Author: Rebekah deVries

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Press Releases

Inaugural SURGE Summit to Spark Innovation Discussion as Tech Week GR Expands to Holland

West Michigan innovators to converge for event aimed at driving technological advancement and regional economic growth

 

 

HOLLAND, Mich. |  July 29,2024– Lakeshore Advantage is excited to announce the inaugural SURGE Summit. The half-day event will highlight product and technology startups in West Michigan’s lakeshore region and aims to ignite meaningful conversations around pathways to innovation for businesses at all stages and sizes. Enterprise innovation leaders, research and development professionals, and aspiring and current product and technology founders are invited to attend the first-ever SURGE Summit.

 

“The SURGE Summit represents a crucial milestone for our community and beyond,” said Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage. “This summit will showcase best practices in innovation and collaboration. By bringing together visionary entrepreneurs and major corporations, we will highlight successful partnerships and hopefully create new relationships. I urge all stakeholders to participate and be part of this transformative gathering.”

 

The summit will take place on Tuesday, September 17 at Downtown Holland’s Warehouse 6, 136 E 6th St., starting at 1:00 p.m. The Holland event is part of the larger Tech Week GR event series.

 

The event will feature a keynote presentation, two panel discussions, and up to eight product displays from local startups. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with industry leaders and gather actionable insights for innovation and entrepreneurship.

 

“We are shining a light on the incredible innovation and product development that takes place in West Michigan’s lakeshore region,” said Peter Beukema, Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA) board chair. “This event will be instrumental in fostering continued success and growth in our region.”

 

The SURGE Summit is open to the public, but registration is required. Interested participants can register through the summit’s website at WestMIBusinessAdvantage.com/surge_summit.

 

 

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Investor Spotlight

Investor Spotlight

Rod Cooper

Rod Cooper joined Classic Transportation & Warehousing in 2009 and assumed his current role as President/CEO in 2017.
 
Cooper has 36 years of experience in the transportation and warehousing industry. Prior to his role with Classic Transportation, he spent 14 years with Rockford Corporation most recently as Worldwide Director of Operations. Before that, Cooper managed warehousing and distribution for Meijer Inc.
 
Cooper attended Grand Valley State University, majoring in business management and minoring in marketing. He also studied marketing management at Mott Community College.
 
Cooper’s expertise includes project management, global supply chain management, strategic planning, logistics services, customer service, sales, marketing, and financial management. He feels empowerment, lean principles, reliability, and flexibility are key to seizing business opportunities.

 

How have your prior roles in distribution informed your approach to leadership at Classic Transportation? 

Classic’s customer base is diverse. Everyone faces a unique set of logistical hurdles. My experience in managing a global supply chain has given me the edge we need to help our clients solve their various supply chain challenges.

 

How has Classic Transportation worked to stay on the leading edge and overcome challenges in warehousing and distribution in recent years? 

Customer service comes first in everything that we do. Classic’s mission statement is simple— “Exceed the standard, always do the right thing.” Although many of the disruptions in recent years were unprecedented, keeping in close contact with our customers and remaining flexible allowed us to minimize the impact on our customers’ supply chains as much as possible.

 

How has Classic Transportation’s new warehouse benefited the surrounding community and Classic clients? 

Warehousing space is limited in West Michigan. With the help of Lakeshore Advantage, Classic built two additional facilities on our main campus in the past few years, bringing our on-site footprint to over 420,000 square feet. These projects provided space for new clients in the region, and room for growth for the companies already thriving here. Classic now manages more than 1.3 million square feet of warehousing space throughout West Michigan. We also continue to expand our driver fleet to keep up with an increasing demand for drayage as well as local transportation.

 

Looking towards the future, what excites you most about Classic Transportation? 

Customers, growth, and people. We are an employee-owned business, and our team truly cares about providing the best possible support for our customers to help them succeed.

 

What do you value most about doing business, and what legacy do you want to leave in West Michigan? 

I enjoy working closely with customers to streamline their supply chain. Dedication, honesty, and integrity are at the foundation of the legacy I’d like to leave behind.

 

Can you share why Classic Transportation believes in investing in economic development? 

Attracting outside businesses to the region strengthens our economy by providing locally produced goods and services. Lakeshore Advantage works every day to help organizations set up and flourish here. West Michigan is where we work and raise our families, and we are committed to bolstering its prosperity.

 

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Announcements

Jennifer Owens named Newsmaker of the Year for startups and innovation by Crain’s

February 28, 2024  – Lakeshore Advantage is thrilled to announce that President, Jennifer Owens has been recognized as Newsmaker of the Year for startups and innovation by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business. 

 

Earlier this year, Jennifer was nominated among the top three finalists for her integral leadership in making the Next Center a reality. Jennifer took top honors in the category at the Newsmaker of the Year awards ceremony hosted by Crain’s on Tuesday, February 27 at Frederik Meijer Gardens. 

 

 

As president of Lakeshore Advantage, Jennifer is spearheading the ambitious Next Center project, a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation being constructed in downtown Holland that will serve entrepreneurs and businesses in the Lakeshore region for years to come. This honor from West Michigan’s leading business publication recognizes Jennifer’s tireless efforts, along with the hard work of Lakeshore Advantage’s dedicated staff. 

 

The award is also a testament to our Next Center donors, Lakeshore Advantage’s Board of Directors, and Holland’s Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA) board. Their continual guidance, support, and commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in the community laid the groundwork for this achievement. 

 

Jennifer has served as president of Lakeshore Advantage since 2014. Under her leadership, Lakeshore Advantage has supported more than 200 business expansion and attraction projects representing nearly seven billion dollars of private investment and helped our business community leverage millions in funding, ultimately resulting in over 7,000 new and retained jobs. This accomplishment demonstrates Jennifer’s relentless passion for empowering businesses and entrepreneurs in the Lakeshore region. 

 

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