Staff of The Right Place, Inc.

Leadership & Management

Randy Thelen

President & CEO
616-771-0324 randy.thelen@rightplace.org
As President & CEO of The Right Place, Randy leads economic development strategy through collaboration with local, State, and national organizations and stakeholders. His role is central to the organization’s core work of business retention, expansion, and attraction within the community, while aligning with The Right Place’s mission of driving sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity for all in the Greater Grand Rapids Region.
Read full bio here
Twayne Howard

COO/Assistant Treasurer
616-771-0312 howardt@rightplace.org
Twayne directs all activities related to accounting, finance, human resources, information technology, infrastructure, operations, contracts, and third party consultants. He also leads events and operations staff as well as the Leadership Team and professional staff.
Read full bio here
Brad Comment

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
616-771-0560 commentb@rightplace.org
Brad develops the fundraising strategy to sustain The Right Place and provide assets for future investment. He oversees all fundraising activities with our grantors, investors, customers, and the West Michigan business community, as well as organizational events and the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center-West (The Center-West).
Read full bio here
Tim Mroz

Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives
616-301-6791 mrozt@rightplace.org
Tim is responsible for leading long-term, regional economic growth initiatives in the 13-county area. His areas of focus include: infrastructure, regional collaboration, real estate/development, agribusiness, and special projects.
Read full bio here
Therese Thill

Senior Vice President, Business Development
616-771-0571 thillt@rightplace.org
Therese provides retention and expansion assistance to Right Place clients. She also works with site selection consultants. Therese provides site location assistance to national and international firms across all industries.
Read full bio here
Cindy Brown

Vice President, Talent Initiatives
616.818.9080 brownc@rightplace.org
Cindy provides strategic direction and overall leadership to the talent initiatives and collaborations at The Right Place.
Read full bio here
Justine Burdette

Vice President, Technical Services, The Right Place, Regional Director, The Center-West
616-771-0304 burdettej@rightplace.org
Justine leads the economic development strategy to retain and expand smart manufacturing companies for the West Michigan region. She aligns regional activities that promote solutions for common manufacturing problems and leads the Manufacturers and Supply Chain Management Councils.
Read full bio here
Brent Case

Vice President, Business Attraction
616-301-6246 caseb@rightplace.org
Brent works to recruit new business investment and jobs to the region. He also assists West Michigan companies during the decision-making portion of the expansion process to outline the benefits of growing locally as opposed to out-of-state.
Read full bio here
Andria Romkema

Vice President, Marketing and Communications
616-771-0563 romkemaa@rightplace.org
Andria leads the strategic marketing, communications, and advertising initiatives for The Right Place to promote West Michigan’s business capabilities across the country and the globe.
Read full bio here

Staff

Travis Alden

Director of Business Development
231-233-4349 aldent@rightplace.org
As Director of Business Development, Travis assists The Right Place with its rural economic development efforts by overseeing its business development team members in Montcalm, Newaygo, Oceana and Lake counties. Travis also coordinates business development activities in Ionia County
Read full bio here
Rachel Gray

Executive Director, Hello West Michigan
616-771-0354 grayr@hellowestmichigan.com
As the Executive Director for Hello West Michigan, Rachel leads the organization’s strategy, operations, and membership. She helps educate employers and prospective candidates about the region.
Read full bio here
Jackie Beering

Staff Accountant
616-301-8700 beeringj@rightplace.org
Jackie provides accounting support as well as oversight of all project tracking, collections, and records management. She is responsible for processing accounts payable and accounts receivable transactions.
Read full bio here
René Booker

The Center-West Executive Assistant
616-301-6247 bookerr@rightplace.org
René provides administrative support for The Center-West events, marketing, and internal continuous improvement efforts.
Read full bio here
Julie Burrell

Business Development Manager - Newaygo County
231-335-1985 burrellj@rightplace.org
Julie provides business support services to companies in Newaygo County.
Read full bio here
Jess Cruz

The Center-West Senior Business Development Manager
269-832-2564 cruzj@rightplace.org
Jess informs, assesses, advises, and develops relationships with key decision makers within West Michigan to support their efforts to retain sales, gain new sales, and achieve cost savings for their respective businesses. He is responsible for working with manufacturers in Kent and Barry Counties.
Read full bio here
Jillian Elliott

Events and Investor Relations Manager
616-301-7063 elliottj@rightplace.org
Jillian leads the planning and management of events for The Right Place and The Center-West. She also serves as a key contact for The Right Place investors.
Read full bio here
Kelly Farran

Office Administrator/ Executive Assistant
616-771-0325 farrank@rightplace.org
Kelly provides general office management and support services to the entire organization such as customer service, organization, inventory, deposits, and invoices.
Read full bio here
Eric Heys

Marketing Coordinator
616-771-0570 heyse@rightplace.org
Eric provides graphic and layout support for all printed communication needs of The Right Place, and he works with local printers to see production through to the final printed materials.
Read full bio here
Terry Hossink

The Center-West Business Development Specialist
616-610-1007 hossinkt@rightplace.org
Terry is responsible for working with small to medium size manufacturers in West Michigan, focusing on Allegan and Ottawa Counties, to help them assess their opportunities for continuous improvement and growth.
Read full bio here
Eric Icard

Senior Business Development Manager
616-771-0556 icarde@rightplace.org
Eric provides retention and expansion assistance to Right Place clients. He provides site location assistance to national and international life sciences firms. He also serves as the facilitator for the West Michigan Medical Device Consortium.
Read full bio here
Rosemary Kolderman

Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer (COO)
616-771-0325 koldermanr@rightplace.org
Rosemary provides administrative support to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), while also assisting with various internal processes, including accounts receivable and payable, benefit enrollment and employee orientations.
Read full bio here
Jessica Kuster

Program Manager, Hello West Michigan
616-301-8210 kusterj@hellowestmichigan.com
Jessica serves as the Program Manager for Hello West Michigan, where she oversees the internship and candidate connection programs, marketing and communication needs, and facilitates member orientation and training programs.
Read full bio here
Olivia Lanctot

Business Development Coordinator - Kent County
616-446-9901 lanctoto@rightplace.org
Olivia Lanctot is a Business Development Coordinator at The Right Place. She provides retention and expansion services to companies in Kent County.
Read full bio here
Lina Lintemuth

Marketing and Communications Manager
616-771-0328 lintemuthl@rightplace.org
Lina leads the organization's social media, web, and email marketing efforts and supports internal and external communications, public relations, and strategic marketing initiatives.
Read full bio here
Rafael Martinez

Business Research Analyst
616-771-0325 martinezr@rightplace.org
Rafael works as a Business Research Analyst for The Right Place. In this role, he provides business intelligence and economic research for the organization, and to investors and other stakeholders.
Read full bio here
Ellie Montanino

Business Development Executive Assistant
616-771-0576 montaninoe@rightplace.org
Ellie provides administrative support to The Right Place's Vice President of Business Development, as well as the Business Development team.
Read full bio here
Jodi Nichols

Business Development Coordinator - Lake and Oceana
231-742-3328 nicholsj@rightplace.org
Jodi serves as Business Development Coordinator for Lake and Oceana Counties. In this role, she provides business support services to prospective and existing companies.
Read full bio here
Jane Tierney

Controller
616-771-0557 tierneyj@rightplace.org
Jane provides accurate and timely financial information to The Right Place’s leadership team while ensuring effective internal controls and financial safeguards.
Read full bio here
Kathy Jo VanderLaan

Business Development Coordinator - Montcalm
616-498-0374 vanderlaank@rightplace.org
Kathy Jo works to keep and grow Montcalm manufacturers by bringing them local, state, and federal resources.
Read full bio here
Jennifer Wangler

Senior Business Development Manager
616-901-9343 wanglerj@rightplace.org
Jennifer provides retention and expansion assistance to Right Place clients in Kent County and site location assistance to national and international IT and tech companies. She also serves as the director for the Technology Council of West Michigan.

Read full bio here
Amy Winkler

The Center-West Client Coordinator
616-771-0561 winklera@rightplace.org
Amy coordinates customer consulting and training projects, user groups and workshops, and monitors these activities’ compliance with contractual reporting requirements.
Read full bio here
Ben Wood

The Center-West Business Development Specialist
616-771-0557 woodb@rightplace.org
Ben is responsible for working with small to medium sized manufacturers in West Michigan, focusing on Mason, Lake, Osceola, Oceana, Newaygo, Mecosta, Muskegon, Montcalm, Ionia, and Northern Kent Counties. He helps them assess their opportunities for continuous improvement and growth.
Read full bio here