The Leadership Grand Rapids program is truly one-of-a-kind, gathering around 40 community trustees each year to participate in intense professional leadership training to tackle real issues facing their local community.
Each year, the team is hand-picked to span a diverse network of backgrounds, specializations, and industries to bring together a class that is uniquely special and capable of confronting complex problems from all directions. This approach to the programming is meant to foster community leaders 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. The Grand Rapids Chamber is excited to officially introduce the newest members of the LGR network!
Leadership Grand Rapids Class of 2022
Miriam Andrade Cuevas
Language Services Manager, Spectrum Health
Valissa Armstead
DEI Director, Spectrum Health
Maleika Brown
Director of Equity and Inclusion, Grand Rapids Public Schools
Jonathan Cauchi
Youth Transition Specialist, Disability Advocates of Kent County
Elizabeth Cotter
Deputy Superintendent, Northview Public Schools
Brooke Davis
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Mental Health Services, Kenowa Hills Public Schools
Randall DeBruine
Finance Division Director, Kent County Sheriff Department
Ashley Diersch
Vice President of Development, Kids’ Food Basket
Angela Eick
Senior Digital Marketing Specialist, Steelcase Inc.
Charles Elwood
Entrepreneur, SolisMatica
Tina Fierro
Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
Robin Fox
Care Programs Manager, The Grand Rapids Red Project
Roger Freeman
Vice President and Retail District Manager, Huntington National Bank
Shaquanda Gordon
Vice President of Human Resources, Talent, and Diversity, SpartanNash
Nadeem Hamid
President, Ocean Omega Inc.
Sunil Joy
Data Scientist, Kent ISD
Fridah Kanini
CEO, Flora’s Elegance Events Decor
Founder, Glimpse of Africa
Jacob Kulhanek
Regional Vice President, Christman Construction
Salvador Lopez
President, KConnect
Justin Maxim
Partner and Attorney, CBH Attorneys
Tara McCrackin
President, Kendall College of Art and Design
Timothy Merkle
Director of Business Operations, Steelcase Inc.Â
Stella Michael
Director of Information Services: CRM Applications, Spectrum Health
Mary Kay Murphy
Senior Director, Leading Educators
Christine Mwangi
Director of Fund Development, Kent District Library
Sylvia Nyamuhungu
Refugee Community Organizer, Church World Service
John Rizor
Architect, Progressive AE
Nathan Roggenbaum
Director of Performance and Quality Improvement, West Michigan Partnership for Children
Keyuana Rosemond
Chief Innovation Officer, Health Net of West Michigan
Emma Schab
Vice President of Regional Operations, Bethany Christian Services
Abbey Sladick
Community Relations Lead, Priority Health
Corinne Sprague
Partner, Warner Norcross & Judd
Misti Stanton
Vice President and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Mercantile Bank
Monica Stitt
Owner, Monica L Stitt LLC
Stacie Strong
Manager of Clinical Pathology, Mercy Health
B. Donta Truss
Vice President of Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach, Grand Valley State University
Gary Wade
Senior Engagement Specialist, Amway
Joshua Wilda
Chief Information Officer, Metro Health University of Michigan Health
Kristen Williams
Vice President of Digital IT, Meijer
Lawrence J. Zeiser
Construction Trades Manager, Wolverine Building Group
