About

What is Tech Week?

As an unconference, Tech Week is participant-driven. That means that the events, discussions, demos, and showcases are led by the people who live and work in our community. This is your chance to mingle with like-minded people — from our region and across the country — face-to-face, to exchange ideas, network, pick up new information and ultimately help move the conversation forward.

Grand
Rapids Is [Y]Our Hub

The Right Place is the proud organizer of Tech Week Grand Rapids. The organization works alongside other community leaders to create Tech Week and establish Greater Grand Rapids as a leading destination for tech and innovation.

Greater Grand Rapids is perfectly positioned for innovation in many industries - especially tech.

Tech Week Advisory Board
Meet the forward-thinkers behind Tech Week Grand Rapids.
Mark Johnson
Co-Chair, Tech Week
Co-founder and Partner, Michigan Software Labs
Jason Joseph
Co-Chair, Tech Week
Chief Digital and Information Officer, Corewell Health
Dr. Philomena Mantella
Co-Chair, Tech Week
President, GVSU
Andria Romkema
Lead Organizer, Tech Week
Senior Vice President, Marketing and
Communications, The Right Place
Jamon Alexander
President and CEO, WMCAT
James Allen
Faculty/Technical Lab Manager, Davenport University
Josh Barker
Founder and CEO, City Innovations
Danny Beckett
General Partner, Entrepreneur Ventures
Mary Jane Berklich
SVP, Market Executive, Bank of America
Brad Bosma
Vice President of Products, Gentex
Yulia Chiaburu
West Region Leader, AWS
Guillermo Cisneros
President and CEO, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber
Brian Cohen
Founder, Confluence Festival
Kristina Connolly
Technology Banking Group, Wells Fargo
Jill Craig
Senior Director for Executive and External Engagement, GVSU
dr. Kristi Haik
Dean of STEM, GRCC
Ollie Howie
Managing Director, New Community Transformation Fund
Meg Kretz
Software Consultant and Delivery Lead, Atomic Object
Jason Kuipers
President, Mutually Human
Eric Kunnen
Senior Director, IT Innovation and Research, GVSU
Chip Lafleur
President and CEO, LaFleur Marketing & Orchard Insights
Kaitlyn Marsman
Marketing Director, Twisthink
Kyle McGregor
Director of Health Innovations and Venture Creations, Spartan Innovations
Brian McKeiver
Solutions Architect/Co-owner, Bizstream
Paul Moore
Director, Start Garden
Camila Noordeloos
General Partner, Grand Ventures
Ricardo O'Neal
Founder, Kikcit
Hal Ostrow
Shareholder and Technology Transactions, Privacy and Cybersecurity Team Lead, Rhoades McKee
Stacey Paul
Founder and CEO, Array of Engineers
Michael Ranville
Managing Partner, Bennett & Ranville
Wes Richards
Director, AV Technology Business Unit, CS Erickson
John Rumery
Industry Council Lead, West Michigan Tech Talent
Brian Tol
CTO, Spindance
Al Vanderberg
County Administrator, Kent County
Ted Velie
Founder, Midwest House
Ian Washington
Director of Community and Social Impact, Grand Circus
Jill Craig
Senior Director for Executive and External Engagement, Grand Valley State University
TaRita Johnson
Senior Vice President of Talent & Diversity, The Right Place
Kaitlyn Marsman
Marketing Director, Twisthink
Nicole Zwiers
Marketing Lead, Michigan Software Labs
About the Right Place
Since 1985, The Right Place has offered confidential, comprehensive business support services in the Greater Grand Rapids region. Our work focuses on three key strategic pillars – People, Place and Prosperity. Strength in all three of these pillars is integral to the success of our communities. Our team has assisted thousands of companies to spur more than $6.1 billion in investments and 50,000 new jobs throughout the region.

Tech Week Grand Rapids is fueled by collaboration. Meet the team that's making it happen.