President & CEO
616-771-0324 klohsb@rightplace.orgBirgit provides strategic direction for The Right Place. She also provides location and expansion assistance to Kent County and international clients. She is responsible for marketing Greater Grand Rapids to an international audience.
Chief Operating Officer/Assistant Treasurer
616-771-0312 howardt@rightplace.orgTwayne directs all activities related to finance, human resources, information technology, infrastructure and administration, contracts, and third party consultants. He also leads events and administrative staff as well as the Leadership Team and professional staff.
Vice President, Talent Initiatives & Executive Director, Hello West Michigan
616.818.9080 brownc@hellowestmichigan.comCindy leads Hello West Michigan and its efforts to attract top talent to the region. Along with overseeing the strategic direction and collaborations of the organization, she handles the Hello West Michigan weekly resume pack program, personally helping hundreds of candidates find employment in West Michigan.
Vice President, Technical Services, MMTC-West Regional Director
616-771-0304 burdettej@rightplace.orgJustine 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, Supply Chain Management, and Food Processors Councils.
Vice President, Strategic Initiatives
616-443-6053 chaplar@rightplace.orgRick's responsibilities include assisting local units of government and private development interests with economic development policies and programs throughout the 13-county West Michigan region.
Vice President, Investor Relations
616-771-0560 bcomment@rightplace.orgBrad 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.
Vice President, Conferences and Events
616-771-0327 kovicakn@rightplace.orgNatalia creates event structure and promotion plans to meet objectives for awareness and revenue generation. In addition, she determines event needs in the region and offers events to enhance interest and networking capabilities for West Michigan companies.
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
616-301-6791 mrozt@rightplace.orgTim provides overall leadership and direction for all Right Place communication strategies and plans, including public relations, marketing, and advertising.
Vice President, Business Development
616-771-0571 thillt@rightplace.orgTherese 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.
Senior Business Development Manager
616-771-0556 icarde@rightplace.orgEric 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.
Senior Business Development Manager
616-901-9343 wanglerj@rightplace.orgJennifer 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 West Michigan Technology Council.
Senior Business Development Manager
616-840-2640 maxwella@rightplace.orgAyesha provides retention and expansion assistance to clients of The Right Place in Kent County. This includes site location and expansion assistance to food, agribusiness, and furniture manufacturers.
Director of Business Intelligence & Research
616-771-0343 rileyd@rightplace.orgDave provides custom research services and community economic statistics to Right Place clients. He also works closely with The Right Place’s marketing team to develop authoritative, compelling, and informative data for all of their marketing materials and online data center.
Business Development Coordinator - Montcalm
616-498-0374 vanderlaank@rightplace.orgKathy Jo works to keep and grow Montcalm manufacturers by bringing them local, state, and federal resources.
Business Development Coordinator - Newaygo
231-335-1985 burrellj@rightplace.orgJulie provides business support services to companies in Newaygo County.
Business Development Coordinator - Kent and Ionia
616-481-1360 Riggss@rightplace.orgSpence provides business expansion, retention, and attraction services for businesses in both Kent and Ionia counties.
Business Development Coordinator - Lake and Oceana
231-742-3328 nicholsj@rightplace.orgJodi serves as Business Development Coordinator for Lake and Oceana Counties. In this role, she provides business support services to prospective and existing companies.
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.
Business Development Executive Assistant
616-771-0576 montaninoe@rightplace.orgEllie provides administrative support to The Right Place's Vice President of Business Development, as well as the Business Development team.
Digital Marketing Manager
616-771-0563 romkemaa@rightplace.orgAndria manages all aspects of digital marketing for The Right Place, including the organization’s social media channels, websites, blog, and email marketing.
Marketing Coordinator
616-771-0570 heyse@rightplace.orgEric 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.
Digital Marketing Coordinator
231-349-7959 lintemuthl@rightplace.orgLina supports the organization’s digital marketing efforts by managing social media channels, websites, and email marketing.
MMTC-West Senior Business Development Manager
269-832-2564 cruzj@rightplace.orgJess 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.
MMTC-West Business Development Specialist
616-771-0557 woodb@rightplace.orgBen 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.
MMTC-West Business Development Specialist
616-610-1007 hossinkt@rightplace.orgTerry 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.
MMTC-West Client Coordinator
616-771-0561 winklera@rightplace.orgAmy coordinates customer consulting and training projects, user groups and workshops, and monitors these activities’ compliance with contractual reporting requirements.
MMTC-West Executive Assistant
616-301-6247 bookerr@rightplace.orgRene provides administrative support for MMTC-West events, marketing, and internal continuous improvement efforts.
Program Manager
616-771-0354 bartelsr@hellowestmichigan.comRachel handles the marketing, communication, and event planning for Hello West Michigan, including their out-bound marketing campaign to top talent across the country.
Executive Assistant to the President
616-301-9393 pontm@rightplace.orgMaulin provides administrative support to the office of the president, and supports all communication to Right Place board members and investors.
Staff Accountant
616-301-8700 beeringj@rigthplace.orgJackie 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.
Office Administrator
616-771-0325 bruggerl@rightplace.orgLorraine provides general office management and support services to the entire organization, including accounting, fundraising, and human resources administrative support.
Office Administrator/ Executive Assistant
616-771-0325 farrank@rightplace.orgKelly provides general office management and support services to the entire organization such as customer service, organization, inventory, deposits, and invoices.
Events and Investor Relations Coordinator
616-301-7063 elliottj@rightplace.orgJillian assists with planning and management of The Right Place, MMTC-West, and Hello West Michigan events. She is also responsible for coordinating communications with The Right Place's investors.