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
Matt Baxter Tech Council websize

Matt Baxter

CEO, Wedge
Catherine Behrenbrinker Tech Council

Catherine Behrenbrinker

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

Zachariah Booker

CEO & Co-Founder, 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
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
Michael Kelly Observ IQ

Michael Kelly

CTO & Co-Founder, observIQ
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
Greg May Nexus Technology

Greg May

Owner, Nexus Technology
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
Chad Paalman Nu Wave Technology Partners

Chad Paalman

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

Howard Paul

COO, Array of Engineers
Stacy Paul Array of Engineers

Stacy Paul

CEO, Array of Engineers
Scott Pierce Tech Council

Scott Pierce

Senior IT & Cybersecurity Consultant, Applied Imaging
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

CEO, Dealership Advantage
Brian Tol Website Size Square

Brian Tol

Chief Technology Officer, SpinDance
Joseph Van Harken Th3rd Coast

Joseph Van Harken

Chief Innovation Officer, MindSpring
Andy Van Solkema OST

Andy Van Solkema

Vice President of Digital Strategy & Experience, Open Systems Technologies (OST)
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
  • Aaron Schram, CTO, Four Square Ventures

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 assists Axis Automation with Walker expansion

The Right Place assists Axis Automation with Walker expansion

Automation company to add 50 jobs, invest $5.7 million to expand location in Walker

How recent workplace trends can lead to new opportunities for West Michigan tech companies
Tech Workplace Trends in West MI

How recent workplace trends can lead to new opportunities for West Michigan tech companies

As we push towards the end of the year, I think it’s a good time to reflect on workplace trends we are seeing, and how might the challenges of 2022 bring West Michigan new opportunities for growth in 2023?

Top 4 Takeaways from Tech Week Grand Rapids & Michigan Tech Week
114 R6 C 6124

Top 4 Takeaways from Tech Week Grand Rapids & Michigan Tech Week

What better way to share our story, attract new founders to our region, and also show off the spectacular companies that are already located here, than launching the first ever Tech Week Grand Rapids and Michigan Tech Week?

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!

May 18, 2023
3:00PM–6:00PMMichigan Software Labs
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!

August 17, 2023
3:00PM–6:00PMTBD
Tech Week Grand Rapids 2023

Tech Week Grand Rapids 2023

Save the date for Tech Week Grand Rapids ! Join us September 18-22, 2023.

September 18–22, 2023
12:00AM–12:00AMGrand Rapids

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