Thought Series
Last year’s series presented twenty leaders in education, talent development, business development, placemaking, and public policy who explored the opportunities and challenges of transforming West Michigan into a technology hub for the Midwest.
Stay tuned for information on this year’s series.
The 2023 event is below.
APRIL 18, 2023
The Future is Calling: Creating a Tech Hub for the Midwest , Part 1
Tuesday sessions are below
It’s All About Talent:
Developing a Tech Base for the Future
8:30a – 10:15a
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Art Betancourt
CEO, AEBetancourt
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Deb Lyzenga
Industry Engagement Division Administrator – MI Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity
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Stella Michael
Director, CRM Platforms – Corewell Health
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Daniel Quintanilla
Director of Talent Acquisition – Gentex
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John Rumery
Industry Council Lead – West Michigan Tech Talent
MODERATOR
Opportunity Stories:
Learning From Others
10:30a – 12p
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Dan Chuparkoff
Product Leader @ Google / Partner @ Reinvention Labs
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Jonathan Engelsma
Director, Applied Computing Institute – GVSU
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Bobby Fleischman
Provost & VP of Academic Affairs – Ferris State University
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Ron Llanes
Senior VP of Business Development – The Right Place
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Jen Wangler
VP of Technology – The Right Place
MODERATOR
APRIL 19, 2023
The Future is Calling: Creating a Tech Hub for the Midwest , Part 2
Wednesday sessions are below
Solution Stories:
Where Grassroots Innovation, Community Driven Policy & Future Skills-Oriented Learning Can Take Us
8:30a – 10:15a
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Kim Crawford
Design Practice Lead – Atomic Object
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Marcel Price
Chief Inspiration Architect – The Diatribe
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Leadriane Roby
Superintendent – Grand Rapids Public Schools
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Joanne Roehm
Senior Director of Strategy & Operations – WMUx
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Marion Siebert
Co-Founder & CXO – Brightly
MODERATOR
Future Stories:
We’re Not Alone
10:30a – 12p
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Prem Bodagala
Director – Michigan Rise & Red Cedar Ventures
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Carl Erikson
Founder – Atomic Object
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Rachel Gray
Executive Director – Hello West Michigan
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Trista Van Tine
Executive Director & Co-Founder – Michigan Founders Fund
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Andy Balaskovitz
Managing Editor – Crain’s Grand Rapids Business
MODERATOR
