018 board of directors, Scott Newman-Bale, Short’s Brewing Co. in Bellaire; David Ringler, Cedar Springs Brewing Co. in Cedar Springs; and Chas Thompson, Schmohz Brewing Company. Additional board members include Isaac Hartman, New Holland Brewing Co.; and Garry Boyd, BarFly Ventures (HopCat & Grand Rapids Brewing).

Lomonaco Sicilian Cookies announced the addition of Liz Kahny to its staff. Kahny has a degree in baking and pastry arts from the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education and 10 years experience in the industry.

FOUNDATIONS

The Community Foundation for Muskegon County announced Janelle Mair was promoted to vice president, programs, and Heidi Sytsema was promoted to vice president, development. 

Saint Mary’s Foundation announced the following promotions and additions: Keri Kujala was promoted to director of corporate and donor relations; Courtney Nickerson was promoted to senior donor relations specialist; Alica Arnold and Angela Paasche were hired as coordinators of special events and donor relations.

HEALTH

Tommy FitzGerald was hired as sous chef of The Urban Platter at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s.

LEGAL

Parmenter Law in Muskegon announced No More Sidelines will be its 2018 community partner. No More Sidelines is a nonprofit organization that helps children and young adults, ages 7 and older, with special needs in Muskegon and Kent counties.

Rhoades McKee announced the associate additions of Koral Fritz with the firm’s real estate and environmental law team and Andrea Snyder with the business, employment and estate planning team.

LEISURE & RECREATION

Experience Grand Rapids released its annual visitor guide, The Experience, a pocketbook-sized, locally focused resource for visitors and locals, available at Grand Rapids area hotels, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport visitor center and Grand Rapids Art Museum’s welcome center. Guides also can be requested through the Experience Grand Rapids website at experiencegr.com/trip-planning/visitors-guide, and an online version is available at grouptourmedia.com/emag/grandrapids2017.

Visit Muskegon released its 2018 Visitors Guide, featuring photos and articles on the many activities, events and amenities available to visitors to Muskegon County. Complimentary copies of the guide are available by calling (800) 250-9283 or visiting visitmuskegon.org and clicking “Request a Visitors Guide” link.

LOGISTICS

Midway Towing & Repair in White Cloud signed on with U-Haul Company of Michigan as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer, offering U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pick-up for boxes.

ODL Inc. in Zeeland was certified as a Great Place To Work by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work, San Francisco, California.

MANUFACTURING

Lindberg/MPH in Riverside announced the shipment of a nine tube gas fired immersion tube lead melting and holding furnace to a supplier of the battery industry. This immersion tube furnace will be used in the production of lead plates for automotive batteries.

NONPROFITS

Downtown Holland announced its inaugural charity shopping event, The Big Give, raised over $16,500 for the 15 nonprofit organizations that were selected to participate in the event.

Heart of West Michigan United Way hired A.J. Quankenbush as director of individual giving.

REAL ESTATE

Chicago-based developer Pathway to Living announced it has completed its acquisition of the property formerly known as Elmcroft of Kentwood at 4352 Breton Road SE, Kentwood. It has been rebranded Azpira Place of Breton and will be managed by Pathway to Living.

Watermark Properties announced the acquisition of Ravines Golf Club, 3520 Palmer Drive in Saugatuck, effective March 1. Ravines will be the sixth property acquired by Watermark Properties and will join Thornapple Pointe as the second public facility in the group. The other four clubs are all private and include Watermark Country Club, StoneWater Country Club, Sunnybrook Country Club and Thousand Oaks Country Club.

Mortgage 1 Inc. hired Greg Clausen to operate its new north end office at 3280 Beltline Court.

RETAIL

SpartanNash announced that while placing their Fast Lane curbside pickup or at-home delivery order at shopthefastlane.com, customers now will receive a message the instant they add an eligible item to their cart, alerting them to digital coupons they can clip and redeem.

Veteran-owned Tactical Source, a subsidiary of Grand Rapids-based Global Envoy Inc., opened a Pelican product studio at 5611 Balsam Drive, Hudsonville. The Pelican line sells high performance, protective cases, temperature-controlled packaging solutions, advanced portable lighting systems, and rugged gear for outdoor enthusiasts, photographers and collectors.

SERVICES

Childtime in Kentwood earned accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

TECHNOLOGY

Atomic Object is now a Certified B Corporation, meeting B Lab’s rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.

US Signal was outsourced by Romeoville, Illinois-based Christian Brothers Services for its entire data center, network and data protection operations. CBS is a nonprofit, Catholic organization that administers cooperative programs in the areas of health, retirement, property/casualty, technology and Catholic school consulting to church organizations. 

WEBSITES

The city of Grand Rapids launched a new website — grandrapidsmi.gov — that replaces grcity.us. The new site provides information in English and Spanish and offers online payment for 54 city services and 24 business licenses, among other features.

The law firm Varnum launched a new website featuring a fresh design that prominently showcases several well-known clients of the firm. The site also includes security and compliance features for better user experience and accessibility. Varnum’s website address is varnumlaw.com.