The counselors at SCORE Grand Rapids have rich and varied business backgrounds. With their professional business expertise, SCORE counselors can assist new small business entrepreneurs and existing small business owners achieve their goals and help them with their business challenges.
For FREE business counseling from our experienced SCORE counselors, you may contact the SCORE office by calling (616) 771-0305, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am until Noon, or on-line at score@grandrapids.org.,
Anne Aldrich
Partner in Artemis Strategy Group, a communications strategy firm, Anne has 22 years of experience in the marketing research field. Anne was formerly Senior Vice President and head of the Financial Services practice at Harris Interactive. Before that the leader of the Midwest team for WirthlinWorldwide. She also has marketing research experience in the banking and newspapers industries. Anne has experience in all facets of market research with a special emphasis on communications strategy and branding assignments.
Ken Baker
Spent 34 years as a Civil Engineer with Ford Motor Company and Ford Motor Credit Company. Directly responsible for and supervised all phases of commercial property development including market research, feasibility studies, environmental assessments, property acquisition, design supervision, presentation before municipal boards, construction supervision, construction and mortgage financing, property management and sales of surplus properties. Helped develop and manage a nation-wide construction loan program and real estate environmental program. Worked 6 years as a private business consultant. Current SCORE Grand Rapids Workshop Committee Chairperson.
Robert Baltierrez
Owned and operated a chain of restaurants in the Grand Rapids area. Area of expertise includes restaurants and hospitality business along with retail and wholesale trade.
Michael Bigelow
Over 30 years experience at all levels of Information & Technology responsibilities, excelling at internal and external needs assessments. Significant experience guiding teams, training, project management, system design, system selection, processs improvements, quality systems and all types of manual and computer implementations. Also has significant experience analyzing businesses for acquisition, identifying their opportunities to improve, purchasing negotiations as well as implementing the process improvements.
Ernie Birge
Over 40 years experience developing business and technology solutions to address business challenges in manufacturing, finance, customer service, sales, outsourcing, and logistics. Involved in developing business plans for three business start-ups. Worked with clients to develop strategic and business plans, organizational plans, and change management. Experienced in contract negotiation. Worked for General Electric, Digital Equipment Corporation, AT&T, EDS and Booz, and Allen Hamilton.
M. Daniel Butler
CBI Managing Director, Aetherian Group. Dan has over 34 years of experience in “hands on” business change and development. In a high growth corporate environment, Dan was in a defining position in 12 acquisitions and a key executive in seven of those businesses. He also played a key role in leading new entities, including a high tech start-up in Chicago. Dan is valued by clients for his candid style which generates the required change to be successful. He is experienced in manufacturing, industrial distribution, health administration, high technology and financial services.
Valerie Byrnes
Over 15 years experience in economic development and non-profit management including serving as the President of the Barry County Economic Development Alliance and Barry County Chamber of Commerce. Served as a SCORE counselor for the past 3 years providing business counseling services specializing in business plan development with entrepreneurs. Owned and operated a retail business for five years with experience in all facets of management and retail operations. Innovative idea generation for new market niche opportunities leading to market diversification or new product development is strength available to clients.
James Coates
Experience includes retail, wholesale & distribution of Mobil Chemical, Sun Distribution & Rubbermaid encompassing positions from product & sales management to President-CEO. Additionally, was a small business owner and consultant to small & medium size businesses in sales-marketing.
Bob Cooper
Worked for Esso Oil Company in France for 2 years. Private practice attorney for 40 years working with companies and municipalities regarding contractual relationships with others. Counseled entrepreneurs and small business owners. Mediates disputes for the courts on a voluntary basis.
Paul D’Amato
Paul has a Masters of Business Administration from The Kellogg School of business at Northwestern University and a Bachelors in Engineering Computer Science from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Paul has owned and operated numerous businesses and consulted in a broad variety of business situations. Paul is the owner of Strength in Numbers, a consulting firm specializing in data-driven strategy and marketing decisions.
Michael Daray
A practicing attorney with Laws Weathers Attorneys and Counselors. Skilled in business finance and accounting. Business strategy and planning. Intellectual Property and Legal services. Industry experience in Restaurants and Hospitality.
Gene Diebold
Spent 32 years in manufacturing industry in various capacities ranging from controller to chief financial officer. Retired from Howard Miller Clock as their Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance.
Dennis Doornbush
42 years of business experience that includes 25 years as owner/manager of several West Michigan businesses. Skills include Business Finance & Accounting, Human Resources, and Business Operations.
Dale Ewalt
Over 40 years of experience in the food industry primarily in the areas of Operations and Engineering. Worked with the Carnation Company, Archon Pure Food Products, and Kerry Ingredients, Inc. Have experience in research and development, engineering, quality control, warehousing and operations management.
Christian Glupker
An Instructor at Grand Rapids Community College with skills in Corporate Banking, Commercial Credit Underwriting, Capital Structure, Monetary Policy, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Corporate Finance.
Thomas Hanley
Resourceful public relations, reputation management and corporate social responsibility professional with particular expertise in health care and hospital marketing communications. Skilled in developing public relations and marketing communications strategic plans, writing, blogging and social media.
Arnold Hooton
Worked at Bendix Corp. as part of the NASA Apollo program. Owned a retail general merchandise company. Managed Information Technology R&D at Knoll and Baker Furniture. General Manager at Intaglio, an Audio-Video Integration firm. Background in: System design; Capital & Expense budgeting; Database design & development; Documentation standards & development; Process & document flow analysis & Managing implementation teams for large scale projects
Denise Hopkins
An Architect, sustainable building consultant, owner at ImaginEco Designskills in Sales, Marketing and Public Relations. Industry background with Construction, Industrial and Utilities, Marketing, Advertising and Creative Services.
Jim Kearns
Jim has had executive roles in information technology organizations in IBM Global Services, Old Kent Financial Corporation, and Covansys. Possessing a broad background in sales, service, finance, business development and general management, Jim helps business owners capture opportunities, create value, achieve rapid deployment, and optimize performance. His extended focus includes mentoring professionals achieve noteworthy accomplishments.
Fred Kistler
Experience with accounting and financial systems, wholesale and retail trade and real-estate. Retired CPA and Treasurer of Meijer, Inc. SCORE Quick Books expert. Current SCORE Grand Rapids Chapter Treasurer.
Dick Kitchen
Spent 28 years in the trucking equipment and repair industry. For 12 years owned and managed specialty and custom truck body shop. Current SCORE Grand Rapids Chapter Secretary.
Bill Leete
35 years of professional management experience that included 26 years in management with Westinghouse Electric and the Knoll Group, a Westinghouse subsidiary. Management positions include VP of Operations, Director-World Wide Material Resources, Materials Manager, Production, Inventory Control and Manager of Manufacturing Systems. Also, experienced in market planning and sales. Held positions in SCORE as Chapter Vice-Chairperson, Operations Committee Chair. Current SCORE Grand Rapids Chapter Chairperson.
Steve Locke
A former Client Executive with IBM , spent more than 35 years directly marketing to and advising IBM customers in multiple industries and business processes. He is well versed in integrating technology into many types of businesses as well as helping use systems for competitive advantage. Steve has significant experience in building customer relationships and in developing and managing tactical and strategic marketing plans.
Richard McKenzie
Has 43 years experience in the banking industry. Extensive background in all areas of commercial lending, credit administration, collateral auditing, and loan workout. Retired in June 2004 from LaSalle Bank.
Joseph G Mierendorf, JR.
C.P.A., C.V.A.- RETIRED. Managing partner, Mierendorf & Co., P.C., Certified Public Accountants for thirty years. Mierendorf & Co. P.C. serves primarily with small business. Prepared business valuation along with other small business needs. Functioned as CFO for a number of our clients. Functioned as a member of Mierendorf & Co.’s “CFO team” in a successful turn-around of a specialty equipment manufacturer Functioned as a receiver that managed the accounting and financing of both an individual and a company Controller of a material handling manufacturer. Divisional controller of a label manufacturer. Partner in a C.P.A. firm. July 1977-July 2010
Anthony (Tony) J. Noto
Passionate entrepreneurial spirit who gained experience as a Business Teacher for 25 years in the Kentwood Public Schools. Co-owner of Noto's Old World Italian Dining that got its start with assistance from SCORE and Tom Jackson, a SCORE counselor. Background in Education, Restaurant Development, Marketing and outside-the-box thinking. Presently involved in the family restaurant business, development of (AIME) American Education Marketing Educators, and Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing as a Regional Manager.
Bob Paul
Spent career in manufacturing that included processes, strategic planning, employee relations, project management, budgeting and forecasting. Served as Division President and was a manufacturing/general management consultant.
Robert Pfau
Career in retail building materials merchandising which included product assortment selection, margin control, vendor negotiation & advertising input. Key management of product sales training, management training & recruiting of management personnel. Career includes market research for new stores locations and in-store merchandising. Managed large retail stores with P-L responsibility & was district manager of several stores including responsibility for new store start-ups. Employed by 2 universities to develop specific client training programs as well as conducting classes.
Lemont (Lee) Renterghem
Over 45 years in various banking capacities. The past twenty years as President of LARA LLC, a bank consulting firm specializing in counseling bank loan and credit departments, loan oficer training, loan portfolio evaluation and grading, reviewing bank performance, development of future planning with CEOs and board members. Prior banking positions as President of First State Bank of Bank of Greenville, President of Brighton State Bank, (a satellite of Pacesetter Financial Corp.) Executive Vice-President of First National Bank of Niles, MI. Each of these community banks specialized in consumer, small business, farm and mortgage loans. Member and President of two Rotary Clubs, various civic and non-profit organizations and foundations.
Scott Seifferlein
Launched a golf instruction service using a combination of traditional and web based advertising. Business experience includes Marketing, Advertising, and Creative Services.
Doug Singer
Spent 32 years as owner/president of a West Michigan progressive independent textile rental company, Grantex, Inc. Marketed and branded, "Smart Garments," that became a registered trademark. Implemented Radio Frequency Identification technology. Became involved with waste treatment, clean air, and other environmental issues. Focused on business to business sales and service. Established long-term customer relationships while benchmarking customer satisfaction.
Monica Sparks
The iTIS Group, Inc, Promotional Branding & Marketing Executives. Author, Motivational Speaker, Former T.V. Talk Show Host and Radio Personality. CEO of K.E.Y.S. Keep Empowering Yourself Successfully Inc. The parent company of KEYS Educational Center & Keys Realty Real Estate Broker Instructor/Trainer- State of Michigan Approved, Continuing Education Instructor.
Jim Stelter
CEO of Vanerum-Stelter. Works with technology and web based services. Business career experience includes Business Strategy and Planning, Sales, Marketing, and Public Relations.
Rob Spohr
Owned and operated a franchise for five years. Worked as a production supervisor in food processing and bottling, and as a shift superintendent in the automotive industry. Spent five years as a project manager and estimator for a commercial construction company, bidding and managing multi-million dollar projects throughout west Michigan. Taught business, management, and marketing as a full-time faculty member at Montcalm Community College, and was chair of occupational education. Is currently Dean of Occupational Education at Montcalm Community College, and continues to teach part-time.
Melissa Summers
10 years banking experience and with Bank of America. Focus on small business development. Experience in finance, e-Commerce, social media and sustainable business initiatives. Banking experience with retailers, restaurant, and wholesale trades.
Mike Tamm
C.P.A. Worked in the Tax Department at Echelbarger Himebaugh Tamm & Co PC. Instructor Accounting Department at Davenport College. Past experience as an IRS agent in the Detroit and Grand Rapids. Worked with companies in the areas of healthcare, distribution, service, wholesale, retail, manufacturing, construction, finance, real estate, professional service and nonprofit. Worked closely with business owners in goal setting, strategic planning, organizational development, succession planning, executive compensation and retirement planning. Assisted companies with tax planning, financial activities, acquisitions, mergers and sales. In addition I helped owners with the development of their estate plans. Specializes in Tax Planning, Tax Representation, Consulting and Financial Planning.
Paul TenBrock
Paul has served in Executive Management positions having responsibilities for all financial and administrative activities. His professional career has included responsibilities and/or involvement in all company related operations and activities including: business operations and administration, financial management, customer sales and service, business development, strategic planning, personnel and team development, safety and training, project and process management, fleet management, and government/public relations. Paul has worked for manufacturers of products ranging from metal components, to chemicals and plastics.
Judy Thome
Former SCORE Michigan District Director and SCORE Grand Rapids, MI Chapter Chair. Co-founder/owner, CFO and COO of software development company that supplied traffic management and billing software to the Cable Television Industry worldwide. Business Operations Manager for large cable television operation where she was responsible for customer service, computer systems, facilities management, financial operations, budgeting and forecasting. Junior high and highschool English and Journalism teacher, and adjunct college instructor.
Rick Walker
Retired from AT&T in 1999. Owner of management consulting practice. Serves on a variety of non-profit boards and in leadership positions with several community service organizations. Business experience ranges from running small start-up businesses to directing very large and complex organizations at a senior executive level. Small business experience involved sales, customer service, computer operations, financial operations and all facets of a growing entrepreneurial company. Current emphasis is on small to mid-size businesses. Specializes in executive coaching, strategic planning, team building and performance improvements. Current SCORE Grand Rapids Vice-Chairperson.
George Weiner
Consultant with Schooley Mitchell Telecom. A background as a Director of Category Management, Procurement and Sales with Grocery and retail chains specializing in retail merchandising, cost negotiations, marketing, and customer service. Enjoy assisting entrepreneurs with the understanding of meeting and exceeding customer expectations and what tools to use to attain those expectations.
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