Meet Our Speakers

Andrea (Dre) Wallace is co-founder and CEO of Opnr, a tech platform transforming the live music industry by helping organizers discover artists and sell more tickets through fan-powered data. A professional musician turned tech founder, she brings a unique blend of industry insight and entrepreneurial experience. Andrea previously founded Fourtifeye, an entertainment-tech startup that was later acquired, and has a background in tech, data, and innovation. Under her leadership, Opnr supports hundreds of organizers and thousands of artists nationwide. Andrea is deeply involved in the national startup ecosystem and currently serves as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Start Garden. She also sits on the boards of the Michigan Music Alliance and SiTE:LAB, and has been recognized with Crain’s 40 Under 40 and Women of Influence honors. She attended Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University.

Craig Tucker is the founder and CEO of VERN AI, where he focuses on the intersection of emotion, behavior, and AI-human interaction. His expertise is in building AI systems that do more than generate answers—they govern conversations, influence outcomes, and create trust through emotional intelligence, behavioral control, and auditability.

What makes Craig’s perspective unique is that he approaches AI not just as a technology problem, but as a human problem. He believes the next user interface is a face, and that the future of AI depends on systems that can understand emotion, remain on-brand, and operate safely in high-stakes environments like healthcare, customer service, and mental health.

Don Kalisz is a branding, marketing, and advertising professional with 27 years of experience spanning strategy, design, web, print, digital, messaging, public relations, and market research. Born and raised in Muskegon, he has founded three successful marketing agencies, including Relevant, Revel, and now Kindred.

Having worked with businesses large and small, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, across multiple industries and markets, Don brings a broad perspective and practical insight to a wide range of business challenges. Known as an innovator and ideas-driven leader, he focuses on bold thinking, exploring uncharted territory, and creating data-driven strategies centered on audience needs and measurable results.

Don also brings extensive public speaking and event emceeing experience, having led presentations and hosted events for Chambers of Commerce, marketing networking groups, and CME conferences.

Jamiel Robinson is a serial entrepreneur and President & CEO of Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses (GRABB), where he leads initiatives advancing Black entrepreneurship and equitable economic development. His expertise spans business development, ecosystem building, and creating scalable programs that connect entrepreneurs to capital, resources, and opportunity. As both a systems-level leader and active business owner, Jamiel brings real-time insight into the challenges and opportunities of growing and sustaining businesses in underrepresented communities. He is a passionate advocate for inclusive growth and is committed to building pathways for long-term success and wealth creation.

Joe Carr focuses on freshwater innovation by supporting funding submissions and fostering strategic collaborations that drive technology development in rural areas and universities. 

Carr has a successful track record in fostering economic growth and entrepreneurship, with extensive experience in launching and scaling successful businesses, coupled with a deep understanding of community needs. His unique qualifications have helped clients create and retain nearly 700 jobs, attract over $56 million in investment, and launch over 120 new companies. Carr has led multiple award-winning programs, including a tech initiative that broke funding and award records.

Nicholas Green is a business development and strategic partnerships professional based in Muskegon, Michigan. Currently serving as Business Development & Strategic Partnerships lead at Route 31 Credit Union, he specializes in translating complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives that drive growth and engagement. Nicholas works closely with SMB owners and leadership teams to clarify goals, align messaging, and build trust-based relationships across industries. He has also pioneered some innovative lending programs within his organization to help facilitate access to capital. 

He also serves as a Chamber Ambassador with the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, Muskegon Rotarian, sits on numerous boards, and is heavily involved in youth sports coaching.  Nick is growing deep roots and investment in the local business community and the community he lives in.

Paola R. Mendivil is a bilingual business development leader and community connector dedicated to expanding economic opportunities for West Michigan entrepreneurs. As Bilingual Business Development Officer at Grow, she helps small business owners access affordable capital, with a focus on underserved and immigrant communities. Paola also serves as Vice President of Catering for her family’s restaurant, El Granjero Mexican Grill, grounding her work in real small business experience. She is an active member of the Latina Network, serves on the Board of the Arts Marketplace, and is recognized for her leadership across Michigan. She was named to Crain’s Grand Rapids 40 Under 40 and received the Detroit Lions Hispanic Leadership Award.

Rooted in West Michigan, Paul brings a strong commitment to local community informed by nonprofit leadership and 3.5 years of service as the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. With more than 15 years of manufacturing industry experience, he focuses on building collaborative partnerships that advance industry growth and strengthen workforce development across the region.

Rae Lynn (they/them) is a communications and fund development strategist with over 16 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Known for their precision, strategic insight, and commitment to equity, Rae Lynn develops impactful, data-driven narratives and long-term strategies that honor the communities they serve.

With expertise in integrated communications, creative campaigns, and audience engagement, Rae Lynn brings a bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish that uniquely supports outreach to diverse communities, including the Latine community. Colleagues value Rae Lynn’s skill in translating ideas into sustainable plans and their dedication to creating systems that support lasting growth.

Rae Lynn’s work consistently centers voices and fosters broad engagement, making them an invaluable partner for organizations seeking meaningful impact.

Sara Acker is the Head of HR at Ludus, a fast-growing SaaS company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She focuses on all things people in the ever-evolving—and often unpredictable—world of technology. Sara is passionate about employee wellness and believes strongly in the role employers play in helping individuals become the best version of themselves.

She is married to a coach—arguably the more patient one in the relationship—and together they have raised five, now-grown children. In her free time, Sara enjoys exercising, reading, and traveling, ideally with her dog by her side. She loves thinking big, dislikes small talk, and is a self-proclaimed (very) awkward hugger.

Her happy place is anywhere in, on, or near the water, which recently inspired her move from Grand Rapids to Muskegon.

Scott brings a diverse background in accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, and investment strategy to the Muskegon Innovators Summit. He spent more than a decade in public accounting, working with both national and regional firms, before going on to own and operate several small businesses over a 15-year span. Today, he serves as Chief Financial Officer of Sand Products Corporation. Scott is also a member of the executive committee for Muskegon Angels, where he helps evaluate investment opportunities and monitor portfolio growth, supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.

Tamara L. Jackson-Gatewood, MBA is a senior financial services executive and community development leader with over 20 years of experience advancing equitable access to capital and strengthening small business ecosystems. As Director of Lending at Michigan Women Forward, she leads statewide lending strategy, portfolio management, and technical assistance to support underserved entrepreneurs. Tamara brings deep expertise in underwriting, risk management, and borrower readiness, with a focus on long-term business success. Her career spans leadership roles in banking and community development, and she is a dedicated mentor, board member, and advocate for building a more inclusive and sustainable economic future. She contributes her expertise to organizations such as SCORE and Habitat for Humanity and has served on multiple boards and policy-focused committees across Michigan, alongside her lifelong involvement in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

Taryn Kutches has built a dynamic career spanning engineering, innovation consulting, entrepreneurship, and serving as a founding member of an innovation lab. Through her work with Joyn Collective, she has partnered with small, medium, and large corporations to drive innovation and measurable impact. Taryn brings a grounded perspective to the innovation process, emphasizing that while idea generation is often the easiest part, creating real impact and lasting change requires significant effort.

As Industry Council Lead and primary contact for West Michigan Tech Talent, Virginia is dedicated to fostering growth, development, and talent retention across the West Michigan tech community. In this role, Virginia leverages a background in inside sales, cross-team collaboration, and fundraising to strengthen industry connections and advance workforce development initiatives. Prior to working in workforce development, Virginia built experience in advanced manufacturing and custom automation, collaborating with both customers and internal teams to drive results and innovation.