Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth brings a record of regional collaboration, employer-focused leadership and strategic execution to the role.
HOLLAND, Mich. (July 9, 2026) — The Lakeshore Advantage Board of Directors today announced that Mandy Cooper, Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth, has been named interim president of Lakeshore Advantage, effective July 25, 2026.
Cooper will lead the organization following the departure of President Jennifer Owens, who has accepted the position of CEO at Southwest Michigan First. The board will conduct a formal search for Lakeshore Advantage’s next president.
“Mandy is an accomplished leader who understands this organization, our region and the work required to keep moving forward,” said Kyle Verplank, chair of the Lakeshore Advantage Board of Directors. “She has earned the trust of employers, community partners, elected officials and our team through her ability to bring people together around complex challenges and turn strategy into action. The board has great confidence in her leadership during this transition.”
Cooper has a track record of strong leadership. Throughout her career, she has helped bring partners together around complex challenges, secure resources for high-impact initiatives, and translate employer and community needs into actionable solutions.
Since joining Lakeshore Advantage in 2018, she has played a central role in advancing several of the region’s economic development and community competitiveness initiatives including regional efforts involving infrastructure, workforce housing, talent retention and business support.
Cooper played a key role in advancing the Southeast Regional Force Main project, bringing together local and state leaders, employers and communities across county lines to support long-term capacity for the region’s agribusiness and food processing economy.
She also helped Lakeshore Advantage respond to employer-identified workforce housing challenges by listening to business needs and strengthening relationships among developers, local governments and regional partners. That work helped establish the organization’s Community Development Director role focused on helping advance solutions to employer-identified workforce housing challenges.
Cooper has been a longtime connector to the region’s employer community. During the COVID-19 pandemic she helped lead the region’s business response, connecting employers to timely guidance, emergency resources and support during a period of rapid change.
As interim president, Cooper will continue advancing Lakeshore Advantage’s strategic priorities: supporting the growth of primary employers, strengthening the region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, advancing talent and workforce solutions, and helping communities address long-term competitiveness challenges including housing, infrastructure and site readiness.
“I am honored by the board’s confidence and grateful for the opportunity to lead Lakeshore Advantage during this important transition,” Cooper said. “We have a talented team, committed investors and exceptional partners throughout this region. Our work remains focused on what matters most: helping employers grow, supporting entrepreneurs, and ensuring Allegan and Ottawa counties remain places where people and businesses can build a strong future.”
