Events

Ken Krayer is the Executive Director of Design West Michigan. As a unique extension of Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, Design West Michigan acts as an on-going catalyst for the region’s design network, bringing in key design thinkers for public presentations and demonstrating the value of design through case studies,…

Dan Gaydou is the President of the MLive Media Group, Michigan’s largest multi-media news and marketing solutions company which produces MLive.com on the web as well as newspapers: The Grand Rapids Press, The Flint Journal, the Kalamazoo Gazette, Jackson Citizen-Patriot, Muskegon Chronicle, Saginaw News, The Bay City Times and the Advance Weeklies.  Prior to his…

Charles C. Stoddard was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1945; Charles grew up in East Lansing. Following graduation from Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, he attended Michigan State University where he was president of the Senior Class. He graduated in 1967 with high honors majoring in Humanities. In 1969.he received an MBA degree from Harvard…

  Derek Aten, Comerica Bank Vice President, a graduate of Central Michigan University (B.S.B.A.) and Grand Valley State University (M.B.A.), joined Comerica in 2011 and has been in banking for over 15 years.  He serves in Comerica's Business Banking Group in Grand Rapids, working with companies that operate in a diverse range of industries. Derek…

Dana Friis-Hansen is Director and CEO of the Grand Rapids Art Museum, taking the helm in July of 2011. Prior to joining GRAM, he most recently served as the Executive Director of the Austin Museum of Art. Friis-Hansen is an accomplished curator, writer, and editor with dozens of exhibitions, catalogues, books, articles, and published papers…

Dr. Jonathan White is professor of interdisciplinary studies in the Frederik Meijer Honors College at Grand Valley State University. He has also served as a consultant to the United States Department of Justice; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the Department of State Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program; the Australian Federal…

Indian Trails is a remarkable facility that brings adaptive recreation to the lives of each camper. It is simple in theory, but daunting in task. Indian Trails offers a barrier-free camp setting in which those with disabilities can participate in all manner of activities the outside world is ill-equipped to provide. It is a place…

David provides leadership to help Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park advance its mission. He is responsible for mobilizing broad-based support in order to present quality exhibitions, sculpture and gardens in unique settings. David is influential in employing diplomacy and communication skills to cultivate and enhance relationships with the Board, staff, volunteers, donors, corporations, foundations,…