Leadership Team


Andy Johnston
Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
- (616) 771-0335
- andy@grandrapids.org

Jenny Waugh
Vice President of Economic Growth
- (616) 771-0314
- jenny@grandrapids.org

Joshua Lunger
Vice President of Government Affairs
- (616) 771-0336
- josh@grandrapids.org

Kate Wezeman
Senior Vice President of Finance & Operations
- (616) 771-0350
- kate@grandrapids.org

Omar Cuevas
Senior Vice President of Investor Relations
- (616) 771-0357
- omar@grandrapids.org

Rodney Savage
Vice President of Talent & Inclusion
- (616) 771-0352
- rodney@grandrapids.org
Sponsorship Team

Yadira Garza
Senior Director of Development
- (616) 771-0301
- yadira@grandrapids.org

Elmedin Celovic
Membership Engagement Manager
- (616) 771-0320
- elmedin@grandrapids.org
Membership Team

Amanda Hentsch
Senior Director of Membership
- (616) 771-0340
- amanda@grandrapids.org



Julie VanGessel
Membership Engagement Manager
- (616) 771-0331
- julie@grandrapids.org

Claribel Ortiz
Membership Engagement Manager
- (616) 771-0332
- claribel@grandrapids.org

Economic Growth Team

Richard App
Retail Retention & Attraction Specialist
- (616) 901-8736
- richard@grandrapids.org

Claire Colley
Economic Growth Program Manager
- (616) 771-0334
- claire@grandrapids.org

Samuel Sanestin
Economic Growth Program Manager
- (616) 771-0338
- samuel@grandrapids.org
Talent & Inclusion Team


Dr. Sommer Jabbar-Pearson
Director of Inclusion & Belonging
- 616-771-0308
- sjabbar@grandrapids.org


Amy de Jonge
Talent & Leadership Program Manager
- (616) 771-0303
- amy@grandrapids.org
Government Affairs Team

Marcus Keech
Director of Government Affairs
- (616) 771-0311
- marcus@grandrapids.org

Trevor Blood
Local Government Affairs Coordinator
- (616) 771-0307
- trevor@grandrapids.org

Marketing & Events Team


Shawnee Eder
Senior Events Project Manager
- (616) 771-0341
- shawnee@grandrapids.org




Strategic Initiatives Team

Operations Team


Hannah Pechler
Finance & Operations Assistant
- (616) 771-0351
- hannah@grandrapids.org

Housing Next Team

Brooke Oosterman
Executive Director, Housing Next
- (269) 806-3124
- brooke@housingnext.org

Jennifer Radaz
Community Relations Manager, Housing Next
- (616) 771-0309
- jen@grandrapids.org
Opportunity Resource Fund


Braden Wiener
Executive Assistant & Board Liaison
- (616) 304-8099
- bwiener@oppfund.org

Bryce Bollman
Loan Processor/Customer Experience Ambassador
- (616) 202-6881
- bbollman@oppfund.org

Family Business Alliance

Mary Cline
Membership and Engagement Manager, Family Business Alliance
- (616) 771-0574
- mary@fbagr.org


Samuel Sommerdyke
Marketing and Events Coordinator
- 616-771-0575
- sam@fbagr.org
Chamber Career Opportunities
The Grand Rapids Chamber is an award-winning regional chamber with 3,000 member businesses, 40 professional staff, and a budget of $5 million. The Chamber’s mission is to make West Michigan a top-of-mind region. The Chamber is proud to play a central role in actively supporting the business community by engaging over 10,000 participants in activities driven by the Chamber.
Current Openings:
Program Manager – Family Business Alliance
Program Manager – Silent Observer