Our Staff
Successful businesses rely on partners with a focus on the future, whose vision for tomorrow drives innovation today, whose big ideas are matched only by their ability to achieve them. Lakeshore Advantage is that kind of partner, and we are made up of that kind of people.
We pride ourselves on creativity and getting things done, and our skillset includes experience in economic development, business operations from product development through marketing and global sales strategies, entrepreneurial and business management, emerging markets and workforce development. Add to this a commitment to the Holland, Zeeland and Saugatuck area, and you have a team of experts working to support your business growth along West Michigan's Lakeshore.
Randy Thelen
President
Randy serves as the President of Lakeshore Advantage. In this capacity, he delivers direct business attraction, expansion and retention services, and provides overall leadership to the organization.
Randy has served as President of Lakeshore Advantage since 2004. Since that time, he has worked with expansion and attraction projects with area companies including Boar’s Head Provisions, Energetx, Gentex, Johnson Controls, Haworth, Herman Miller, Hudsonville Ice Cream, LG Chem, Request Foods, Siemen’s and numerous others.
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Bruce Adair
Vice President of Business Services
Bruce is the Vice President of Business Services at Lakeshore Advantage. His responsibilities include the retention, growth and acquisition of businesses in the Lakeshore region.
Bruce has been deeply involved in the development of the Advanced Energy storage economic cluster and supporting supply chain. He leads the regions AES Task Force and coordinates support for the AES strategic plan.
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Jennifer Linart
Operations Manager
Jennifer is the Operations Manager for Lakeshore Advantage. Her responsibilities include management of the Lakeshore Advantage events, collaborative programming and organizational operations.
Jennifer has worked with dozens of local companies to turn their idea into a successful business venture. She is certified as a Small Business Consultant with the SBTDC, and has worked to build collaboration with the local Chambers and community partners to develop the Lakeshore entrepreneurial eco-system - including SBTDC classes offered at GVSU–Holland campus and partnerships with Hope College and Herrick District Library.
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Christine Powers
Director of Business Services
Christine is a Director of Business Services for Lakeshore Advantage. In this role, she provides assistance to local companies seeking growth opportunities; and promotes the lakeshore region to firms seeking to do business here.
Christine’s responsibilities include the development and management of communications for Lakeshore Advantage and the Michigan’s SmartCoast brand. She also plays in integral role in talent attraction initiatives to benefit the Lakeshore’s growing companies.
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Bruce Cisler
Director of Business Services
Bruce is a Director of Business Services with Lakeshore Advantage. He utilizes his extensive experience to aid area businesses in their pursuit to grow.
Bruce spent 36 years in the automotive supply base capitalizing on his technical knowledge in tooling, plastics, and manufacturing. The last 23 of those years Bruce was with Johnson Controls selling and leading teams automotive companies around the world providing management of cradle to grave projects.
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Randy Olinger
Vice President of New Venture Services
Randy serves as the Vice President New Venture Services for Lakeshore Advantage. Housed at the Michigan State University Bioeconomy Institute, Randy’s responsibilities include management of the BioVenture and TechVenture incubation programs.
Randy has more than 30 years of experience with technology-based start-ups working in product development and marketing roles at Meridian Instruments, Neogen Corporation, Michigan Instruments and SAKOR Technologies. He continues to pursue entrepreneurial interests with successful high-tech start-ups in his role.
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