Foundations of our Community - West Coast Chamber of Commerce

BUSINESS
A MAGAZINE FROM THE HOLLAND AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Foundations
Featuring companies that have been Holland Chamber members for over 50 years
of our Community
Standing left to right:
Jeff Padnos, Shelley Padnos,
Doug Padnos, Mitch Padnos
Seated
Stuart Padnos
(not pictured)
Seymour Padnos
in cooperation with
SPRING 2011

2 Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
Chairman
Robert Ellis
Chair-Elect/Treasurer
David Slikkers
Vice Chair
Ann Harten
At-Large Executive
Committee Member
Leslie Brown
At-Large Executive
Committee Member
Shawn Pacanowski
Past Chair
Dale Sowders
Past Chair
Philip Koning
President
Jane Clark
Chris Antrup
Dayna Beal
James Bishop
Jack Bouman
Bill Bundy
Jeff DeBest
Pete Esser
Michael Hill
Jennifer Holmes
Ruben Juarez
Patricia Koeze
Shawn Miller
Jose Mireles
Jeff Mulder
Sue Somsanith
Jennifer Van Regenmorter
Mark Wilson
Steve Bulthuis
Jerry Felix
Donald Komejan
Gregory Robinson
Randy Thelen
Jane Clark
Cindy Aguilar
Brent Gawlik
Liz Hoffswell
Doug Kuiper
Julie Parker
Cindy Pocock
Barb Scholten
Sheri Van Loo
Officers
RVE, Inc.
Tiara Yachts, Div. of S2 Yachts, Inc.
Haworth, Inc.
Metal Flow Corporation
CapTrust
Holland Hospital
Holland Area Chamber of
Commerce
Directors
Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc.
Focus Marketing
The Bank of Holland
Coldwell Banker Woodland
Schmidt
Trendway Corporation
Johnson Controls, Inc.
The Holland Sentinel/Flashes
Publishers
EDIFY
Home & Company
Workforce Management, LLC
West Ottawa Public Schools
Flex Fitness Center
Lighthouse Insurance Group
ODL, Inc.
Thai Palace Restaurant
Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC
Huntington Bank
Ex Officio Directors
Macatawa Area Coordinating
Council
Park Township Office
Holland Charter Township
City of Holland
Lakeshore Advantage
Staff
President
Lakeshore 504 Portfolio
Coordinator
Membership Director
Vice President, Marketing
Director of Finance &
Operations
Lakeshore 504 Program
Director
Small Business Liaison/
Director of Leadership Holland
Receptionist
IT Coordinator
Holland Chamber Business Magazine is published
periodically by the Holland Area Chamber of Commerce,
272 East 8th Street, Holland, MI 49423,
in cooperation with The Holland Sentinel.
ph: 616.392.2389 • fax: 616.392.7379
info@hollandchamber.org • www.hollandchamber.org
Liz Hoffswell Editor
Editorial Policy
• Articles written by outside authors do not necessarily
reflect the view or position of the Holland Area Chamber of
Commerce. The Chamber’s position on key issues will be
clearly stated.
• Letters to the editor are welcome but must be signed to be
considered for publication. Letters may be edited.
• Reproduction of articles is authorized by permission only
and with credit given to the Holland Area Chamber of
Commerce.
• The Chamber reserves the right to reject advertising based
on content and does not accept advertising that is in
conflict with a position of the Chamber.
• The advertising of products and services in the Holland
Chamber Business Magazine does not necessarily represent
endorsement by the Holland Area Chamber of Commerce.
Welcome to the
Spring 2011 Issue of BUSINESS!
A Magazine from the Holland Chamber of Commerce
As we look ahead
to warmer days of
spring soon to come
(we hope!), with their
promise of renewal
and rebirth as symbolized
by budding flowers,
shrubs and trees,
hibernating animals
reawakening and a
resurgence of outdoor
human activities, we
look ahead as well to
the future of the next
generation of business
leaders in our community
and to their
continued success.
The promise of
future prosperity in
West Michigan is built
upon the firm foundations
of business and
commerce that have
been laid down in this
community since its
founding. With that in
mind, the focus of this
edition of BUSINESS
is Foundations of Our
Community.
Our cover story
features six local
businesses that were
members of the Holland
Board of Trade —
the predecessor of the
Holland Area Chamber
of Commerce founded
in 1908 — that continue
to be Chamber
members today.
Established between
1880 and 1930, these
companies are longstanding
pillars of the
community.
Founded and led,
for the most part, by
multigenerational families,
these businesses
glean the experience
and wisdom of elder
generations to help
move the Holland area
into the 21st-century
global marketplace.
They do much more
than just employ
people. For decades,
they have been philanthropic
community
supporters, playing
leadership roles in a
variety of nonprofit
organizations and
causes. These mainstay
Holland Chamber
The Holland Chamber
Vision Statement
“Working Together to Make the Lakeshore the Best
Place to Live, Learn, Prosper and Play.”
members exemplify
the history of the entrepreneurial
spirit in
Holland.
Companion stories
look at how business
in Holland has
changed — and
stayed the same —
over the last halfcentury,
and how the
Holland Chamber
continues to help area
businesses and entrepreneurs
forge ahead
into the future.
Also in this issue,
you’ll learn about
some of our great
programs, including
our new Leadership
Holland Plus, Connect
for Lunch and Try it
Local programs, as
well as exciting new
developments in our
Lakeshore 504 small
business loan program.
You’ll also find
information on
our Bright Spot
Awards, a calendar
of exciting upcoming
events, new
members, and more.
We hope this foray
into our community’s
past provides a rich,
interesting context for
and perspective on
our current business
and cultural climate
and helps to inspire
new and exciting future
developments.
Cheers!
Jane Clark
President
The Holland Chamber
Mission Statement
“Our Mission is to Build an Exceptional Community,
Advocate for a Strong Business Climate,
and Provide Value to our Members.”
Follow The Holland Chamber!
www.twitter.com/hollandchamber, Become a Fan at www.facebook.com/
holland.chamber, and get LinkedIn with our group
See www.hollandchamber.org for details

Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
3
Lakeshore 504 Implements new
SBA Program for Commercial Real
by Steve Ralph
Estate Refinancing
Lakeshore 504, a Certified Development
Corporation, is pleased to announce
that for the first time, the U.S.
Small Business Administration (SBA) has
modified its existing 504 loan guarantee
program to include refinancing of existing
commercial real estate debt at belowmarket,
long-term, fixed interest rates.
Initially, the SBA 504 Debt Refinance
Program will be limited to companies
who have commercial loan or balloon
payments coming due before December
31, 2012. Most of these loans are five-year
loans on properties purchased in 2006 or
2007, at the height of market pricing. As
real estate values have declined, even
small businesses that are doing well can
have a hard time refinancing these loans
and may need to restructure their debt.
“These businesses are in a tough spot,”
said Julie Parker, Lakeshore 504 Program
Director. “The SBA 504 Debt Refinance
Program option brings real relief to those
small business owners facing the stress
of high rate commercial loans. With a
20-year low fixed rate, the 504 program is
a very attractive option for both the bank
and small business owner.”
Borrowers can finance up to 90 percent
of the current appraised property value,
or 100 percent of the outstanding principal,
whichever is lower, plus 504-eligible
refinancing costs. The SBA estimates
that as many as 20,000 businesses may
ultimately participate in this program,
which could provide up to $15 billion in
SBA-guaranteed financing, leading to
total project financing of over $30 billion.
“The economic downturn of recent
years and the declining value of real
estate have had a significant, negative
impact on many small businesses with
mortgages maturing within the next few
years,” said SBA Administrator Karen
Mills. “As a result, even small businesses
that are performing well and making their
payments on time could face foreclosure
because of the difficulties they face in refinancing
and restructuring their mortgage
debt. This temporary program is another
tool SBA can provide to help these small
businesses remain viable and protect
jobs.”
The SBA 504 loan program is a longterm
financing tool designed to encourage
economic development within a
community. The 504 program accomplishes
this by providing small businesses
with long-term, fixed-rate financing to
acquire commercial real estate or other
major fixed assets.
Lakeshore 504 is a community-based
development organization housed within
the Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
that works with the SBA and private-sector
lenders to help Michigan businesses
secure low-interest loans for capital projects
through the SBA 504 loan program.
Through the program, a borrower can
contribute as little as 10 percent of the
loan value. The bank finances half, and
the SBA finances the remaining 40 percent
at a 20-year fixed interest rate.
For more information on Lakeshore
504, call 616.392.2389 or visit lakeshore504.org.

4 Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
Foundations of Our Community
Early Board of Trade Members Helped Build Community, Still Serve Today
by Steve Ralph
There wasn’t always a
Chamber of Commerce
in Holland.
What did exist, from
the earliest days of the
pioneer communities
that became the Holland
area, were the shared
ideals of innovation, collaboration,
community
unity and entrepreneurial
spirit that formed the
foundations of the area’s
first official business and
commerce collaborative,
the Holland Board of
Trade, founded in 1908.
After gathering to
pass a constitution and
elect officers by ballot,
the Board of Trade’s 26
charter members set out
to bring business into the
Holland area and expand
the economic base by
buying land, recruiting
businesses into town,
selling the land to the
new or relocated businesses
and financing the
transactions by selling
bonds.
As the community
grew, so did the Board
of Trade, and within several
years, a few dozen
businesses had joined
the fledgling organization.
Early members
included Baker Furniture,
De Vries & Dornbos,
Dutch Boy Co., Dykstra
Funeral Home, Fris Office
Outfitters Inc., Hart
& Cooley Mfg., Heinz
North America, Hempel’s
Pastries, Holland Awning
Co., Holland Color, The
Holland Evening Sentinel,
Lievense Insurance,
Lokker-Rutgers Co., Louis
Padnos Iron & Metal
Co., Nelis Nursery, Sligh
Furniture Co., Steketee-
Van Huis Printing Co.,
W.J. Bradford Paper,
Warm Friend Tavern &
Hotel and Wooden Shoe
Factory.
In 1926, the Board of
Trade became the Holland
Area Chamber of
Commerce. Today, the
Chamber has more than
1,100 member businesses,
but only a handful of
those have been with the
organization for more
than half a century.
Here’s a look at six
area businesses, founded
between 1880 and 1930,
that have been a part of
the Holland Chamber
since the early days and
continue to support the
growth of the Hollandarea
community.
130 Years
of Furniture…
and Counting
Generations: Sligh
Furniture Company
• Charles Sligh Sr.
founded Sligh Furniture
Company in 1880.
• Though the company
hasn’t always had family
presidents, each generation
in the family has,
in turn, purchased into
the company.
• By the 1930s, the company
was run by Chuck
Sligh Jr. and his partner,
Bill Lowry.
• Chuck’s sons, Bob and
Charlie Sligh, became
“Charles Sligh was 12
when his dad was killed
in the war,” wrote Sligh
Furniture Company
chairman and majority
owner Rob Sligh in a
history on the company’s
website, referring to his
great-grandfather who
founded the West Michigan
business.
“’Killed in the war,’”
one thinks. “This company
must be really old.”
But, which war World
War II World War I
No, that would be the
American Civil War. Yes,
this company is vintage,
especially by Midwestern
standards.
Founded in 1880 in
Grand Rapids, Sligh
Furniture manufactured
coordinated bedroom
sets — a revolutionary
idea in a furniture industry
in which, at the time,
different pieces were
typically produced by
different companies.
“It was founded as a
bedroom furniture company,
and we don’t make
a stick of that anymore,”
Sligh said.
Top: Sligh Furniture Company Chairman
Rob Sligh and his wife, Jorie
Top Left: The Sligh Furniture Company
showroom
company leaders in the
1950s, and Bob became
president in 1968.
• In 1990, Rob Sligh
became the fourthgeneration
president of
Sligh Furniture.
The business morphed
to change with the times.
In the 1933, desks were
added to the portfolio in
an effort to diversify during
the Great Depression,
and the company moved
to Holland. In 1968,
clocks were added to the
company’s offerings, and
during the 1980s office
furniture became the
main fare. Clocks were
later dropped, in 2005.
“We design, engineer,
source, sell and market
home office and home
entertainment furniture
to retailers throughout
North America and oversees,”
Sligh said.
With corporate offices
and a showroom within
Holland’s historic Baker
Lofts building at 217 E
24th St, Sligh Furniture
has been a Board of
Trade/Holland Chamber
member since moving to
Holland.
“It’s just a central organization
for people who
are interested in business.
I think, first and foremost,
it’s a matter of just doing
our part to promote business
and employment in
the area,” Sligh said.
“The West Michigan
area has always been
very entrepreneurial and
business-oriented. We
have a reputation for a
great work ethic here.
That’s in evidence every
day. There’s a participative
style that we here
in West Michigan don’t
even realize how great it
is until we compare notes
with those outside West
Michigan and realize that
what’s pervasive here isn’t
so everywhere. There’s a
sense of purpose here,”
he said.
A Downtown Mainstay
The Fris family has
been in business downtown
Holland for almost
as long as there’s been a
downtown Holland.
Generations:
Fris Office Outfitters
• Lambertus Fris started
the downtown company
on the first day of
1900.
• When Lambertus died
in 1907, his younger
son, Jacob, then
10, helped his older
brother and sister in
the store, taking over
daily operations seven
years later when his
brother died and his
sister married.
• When his mother died
in 1920, Jacob purchased
the store from
the estate.
Even so, John Fris —
president of Fris Office
Outfitters, including
the office-supply retail
outlet and commercial
warehouse at 109 S River
Ave and Fris Hallmark
Shop at 30 W Eighth
St — wasn’t always sure
he’d end up in the family
business.
“I started working here
part-time as a delivery
person while attending
Hope College. I started
the pre-med program
there and discovered
that I didn’t really care
Top: Fris Hallmark Shop, 30 W Eighth
St, downtown Holland
Top Left: Fris Office Outfitters, 109 S
River Ave, downtown Holland
• After World War II,
Jacob’s son Dale and
his wife, Mary, took
over much of the store
management.
• Dale’s son, John,
started working at
the store in 1974 and
was elected president
of the corporation in
1986. John’s brother,
J. Fris, manages the
Hallmark shop.
for that. Things just kind
of fell into place here,”
Fris said.
The business started
when Fris’ grandfather,
Lambertus Fris, an immigrant
form the Netherlands,
purchased a
bookstore that sold confectioneries,
notions and
newspapers on January
1, 1900. The building,
constructed as a bank in
1875, is the current home
of the Hallmark shop.
By the 1940s, the
wholesale distribution
of magazines, newspapers,
books and school
supplies became a major
part of the business,
prompting the purchase
of the property on River
Avenue where the office
supply center now

Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
5
stands.
The company’s
moniker changed several
times throughout the
years, along with its focus,
from Fris News Company
to Fris Book Store
to Fris Office Outfitters
and Stationers in 1956.
“The Hallmark shop is
a Gold Crown Hallmark
Store, featuring a variety
of Hallmark products as
well as a large variety of
gifts and collectables. At
the Office Outfitters, we
offer office and school
supplies — including
office furniture and
machines — and a large
selection of art supplies
including framing and
matting,” Fris said.
“I still hear people say
that they didn’t know
they could come and
actually shop here,” at
the River Avenue store
connected to the commercial
warehouse, which
ships office supplies
wholesale to West Michigan
businesses from
Muskegon and Grand
Haven to Grand Rapids,
Fris said.
“The Herman Millers
and the Gentexes —
those are our customers,”
he said.
It’s still a family business,
with John’s brother,
J. Fris, overseeing the
Hallmark shop and a
nephew at each store.
“We’ve always liked to
be active in the community,
and to do as much
as we can to support local
business. The Chamber
is a good vehicle for
that,” Fris said.
“It comes down to
just being a part of the
community, and wanting
to support the local
community, just being
active,” he said.
Recycling Before
It Was Trendy
Louis Padnos, a young
Generations: Padnos
Iron & Metal Company
• Louis Padnos starts a
scrap-peddling operation
in Holland in 1905.
• After serving in World
War I, Louis returned
to Holland in 1917,
marrying Helen Kantor
a year later.
• Louis’ and Helen’s
sons, Seymour and
Stuart, started helping
out the family business
as teens, working after
school and on Saturdays.
• After serving in World
War II, the brothers
began taking over
management of the
company from their
father in the late 1940s.
Russian immigrant,
settled in Holland in
1905, starting a modest
scrap peddling business.
More than a century
later, Louis Padnos Iron
& Metal Company is still
a thriving, family-owned
business that has grown
through the expansion of
operations beyond the
original scrap yard at 185
W 8th St in downtown
Holland.
“My brother and two
cousins and I are a part
of the third generation
running the business,”
said Shelley Padnos, executive
vice president of
the company and Louis’
granddaughter. “We
recycle metal, paper,
plastics and a little bit
of glass. My uncle often
said, ‘My dad (Louis) was
a junkman, my brother
and I were scrap processors,
and the kids are recyclers,’
and we all pretty
much do the same thing.
We’ve just moved up in
the social hierarchy.”
In terms of local
longevity, the company
“probably ranks up
there, along with Sligh
and Bradford. There are
several (early 20th-century
local businesses) still
out there, but we rank up
there among some of the
oldest,” Padnos said.
Louis’ sons Seymour,
now 90, and Stuart, 89,
are still active in the
company.
Top: Louis Padnos Iron & Metal Company
corporate offices at 185 & 195 W
Eighth St, downtown Holland
Top Left: In this vintage photo, Louis
Padnos, far left, is shown ice fishing
on Lake Macatawa in 1960 with his
grandchildren. Standing from left: Jeff
Padnos, Mitch Padnos, Daniel Padnos.
Seated from left: Cindy Padnos, Bill
Padnos, Doug Padnos, Shelley Padnos.
• The third Padnos
generation — Seymour’s
children Shelly
and Mitch and Stuart’s
sons Jeff and Doug
— joined the family
business between 1976
and 1989, taking over
operations in the late
1990s.
“When they’re in town,
they both come to work
every day and still have
huge interests in terms of
what’s going on,” Padnos
said.
“My grandfather
was an active member
of the community the
whole time he was here.
He decided to join the
Board of Trade because
he wanted to support
the community and the
businesses here, and
felt that the Board was
a good representative
doing that. I would say
that that’s the same
today. More than other
businesses, our existence
is very dependent
on the success of other
companies, so helping
to promote that is in our
best interest. And the
Chamber does an excellent
job of doing that.
“We’re just exceptionally
fortunate to be doing
business with many of
the same companies that
my grandfather was doing
business with, and to
be able to carry that on,”
she said.
From Awnings
to Flexitanks
Holland Awning
Company opened its
doors in 1915. While
the company no longer
makes awnings, it
continues to manufacture
fabric-based products in
a variety of forms.
“We’re still legally
known as the Holland
Awning Company, but
we’ve been doing business
as Integrated Fabric
Resource for the last 20
years, and two years ago
we started up a new division,
Big Red Resources,”
said Doug Buma,
company president.
“Most people don’t use
awnings anymore, so we
evolved into boat covers
and that sort of thing. In
1990, that business sort
of dried up in the recession,
so we started doing
products for the automotive
industry. The common
thread is making
fabric-based products.”
Integrated Fabric
Resource, now headquartered
at 10875 Chicago
Dr in Zeeland, makes
fabric-based returnable
package systems, while
Big Red Resources creates
“Flexitanks,” flexible
Generations: Holland
Awning Company
• Art and Ruth Ramsland
launched the Holland
Awning Company in
1915 on the property
now occupied by the
U.S. Post Office on
East Eighth Street in
downtown Holland.
• Stuart Schaftenaar
began working at the
company in the early
1940s, developing
a close relationship
containers for shipping
bulk liquids, like clothmade
tankers.
“Someone like a Johnson
Controls will ship a
door panel in one of our
bags. Basically, for the
life of that specific model
of vehicle being made,
they’ll use our packaging
again and again. It’s
a returnable package
instead of paper-based
cardboard,” Buma explained.
While not a singlefamily
business from its
outset, Holland Awning
is multigenerational in
the fact that the company’s
current owner, Steve
Schaftenaar, bought the
business from his father,
Stuart, who had purchased
it from original
owners Art and Ruth
Ramsland.
“It was very much a
Holland business when
Steve’s dad bought it.
Even after the awning
business left, he was still
doing business with the
local boat companies.
It made logical sense
for him to become a
Top: : Integrated Fabric Resource, Inc,
10875 Chicago Dr, Zeeland
Top Left: A cutting machine in action at
Integrated Fabric Resource
with the childless
Ramslands.
• After Art Ramsland’s
death following World
War II, Ruth sold the
business to Stuart.
• Steve Schaftenaar
bought the business
from his father in 1990.
member of the Board
of Trade, because it was
good for business,”
Buma said.
“For the last 20 years,
we haven’t really been a
Holland business (in the
sense of doing trade with
local companies), but
we’ve continued to be a
member of the Chamber
really not for any gain for
the company, though we
do participate in some
of the programs. We’re
mainly staying now to
support the local businesses.
We have customers
across the continent.
There’s no sales advantage,
but the Chamber
has great programs and
we want to support some
of the small businesses in
town by supporting the
Chamber, because back
in the day, that’s who we
were,” he said.
“In some respects, our
company has reflected

6 Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
Holland (historically), in
that we both grew up.
Holland has always had
some big companies, like
Holland Furnace Company,
that were shipping
products all over the
country. But it’s not like
there’s one company in
Holland that dominates,”
Buma said.
“Holland has become
a more diverse economy,
like our company that
adapted. Awnings are no
more. Boat covers are no
more. We’ve been entrepreneurial
and we’ve
had to adjust. It’s a great
comparison to the city of
Holland. Before Prince or
Haworth was built, G.E.
left. Holland has had to
change with the times.
We’ve been blessed with
growth just like Holland
has been blessed with
growth.”
Building Up
from Candy Wrappers
Although the Bradford
Company was incorporated
in 1924 — then
“ W.J. Bradford Paper
Company” — the business
finds it roots in a
candy-wrapper-making
operation out of Chicago
in the late 1800s.
“It was founded by my
great-grandfather, William
Bradford,” said Jud
Bradford, vice president
for business development,
board chairman
and partner in the business
with his brother Tom
Bradford, the company’s
president.
“The plant was near
the old Comiskey Park,
and it was landlocked.
The company was out
of room in Chicago. For
years, the family had a
cottage at Macatawa.
They would be at the
cottage all summer long.
They always loved Holland.
They liked the town
and they made it work,”
moving the business here
in 1951, Bradford said.
“We specialized in
making paperboard
partitions. A lot of those
were used for candy
before plastic inserts.
When the Holland plant
started up, this area in
Michigan always had
manufacturing jobs. We
began calling on the
car companies and their
suppliers and appliance
makers and their suppliers.
Then, in the mid-
1980s, it was recognized
that the Japanese don’t
ship with cardboard
dividers — they ship returnable,
reusable plastic
or steel containers rather
than corrugated boxes
with our divider systems
inside.
Generations: Bradford
Company
• William J. Bradford
Sr. started a candypartition
business in
the late 1800s.
• In 1924, a year after
William’s Sr’s death,
Bradford Company
was incorporated.
“We couldn’t identify
anyone who made that,
so we began to work with
these long-lived materials,
not just paperboard.
So, we took the ‘Paper’
out of our name. We
serve automotive, furniture
and appliance makers.
We make custom
reusable containers, from
small handheld tote trays
to large steel racks, but
our specialty is designing
and building the interior
packaging,” he said.
“My grandfather
recognized that businesses
can be helped by
establishing a network
of relationships and by
collaborating to put
together programs that
one company on its own
might not be able to
afford. The Chamber of
Commerce also provided
a voice for local businesses,
speaking to the
needs for commerce in
the community. Where a
road goes, or the importance
of education in the
community — those are
issues that can have a lot
Top: Bradford Company
headquarters,
13500 Quincy St,
Holland
Left: Bradford Company
founder William
J. Bradford, Sr., and
his wife, Marian L.
Bradford
• William’s son, William
J. Bradford Jr., started
working for the company
the same year.
• William Jr. became
company president
around 1970.
• William Jr’s sons, Tom
and Jud Bradford,
took over the company
in the mid-1990s.
of effect on a company.
The Chamber did then,
and does now, effectively
serve that need,” Bradford
said.
“The best advantage
to being in Holland is the
quality and capability of
the workforce. That has
shown up in surveys for
years, and it still does.
It’s also a quality-of-life
question. Our company
could be in a lot of different
places. It’s what
life’s all about — having
good jobs and good
businesses, a fine school
system and a beautiful
environment. I don’t
know of any area besides
Holland (with the same
degree of) volunteerism
and philanthropic activity.
It’s really a unique place,”
he said.
“Holland has seen
quite consistent growth,
above-average innovation,
and a more cooperative
relationship
between the powers that
be: government entities,
schools, businesses and
nonprofits in the community.
You really have
to have lived somewhere
else to identify that what
folks who were raised
here take for granted is
not so common,” Bradford
said.
90 Years of Tulips
and Dutch Heritage
Nelis’ Dutch Village
is a small, family-owned
business that has been in
operation since 1958.
“Preceding the Dutch
Village was Nelis Tulip
Farms, started as a nursery
in the 1920s by my
grandfather, Harry Nelis
Sr. We began growing
tulips in the early ‘30s,
right near the beginning
of the Tulip Time
festival,” said Joe Nelis,
president and co-owner
— with his siblings Harry
Nelis III, Suzanne Bladek,
Steve Nelis and Julie
Steggerda — of the local
Dutch theme park that
includes a museum, gift
shops, a 25-bell carillon
and Amsterdam street
organs.
The theme park
features authentic Dutch
architecture, flowering
gardens, canals and
windmills. Costumed
staff demonstrate the
crafts and old-country life
from days of yore.
“As the Dutch Village
is a step back into the
Netherlands of over 100
years ago, we strive to
create a fun family experience
with activities from
those times. Recently,
we’ve taken the Dutch
folk dancing we have
Generations: Nelis’
Dutch Village
• Harry Nelis Sr. started
Nelis Nursery in the
1920s, growing farm
produce until introducing
Tulips in 1929.
• The 40-acre property
for Nelis’ Dutch Village
was purchased
in 1952, when Harry
Sr’s two sons, Fred
and Harry Jr. became
always done and added
dance lessons for all to
join in. We’ve had a Friesian
barn and farmhouse
for many, many years,
but recently we added
activities to make it much
more interactive, such as
‘take a goat for a walk’
and petting and feeding
opportunities such
as bottle-feeding baby
goats,” he said.
“In 2009, we began
making cheese using our
antique cheese-making
equipment, and although
we don’t sample the
cheese we make, we can
offer people tasting in
our cheese shop of up
to 18 different varieties
of Dutch cheese,” Nelis
said.
Keeping abreast of
current market trends
is key for any business,
and Dutch Village is no
exception, Nelis said.
“Tourism in Holland
has a long and storied
history. We hope to be
Top: Nelis’ Dutch Village co-owner
Joe Nelis
Left: A wooden shoe carver at work
at Nelis’ Dutch Village, 12350 James
St, Holland
involved in the family
business.
• Harry Jr. ran the business
until retiring in
1999.
• The next generation
takes over at that
time, consisting of
Harry Jr’s children, Joe
Nelis, Harry Nelis III,
Suzanne Bladek, Steve
Nelis and Julie Steggerda.
part of that future for
years to come, but like
any and all businesses
today, we need to adapt
to the challenges facing
us. Increasing revenue
is the key, and certainly
is the toughest challenge
at the present.
By changing our focus
to be about ‘family fun
in a bit of Old Holland,’
we hope to participate
in the larger market of
families looking for new
family traditions, not just
people looking for some
historical Dutch informa-

tion,” he said.
Joining the Holland Board of Trade
made good business sense for Nelis
Nursery in the eyes of Harry Nelis Sr.
“Probably a big thing for my
grandfather was that, when the family
first started out, we were producing
farming produce. He was very involved
and motivated to actually become a
supplier to a lot of local companies.
When the tulip festival began in 1929,
we were growing tulips. We planted
the first tulips in Holland. I think, early
on, it was very important to be an established
member of the community.
Joining was a good way to do that,”
Nelis said.
“The Holland Chamber is a great organization.
Recently, I’ve been participating
in a lot of Chamber events. A
lot of the work they’re doing the past
few years is very timely and pertinent.
They’re running a log of stuff that is
helping us to get more educated. I do
a part of a business roundtable group
that started through the Chamber.
They’re always presenting us with lots
of opportunities to do a better job of
what we do,” he said.
The history of Nelis’ Dutch Village is
inexorably intertwined with the history
of Holland itself.
Bradford Company
13500 Quincy St
Holland, MI 49424
616.399.3000
bradfordco.com
Fris Office Outfitters
109 S River Ave
Holland, MI 49423
616.396.2341
frisoffice.com
Holland Awning Company/
Integrated Fabric Resource
10875 Chicago Dr
Zeeland, MI 49464
616.772.2052
ifrinc.com
“In the long term, we’ve tried to be
a good employer in this community,
and to run a good, upstanding business.
But, to be honest, other than
having a lot of suppliers that we count
on for support, we don’t really engage
in a lot of commerce with other local
businesses,” Nelis said.
“We reach out to tourists and visitors
from Chicago and Indiana, and
we work hard to bring those people
to this town. We’ve been supporting
the tulip festival since day one. I
think we occupy a landmark status in
the community. We often get parents
who come who were here as kids, and
they want their kids to have the same
experience, and take some photos in
the giant stork, for example.
“So, I think the community looks
to us as a cornerstone. There’s an
expectation that we’ll always be here
— which in the past couple of years
has been pretty challenging for every
business out there,” he said.
Things are beginning to look up,
though.
“We’re spending a little more money
going into this year, so, hopefully,
we’ll see a few more people coming
around.”
FOUNDATIONAL FIRMS
Louis Padnos Iron
& Metal Company
185 W 8th St
Holland, MI 49423
616.396.6521
padnos.com
Nelis’ Dutch Village
12350 James St
Holland, MI 49424
616.396.1475
dutchvillage.com
Sligh Furniture Company
217 E 24th St Loft 102
Holland, MI 49423
616.392.7101
sligh.com
Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
Meet Your New Business Partner:
Herrick District Library
Here are just a few of the ways the library can help you further
your education and grow your business:
> Borrow the latest & greatest business books free!
(includes e-books & e-audiobooks)
> Perform Market Research using our databases
> Discover helpful tools for writing your business
plan using our e-reference materials
> Download legal forms
> Free online language learning (includes ESL training)
> Check out our free business programs - visit
www.herrickdl.org for info on upcoming programs
Check out our online Business Subject Guide for more info:
www.herrickdl.org > Research > Subject Guides > Business
300 S. River Ave.
Holland, MI 49423
616.355.3100
www.herrickdl.org
7
711085 3.22.11

8 Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
Companies that have been
Holland Chamber members
for 50 years or more
A.D. Bos Vending Services
AT&T
B.J.W. Berghorst & Sons, Inc.
Barber Ford, Inc.
Bert Reimink Plumbing & Heating
Bradford Company
Brewer’s City Dock, Inc.
Crown Motors Cadillac, Buick,
Honda, Mazda
Cunningham Dalman, P.C.
De Boer, Baumann & Company P.L.C.
De Nooyer Chevrolet, Inc.
Dykstra Funeral Home, Inc.
Elizabeth Austin, Fine Linens & Interiors
(formerly DeVries & Dornbos)
Elzinga & Volkers, Inc.
HUB International
Ferris, Busscher & Zwiers, C.P.A.
JQ 99 FM/1260 “The Pledge”
Fifth Third Bank
Kalkman Redi-Mix Company
Fris Office Outfitters, Inc.
Lake Ranch Resort
Haworth, Inc.
Langeland-Sterenberg & Yntema
Heinz North America
Funeral Homes
Louis Padnos Iron & Metal Company
The Holland Awning Group of Companies
Marsilje Insurance Agency, Inc.
Holland Board of Public Works
Merle Boes, Inc.
Holland Christian Schools
Michigan Tile, Inc.
Holland Public Schools
Model Drug Store, Inc.
Holland Ready Roofing Company
Nelis’ Dutch Village
The Holland Sentinel/Flashes Publishers
Nichols
Hope College
Ottawa County Fair Association
Huntington Bank
PNC Bank
Posts Jewelry & Gift Shop, Inc.
Progressive AE
Repco-Lite Paints, Inc.
Russ’ Restaurants/Bre LLC
Schreur Printing & Mailing
SEMCO ENERGY GAS COMPANY
Skip’s Pharmacy
Sligh Furniture Company
Superior Sports Store
Teerman’s
Thermotron Industries
USF Holland Inc.
WHTC/WYVN
Marsilje Insurance
of Holland
— Holland’s Hometown Agency —
616-396-1497
68 West 8th Street, #150
www.hollandshometownagency.com
DeLong & Brower Financial Services, LLC
James J. Hagel, CFP ®
“As your financial adviser, I work with you to
develop your personal financial strategy. Together,
we’ll monitor your plan to keep you on track as your
situation evolves and market conditions change.
Over time, my goal is to provide you with effective,
personalized financial strategies that enhance your
ability to reach your goals.”
DeLong & Brower P.C., 238 Hoover Blvd.
Holland, MI 49423 • Phone: 616-394-0500
hagelj@cpaholland.com • www.delongbrowerfinancial.com
712181 3.22.11 Commercial Mortgages
Business Term Loans
888-982-1400 / www.unitedfcu.com
Business Checking Accounts
Money Market Accounts with Sweep Feature
Commercial Lines of Credit
Business Credit Cards
Behind every business is a real person with real needs.
ACH Services
Credit Card Merchant Services
Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000
and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government
National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency
Wondering where to turn United
understands that in a recovering
economy your business has needs
- maybe now more than ever. While
other financial institutions may scale
back, United is here to help your
business grow. Turn to United’s
Diamond Business Services.
we’ll get you there.
712187 3.22.11

Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
9
Thousands
Flocking to
Holland Chamber
Businesses!
Since it started in January, more than 6,000 Try
It Local coupons have been sold to local individuals.
Maybe you have noticed that cars are
cleaner, carpets are fresher and free of stains,
and the restaurants are more crowded. The Try It
Local program helps local businesses attract new
customers while saving you money. Now that is a
win/win! To sign up for the weekly deals, please
go to www.tryitlocal.com/holland.
Together,
We make the lakeshore
the BEST place to
Live
Learn
Won’t You Join Us!
The Place to Meet
In Downtown Holland
Conferences
Wedding Receptions
Meetings
Banquets
Lodging
HAWORTH
Inn & Conference Center
on the campus of Hope College
225 College Avenue 616-395-7200 or 800-903-9142
www.haworthinn.com
Prosper
711924 3.22.11
and
Play
It’s your
story. Let
us help
you tell
it.
Boileau
Communications
Management LLC
www.boileaucommunications.com
711925 3.22.11
711922 3.22.11
A proud member of
The
Holland
Chamber
for 55 years!
"Home is where the food is"
Heinz North America
Division of H.J. Heinz Company
Pittsburgh, PA
711083 3.22.11

10 Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
Focus on Membership
Holland Area Chamber of Commerce Helps Members Succeed
by Steve Ralph
Membership in the
Holland Area Chamber
of Commerce affords a
myriad of advantages and
opportunities to area businesses
and entrepreneurs
looking to optimize their
opportunities now and
into the future. Membership
Director Brent
Gawlik answers questions
about Holland Chamber
programs and member
benefits:
How would you characterize
the importance
of membership in the
Holland Area Chamber of
Commerce for area businesses
“The most important
thing is the connections
that people make through
membership. We have
around 1,100 individual
companies that are members
of the Chamber. A lot
of them are looking for a
way to connect with other
businesses. The Chamber
provides ways for people
to come together, whether
it’s a specific networking
event or an educational
event. The Chamber is the
vehicle that allows people
to come together and
make those connections
and, hopefully, ultimately
create a relationship where
they can foster commerce
or business together.”
How does the Holland
Chamber continue to
help the local business
community, now and into
the future
“One of the ways is
through our programming.
We host nearly 100
different Chamber events
throughout the year. Going
forward, the Chamber
is the educational piece
that businesses need in
order to stay current in
what’s going on in government
locally, nationally or
at the state level. We’re
the local vehicle for letting
businesses know what’s
going on that can affect
them — whether it’s Lansing
or Washington, D.C.
— taking that information
and getting back to our
membership so they’re not
blindsided on issues that
they may be facing down
the road.”
What are the benefits
of Chamber membership
“One of the main
benefits of membership
is being part of a business
community that cares
about the local economy.
Being a Chamber member
allows people to network
— that’s the main benefit,
Brent Gawlik,
Membership Director
Family Fun Since 1958
ORDER
FAMILY FUN
TICKETS ONLINE
Credit Cards
Welcome!
or Send your check to:
1286 Ottawa Beach RD.
Holland
Mi 49424
FAMILY
F
FUN
FOR
Includes 4 entrance tickets, 2 carnival ride bands, 20 ‘FAIR DOLLARS’
41
(Good at selected food booths and/or grandstand seats)
Additional Children tickets $10 each (includes entrance & 1 ride band)
Additional Adult ticket $12 each (includes entrance & $10 in FAIR $$)
$
711622 3.22.11

Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
11
the networking.
“Second, all of the
educational programs and
tools that we provide on a
local level, so businesses
don’t have to go out of
the local area for those
opportunities.
“Third, the exposure
they get through the
Chamber. When people
call the Chamber, we only
provide them with member
information, if they’re
looking for a restaurant or
a store, for example.
“Fourth, the legislative
advocacy programs that
we run. We’re the only
organization that brings
the local legislators in to
interact with local businesses.”
If businesses are interested
in membership,
what should they do
“One option is, they can
stop into our office. We
have membership packets
available. I meet with a
lot of people interested
in membership. I listen to
their needs and match that
with something we can
provide. Or, they can go
to our website and learn
about membership and
join online.”
For more information
about membership
opportunities with the
Holland Area Chamber of
Commerce, contact Brent
Gawlik at 616.392.9720
or bgawlik@hollandchamber.org,
or visit hollandchamber.org.
This Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
document from May 1939 lists
benefits of Chamber membership.
As true today as it was then!
LOUIS PADNOS
IRON & METAL COMPANY
BUSINESS • HOME • AUTO • LIFE
Your insurance policy comes with something extra ...
Real people. Hometown people who will help you through the details of
buying insurance or making a claim.
Matt Haverdink
Judith Schnettler
Tom Burns
Tracy Kraai
Scott Ludema
Louis Padnos, Founder, Holland Entrepreneur (circa 1914)
at his establishment, 157 N. River Avenue.
Following in his footsteps.
A locally owned firm still going strong in the care of his grandchildren and their team.
Recycling for over 100 years / Since 1905
711005 3.22.11
Dee Hartgernik
Chip VanFaasen
While some insurance
companies are not more
than an 800 number and a
voice mail menu, we’re here
to help – in good times and
in bad – year after year.
HOLLAND • One South Waverly Rd.
616-392-6006
Jason Gargala
Pam Hathaway
www.ottawakent.com
712184 3.22.11

12 Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
50 Years of Business
How Business in Holland has Changed — and Stayed the Same — in the Last Half-Century
Change is
the only
constant.
It’s an axiom that seems to hold
true in business as in life. But, while
economies, business models and
methods, technologies and cultural
outlooks constantly morph and
meld into new realities — sometimes
at seemingly blazing speeds
— some facets of the human experience,
like the value and quality of
interpersonal relationships, seem
unchangingly timeless.
“When you look at the business
environment over the last 50
years — in West Michigan as well
as nationally and globally — it’s
hard to overstate the scope and
magnitude of wholesale changes in
the way business and commerce are
conducted, whether you’re talking
about the technological advances,
the shifting economy or the constant
flow of new ideas and innovations
into the business landscape,
especially locally,” said Holland
Area Chamber of Commerce President
Jane Clark.
“Having said that, there’s a
unique work ethic, entrepreneurial
tradition and general spirit of
community unity and cooperation
for the greater good here in Holland
and West Michigan that I think
pervades the culture and stands the
test of time,” she said.
Lou Hallacy, former Holland
Chamber President, Mayor of Holland,
City Councilman, President
of the Holland Economic Development
Corporation (HEDCOR), car
dealership executive and retail
store owner, has seen his share
of changes in the local business
scene.
“I think that the homegrown
companies have slowly disappeared
and been acquired by corporate
America. As that began to happen
in the mid-1980s, you saw a lot of
small companies that had gotten
bigger sold out. But yet, as the
community has grown, a lot of small
companies have come in to support
the big companies — the Haworths
and the Herman Millers and the
S2 Yachts. That has kept that base
somewhat relevant,” said Hallacy, a
Grand Rapids native who moved to
Holland in 1956.
“In the days that I was active in
HEDCOR, we brought several companies
(into the area). The key that I
still see in the new companies coming
in is that the work ethic of the
people in the Holland community
has stayed exceptionally strong.
That’s why companies are willing to
relocate here,” he said.
“In the retail sector, the major
change is the big boxes coming in.
But, when you look at the renovation
of the downtown, to see a local
family reinvest in the downtown
— and it’s becoming a very strong
business center — it’s been able to
compete, to a degree, with the big
boxes. So, you’ve gone from the
small business to big business, but
with some small businesses continuing
to survive,” Hallacy said.
“But, the quality of life (in West
Michigan) has stayed exceptionally
strong. Even with the cultural
changes and diversity that we see
here now, there are still key factors
of church, family and community.
Those have stayed extremely strong
principles here, and that leads to a
good quality of life. We’re not without
our problems, but I think we’re
a cut above a lot of others because
of that,” he said.
Leaders of Mainstay Holland
Businesses Illuminate a Half-Century
of Change
We asked the business leaders
featured in our cover story — all
companies that have been in business
and Holland Chamber members
for more than 50 years — to
share their thoughts on how business
has changed in the Holland
area over the past half-century:
“One of the things that concerns
me is a loss of locally owned family
businesses over the past couple
of decades. I think that folks who
operate from afar are less likely to
be involved and generous with the
community where they have a plat
located.
The nature of the work has
changed, as well. Companies here
are far more technical, (with an
emphasis on) design expertise
and skill sets that weren’t required
when I did my computer training
with keypunch cards — it’s a whole
different world. That’s an example
of the business community working
with community leaders in making
sure that we stay current and competitive
and ahead in those areas.”
— Jud Bradford, President
Bradford Company
“I’m 50 years old. (Laughs.)
We’re a design and manufacturing
company. What’s changed for us,
and what I see changing in Holland,
is what I’ve seen changing on a
national and global level. International
competition is fierce. Technological
change has enabled us to
by Steve Ralph
do an awful lot that we couldn’t do
20 years ago — not even 10 or 15
years ago. Technology has allowed
us to be leaner.
“I look at the growth of the automotive-supply
business in this area.
There’s no harder business environment
to play in than the automotive
industry. Because of companies like
Donnelly and Prince and others —
Gentex, now — this area has a history
of manufacturing excellence. I
think it’s grown in prominence over
the past several decades.
“Holland has shown an entrepreneurial
spirit. I think of Ed Prince
and G.W. Haworth as two examples
of people who started businesses
from scratch and grew them into
very successful businesses. There
are a lot of smaller businesses
growing now, and those people often
came from some of those larger
companies. There’s a broader level
of entrepreneurism in this area than
maybe there is elsewhere.
“It appears that the Holland
economy is much broader than it
was. I still think the big dog in our
economy is the automotive industry.
What caught everyone by surprise
was that in the Great Recession,
the automotive industry was in
depression. Though our economy
is much more diverse than it was 50
years ago, the automotive industry
is still central. That’s both a blessing
and a curse.”
— Doug Buma, President
Holland Awning Company/Integrated
Fabric Resource
“Most certainly, there are fewer
businesses that are actually headquartered
here. The business has
moved away in many cases. (But,)
the Holland area is a great area
to be in as far as raising fami-

Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
13
lies. There still are an awful lot of
people here. It’s just a good area to
be in.
“It has definitely changed. Lately,
Michigan has gone through some
rough times. Hopefully, we’re heading
out of that. We’ve got a ways to
go, yet.”
— John Fris, President
Fris Office Outfitters
“Business and life have become
increasingly more dynamic every
year. The rate and pace of change
continue to quicken. The way we do
business, we continue to reevaluate
every facet of the business as much
as possible in an effort to be lean
and competitive. It used to be, I’d
look back at one year, maybe two,
but things are made increasingly
irrelevant so much faster. The days
of doing what you’ve always done
are over.
(On doing business with handshakes:)
That’s the way I like to do
business. I feel like the people in
this area try to operate under the
premise of being men and women
of their words, that a handshake is
as good as any legal document.”
— Joe Nelis, President
Nelis’ Dutch Village
“Holland is reflective of the U.S.
as a whole in that we have less
manufacturing than we did years
ago. We’ve seen some loss in
manufacturing plants in the whole
West Michigan area and across the
United States. In particular, this was
a huge furniture-making area. While
we continue to have some of the
largest furniture-making companies
in the area, we’ve also lost some of
those manufacturers.
“In this area, people respect
history and they respect integrity.
Reputation is very important in that
a lot of business transactions are
done based on reputation as much
as they are the bottom-line dollars
and cents. That’s different than
some big cities. That’s something
here that hasn’t changed.”
— Shelley Padnos,
Executive Vice-President
Louis Padnos Iron
& Metal Company
“The Holland area is still more
manufacturing-oriented than a lot
of other areas, but it’s not as great
a percentage of total employment
as it used to be. It primarily relates
to labor costs — manufacturing
processes have to gravitate to
lower labor-rate areas — and then
to leaping improvements in productivity
toward the kind of manufacturing
that can be done.
Those improvements mean output
has gone up but employment
hasn’t. Of course, we love that because
it helps us stay competitive,
but it means that when you look at
the total employment in Holland,
the amount of manufacturing has
shifted dramatically.
The jobs are much more oriented
toward scales and math and
engineering-type skills. That’s why
it’s so important that we have great
school systems here. The skills of
today and tomorrow are different
from the skills necessary to go to
work in yesterday’s factory.
Computers and the Internet have
been a profound change. Even in
my career, I can remember in the
1980s talking about the new word
processor that we had and wondering
if it would ever be networked
with other word processors. The
information on the Internet wasn’t
even available prior to the 1990s.
Those things are just hard to imagine
now because of the computers
and the (online) marketing and the
information being provided. It’s had
a profound effect on every facet of
commerce.”
— Rob Sligh, Chairman
Sligh Furniture Company
Opened in 1948
Styles
Financial Consultant
dvanderjagt@royalsecurities.com
Securities offered through Royal Securities Co., Member FINRA, SIPC
Financial Consultant
pkuiper@royalsecurities.com
711079 3.22.11
Have Changed.
Our commitment
to quality has
been offering the
best floor & wall
coverings for more
than 60 years.
See more at www.michigantile.com
13 W. 16th St. • Holland, MI 49423
616.392.6919
712174 3.22.11

14 Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
2011 FOCUS ON BUSINESS
If you participate in only one business
event in 2011, make it the Holland
Chamber’s Focus on Business!
This event will take place Tuesday,
April 26 from 11:30 am - 5:00 pm at
the Holland Civic Center (150 W 8th
St).
The goal of Focus on Business is
to promote the goods and services
of our member companies to the
business community in the greater-
Holland area. We estimate more
than 80 businesses will be exhibiting,
with over 800 total attendees.
It is a great opportunity for you
to make important contacts, gain
significant business leads, and check
out products and services that may
benefit you and your business.
New this year, the Taste of the
Chamber is certain to be the most
delicious event in town! From 2:00
- 4:00 pm the Taste of the Chamber
will showcase cuisine from local restaurants,
caterers and food vendors.
Attendees can sample the best that
Holland has to offer while browsing
the Focus on Business booths.
Also new this year we are offering
a series of short educational presentations.
With topics ranging from
Smart Phones to Elevator Speeches,
we’re sure these workshops will enhance
our attendees’ experience!
Focus on Business, the Taste of
the Chamber and our educational
presentations are all free events for
the business community.
APRIL 26
From 1946
to 2011
TOP TWEETS
Tim Schreur announces
the 65th Anniversary of
Schreur Printing.
SChREURdpm
design print mail fulfillment.
www.schreurprinting.com
Keeping it real with the same great local service
that’s been here for you since 1946.
711633 3.22.11

Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
15
Schedule of Events
11:30 am: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
11:30 - 5:00 pm: Focus on Business Exhibitor Booths Open
12:00 - 1:50 pm: Educational Presentations:
12:00 - Tips & Tricks to Maximize your Smart Phone
12:30 - Perfecting Your Elevator Speech
1:00 - Resources to Grow Your Business
1:30 - Dress for Success!
2:00 - 4:00 pm: Taste of the Chamber!
ADVANCED
ENERGY STORAGE
Coming Soon to Lakeshore Campus!
grcc.edu/AES
TURN-KEY
CONSTRUCTION
SERVICES
Grand Rapids Community College is an equal opportunity institution. GRCC is a tobacco free campus.
711080 3.22.11
Site. Plan. Build. Service.
See our work: www.lakewoodinc.com
616.392.6923
711081 3.22.11

16 Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
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Proud to be a Chamber Member for 55 years!
712110 3.22.11
Holland Area
Chamber
of Commerce
Announces
Leadership
Holland Plus
New Program Provides Continuing Education
for Leadership Holland Graduates
Leadership Holland, a program of
the Holland Area Chamber of Commerce,
is pleased to announce Leadership
Holland Plus, a new program
launching on June 2. The one-day
program, to be offered annually, will
provide continuing education and
training for graduates of the Leadership
Holland program.
“Leadership Holland Plus is designed
to bring our Leadership Holland
graduates up to speed in different
areas of the community — what’s the
cutting edge, what’s really happening,”
said Cindy Pocock, Leadership Holland
Director and Small Business Liaison at
the Holland Chamber.
Each year’s class will focus on two
Plus
by Steve Ralph
different aspects of what’s going on in
the Holland area. The inaugural class
will look at economic development
during the morning session and education
in the afternoon.
The economic development session
will be chaired by local attorney
Haans Mulder of Cunningham Dalman,
PC, and will feature Randy Thelen of
Lakeshore Advantage and Nate Young
of NewNorth Center. Plans for the
class are still being finalized, but possible
“field trip” visits include the new
Johnson Controls-Saft lithium-ion battery
plant and the MSU Bioeconomy
Institute.
The afternoon session focusing on
education will be chaired by Holland

Public Schools Superintendent Brian
Davis and will feature area superintendents
sharing cutting-edge trends
in education in our community. Areas
of focus will include Holland Public
Schools’ New Tech High School, West
Ottawa Public Schools’ International
Baccalaureate program, Zeeland
Public Schools’ Innocademy and
Holland Christian Schools’ Apple 1
to 1 Learning Initiatives. Ottawa Area
Intermediate School District Superintendent
Karen McPhee will discuss
regional initiatives and what’s changing
in education.
“To be an effective community trustee,
you have to know what’s going on
in the community,” Pocock said.
Leadership Holland Plus is organized
by a steering committee of
Leadership Holland graduates chaired
by Stacy Kamphuis of The Insurance
Group, LLC, and Tavan Hendrick of
The Worden Company.
The class on June 2 will begin and
end at Holland New Tech High School,
36 E 24th St, and is limited to 30
participants, who must be Leadership
Holland graduates.
Leadership Holland is a nine-month
program designed to provide educational
and networking opportunities
for local civic, organizational and
business leaders to glean an enriched
awareness of the Holland area and
promote a deeper, personalized
involvement in the community.
For more information or to register,
contact Cindy Pocock at 616.392.9719
or cpocock@hollandchamber.org,
or visit leadershipholland.org.
Mission
Statement
Leadership Holland Plus
will expand, enhance and
enrich your knowledge of
the greater Holland area
to prepare and equip you
for your continuing role
as an effective community
trustee.
Meetings Gatherings
Give your guests their own
Available Lunch or Dinner
13 different dishes to choose from
$
7 79
per box
Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
THE
HOLLAND
BOARD
OF
PUBLIC
WORKS
Providing safe, reliable, and
affordable utility services.
Supporting the
Holland Area Chamber
of Commerce.
Protecting our environment.
17
Minimum order of 12 boxes with 24 hours advance
notice & payment required.
Service charge applies for dine-in.
Thai Trays available for large groups family style.
977 Butternut Dr. • Holland, MI 49424
Restaurant Hours
Tues. -Sat. 11am - 9:30pm
Sunday 11am - 9pm
616.994.9624
www.thaipalacefood.com
Gift
Cards
Available
712176 3.22.11
711914 3.22.11

18 Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
SAVE THE DATE!
43nd
ANNUAL
GOLF OUTING
WEDNESDAY JULY 20
RAVINES GOLF CLUB
2011
Mark your calendar for the most fun day of the Summer
- The Holland Chamber’s Golf Outing! This year’s
outing will once again be at the beautiful Ravines Golf
Club!
Don’t Golf
You can still join the fun at our free
T.G.I.W. After-Hours Event!
Thanks to our
tournament Sponsor:
Fast Forward
SM
Keeping pace with changing technology is a must in today’s competitive environment. If only you could press a button
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e offer discounts for multiple registrations and a discounted Microsoft fce pecialist M certication exam for anyone
completing all four courses. Courses include M ord asic, Intermediate, Expert and M Certication Exam rep.
M-TEC.ORG or 1.877.298.0007
711063 3.22.11

Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
19
Thursday, April 7
Start Your Own Business Workshop
3:00 – 5:00 PM
GVSU – Holland Campus (515 S Waverly
Rd, Holland)
There is no charge for this event.
Explore business startup issues and receive
assistance during these orientation
sessions focused upon readiness
to be in business, market research,
writing a business plan and obtaining
financing for your small business.
Learn the steps to starting a business
from a certified business consultant
and receive answers to your financing
questions from a small business
banker.
Workshop Presented By: Holland
Area Chamber of Commerce, Zeeland
Chamber of Commerce, Lakeshore
Advantage, SCORE and the Michigan
Small Business & Technology Development
Center (MI-SBTDC)
Tuesday, April 12
Early Bird Breakfast:
Everything Google by Google
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Pre-Coffee starts at 7:00 AM
Haworth Inn & Conference Center (225
College Ave, Holland)
$15 members/$25 non-members
Michal Lorenc, Head of Dedicated
Client Services - Google Canada,
will lead you on a journey through
Google’s suite of products, both paid
and free, with an in-depth look at
Google AdWords, YouTube, Maps,
Mobile, Analytics tracking and more.
Mike currently leads Google’s sales
and account management team servicing
Canadian advertisers out of Ann
Arbor, MI offices. With Google since
2003, Mike worked on a number of
strategic initiatives in the marketing/
advertising and sales capabilities in
the US and Europe.
April Early Bird Sponsor: Holland
Town Center/SugarOak Management
Services
Pre-Coffee Sponsor:
Holland Area Arts Council
Thursday, April 14
Get Motivated Business Seminar
8:00 AM to 4:45 PM
Van Andel Arena (130 Fulton St West,
Grand Rapids)
Call 1-800-880-7058 for more information
and to register
The GET MOTIVATED BUSINESS SEM-
INAR features world famous soldier
statesman Gen. Colin Powell, America’s
Mayor Rudy Giuliani, renowned
Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz
and legendary president of Microsoft
Rick Belluzzo. Additional speakers
include NFL Hall of Fame quarterback
Terry Bradshaw, host and creator of
TV’s “America’s Most Wanted” John
Walsh, top sales training expert Krish
Khanam, America’s most inspirational
speaker Dr. Robert Schuller and other
great teachers and motivators. All
speakers are live and in person. Cost
to attend this event is less than $2 per
person!
Thursday, April 14
Small-Business Committee Meeting
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Holland Chamber Office (272 E 8th St)
Holland.
There is no cost for this event. (light
lunch provided.)
Become active in the Holland Chamber
by joining a committee!
The Small-Business Committee provides
a program of general assistance
to new and existing small businesses
in the community.
Friday, April 15
Public Policy Committee Meeting
8:00 – 9:30 AM
Holland Chamber Office (272 E 8th St,
Holland)
There is no cost for this event
Interested in governmental and political
issues The Public Policy Committee
reviews issues of local and regional
concern and makes position recommendations
to the Board of Directors.
Join us monthly for interesting and
sometimes lively discussion about the
issues that affect you and your business.
Monday, April 18
Holland/Zeeland
Governmental Affairs
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Alpenrose Restaurant (4 E 8th St, Holland)
$15 member/ $25 non-members
Join us for breakfast with our elected
state and federal legislators. Ample
time is provided for questions and
answers. Arrive at 7:15 am for a brief
networking session before the breakfast
begins.
Governmental Affairs Sponsor: Huntington
Bank
Tuesday, April 19
Business Book Group
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Herrick District Library (300 S River
Ave, Holland)
There is no cost for this event
• Read great business books
• Bring a lunch
• Discuss hot business topics
• Network
You won’t want to miss this new Business
Book Group co-sponsored by the
Library and the Holland Area Chamber
of Commerce and facilitated by Owner
of Keystone Coaching & Consulting
Mark de Roo. In April, we will discuss
The Happiness Advantage by Shawn
Achor.
Pick up a copy of the book at the
Library’s Circulation Desk.
Wednesday, April 20
Minority Business Awards Luncheon
11:30 – 1:00 PM
Midtown Center (96 W 15th St, Holland)
$30 per person/$240 table of 8
Please plan to join us for our sixth
annual Minority Business Awards
Luncheon. Enjoy a delicious lunch and
network while we celebrate diversity
and recognize the personal efforts of
individuals in our community.
Minority Business Awards Sponsors:
Platinum – Blue Cross/Blue Shield;
Gold – Fifth Third Bank, Comcast Business
Services.
Thursday, April 21
Holland/Zeeland Tech Lunch –
Even MORE Google
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Herrick District Library (300 S River
Ave, Holland)
There is no cost for this event, please
bring your own lunch or order it at the
library
Switch out your everyday lunch for an
entertaining, educational and energizing
event!
If you enjoyed our April 12 Early Bird
presentation - Everything Google
from Google - and want to learn more,
come to our Tech Lunch! Professionals
from the Image Group will go deeper
into Google’s suite of products and
show you how to best utilize them for
your business. There will be plenty of
time for networking, Q & A and small
group discussion. Tech users of any
level who want to learn more are welcome
to this fun and informal event.
Thanks to our Tech Lunch partners,
Herrick District Library and The Image
Group
Tuesday, April 26
Focus on Business
11:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Civic Center (150 W 8th St) Holland.
There is no cost for this event
Learn more about what business
goods and services are available in
your community! Focus on Business
will highlight displays from 80+ local
Holland Chamber members. This is
a great opportunity to network, make
important contacts, gain leads, and
find out more about your community.
New this year we are offering a series

20 Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
of short educational presentations
during Focus on Business. With topics
ranging from Smart Phones to Elevator
Speeches, we’re sure these workshops
will help you and your business grow
and succeed. Also new this year is
the Taste of the Chamber (see below).
This is an event that you don’t want to
miss!
Tuesday, April 26
Taste of the Chamber
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Civic Center (150 W 8th St., Holland)
There is no cost for this event!
New this year during Focus on Business,
the Taste of the Chamber is certain
to be the most delicious event in
town! From 2:00 - 4:00 pm the Taste
of the Chamber will showcase cuisine
from local restaurants, caterers and
food vendors. Attendees can sample
the best that Holland has to offer
while browsing the Focus on Business
booths.
Thursday, May 5
Start Your Own Business Workshop
3:00 – 5:00 PM
GVSU – Holland Campus (515 S Waverly
Rd, Holland)
There is no charge for this event.
Explore business startup issues and receive
assistance during these orientation
sessions focused upon readiness
to be in business, market research,
writing a business plan and obtaining
financing for your small business.
Learn the steps to starting a business
from a certified business consultant
and receive answers to your financing
questions from a small business
banker.
Workshop Presented By: Holland
Area Chamber of Commerce, Zeeland
Chamber of Commerce, Lakeshore
Advantage, SCORE and the Michigan
Small Business & Technology Development
Center (MI-SBTDC)
Tuesday, May 10
Early Bird Breakfast: Customer
Service – What Companies are doing
RIGHT!
7:30 – 9:00 AM
Pre-Coffee starts at 7:00 AM
Haworth Inn & Conference Center (225
College Ave, Holland)
$15 members/$25 non-members
Join Customer Experience Futurist
and NOVO1 CEO Mary Murcott as she
shares stories of companies who are
doing the right thing for their customers
and reaping the benefits.
This session will be highly interactive
as opinions and advice fly. Mary welcomes
questions on how to improve
customer service in your own business.
Mary Murcott is the President and
Chief Executive Officer of NOVO 1
and leads the company’s efforts to
support clients’ business goals in
building customer relationships and
growing their brands.
Murcott is an international keynote
speaker and published author. She is
regarded as a “contact center futurist”
and authority on sales and operations,
multi-channel service, performance
management, coaching, employee
selection and retention, workforce
planning, and first contact resolution.
April Early Bird Sponsor:
SEMCO Energy
Pre-Coffee Sponsor: Genzink Steel
Friday, May 13
Public Policy Committee Meeting
8:00 – 9:30 AM
Holland Chamber Office (272 E 8th St,
Holland)
There is no cost for this event
Interested in governmental and political
issues The Public Policy Committee
reviews issues of local and regional
concern and makes position recommendations
to the Board of Directors.
Join us monthly for interesting and
sometimes lively discussion about the
issues that affect you and your business.
Monday, May 16
Holland/Zeeland
Governmental Affairs
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Alpenrose Restaurant (4 E 8th St, Holland)
$15 member/ $25 non-members
Join us for breakfast with our elected
state and federal legislators. Ample
time is provided for questions and
answers. Arrive at 7:15 am for a brief
networking session before the breakfast
begins.
Governmental Affairs Sponsor: Huntington
Bank
Tuesday, May 17
Hamilton Division Luncheon
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Trestle Stop Restaurant (3366 M-40,
Hamilton)
$12 members/$20 non-members
Thursday, May 19
Seminar – Building Organizational
Performance Through Teamwork
and Understanding
8:30 – 10:30 AM
Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center
(650 E 24th St, Holland)
$45 members/$65 non-members
$15 for each additional attendee from
the same company
Are you part of a team and interested
in what you can do to improve your
job performance Are you a leader
looking for ways to become more
effective trUPerformance only
happens through great conversations
between a leader and the people they
lead. This class is about bringing both
sides of the performance discussion
together and building action plans
to maximize individual/team performance.
This seminar is geared toward leaders
of teams and people who work in a
team oriented environment and want
to learn what they can do to improve
their performance. Scott Patchin of
The trU Group will present and lead
the discussion.
Tuesday, May 24
Ambassador & Small-Business
Committee Meetings
8:00 – 9:00 am
There is no cost for this event
Become active in the Holland Chamber
by joining a committee!
The Ambassador Committee develops
membership involvement through an
array of events and programs, while
the Small-Business Committee provides
a program of general assistance
to new and existing small businesses
in the community.
The Ambassador Committee will meet:
Hyatt Place Grand Rapids South (2150
Metro Lane, Wyoming, MI 49519)
The Small-Business Committee location
is yet to be determined.
Thursday, June 2
Leadership Holland Plus +
All day
Please call the Holland Chamber for
details.
Attention Leadership Holland
Graduates! Be sure to join us for our
inaugural Leadership Holland Plus +,
a day-long program that will expand,
enhance, and enrich your knowledge
of the greater Holland area and equip
you in your continuing role as an effective
community trustee.
The morning will be spent learning
about what’s happening in Economic
Development. We hope to tour the
JCI Saft Lithium-ion Battery plant as
well as the Michigan State Bio-Economy
Center.
The afternoon will focus on cutting
edge local educational programs.
Members of the class will get a tour of
Holland’s New Tech High School and
learn about Innocademy, West Ottawa
International Baccalaureate program,
Apple Recognized 21st Century Learning
School as well as regional initiatives.
Thursday, June 2
Start Your Own Business Workshop
3:00 - 5:00 PM
GVSU - Holland Campus (515 S Waverly
Rd, Holland)
There is no charge for this event.
Explore business startup issues and
receive assistance during these
orientation sessions focused upon
readiness to be in business, market
research, writing a business plan and
obtaining financing for your small
business. Learn the steps to starting a
business from a certified
business consultant and receive answers
to your financing questions from
a small business banker.
Workshop Presented By: Holland Area
Chamber of Commerce, Zeeland
Chamber of Commerce, Lakeshore
Advantage, SCORE and the Michigan
Small
Business & Technology Development
Center (MI-SBTDC)
Monday, June 6
Network on the Links! – Holland
Chamber Summer Golf League
Mondays, June 6 - July 18
Tee-off - 4:00 – 4:48 PM

Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
21
Winding Creek Golf Club (4514 E Ottogan
St, Holland)
$150 member/$200 non-member
Make new contacts while playing nine
holes every Monday for six weeks, beginning
June 6 (we do NOT play July
4). Golfers will be randomly placed in
a foursome each week (co-ed league).
Play will last for approximately two
hours with an optional clubhouse
gathering after each round. Skill level
is unimportant since handicaps will be
determined after the first week. This
will be a great opportunity to meet fellow
Chamber members while sharpening
your golf game.
Friday, June 10
Public Policy Committee Meeting
8:00 – 9:30 AM
Holland Chamber Office (272 E 8th St,
Holland)
There is no cost for this event
Interested in governmental and political
issues The Public Policy Committee
reviews issues of local and regional
concern and makes position recommendations
to the Board of Directors.
Join us monthly for interesting and
sometimes lively discussion about the
issues that affect you and your business.
Tuesday, June 14
Early Bird Breakfast with Mike
Finney President and CEO of the
MEDC
7:30 - 8:30 AM
Pre-Coffee starts at 7:00 AM
Haworth Inn & Conference Center (225
College Ave, Holland)
$15 members/$25 non-members
Please join us for a special Early Bird
Breakfast, where we welcome a
presentation from Michael A. Finney.
Mr. Finney is the President and
CEO of the Michigan Economic Development
Corporation (MEDC), the
State
of Michigan’s lead economic development
agency, and is responsible for
executing Governor Snyder’s economic
development strategy.
June Early Bird Sponsor: United Federal
Credit Union
Pre-Coffee Sponsor: Comcast Business
Services
Monday, June 20
Holland/Zeeland
Governmental Affairs
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Alpenrose Restaurant (4 E 8th St, Holland)
$15 member/ $25 non-members
Join us for breakfast with our elected
state and federal legislators. Ample
time is provided for questions and
answers. Arrive at 7:15 am for a brief
networking session before the breakfast
begins.
Governmental Affairs Sponsor:
Huntington Bank
Tuesday, June 28
Ambassador Meeting
8:00 – 9:00 am
There is no cost for this event
Become active in the Holland Chamber
by joining a committee!
The Ambassador Committee develops
membership involvement through an
array of events and programs. Please
contact the Chamber for more information.
The Holland Area Chamber of Commerce Business Connections Committee is
pleased to announce the Sixth Annual Minority Business Awards Luncheon.
Enjoy a delicious lunch and network while we celebrate diversity and recognize
the personal efforts of individuals in our community.
MINORITY BUSINESS AWARDS LUNCHEON
Honoring Minority Business of the Year & Outstanding Advocate for Minority-Owned Business
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 . 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Midtown Center . 96 W 15th St . Holland, MI 49423
Admission: $30 per person / $240 Table of 8, Seating is Limited
Please plan to attend this do-not-miss event!
REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.HOLLANDCHAMBER.ORG
Gourmet Lunch provided by Christine Ferris Catering
To register, please call the Holland Chamber at 616.392.2389, send an e-mail
to events@hollandchamber.org or register online at www.hollandchamber.org.
MICHIGAN COMMERCE BANK
has been serving the Holland community since 1990.
Let our friendly, knowledgeable staff help you!
240 East 8th Street Holland, MI 49423 | 616.394.9600
www.michigancommercebank.com
711916 3.22.11
Funeral Homes
Our family serving your family, SINCE 1899, with cremation and funeral services to fit every financial need.
616-392-2348 dykstrafuneralhome.com
712180 3.22.11

22 Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
New Members
Margaret Bakker/Allegan County
Circuit Court
Government Offices
Margaret Bakker, Judge
(269) 673-0400
Fax (269) 673-0490
113 Chestnut St
Allegan, MI 49010
mzbakker@yahoo.com
www.allegancounty.org
James T. Bishop, MD PC
Physicians / Allergy & Weight Loss
James Bishop, M.D.
Lisa Hale, Representative
(616) 393-0567
Fax (616) 209-3056
388 Garden Ave Ste 110
Holland, MI 49424
allergybooks@gmail.com
www.allergyandweightloss.com
Captain Terry’s Galley
Restaurants
Terry Molitor, Owner
(616) 355-6250
Fax (616) 399-2751
300 S River Ave
Holland, MI 49423
terrymolitor@yahoo.com
www.carolknutson.com
Economic Development Foundation
Financial Services / SBA 504 Small
Business Loan Financing
Sandy Bloem, President
Bradd Pierce, Loan Officer
(616) 459-4825
Fax (616) 458-5736
1345 Monroe NW Ste 132
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
sandy@growmichigan.com
www.growmichigan.com
Engedi Salon
Beauty Salons
Tom Hoort, Owner
(616) 396-7565
3 E 8th St
Holland, MI 49423
www.engedi-salon.com
Evergreen Ramps LLC
Medical Equipment & Respiratory
Supplies
Larry Erlandson
110 W 39th St
Holland, MI 49423
larryerlandson@gmail.com
www.amramp.com
Focus Marketing
Marketing Consultants
Dayna Beal, COO
Tressa Mills, President
(616) 355-4362
Fax (616) 355-5491
2495 112th Ave
Holland, MI 49424
www.mymenulab.com
Grace of Douglas
Nursing Homes
Abby Uphaus, Marketing Director
(269) 857-2141
Fax (269) 857-1802
243 Wiley Rd
Douglas, MI 49406
www.gracehc.com
H&R Block – Holland
Accounting Services
Shari Garcia, Office Manager
(616) 355-6200
Fax (616) 355-6222
2279 North Park Dr
Holland, MI 49424
www.hrblock.com
Thank you to our Premier Sponsors
Holland Chamber Platinum Premier Sponsor
Holland Chamber Gold Premier Sponsor

Spring 2011 | Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
23
Holland Global Trading
Commodities Brokers
Quinten Kelley, Representative
(616) 796-9280
17 W 10th St Ste 170
Holland, MI 49423
support@hgtforex.com
www.hgtforex.com
Image Builders Marketing
Marketing Consultants
Mike Harvey, Marketing Consultant
(616) 204-1590
Fax (616) 669-7123
726 Chicago Dr
Holland, MI 49423
mike@imagebuildersmktg.com
www.imagebuildersmktg.com
infoSHRED
Document Shredding/Imaging/Storage
Dan Dykstra, Sales Representative
(616) 797-9901
PO Box 208
Hudsonville, MI 49426
info@info-shred.com
www.info-shred.com
J Cronin Communications
Marketing/Communications
Jennifer Cronin, Owner
(616) 610-2546
Fax (616) 582-5948
945 Bay Ridge Dr
Holland, MI 49424
jcronin@jcronincom.com
www.jcronincom.com
LKM Towing, LLC. dba
Wolters’ Towing & Recovery
Towing & Road Services
Mindy Roelofs, Business Manager
(616) 392-7888
538 E 40th St
Holland, MI 49423
wolterstowing@hotmail.com
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Cosmetics/Specialties Skincare
& Cosmetics
Linda Weaver, Co-Owner
(616) 392-3603
Fax (616) 392-3604
29 W 8th St
Holland, MI 49423-3155
www.merlenorman.com
Nancy Anne Sailing Charters LLC
Boat Charters
Patrick Nowak, Owner
(616) 403-3896
Fax (616) 403-3896
1628 Waukazoo Dr
Holland, MI 49424
pnowak342@att.net
www.nancyannesailingcharters.com
Nephew Physical Therapy
Physical Therapists & Occupational
Therapists
Melissa Meiste, Owner & Physical
Therapist
Molly Kehrer, Director of Marketing
(616) 796-9391
Fax (888) 714-4474
91 Douglas Ave Ste 140
Holland, MI 49424
info@nephewpt.com
www.nephewpt.com
Patient Solutions 420
Health Services / Medical Marihuana
Information Service
Monica Bakker
(616) 396-4846
575 E 8th St
Holland, MI 49423
www.patientsolutions420.com
Revstream Media
Web Design & Development
Bruce Tedeschi, Owner
(616) 928-2282
299 W 13th St
Holland, MI 49423
info@revstreammedia.com
Safe Title, Inc.
Title Companies
Amber VerBurg, Vice President
(616) 594-5400
Fax (616) 594-5401
246 S River Ave Ste 100A
Holland, MI 49423
www.safetitle.net
Selestial Soap LLC
Manufacturing
James Michael, Field Consultant
(616) 748-1159
11280 Kingfisher Ct
Holland, MI 49424
jmichael@selestialsoap.com
www.selestialsoap.com
Signs By Tomorrow
Signs
Eric Ash, Owner
(616) 392-7055
Fax (616) 392-7051
60 E Lakewood Blvd Ste 10
Holland, MI 49424
www.signsbytomorrow.com/holland
Symbiote
Manufacturing / Manufacturer of Technical
Furniture
Travis Randolph, President
Scott Troeger, Operations Manager
(616) 772-1790
Fax (616) 772-1798
300 N Centennial St
Zeeland, MI 49464
symbiote@symbiote.com
www.symbiote.com
Tenurgy
Consulting Services
Sally Cronkright, Sales Consultant
(616) 450-0962
Fax (231) 487-9002
8361 80th Ave
Zeeland, MI 49464
sally@tenurgy.com
www.tenurgy.com
Twisted Rooster
Restaurants/Bars
John Vanaman, General Manager
Heather Halligan, Marketing Coordinator
(616) 392-7680
Fax (616) 392-7681
12389 James St
Holland, MI 49424
trooster@mhgi.net
www.twisted-rooster.com
Mark H. Zietlow & Associates
Attorneys
Mark Zietlow, Attorney
(616) 392-4100
Fax (616) 392-4173
100 E 8th St Ste 130
Holland, MI 49423
mzietlow@live.com
Workforce Management is an independent staffing firm established by Ruben Juarez.
We offer more than 18 years of combined experience and we provide the following services:
• Temporary Staffing • Direct Placement • Assessment Testing • Translating
We are a locally owned and operated staffing firm that offers employers MORE than
competitive rates without sacrificing QUALITY or SERVICES. We take pride in
community re-investing, when dollars are spent locally, they can in turn be re-spent locally,
and therefore we all benefit as a community.
Members of ...
• LHRMA
• MMBDC
• Holland Chamber of Commerce
• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• The Employers Association
• American Translators Association
616.396.3700
www.workforcemgt.com
102 Walnut St. Suite C Holland, MI 49423
711084 3.22.11
On a
scale.
Small classes. Big thinkers. Raise your hand if you prefer personal
attention. At Grand Valley, we keep class sizes small to provide students
with individual instruction from the highly qualified faculty who teach all
of our classes. It’s just one of the reasons U.S. News & World Report
has named us one of the “Best in the Midwest” three years in a row.
gvsu.edu/GRAND | (616) 331-2025
712185 3.22.11

711910 3.22.11