Increasing Competitiveness Through Collaboration

Convened in 1989, The Right Place/MMTC-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: Natalia Kovicak, Peter Hungerford, Jay Dunwell, Chris Williams, Birgit Klohs, Patrick Greene, Doug Saunders, Justine Burdette. 

***Not Pictured: John Fynewever

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, Past Chair, COO

Alro Steel, Randy Maitland, Vice President and General Manager

American Seating, Tom Bush, President

Amway Corporation, Bill Reymond, Lean Champion, Manager Manufacturing COE

Amway Corporation, Bradley Rick, Director of TSO

Aquinas, Stephen Barrows, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Provost, & Dean of Faculty

Autocam, John Buchan, COO

BISSELL, Dave Corey, VP of North American Operations

Carter Products, Terry Camp, Executive Vice President

Cascade Die Casting Group, Inc., Patrick Greene, Membership Co-Chair, President

Cascade Engineering, Christina Keller, Cascade Business Team

D&M Metal Products, Bob Buist, President

DeWys Manufacturing, Jon DeWys, President

Ferris State University, Ron McKean, Associate Dean – Corporate and Professional Development

Flexco, Doug Saunders, Director of Operations

Gill Industries, Mary Gill-Thornton, Co-CEO

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

Grand Valley State University, Paul Plotkowski, Ph.D., Dean, Padnos College

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

Kent Design and Manufacturing, Michael Miller, President

Kent Manufacturing, Tom Muraski, Executive Vice President

Lacks Trim Systems, Bob Bieri, General Manager

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

Lumberman’s Inc., JJ Fliestra, Operations Manager

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

Perrigo, Steve Steffes, VP of Allegan Operations

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

Rapid-Line, Rick Van Dis, President

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, MMTC Board of Directors Representative, COO

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

The Right Place, Inc., Natalia Kovicak, Facilitator, Events Director

Vention Medical LLC, Steve Cardin, VP of Operations

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

Wolverine Coil Spring Co., Jay Dunwell, Workforce Development Chair, President

Woodward, Joe Patterson, Vice President and General Manager