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Press Releases

Lakeshore Advantage Appoints Three New Board Members

New board members bring expertise in tribal economic development, furniture manufacturing and automotive manufacturing

 

ZEELAND, Mich. – Lakeshore Advantage announces the appointment of three new members to its board of directors. Monica King, Chief Executive Officer of Gun Lake Investments, Paul Nemschoff, Vice President of Global Strategy and Marketing at Haworth, Inc. and Kelly Springer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Metal Flow Corp. have been elected to three-year terms on the economic development organization’s board.

 

“These new members are an excellent addition to the Lakeshore Advantage board,” said Neil Boehm, Board Chair. “They bring a depth of experience in key industries needed to help guide the organization and support our region’s continued economic success.”

 

King, Nemschoff and Springer will join the 19-member board of directors and advise on the organization’s strategic direction for a three-year term.

 

“Lakeshore Advantage board members are carefully selected to ensure our board makeup is representative of the industries and geography we serve,” remarked Jennifer Owens, President of Lakeshore Advantage. “These are remarkable industry leaders—our region will be well-served by them.”

 

The new board members will be introduced at Lakeshore Advantage’s Annual Meeting taking place beginning at 3 pm on February 1 at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville. For information on the event visit lakeshoreadvantage.com/events.

 

Lakeshore Advantage’s board of directors sets the organization’s strategic direction and long-term goals and assures adequate funds are in place to fulfill the work plan. A full list of the organization’s board members can be found at lakeshoreadvantage.com/about-us/our-team-board.

 

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Announcements

Lakeshore Advantage 2024 Events

Lakeshore Advantage Signature Series 

(These events are subject to changes. Visit lakeshoreadvantage.com/events for registration and updates.)

 

Annual Meeting 

Thursday, February 1, 3:00 – 5:00 pm 

The Pinnacle Center, Hudsonville 

The Lakeshore Advantage Annual Meeting is a gathering of senior-level business leaders, the Lakeshore Advantage investor network, and key partner organizations that have aided business and economic growth projects. It is the official Lakeshore Advantage report-out to our investors on our work and key milestones. 

 

Plus, join Lakeshore Advantage in recognizing the region’s most impactful business leaders for their contributions above and beyond their own career or business, and community partners who have helped move the needle on hurdles to economic growth. 

 

 

Lakeshore Fellows Gathering 

Thursday, June 6, 3:00 – 5:00 pm 

Location: Stay tuned for updates! 

The Fellows Gathering is an invitation-only strategic planning event that gathers major investors, board members, corporate leaders, and influential stakeholders to shape the lakeshore region’s future goals and initiatives.  

 

This interactive event is facilitated by Lakeshore Advantage and will allow participants to provide input, exchange ideas, and collaborate on charting the path for economic development in the region. 

 

 

NEW: Lakeshore Innovation Summit 

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 (Tech Week) 

Location: Stay tuned for updates!  

The Innovation Summit is a half-day event designed to empower and inspire the lakeshore region’s entrepreneurs, innovators, and the greater startup ecosystem.  

 

The event will feature thought leaders, panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities to foster innovation, provide resources, and connect entrepreneurs with potential collaborators, investors, and mentors. 

 

 

Industry Trends Report with the West Coast Chamber of Commerce 

Tuesday, October 8, 2024  

Location: Haworth Hotel  

As part of its business retention program, Lakeshore Advantage interviews more than 120 local executives each year to understand opportunities and obstacles to economic growth in Allegan and Ottawa counties. 

 

Jennifer Owens, President, and Amanda Murray Vice President of Business Solutions for Lakeshore Advantage will present key findings on the economic health of the region from research conducted over the year. 

  

Next Center Grand Opening 

Stay tuned for updates—this event is planned for late 2024 or early 2025. 

 

 

Continue reading “Lakeshore Advantage 2024 Events”

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Founder Stories

SURGE Member Spotlight: Devon Hudson

Member: Devon Hudson

Company: SwivelServe

About

I’m Devon Hudson, residing in Hudsonville, Michigan, with my wife of 5 years, Danielle, and our 2-year-old chocolate lab, Oakley. With a background in Marketing and advertising, I have leveraged my degree in the financial industry and small business arena, which has proven beneficial in my business ventures. Beyond work, I love spending time with friends and engaging in activities like golf, disc golf, and softball. Like most startups, I work more than play, but I thoroughly enjoy and am passionate about my professional pursuits.

 

 

Devon Hudson

 

 

Your mission/product/service

I’ve recently launched Tegriware to establish it as a respected household brand synonymous with continual practical innovation, unmatched quality, and outstanding service. All this while prioritizing integrity and transparency. Our flagship product, SwivelServe, is a groundbreaking kitchen innovation that merges the features of a serving tray and a cutting board—common essentials in every kitchen. It’s crafted to enhance meal preparation efficiency and streamline the process like no other product currently available in the marketplace.

 

SwivelServe Product Tegriware

 

Any exciting things in your world for 2024

I am thrilled to share that following several years of hard work and running through walls of obstacles, the SwivelServe is set to launch in May 2024, just a few months from now. Additional accessories for this product will be released later this year.

 

Why you love SURGE

Ever since I became a part of SURGE in March 2023, it has played a pivotal role in advancing my business. SURGE has facilitated connections with a network of vendors and suppliers, enabling me to sustain the development of the SwivelServe in Michigan, which I wasn’t sure would be possible. This access to a local support network has given me increased confidence and control over the production of my product. Additionally, forging connections with a fantastic community of fellow entrepreneurs has proven incredibly rewarding and valuable. I am genuinely grateful for my SURGE Community!

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Announcements

Investments in West Michigan Lakeshore Signal Continued Growth in Region’s Advanced Energy Storage and Medical Devices Industries

Originally announced by Michigan Economic Development Corporation

 

December 12, 2023

 

ATC Drivetrain, Inc. plans to consolidate its Center of Excellence at a newly constructed facility in the city of Holland that will include space for battery remanufacturing, electric drive unit remanufacturing, electronics remanufacturing, and battery second life applications. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $7.9 million and create 163 jobs with the support of a $2 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.

 

ATC Drivetrain is a Farmington Hills, Michigan-based company providing environmentally friendly remanufacturing solutions for powertrain and drivetrain products regardless of the technology powering the vehicle. This includes batteries, electric drive units, engines, transmissions and other driveline products. ATC also offers engineering services that include warranty root cause analysis and testing, quality audits, production rework and recycling. ATC serves the global automotive and commercial vehicle industries from its facilities in the USA, United Kingdom, Germany and China.

 

“This expansion is a sign of our region’s growing advanced energy storage cluster and proof of the West Michigan lakeshore region’s leadership in innovation at a transformative time for the automotive industry,” said Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage. “Today’s announcement puts a spotlight to the ingenuity that is characteristic of this region’s workforce and marks the start of many more good job opportunities for Allegan and Ottawa County residents.”

 

This project supports the state’s work to position itself as the global leader in automotive manufacturing and will bring immediate job growth to West Michigan with an expanding auto supplier. It will also support ATC Drivetrain’s presence and future growth in the state.

 

“ATC’s growth and expansion is a testament to our commitment to innovation, sustainability and customer focus,” said George Kostopoulos, Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing at ATC Drivetrain. “We’ve evolved our focus in recent years to align with the changing landscape of the automotive industry. Our new facility in Holland, Michigan, along with other strategic investments, exemplifies our dedication to driving positive change and embracing the electrified future.”

 

The city of Holland has offered a property tax abatement in support of the project. Learn more about careers with ATC Drivetrain.

 

“ATC Drivetrain’s decision to expand in the city of Holland is a testament to this community’s strong manufacturing workforce and Holland as a great place to grow a business,” said Holland City Manager Keith Van Beek. “We are excited for the good-paying jobs this investment will bring for Holland residents. ATC’s continued growth in this community will be an asset to the City’s economy and quality of life.”

 

 

hg medical is a market-leading end-to-end contract manufacturer of highly complex orthopedic implants for the extremities and spinal sectors. It focuses on innovative systems pushing the boundaries of subtractive manufacturing technologies and advancing the possibilities for developing implantable devices. With existing facilities in Germany and the USA, the company has built a strong reputation for its deep engineering expertise in its core segment, high-quality manufacturing, and exceptional customer service. With its team of experienced engineers and technicians, hg medical offers a comprehensive range of services, including design for manufacture and development, prototyping, validation, and production of complex, high-quality implants.

 

hg medical has experienced significant growth since its positioning in North America and plans to double its organizational capacity with additional expansion of its U.S. manufacturing in the city of Holland. The company will establish a new world-class manufacturing facility in the former JCI facility to manufacture orthopedic extremity implants.

 

“We are delighted that hg medical has selected Holland as it expands its North American operations,” said Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage. “West Michigan’s best kept secret is its engineering workforce that is second to none. We look forward to welcoming hg medical to the West Michigan lakeshore region’s business community.”

 

The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $41 million and create 180 jobs, including highly skilled engineering professionals, technicians, and administrative workers, with the support of a $1.8 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen for the expansion over competing sites in Indiana, Minnesota, and Tennessee for the quality of its workforce.

 

The project will bring nearly 200 good-paying jobs and will significantly impact West Michigan’s growing life sciences and medical devices sector. It will also support the company’s future presence and investment in the state.

 

The Michigan Strategic Fund also approved a five-year State Essential Services Assessment exemption valued at $237,840 to support the project. The city of Holland anticipates approval of a property tax abatement in support of the project. In addition, West Michigan Works! plans to assist the project through workforce development support. Learn about careers with hg medical here.

 

“hg medical USA’s expansion is an exciting opportunity,” said Holland Mayor Nathan Bocks. “Holland is known for hard work and innovation in a business-friendly environment. And we are a great place to live, work, and raise a family. We look forward to welcoming hg medical USA, their employees, and families into our Holland community.”

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