Increasing Competitiveness Through Collaboration

Convened in 1989, The Right Place | The Center-West Manufacturers Council is dedicated to the business success of the region’s manufacturing industry. The council’s vision is to be the regional forum for advancing manufacturing success in West Michigan. Members work together in a collaborative environment to promote, facilitate, enable, and advocate for advancing a “best-in-class” manufacturing sector.

Manufacturers Council Executive Team

The Manufacturers Council Executive Team. Pictured left to right: (Back) Jon DeWys, Patrick Greene, David Beemer, Christopher Williams, Peter Hungerford. (Front) Rene Booker, Birgit Klohs, Justine Burdette. *Not Pictured: Brian Gruber, Membership Chair, Director of Global Engineering and International Operations, Ranir; Steve Heethuis, Workforce Development Chair, NN, Inc.| Mobile Solutions Group, Training Director

Manufacturers Council Member Directory

If you would like to contact any members of the Manufacturer's Council, please contact Rene Booker at bookerr@rightplace.org or 616.301.6247

ADAC Automotive, Peter Hungerford, COO

Alro Steel, Randy Maitland, Vice President and General Manager

Amway Corporation, Bradley Rick, Director of TSO

Aquinas, Katharina Hausler-Gross, Associate Provost for Outreach and Engagement

Autocam, John Buchan, COO

BISSELL, Dave Corey, VP of North American Operations

Bradford White, Peter Kattula,Vice President of Operations

Cascade Die Casting Group, Inc., Patrick Greene, President, Vice Chair

Cascade Engineering, Christina Keller, Cascade Business Team

Conveyability, Heath Verstraete, President

D&M Metal Products, Bob Buist, President

DeWys Manufacturing, Jon DeWys, President

Ferris State University, Richard Gossen, Dean, College of Engineering Technology

Flexco, Doug Saunders, Director of Operations

Gill Industries, Dave DeGraaf, President and CEO

Grand Rapids Community College, Bill Pink, Ph.D., President

Grand Valley State University, Paul Plotkowski, Ph.D., Dean, Padnos College of Engineering and Computing

Grand Valley State University, Thomas Haas, Ph.D., President

Herman Miller, Mark Desrochers, VP of North American Operations

Irwin Seating Company, Graham Irwin, President and CEO

Irwin Seating Company, John Fynewever, Member, Retired

Jireh Metal, Michael Davenport, President and CEO

Kawasaki Precision Machinery, Joe Klooster, Vice President

Lacks Trim Systems, Curt Webb, Director of Supply Chain

Leggett & Platt – Work Furniture Group, Bob Ballard, Senior Vice President of Global Operations

Master Finish Company, John Mulder, COO

Medbio, Inc., Christopher Williams, President and CEO, Past Chair

NN, Inc. | Mobile Solutions Group, Steve Heethuis, Training Director, Workforce Development Chair

Nucraft Furniture, Scott Petzhold Vice President of Human Resources

Perrigo, Steve Steffes, VP of Allegan Operations

Ranir LLC, Brian Gruber, Director of Global Engineering and International Operations, Membership Chair

RoMan Manufacturing Inc., Robert Roth, President and CEO

Steelcase, Chris Bardeggia, Vice President, Global Quality and Lean

TACK Electronics, Todd Maines, President

Terryberry, David Beemer, COO, Chair

The Right Place, Inc., Birgit Klohs, President and CEO

The Right Place, Inc., Justine Burdette, Vice President, Technical Services, The Right Place, The Center-West Regional Director, Facilitator

Unist, Chuck Boelkins, President

Western Michigan University, David Meade, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Wolverine Coil Spring Co., Jay Dunwell, President

Woodward, Erik Pederson, Vice President and General Manager - Combustion