Regional Industries

Technology Council of West Michigan

Striving to foster our region's economic growth through digital technology

The Technology Council of West Michigan exists to grow technology-oriented businesses in the Greater Grand Rapids region. We strive to make West Michigan a national leader in digital technologies.

Tech Council members share information and experiences of interest and benefit to its members to help fuel the success of member companies. In addition, the Tech Council supports West Michigan businesses who are providing, applying, or starting to adopt digital technology.

Technology Council of West Michigan Members

Brian Anderson Augusto Digital

Brian Anderson

CEO & Co-Founder, Augusto Digital
Catherine Behrenbrinker Tech Council

Catherine Behrenbrinker

CEO/Founder, Symplicity Communications, Inc.
Zachariah Booker Tech Council websize

Zachariah Booker

Co-Founder, Mentavi Health / ADHD Online
Keith

Keith Brophy

CEO, Mentavi Health / ADHD Online
Yulia Chiaburu Dematic

Yulia Chiaburu

West Region Leader, Solution Architecture for AWS
Matt Clarin Hungerford Technologies

Matt Clarin

President, Hungerford Technologies
Shawn Crowley Atomic Object

Shawn Crowley

Co-CEO, Atomic Object
Paul Doyle Dewpoint

Paul Doyle

Serial Entrepreneur, Inventor, Author
Matt Emery Tech Council web size

Matt Emery

President/Owner, Think Chromatic
Larry Faragalli

Larry Faragalli

CEO, Brightly
Josh Square

Josh Freeney

Partner, Yeti CGI
Tod Grams

Tod Grams

Business Development Partner, DISHER
Cropped

Jake Hall

Business Development Manager, Feyen Zylstra
Bw happy greg

Gregory Hatcher

Founder - White Knight Labs
Nate Jean Tech Council

Nathan Jean

President, Kyros Digital LLC
Mark A Johnson MBA Michigan Software Labs

Mark Johnson

Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Michigan Software Labs
Jason Joseph Spectrum Health

Jason Joseph

Chief Digital and Information Officer, Corewell Health
Andy Kaiser Kaiser IT Group

Andy Kaiser

President, Kaiser IT Group
Sam Kasgorgis websize

Sam Kasgorgis

President and CEO, Fusionary
Blythe Kazmierczak Square headshot

Blythe Kazmierczak

CEO, Euzen Connect
Mark Kimball Moss

Mark Kimball

President & CEO, Moss
Chris Koens web size

Chris Koens

FlexTal, President
Taryn Kutches

Taryn Kutches

VP of Brand and Business Development, Twisthink
Mark Lardieri CQL

Mark Lardieri

President, CQL Incorporated
Kyle Mc Gregor websize

Kyle McGregor, PhD

Director of Health Innovations, Spartan Innovations
Brian Mckeiver Bizstream

Brian McKeiver

Solution Architect/Co-Owner, BizStream
Tim Merkle Website Size Square

Tim Merkle

Director of Customer & Business Operations, Engineering & Program Management, Steelcase
James Mikrut websize

James Mikrut

Founder/CEO, Payload CMS
Tom miller photo

Tom Miller

President, MindSpring
Chad Paalman Nu Wave Technology Partners

Chad Paalman

CEO & Co-Founder, NuWave Technology Partners
Stacy Paul Array of Engineers

Stacy Paul

CEO, Array of Engineers
Scott Pierce Tech Council

Scott Pierce

CEO, The IMK Group
Headshot michael1

Michael Scheinman

CEO, Campspot
Aaron schram

Aaron Schram

CTO, Four Square Ventures
Matt Simms Website Size Square

Matt Simms

President & Founder, Simms Electronics
Nate Smith Digital Industry Group

Nate Smith

Founder & COO, Digital Industry Group
Ashlea Souffro websize

Ashlea Souffrou

CEO/Founder, SxanPro
Matt Toburen

Matt Toburen

Founder, NEXUS Software Solutions
Brian Tol Website Size Square

Brian Tol

Chief Technology Officer, SpinDance
Garry Von Myhr Tech Defenders

Garry VonMyhr

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tech Defenders
Michael Sqaure

Michael Waldschlager

President and CEO, Fusion IT and Millennia Technologies
Jen-Wangler-Headshot

Jennifer Wangler

Vice President of Technology, The Right Place, Inc.
Jim Weaver Tech Council

Jim Weaver

CEO, GTF Technologies
Brian Young Rehmann

Brian Young

Principal - Technology Solutions, Rehmann
Not pictured:
  • Josh Barker, CEO & Managing Partner, City Innovations
  • Shawn Isenhoff, President, DornerWorks
  • Mike Kennedy, CIO, Gordon Foods
  • Chris Tromp, Chief Digital Officer, TiiCKER

Benefits of Technology Council of West Michigan Membership

Collaboration

Membership in the Technology Council of West Michigan provides an opportunity to create new collaborations with other regional technology leaders who are applying digital technologies as part of their competitive strategy.

Peer Sharing

As part of a trusted group of technology leaders, participating members share best practices and experiences of interest and benefits to its members to help fuel the success of member companies.

Voice of Technology in West Michigan

Immediate value is provided at each gathering: an annual calendar of events is set at the beginning of the new year, but “hot” topics are generated from and explored by members as they arise. This allows the Council to respond quickly to new developments and provide actionable insight.

Networking

As a member of the Tech Council, you have the ability to network with other members of the council and their teams. This private networking opportunity provides a chance to develop new relationships and partnerships in the region.

Solving Common Challenges

Many of the problems facing West Michigan technology professionals are not unique to an individual business. The Tech Council provides a platform and time to discuss these common challenges and address them as a team of companies.

Join the Technology Council of West Michigan

Eligibility:

  • Maintain a primary office within Region Four* (4); conducting a substantial amount of the company's operations (*Region 4 includes the counties of Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola and Ottawa).
  • Any company that is providing, applying, or starting to adopt digital technology shall be eligible for council membership under the following guidelines.


Member Expectations:

  • Participate in at least three (3) of the four (4) quarterly meetings of the Technology Council (may send a company representative; mandatory attendance at the Annual Membership & Budget meeting)
  • Support and participate in the Technology Council’s outreach efforts to ultimately raise awareness of the technology industry in West Michigan and improve overall company competitiveness
  • Agree to be an investor in The Right Place, Inc. with a minimum investment of $2,000 due annually
  • The Technology Council Membership Fee is $500 and will be invoiced annually. Fees will be used to offset meeting and event costs and will be reviewed and revised as necessary at The Technology Council’s Annual Meeting. Members who join mid-year will be assessed on a prorated basis.

Register now to become a member of the Technology Council of West Michigan.

The membership fee is $500.

Register Now

Tech News in Greater Grand Rapids

The Right Place Tech Strategy making great strides toward goal
Tech Report i PDF Low

The Right Place Tech Strategy making great strides toward goal

To date, 3,352 tech jobs have been created.

The Right Place assists Gentex with opening technology hub in downtown Grand Rapids
Tech Report i PDF Low

The Right Place assists Gentex with opening technology hub in downtown Grand Rapids

Global technology company to open office at 25 Ottawa NW, creating 100 jobs

Strong relationships helped cybersecurity firm, Prescott, choose Grand Rapids to expand
Tech Report i PDF Low

Strong relationships helped cybersecurity firm, Prescott, choose Grand Rapids to expand

Cybersecurity compliance consulting firm chooses Grand Rapids to expand

Upcoming Tech Events

All Events
Tech Founders Happy Hour

Tech Founders Happy Hour

Join the Technology Council of West Michigan and The Right Place for the Tech Founders Happy Hour!

November 16, 2023
3:00PM–6:00PMTBD

Interested in Joining? Contact Us Today

Jen-Wangler-Headshot

Jennifer Wangler

Vice President, Technology | Director, Technology Council of West Michigan

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.

Full Bio