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
CEO & Co-Founder, Augusto Digital
Matt Baxter
CEO, Wedge
Catherine Behrenbrinker
CEO/Founder, Symplicity Communications, Inc.
Zachariah Booker
CEO & Co-Founder, ADHD Online
Yulia Chiaburu
West Region Leader, Solution Architecture for AWS
Matt Clarin
President, Hungerford Technologies
Shawn Crowley
Co-CEO, Atomic Object
Paul Doyle
Serial Entrepreneur, Inventor, Author
Matt Emery
President/Owner, Think Chromatic
Larry Faragalli
CEO, Brightly
Josh Freeney
Partner, Yeti CGI
Tod Grams
Business Development Partner, DISHER
Jake Hall
Business Development Manager, Feyen Zylstra
Nathan Jean
President, Kyros Digital LLC
Mark Johnson
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Michigan Software Labs
Jason Joseph
Chief Digital and Information Officer, Corewell Health
Andy Kaiser
President, Kaiser IT Group
Sam Kasgorgis
President and CEO, Fusionary
Blythe Kazmierczak
CEO, Euzen Connect
Michael Kelly
CTO & Co-Founder, observIQ
Mark Kimball
President & CEO, Moss
Chris Koens
FlexTal, President
Taryn Kutches
VP of Brand and Business Development, Twisthink
Mark Lardieri
President, CQL Incorporated
Greg May
Owner, Nexus Technology
Kyle McGregor, PhD
Director of Health Innovations, Spartan Innovations
Brian McKeiver
Solution Architect/Co-Owner, BizStream
Tim Merkle
Director of Customer & Business Operations, Engineering & Program Management, Steelcase
Chad Paalman
CEO & Co-Founder, NuWave Technology Partners
Howard Paul
COO, Array of Engineers
Stacy Paul
CEO, Array of Engineers
Scott Pierce
Senior IT & Cybersecurity Consultant, Applied Imaging
Matt Simms
President & Founder, Simms Electronics
Nate Smith
Founder & COO, Digital Industry Group
Ashlea Souffrou
CEO/Founder, SxanPro
Matt Toburen
CEO, Dealership Advantage
Brian Tol
Chief Technology Officer, SpinDance
Joseph Van Harken
Chief Innovation Officer, MindSpring
Andy Van Solkema
Vice President of Digital Strategy & Experience, Open Systems Technologies (OST)
Garry VonMyhr
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tech Defenders
Michael Waldschlager
President and CEO, Fusion IT and Millennia Technologies
Jennifer Wangler
Vice President of Technology, The Right Place, Inc.
Jim Weaver
CEO, GTF Technologies
Brian Young
Principal - Technology Solutions, Rehmann

Brian Anderson
CEO & Co-Founder, Augusto Digital
Matt Baxter
CEO, Wedge
Catherine Behrenbrinker
CEO/Founder, Symplicity Communications, Inc.
Zachariah Booker
CEO & Co-Founder, ADHD Online
Yulia Chiaburu
West Region Leader, Solution Architecture for AWS
Matt Clarin
President, Hungerford Technologies
Shawn Crowley
Co-CEO, Atomic Object
Paul Doyle
Serial Entrepreneur, Inventor, Author
Matt Emery
President/Owner, Think Chromatic
Larry Faragalli
CEO, Brightly
Josh Freeney
Partner, Yeti CGI
Tod Grams
Business Development Partner, DISHERJake Hall
Business Development Manager, Feyen Zylstra
Nathan Jean
President, Kyros Digital LLC
Mark Johnson
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Michigan Software Labs
Jason Joseph
Chief Digital and Information Officer, Corewell Health
Andy Kaiser
President, Kaiser IT Group
Sam Kasgorgis
President and CEO, Fusionary
Blythe Kazmierczak
CEO, Euzen Connect
Michael Kelly
CTO & Co-Founder, observIQ
Mark Kimball
President & CEO, Moss
Chris Koens
FlexTal, President
Taryn Kutches
VP of Brand and Business Development, Twisthink
Mark Lardieri
President, CQL Incorporated
Greg May
Owner, Nexus Technology
Kyle McGregor, PhD
Director of Health Innovations, Spartan Innovations
Brian McKeiver
Solution Architect/Co-Owner, BizStream
Tim Merkle
Director of Customer & Business Operations, Engineering & Program Management, Steelcase
Chad Paalman
CEO & Co-Founder, NuWave Technology Partners
Howard Paul
COO, Array of Engineers
Stacy Paul
CEO, Array of Engineers
Scott Pierce
Senior IT & Cybersecurity Consultant, Applied Imaging
Matt Simms
President & Founder, Simms Electronics
Nate Smith
Founder & COO, Digital Industry Group
Ashlea Souffrou
CEO/Founder, SxanPro
Matt Toburen
CEO, Dealership Advantage
Brian Tol
Chief Technology Officer, SpinDance
Joseph Van Harken
Chief Innovation Officer, MindSpring
Andy Van Solkema
Vice President of Digital Strategy & Experience, Open Systems Technologies (OST)
Garry VonMyhr
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tech Defenders
Michael Waldschlager
President and CEO, Fusion IT and Millennia Technologies
Jennifer Wangler
Vice President of Technology, The Right Place, Inc.
Jim Weaver
CEO, GTF Technologies
Brian Young
Principal - Technology Solutions, RehmannNot 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.
Tech News in Greater Grand Rapids

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
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
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 EventsTech Founders Happy Hour
Join the Technology Council of West Michigan and The Right Place for the 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!
Tech Week Grand Rapids 2023
Save the date for Tech Week Grand Rapids ! Join us September 18-22, 2023.
Interested in Joining? Contact Us Today
Jennifer Wangler
Vice President, Technology | Director, Technology Council of West MichiganJennifer 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

Jennifer Wangler
Vice President, Technology | Director, Technology Council of West MichiganJennifer 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.