Change-Ups: Walton joins Arbor Circle

Leah Walton. Courtesy Arbor Circle

Leah Walton joined Arbor Circle as its performance improvement director. She brings over a decade of experience with change management and leading effective teams. Prior to her role at Arbor Circle, Walton served as program manager for the Spectrum Health Patient and Family Partner Program. Arbor Circle annually serves thousands of children, adults and families in several counties across West Michigan. As a comprehensive provider of mental health, substance use and family services, the organization provides a wide variety of programs.

ACCOUNTING

Dan Carter Advisors CPA PLC hired Mike Volk as principal. Volk served the past 21 years as the executive vice president of finance/CFO and treasurer at Davenport University.

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

The Image Shoppe hired Julius Rogers as director of business development and Claire Bennett as traffic coordinator.

ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING

Fleis & VandenBrink announced the additions of Larry Hummel, senior project manager; Doug Klann, construction project manager; Misty Klatt, construction contract administrator; Mike Visscher, environmental group technician; Mason Dyke, development and enhancement group engineer-in-training; Sophia Baker, process group engineer; Nick Moleski, environmental group technician; Jim Penrod, process group electrical designer; and Brant Mercer, west municipal group project engineer.

Progressive AE recently marked its 60th anniversary.

Shane Evens. Courtesy TowerPinkster

TowerPinkster announced the promotions of Shane Evens to manager of the electrical engineering department, Brian Johnson as supervisor of the electrical department, and Eric Rinehart, manager of the firm’s technology and security team. The firm also announced the advancement of the following employees to join the firm’s shareholder group as associates: Chris Baer, Judson Brood, Joe Chapman, Jeff Doran, Ashley Dunneback, Kelsey Groesbeck, Craig Janetzke, Matt Murphy, Alexis Orr and Ella Segur.

ARTS

GhostLight Theatre in the Benton Harbor Arts District announced the appointment of Ed Tracy as interim executive director.

Kent District Library hired Hennie Vaandrager as programming manager and promoted Penni Zurgable as regional manager I at the Plainfield Township and Comstock Park branches.

AWARDS

Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing received the 2022 Outstanding Growth Award from the Association for Corporate Growth Western Michigan for sustaining growth in sales, profitability, employment and community involvement.

Holland-based Hope College Alumni Association presented a Meritorious Service Award to Eva Dean Folkert, who retired earlier this spring as interim director of public affairs and marketing after serving in multiple capacities at Hope College since 1985.

The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development named Jessi Goldner one of its 40 under 40 recipients for 2022. Goldner is a member of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and works as director of compliance for the Tribe’s economic development firm, Waséyabek Development Company LLC.

Mark Fitzpatrick, director of the Ada Township Parks & Recreation Department, is the 8th recipient of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council’s Heartwell Environmental Legacy Award.

BANKING

Honor Credit Union announced the addition of James McLaughlin as commercial loan officer for the Grand Rapids area.

Kalamazoo-based Consumers Credit Union added Rob Gruesbeck as a mortgage loan officer for its newest market in Lansing; Jordan Higgins as a junior business development manager; and Mohammed Haque as a credit card product specialist.

Lake Michigan Credit Union announced the hiring of Sarah Schaefer as a mortgage loan officer serving Grand Rapids and the surrounding area.

Lake Odessa-based Union Bank announced the internal transition of Nicole Suchek to mortgage banker. She will continue to work with current and prospective customers throughout West and Central Michigan.

Mortgage Executive Magazine announced Independent Bank is in the top 100 publicly traded banks and mortgage companies in America for 2021, and several of its mortgage loan officers were in the top 1% of mortgage originators nationally for 2021.

United Federal Credit Union in Niles named Ron King as commercial loan officer in southwest Michigan; Julie Kamer and Bradley Strabbing have been appointed mortgage advisers in the greater Grand Rapids area.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Amanda Sloan. Courtesy Hire for Hope

Hire for Hope announced the additions of Amanda Sloan as business administration manager, Jenna Fatum as executive recruiter, and Kayla Ezinga, who is transitioning from an internship to the full-time role of human resources assistant.

CONSTRUCTION

EV Construction announced the additions of McCoy Wondergem, assistant project manager in the company’s facilities services department; Eric Frede, project manager also in the company’s facilities services department; Lauren Dodd, human resources and safety coordinator; Hunter Adams, firestop technician, Dirk Kuipers, steel fabricator; Drew Poling; field engineer; Brian Piper, field manager; Shonn James, field manager; Tyler Lewis, field manager; Kyle Brown, painter; Thomas Culver, field manager; and Cliff Hall, field manager.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Northern Trust appointed Alison Mast senior managing director and president of western Michigan.

EDUCATION

City High Middle School was ranked the No. 1 high school in Michigan by U.S. News & World Report.

Ning “Jackie” Zhang has been appointed Grand Valley State University’s dean of the College of Health Professions. Zhang previously was the associate dean for academic affairs at the School of Health and Medical Sciences at Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Andrew Fabiano. Courtesy Greenleaf Trust

Greenleaf Trust announced the addition of advisers Sam Ellis, who will focus on the Grand Rapids area, and Holly Crump, who will be headquartered in Kalamazoo. Jessica Brown, Brianna Rhinesmith and Megan VanOosten join Greenleaf Trust as trust operations specialists; Donna Bourbeau as client service representative; Dawn Schavey as team service coordinator; Andy Fabiano as senior family office wealth adviser; Donna Zandee as family office wealth adviser; and Shannon Barber as a family offices service representative.

Kroon & Mitchell added Andrew Glover as an associate adviser.

GOVERNMENT

Kent County is the recipient of the Women’s Resource Center’s Pillar Award. The award is given to employers that empower women in their workplace through progressive practices, inclusion and diversity efforts, career advancement and non-traditional careers for women.

The Kent County Department of Public Works hired JD Ham as its first safety manager. Ham will work on creating safety plans and procedures that are accessible to all employees in all DPW facilities.

The Kent County Welcome Plan Steering Committee hired Hollin De La Cruz as welcome plan coordinator. Its focus is to help Kent County to be more welcoming to immigrants and refugees.

GRANTS

Cherry Health received a $555,170 grant as part of Public Health AmeriCorps, a new initiative between AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control to support 20 full-time AmeriCorps members offering increased care access to residents in Michigan for two primary services: Health education to promote breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening; and Medicaid and marketplace outreach and enrollment.

The YMCA Grand Rapids and Baxter Community Center are two of 14 Michigan schools and community organizations to receive nearly $168,000 in grant funding from Lansing-based No Kid Hungry Michigan, to help grantees maximize the At-Risk Afterschool Meals component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program and help ensure kids and families in Michigan have access to healthy meals after the school day ends.

HEALTH

Holland Hospital has been named one of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. The hospital is the only health care organization in the state to maintain this distinction for 20 consecutive years.

Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital received national accreditation from the American College of Cardiology in the areas of Electrophysiology Lab, Cardiac Catheterization Lab and HeartCARE Center.

LEGAL

For the fifth year, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has been recognized as one of the top 10 health law firms in the Midwest by the American Bar Association. 

Varnum partner Kim Clarke has been named to the Law360 Immigration Editorial Advisory Board, providing feedback on the publication’s coverage and insight on immigration matters. This is Clarke’s third appointment to the board.

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP announced the addition of attorneys Scott M. Carter, Joshua M. Hoebeke, Livia Khemmoro, Tessa G. Mallett, Joshua R. Reuter, Janelle E. Shankin, Bill K.A. Warners and Molly K. Williams.

LEISURE & RECREATION

Endea Smith. Courtesy Gun Lake Casino

Wayland-based Gun Lake Casino announced the hiring of Endea Smith as vice president of human resources. Smith has over 25 years of experience in the casino industry, including recently as a multi-property vice president of human resources at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pennsylvania.

LOGISTICS

MUVE announced the appointment of Thomas Sikkema as its community team lead in Michigan to provide local support as it rolls out its Go MUVE accessible mobility app in Grand Rapids.

TGW is the recipient of the Association of German Engineers’ Logistics Innovation Award for its focus on robotics, software and digitalization.

MANUFACTURING

Ludington-based FloraCraft’s new product, FōM with PolyRenew, has won a bronze Edison Award for an innovative product related to manufacturing.

MEDIA

13 ON YOUR SIDE hired Brooks Blanton as news director. 

NONPROFITS

First Steps Kent appointed Cati Cortes as interim president.

Mel Trotter Ministries’ Next Step of West Michigan, a faith based social enterprise that provides skills training and employment for individuals rebuilding their lives, announced Stuart Ray has joined the organization as director of business development. Ray previously served as executive director of Guiding Light from 2009 to 2021.

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County board of directors appointed Ed Elsner (Consolidated Resource Imaging LLC), Andrew Fuelling (RT Specialty) and Damika Houston (Healing Minds Counseling and Consultation Services PLLC) as board members.

The Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore announced its newly elected board of directors officers, 2022-2024: Theresa Petko, 1st vice chair, Progressive AE; Emma Baranowski, 2nd vice chair, AUVESY Inc.; and Amanda Miscisin, treasurer, Whirlpool Corp. Directors at large, 2022-2024: Kyla Barranco, state of Michigan; Stephanie Briggs, Muskegon Community College; Cathy Cooper, Meijer LPGA Classic; AJ Emery, Kent County Sheriff’s Office; Dr. Angela Garrey, Ferris State University; Dr. Dana Hebreard, Aquinas College; Marcel van der Elst, DWH; and Kara Wipperfeld, Foursquare 

REAL ESTATE

Roger Haveman. Advantage Commercial Real Estate Management Services

Advantage Commercial Real Estate Management Services hired Roger Haveman as lead maintenance technician.

Advantage Commercial Real Estate announced the additions of Janie Buchanan as a research analyst and Ethan Getchell as a research intern.

Colliers West Michigan hired Leann Stachowiak as marketing director.

RETAIL

Byron Center-based SpartanNash announced the addition of Peter Anjorin as vice president, strategy and business development, and Greg Crane as vice president, finance-food distribution.

St. Louis-based Save A Lot recently presented the Save A Lot Retail Partner of the Year Award for owners of 5-10 stores to the Leppink’s Group, which owns and operates six Save A Lot locations across southern and western Michigan. The award is given to retail partners that demonstrate outstanding results across the business, including growth in sales and customer metrics, community involvement, team engagement and a commitment to the Save A Lot brand image.

TRAVEL & TOURISM

Kaylie Pomper joined West Michigan Tourist Association as marketing director.

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority added Maria Kim to its senior leadership team as chief financial officer. Kim brings a background in aeronautical revenue along with 10 years of experience in strategic planning, data analysis and financial forecasting and modeling to her new role.