The Leadership Grand Rapids program, or LGR, 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 2023
SARA ACKER, Employee Benefit Client Executive, Hylant
ANDREW ALLEN, Director of Advancement, AYA Youth Collective
MARY (KATE) BERENS, Deputy City Manager, City of Grand Rapids
SOMMAR BOESE, Finance Senior Director, Perrigo
CARA BREWER, Chief of Staff, Studio C
JESSICA COLLETTE, Chief Financial Officer, AMDG ArchitectsÂ
OMAR CUEVAS, Vice President of Investor Relations, Grand Rapids Chamber
ARICK DAVIS, Co-Founder, Last Mile Café
MARY DeYOUNG, Founder, Gray Space Collaborative
LACEY DIXON, VP of Mission Advancement and Marketing, YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
BRIAN DORA, Principal, Auxo Investment Partners
MARCOS ESPARZA, Portfolio Manager, Greenville Asset Management
EVELYN ESPARZA-GONZALEZ, Executive Director, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan
MIRABEL F. UMENEI, Founder, Motherland Cultural Connections LLC
ANTOINETTA FREEMAN, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
KRISTIN GIETZEN, President & CEO, Arbor Circle
AMBER GINOP, Director of Marketing, HexArmor
JENNIFER GRONDZIK, Director of Community Development, Camp Blodgett
ANDREA HAINES, Senior Business Process Analyst, Lacks Enterprises
DeANDRE HARRIS, Attorney, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
MARCUS JACKSON, Vice President, Community and Economic Development Manager, Fifth Third Bank
SCOT KELLOGG, Broker / Owner , 616 REALTY
SARAH KOLEKAMP, Director of Performance Excellence, Trinity Health Saint Mary’s
JASON LAWSON, Executive Director of Elementary Instruction, Kentwood Public Schools
RAUL MARISCAL, Global Sales Consultant, Amway
GEOFFREY McDANIEL, Vice President of Business Development, Custer
PAUL McMAHON, Commercial PM Market Manager, Huntington Bank
KIMBERLY MOORE, Vice President, Communications & Community Engagement, Kids’ Food Basket
BRYAN MUIR, Captain for Support Services Division, Kent County Sheriff
STEPHANIE NAITO, Vice President of Talent Management, Meijer
ALMA OBANDE, Community School Coordinator, Kent Schools Services Network
KIRAN SOOD PATEL, Sr. Content Marketing Strategist, OST
ELISA PEREZ-ARELLANO, Founder & CEO, Inclusive Empowerment Services, LLC
KYLE PUNG, Account Manager, Pleune Service Company
BEVERLY RYSKAMP, Chief Operating Officer, Network180
JEFFREY SALOWITZ, Founding Partner, Coalition Companies
ADAM SENG, Senior Project Manager, Lakewood Construction
JOY SPORTEL, Architect + Planner, Progressive AE
PAMELA SYLVESTER, West MI Provider Engagement & Transformation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan & Blue Care Network
VIVIAN TERMAAT, Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore
BEVERLY THIEL, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Kent County
MAURICE TOWNSEND, Owner, MoTown Square Development
DR. KARA VAN DAM, Vice Provost, Graduate & Lifetime Learning, Grand Valley State University
MEGAN WACKER, Regional Director of Human Resources, AHC Hospitality
LIBBY WAHLSTROM, Development & Communications Director, Literacy Center of West Michigan
