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.