About

What is Tech Week?

As an unconference, Tech Week is participant-driven. That means that the events, discussions, demos, and showcases are led by the people who live and work in our community. This is your chance to mingle with like-minded people — from our region and across the country — face-to-face, to exchange ideas, network, pick up new information and ultimately help move the conversation forward.

Grand
Rapids Is [Y]Our Hub

The Right Place is the proud organizer of Tech Week Grand Rapids. The organization works alongside other community leaders to create Tech Week and establish Greater Grand Rapids as a leading destination for tech and innovation.

Greater Grand Rapids is perfectly positioned for innovation in many industries - especially tech.

Learn more about the tech industry in Greater Grand Rapids
Tech Week Advisory Board
Meet the forward-thinkers behind Tech Week Grand Rapids.
Shawn Crowley
Co-Chair, Tech Week
Co-CEO, Atomic Object
Steve Downing
Co-Chair, Tech Week
CEO, Gentex
Andria Romkema
Lead Organizer, Tech Week
Senior Vice President, Business Development, The Right Place
Kristin Williams
Co-Chair, Tech Week
Chief Technology Officer, Meijer
Sarah Abel
Executive Associate, Public Affairs and Communications, Grand Valley State University
Jamon Alexander
President and CEO, WMCAT
James Allen
Faculty/Technical Lab Manager, Davenport University
Josh Barker
Chair, Marketing Committee
Founder and CEO, City Innovations
Mary Jane Berklich
Chair, Kick-Off Committee
SVP, Market Executive, Bank of America
Keith Brophy
CEO, Mentavi Health
Guillermo Cisneros
President and CEO, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber
Danche Gjorgjievski
CTO, Vice President of Engineering, ADAC
Dr. Kristi Haik
Dean of STEM, GRCC
Mike Hemmingsen
Director of Sales, Michigan, Vervint
James Hill
General Partner, Grand Ventures
Joel Ippel
VP of Marketing, Century Technology Group
Mark Johnson
Co-founder and Partner, Michigan Software Labs
Jason Joseph
Chief Digital and Information Officer, Corewell Health
Paul Keifer
President, Bank of America West Michigan
Meg Kretz
Software Consultant and Delivery Lead, Atomic Object
Chip Lafleur
Chair, Engagement Committee
President and CEO, LaFleur Marketing & Orchard Insights
Brian McKeiver
Solutions Architect/Co-owner, Bizstream
Marcel Meijer
Computer Engineer, Array of Engineers
Paul Moore
Director, Start Garden
Chris Ortega
Chief Information Officer, LMCU
Hal Ostrow
Shareholder and Technology Transactions, Privacy and Cybersecurity Team Lead, Rhoades McKee
Sarah Rainero
Economic Development Director, City of Grand Rapids
Wes Richards
Director, AV Technology Business Unit, CS Erickson
Catherine Ripley
CEO & President, Symplicity Communications
Mike Schipper
Founder & CEO, InsITe Business Solutions
Ashlea Souffrou
Founder & CEO, Sxanpro
Mike Taylor
Director, Venture Creation, MSU Research Foundation
Brian Tol
CTO, Spindance
Al Vanderberg
County Administrator, Kent County
Zoë Wilson
Innovation Leader, AI Governance + Strategic Initiatives, AI Enablement Portfolio , Steelcase
pLANNING Committees

PARTNERSHIP Committee

Raul Alvarez
Director of Alumni Relations , Michigan State University
Mary Brown
Sr. Culture Consultant, Steelcase
Jonathan Dodge
President, Freshwater Digital
Tiffany Falcon-Ewigleben
Project Manager, Artprize
Matt Gira
Community Director, Bamboo GR
Brandon Hamilton
Operations Manager, The Right Place, Inc.
TaRita Johnson
SVP, Talent & Diversity, The Right Place, Inc.
Chip Lafleur
President and CEO, LaFleur Marketing & Orchard Insights
Kaylee Moreno-Burke
Senior Director of Programs & Strategy, WMHCC
Ricardo O'Neal
Founder, Kikcit
Andria Romkema
Senior Vice President, Business Development, The Right Place

Event REVIEW Committee

Dr. Kristi Haik
Dean of STEM, GRCC
Angie Lillie
Vice President of Compliance & Ethics, Mentavi Health
Marcel Meijer
Computer Engineer, Array of Engineers
Allyssa Murphy
Marketing & Communications Manager, The Right Place, Inc.
Mike Taylor
Director, Venture Creation, MSU Research Foundation
Nicole Zwiers
Marketing Lead, Michigan Software Labs

Kick-Off Committee

Mary Jane Berklich
SVP, Market Executive, Bank of America
Guillermo Cisneros
President and CEO, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber
Craig Clark
Owner, Clark Communications
Jill Elliott
Manager of Conferences and Events , The Right Place
Kate Lieto
Vice President of Marketing, Experience Grand Rapids
Jenny Waugh
Vice President of Economic Growth, Grand Rapids Chamber
Jane Zylstra
Events & Membership Manager, Economic Club of Grand Rapids

Marketing Committee

No items found.

Tech Showcase

Mary Jane Berklich
SVP, Market Executive, Bank of America
Jill Elliott
Manager of Conferences and Events , The Right Place
Krista Harmon
Workforce Development Consultant, Kent ISD
Lisa Hungerford
Director of Education Innovation, Talent First
Meg Kretz
Software Consultant and Delivery Lead, Atomic Object
Chris Ortega
Chief Information Officer, LMCU
Maggie Ryan
Director of Development, Junior Achievement
Jackie Stone
Senior Meeting & Event Producer, Destination Consultants

VC Insights & West Michigan Tech Showcase

Josh Barker
Founder and CEO, City Innovations
Danny Beckett
General Partner, Entrepreneur Ventures
Yulia Chiaburu
West Region Leader, AWS
Emily Gilbert
Engagement Manager, Michigan Capital Network
Corey Hart
Sr. Director of Growth, Mentavi Health
Megan Malm
Senior Principal, Michigan Capital Network
Kim Pasquino
Managing Director, Wakestream Ventures
Mahendra Ramsinghani
Managing Director, Secure Octane Investments
Aaron Schram
Chief Technology Officer, Four Square Ventures
Mike Taylor
Director, Venture Creation, MSU Research Foundation
Ara Topouzian
Executive Director, Michigan Venture Capital Association
About the Right Place
Since 1985, The Right Place has offered confidential, comprehensive business support services in the Greater Grand Rapids region. Our work focuses on three key strategic pillars – People, Place and Prosperity. Strength in all three of these pillars is integral to the success of our communities. Our team has assisted thousands of companies to spur more than $6.1 billion in investments and 50,000 new jobs throughout the region.

Tech Week Grand Rapids is fueled by collaboration. Meet the team that's making it happen.
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