Roofing and siding company American Classic Construction (ACC) is the recent recipient of CD Barnes Construction’s Key to Our Success Award for subcontractor work performed on the Milestones Early Learning project in Wyoming. ACC was selected for its increased dedication to jobsite commitment to safety and willingness to make adjustments on the fly. CD Barnes created the award program in 2016 to recognize subcontractors that go beyond everyday duties and exemplify the best in performance, quality and communication.
ACCOUNTING
Baker Holtz CPAs and Advisors announced the hire of Ryan Flynn as an associate.
ARTS
Opera Grand Rapids hired Miranda Krajniak as development director. Krajniak will re-envision, develop and lead strategy to sustain and broaden the donor base for Opera Grand Rapids.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum announced its team of scientists and partnership researchers have documented natural reproduction of Lake Sturgeon in the Grand River for the first time. The sturgeon research team involving the GRPM along with partners Encompass Socio-Ecological Consulting, John Ball Zoo and Grand Valley State University captured and released a four-month-old Lake Sturgeon recently as part of the Lake Sturgeon Juvenile Assessment work. The research team has been working over the last four years to document young Lake Sturgeon in the Lower Grand River. The six-inch sturgeon that was captured indicates successful reproduction and recruitment into the Grand River population.
AWARDS
The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce announced Meg Goebel, president and CEO of Paul Goebel Group d/b/a Acrisure, is the recipient of the 2022 ATHENA Leadership Award.
The West Michigan Chapter of the American Advertising Federation recently bestowed its Silver Medal to Pamela Patton, owner of Paragraph Writing Services.
BANKING
Ben Stone joined Independent Bank as vice president, government banking for east Michigan as part of Independent Bank’s treasury management team.
Honor Credit Union announced member center managers will be led by Abbey Vaughan at its Allendale branch, in Jenison by Drew Peppel, and in Wyoming by Michelle Geoffroy.
United Federal Credit Union opened a new mortgage production office at 1600 E. Beltline Ave., Suite 111. The credit union added Jonathon Izenbart as mortgage production manager and Anthony Gardner, Eric Hofmann, Brent Dean and Erik Ledezma as mortgage advisers.
BUSINESS SERVICES
Jennifer Maxson and Associates’ Katherine Roye completed the Everything DiSC Certification course and now is an Everything DiSC Certified Practitioner. Jana Postma was hired as an administrative coordinator and coach.
CONSTRUCTION
First Companies hired Ken Bailey in the new position of vice president of construction development.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Molly Chelovich, wealth management adviser with Merrill in Grand Rapids, was named to Forbes’ 2022 Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors list. Earlier this year, Chelovich also was named to Forbes’ America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors and America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors-Best in State lists.
FOUNDATIONS
The Saint Mary’s Foundation elected new officers and trustees. Officers (two-year term for chair and one-year term for all other officers): Scott Breslin, chair; Kim McLaughlin, vice chair; Rhonda Huismann, treasurer; Brian Hauenstein, secretary; Joe Chamberlin, officer; Ben Williams, officer; and Ellie Frey Zagel, officer. Trustees with three-year terms are: Patrick Cebelak; Baljit Singh Deol, MD; Nakia Kyler; and Chris Wessely.
GRANTS
The UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation is the recipient of a Thome Aging Well grant of $200,000 over two years that will support overall health and wellness programming for residents living in Brio Living Services’ affordable housing communities.
GOVERNMENT
Members of Shelbyville-based Gun Lake Tribe’s Tribal Council elected Virginia Sprague-Vanderband as council member along with incumbents Nicole Overbeck and chairman Bob Peters.
HEALTH
Corewell Health announced the addition of Tracie Morris as chief people officer. Morris will be integral in developing inspirational and innovative people strategies that will propel the organization forward to thrive in a vibrant and inclusive culture.
Kalamazoo-based Bronson Healthcare was the 4th-highest ranking employer among hospitals and health systems and 39th overall across all employer categories and industries in the state in Forbes’ 2022 America’s Best-In-State Employers list.
Holland Hospital was the only hospital to receive the top five-star rating in the West Michigan region and one of just 14% of hospitals nationwide to earn five stars in 2022 for superior outcomes and exceptional patient experience by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Healthgrades.
Kalamazoo-based Ascension Borgess announced Natalie Ryder as administrator of Ascension Borgess Allegan Hospital in Allegan and Ascension Borgess-Pipp Hospital in Plainwell. Ryder will continue in her current role as administrator of Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital in Dowagiac.
HOSPITALITY
AHC Hospitality announced the appointment of Adam Tanner to assistant vice president of food and beverage, where he will oversee the restaurant and catering programs of AHC Hospitality’s hotels, including the Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton and the JW Marriott Grand Rapids in downtown Grand Rapids’ Hotel District.
LEGAL
Three Mika Meyers PLC attorneys were named Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers in America: Nathaniel R. Wolf, Employment Law – Management Lawyer of the Year; Scott E. Dwyer, Labor Law – Management Lawyer of the Year; and Michael C. Haines, Oil and Gas Law Lawyer of the Year. In addition, the following attorneys were included in the 2022 Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine: Elizabeth K. Bransdorfer, Douglas A. Donnell, Scott E. Dwyer, Ross A. Leisman and Nathaniel R. Wolf. Dan Broxup was selected for inclusion as a Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Star.
Varnum partner Erika Salerno Shadowens has been named to the board of directors for Girls on the Run Greater Kalamazoo.
MILITARY
Michigan National Guardsmen Spc. Kingsley Njoku is an African native who works with the Kent County Sheriff’s Department and recently participated in African Lion 22. Njoku was able to see his homeland and serve his new country of the United States.
NONPROFITS
Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore announced Cindy Johnson has been selected its director of fund development.
The Santa Claus Girls of Kent County leased a space of their own for the first time in their storied history at the former DeltaPlex building, which was split into several parcels for lease.
REAL ESTATE
Colliers West Michigan hired Emily Woodward as an associate.
SPORTS
The Griffins Youth Foundation named Jennifer Lardie as executive director. Lardie most recently served as its director of coaching since 2014.
The Muskegon Lumberjacks hired Parker Burgess as associate head coach.