About Us

Grand Angels was founded by former Grand Bank founder and CEO Charles C. Stoddard and serial entrepreneur, Craig T. Hall. They recruited community leaders willing to join them in the vision of making “investments with a difference.” In 2005, Jody D. Vanderwel was recruited to serve as president of the organization. Grand Angels now has over thirty active members.Grand Angels is the only regional investment group that offers mentoring paired with a relatively patient exit strategy, meaning invested funds may not need to be returned as quickly as would be expected by commercial or other investors.
The organization is funded through membership fees and corporate and collegiate sponsorships. Grand Angels is a member of the Angel Capital Association, an organization sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (Kansas City, MO), which continues to provide leadership and resources for angel investors across the country.

 

Our 2013 Board of Directors

Patrick A. Gaughan

Patrick is CFO and partner of Brooks Capital Management and a partner of its affiliate real estate development company, IPA Partners.   Patrick also chairs the Kent Community Health Foundation Investment Committee and serves on the Investment Committee of The Community Foundation of the Holland-Zeeland Area.  He is also on the board of directors for TicTock Studios and sits on the shareholder advisory board to a Florida-based multi-bank holding company.

 

Robert L. Herr, Secretary/Treasurer

Bob is a board member of Macatawa Bank Corporation, Thornapple Capital, Inc. (Toronto), and Progressive AE.  He is an active community leader serving on numerous non-profit boards including Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program, Advantage Health/St. Mary’s Physician Network, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of West Michigan Advisory Board, Western Michigan University Foundation, First Steps Commission, Downtown Alliance, and the Economic Club of Grand Rapids.

 

David V. Huhn

Dave is a member of the Advisory Leadership Council of Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids, on the Board of the Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program, and chairman of the Cascade Township DDA. Throughout his career, Dave has remained active in many community organizations career including Aquinas College Emeritus College Board, Rotary, and other entrepreneurial-building programs.

 

John S. Jackoboice, Past Chairman

John serves on the boards of Michigan Colleges Foundation and chairs the Northern Trust – West Michigan Advisory Board. Past board chairmanships include Gilda’s Club, Saint Mary’s Health, and Aquinas College as well as serving on the boards of Hospice of Michigan Foundation, Family Business Alliance, Manufacturing Council, and the World Affairs Council of West Michigan.

 

Michael J. Jandernoa

Mike is the former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Perrigo Company, the nation’s largest manufacturer and marketer of store brand over-the-counter drug and nutritional products. He serves on the board of directors of Perrigo Company, the Van Andel Institute, Business Leaders for Michigan, Hopen Life Science Fund, and Metabolic Solutions Development Company.  Mike is the founder of Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring and is a co-founder and board member of both Grand Angels and Bridge Street Capital Partners.

 

R. Lawrence Leigh, Vice Chairman

Larry serves on the Boards of Goodwill Industries, Goodwill Foundation, Davenport University Foundation, and is a member of the Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program with previous involvements on other community boards and a local bank.  He is the former owner and founder of Leighs.  Larry holds a B.S. in Business from the University of North Carolina and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.

 

Richard M. Lievense, Chairperson

Rich is the principal founder of Lake Michigan Financial Corporation (LMFC), established in April 1998, and currently serves as its chairman and chief executive officer. LMFC is the parent company of The Bank of Holland and The Bank of Northern Michigan. Prior to founding LMFC, Rich was employed by Old Kent Bank in various executive positions.  He currently serves on the board of directors of Riverview Development Group and chairs the Holland/Zeeland Community Foundation Oversight Board for the MSU Bio-economy Institute. Rich holds a B.B.A. from Alma College and an M.A. from Western Michigan University.

 

Gerald G. Scott

Jerry is a veteran of 37 years in the automotive industry. In 1996 Jerry became president and CEO of Grand Haven (MI)-based GHSP, which is a leading supplier of driver controls for surface transportation vehicles.  He retired from there in 2010. He is a Board member of the Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring organization in Grand Rapids. He has served as a board member of OESA, a leading automotive trade organization. He has started several manufacturing companies in China and been a board member there.  Prior to joining GHSP, Jerry served as the director of engineering at Webasto Sunroofs. His resume also includes serving as vice president of sales and engineering at Dura Automotive Systems and as director of engineering at Wickes Manufacturing.  Jerry holds an MBA from Michigan State University and a BSME from the University of Michigan. He and his wife, Margaret, live in Grand Haven, Michigan.

 

Robert A. Sprotte

Bob is the owner of The Sprotte Organization which is a life insurance agency serving both business & personal markets from an independent perspective.  He has been active in this industry since 1976 and in Michigan since 1978.  He holds the appropriate designations for this trade including CLU, ChFC & LIC.  Bob is currently involved in leading men’s Bible studies and is a former Board member of both Goodwill Industries and Bethany Christian Services. As an active investor in numerous private equity offerings, the Grand Angels opportunity proves a logical fit.


Jody D. Vanderwel, President

Jody is President of Grand Angels and has served in that role since 2005. After several years in private legal practice, she was Corporate Counsel and then Vice President for Corporate Giving at Herman Miller, Inc. She is currently a member of the Michigan Venture Capital Association Board, the Michigan Accelerator Fund I Advisory Board, the Baker Publishing Group Board, and the Fuller Theological Seminary Board. She also chairs the Board of Priority Health. Her past board service includes the Grand Rapids Symphony, Holland Symphony, and Young Life National Board. Jody holds a B.A. degree from the University of Colorado and a J.D. degree from Washington University in St. Louis.