Leadership Grand Rapids (LGR) is designed to be unlike any other leadership program, where instead of analyzing leadership tactics and principles, participants are asked to use a systems thinking approach to tackle real issues facing our community. This approach to the programming is meant to foster community trustees who will leave the class with a community-focused mindset that creates a lifelong commitment to creating a thriving and prosperous West Michigan for all.
LGR has proudly been operating in the Grand Rapids community for over 30 years, and in that time has created a strong group of alumni who work toward improving our community at all levels. These alumni are changemakers both in and out of the workplace, and this year’s class of participants will be no different.
We are excited to announce the incoming class of LGR participants. This class will begin at the end of August and will celebrate their graduation in April of 2020. Congratulations to this year’s cohort, and welcome to Leadership Grand Rapids!
Krista Avery, Senior Director of Development, Special Olympics Michigan
Rev. Katherine Lee Baker, Chaplain | Minister, Reformed Church in America
Jason Clayton, Dean of Career and Life Calling, Cornerstone University
Afton DeVos, Chief Operating Officer, Kids’ Food Basket
Dana Doll, Cofounder/Executive Director, Treetops Collective
K’Sandra Earle, Associate Director, Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative
Lamont Edwards, Designer, AECOM
Jonathan Farman, Executive Director & Owner, GIFT Grand Rapids & Urban Jonny’s
Davien Fizer, Man Up Site Coordinator, Urban Transformation Ministries
Garrett Fox, Vice President of Sales, West Michigan Flocking
Dilli Gautam, President, Bhutanese Community of Michigan
Stephanie Gonda, Director of Sales, Townsquare Media
Jeffrey Gurney, Chief Technology Advocate and Director of IT, Van Andel Institute
Omar Hall, Vice President Sales and Marketing, NN Inc., Mobile Solutions Group
Tatum Hawkins, Development Director, Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County
Lisa Heyne, Executive Director & Superintendent, Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center
William Jackson, Community Health Worker, Spectrum Health
Laura A. Jeltema, Partner, Warner Norcross + Judd
Alexa Kramer, Director of Government Affairs, Grand Rapids Chamber
Tamara Lakiri, Director of Talent Experience, OST
Ashley Lee, Vice President, Public Relations and Marketing, Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Clara Lee, Self-Employed, Independent Business Consultant
Natalie Lowell, Senior Director of Membership, Girls Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore
David Marquardt, Director – Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation, City of Grand Rapids
Lyndsay Martin, Director of Crisis Quality & Development, Hope Network Behavioral Health Services
Daniel McGraw, CEO, DPT Solutions
Mary McLoughlin, Owner/Principal, McLoughlin Communications & Public Relations
Tonja Lynae-Gofoe Moyer, Director of Performance Improvement, Metro Health| University of Michigan
Attah Obande, Director of Dream Fulfillment, SpringGR
Dormica Oppenhuizen, Director of International Logistics, Meijer
Chad Paalman , CEO/Visionary, NuWave Technology Partners
Kristyn Peck, MSW, Chief Executive Officer, West Michigan Partnership for Children
Brianne Pitchford, Business Development Manager, Triangle Associates
Kevin Polston, Superintendent, Godfrey Lee Public Schools
Veronica Quintino-Aranda, Community Liaison Officer, Michigan State University Research Center
Meghan Reed, Director, Operations, ITS Partners, LLC
Gregory J. Sanial, Vice President for Finance and Administration & Chief Financial Officer, Grand Valley State University
Emily Smith, Communications & Events Coordinator, World Affairs Council of Western Michigan/Principal, WordWell Global, LLC
Jeffrey Snyder, Manager, External Affairs, Comcast
Michael TerHorst, Vice President, Antares Capital
Rachel VerWys, Co-Creator – Executive Director, SEE : Solutions to End Exploitation
Adam Weiler, Director of Social Enterprise, WMCAT
Dani Zizak, Vice President Corporate Communication & Social Responsibility, Wolverine Worldwide
