Welcome, Summer 2021 New 20Fathoms Members!

Get to know our newest 20Fathoms members.

I am a volunteer and past chair for SCORE Detroit and run FranCHANGE LLC, which supports individuals seeking to own a franchise and Franchisors to streamline their processes and increase profitability and scale. I have spent the past 20 years in the franchising space working exclusively with many national brands such as ReBath, Neighborly service brands, Miracle Ear, and Invisible Fence Brand, along with Spavia Day Spa. Throughout my career, I’ve spearheaded business development teams to help increase sales, decrease overhead, and grow profit share. I utilizes metrics to assess and outline detrimental challenges, critical voids and opportunities that enhance culture, properly scale businesses, and increase profitability. I’m detail-oriented, so you’ll often find me digging into every aspect of the franchise business to help owners move the needle and bridge communication with corporate. My master’s degree focus was Operations Management from Stayer University under Jack Welch.

I’m spending the summer and early fall in the Traverse City area as I embark on a yearlong RV journey throughout the US and Alaska. I chose 20Fathoms because of the entrepreneurial focus and opportunity to share experiences and engage with likeminded individuals. The view of the bay was the final closer of the deal, along with the people and amenities within the membership and building.

When I’m not focused on businesses, I spend my free time with family, including my four daughters who range in age from 11 to 22. An avid outdoors lover, I love to explore the country through travel, cooking, kayaking, and hiking.

Circuitous. Previously: Military service; journalism; nonprofit management/ community development / ethical supply chains/ recycling programs. Today: ethical business consulting and managing Commonplace.

I’m so excited by all the exciting value 20F is generating for our community. From Arrowhead to HealthSpark. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of 20F?!

Confused by this question… there is an “outside of work?” Anything that allows my wife and me to A) volunteer, B) meet interesting people, and C) get outdoors, is right up our alley!

I just joined the Digital and Customer Experience team at Signet Jewelers as a CX Strategist. With seven years of experience in account management and events across high-value donor networks, non-profits, and media brands, I’ve developed a keen sense for anticipating needs in order to surprise and delight. I love using my curious spirit and knack for collaboration to separate the noise from the message to drive results.

I moved back in with my family amidst graduate school and the covid-19 pandemic. While I’m grateful to have the flexibility to work from home, I miss the energy that comes from sharing a dedicated, collaborative space with different people. I’m excited to fill that gap in a place like 20Fathoms!

I love drinking in the wild air with my hound dog, visiting friends across the country, Pilates, and catching the latest horror movie.

I have been working in the traditional financial services and investment management industry for most of my career. I’ve held roles ranging from sales for a large publicly traded asset manager to a local Private Bank team with a regional bank. I recently had the opportunity to join a fintech company called Betterment in a Client Success Manager role. Betterment is one of the first investment and savings app startups and has since grown into all kinds of offerings from banking to 401(k) plans. I am working with the Betterment for Business product where we are focused on growing a lower cost, more transparent 401(k) offering for startup and small business clients that want to help employees focus on financial wellness. 

As I was shifting into a fully remote role for a company based in NYC, I wanted to make sure I had an environment that included a sense of community and connection and could offer some structure to my workday when needed. Being newer to a tech company I am also hoping to make some local connections in that area. 

I am a partner to Gretchen, a dad to two kids, and an outdoor enthusiast. Access to all the outdoor activities that this area has to offer was a big draw for us in relocating from Denver to TC. Love to mountain bike, ski, SUP, fish, and explore all the area beaches. Getting my kids outside is also the closest thing I have found to a cheat code for parenting so whatever I can get them into!

My professional background has been in the medical field for almost 30 years. I transcribed medical records, became a medical assistant, insurance physical examiner, and lastly/currently a radiologic technologist.

What brought me to 20Fathoms started with the wonderful opportunity Arrowhead Incubator gave me: the ability to achieve my 20-plus-year-dream of starting my own company, Chippewa Creations. With the help of Gaia, Shiloh and Kyle (Arrowhead Incubator leaders), I was able to jump that hurdle of hesitation, burying any doubts, gain the confidence and absorb the knowledge they, as a business startup nonprofit, offer to future entrepreneurs. Without them Chippewa Creations would still be a pipe dream.  My business specializes in authentically handmade Native American dream catcher greeting cards, hanging dream catchers, decorative wreaths, Native ornaments, and more.  Every creation is one-of-a-kind and each holds the Indigenous flare that it represents. I’m going to take this experience at 20Fathoms to expand Chippewa Creations with the technology, monthly news, opportunities, resources, and, of course, any “social” gatherings! 

Outside of radiology, I enjoy spending time with family and friends.  My daughter, Reagan (a junior) and son, Drake (a sophomore), both attend Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business.  In our spare time you can always find us golfing, boating or just relaxing in South Haven with my mother, Nancy Kenwabikise-Harris, in Grosse Pointe, or Northern Michigan.

My educational background is in operations research from “the” Ohio State University. After school I worked for a healthcare big data startup called Explorys, which was later acquired by IBM.  Today my focus is trying to solve difficult problems in healthcare via the intersection of technology, data, and math.

My wife and I moved to the area around Thanksgiving last year from Cleveland.  I joined 20Fathoms to meet people in the technology space in Traverse City and to find some opportunities to get involved in the tech community up here.

I’m really enjoying cycling, water sports and beach volleyball in the area so far.  I’m also a big foodie and cocktail person so very interested in recommendations and trading recipes!

My professional background has been quite the road trip–with several detours! After 10 years in the Army I attended Le Cordon Bleu in Miami, Florida, landing a Sous Chef position for a few years with a catering company back in Grand Rapids. After developing a severe case of carpal tunnel, I fell back into procurement with the Gun Lake Tribe, where I stayed for 6 years before deciding to return back to school. 

While enrolled with GVSU I simultaneously embarked on my financial literacy journey with New Mexico Community Capital, where I found my calling. This led me to Arrowhead Incubator, ultimately inspiring me to join the 20Fathoms community. 

When I am not networking in and out of the Native community you can find me on or near the water. I like to kayak, hike, travel, and play trivia with friends and family.

I’ve spent the last 8 years, post MBA, working as a Growth, Brand, and Innovation Strategy Consultant – first at a large firm in Chicago and then at GrowthWorks in Ann Arbor, where I am currently a Principal responsible for leading client projects and the firm’s team of consultants. I joined GrowthWorks in 2015 and have helped develop the firm’s overall brand and offering. I am a Professional Futurist and am called upon by clients across Apparel, Automotive, Food and Bev, Consumer Tech & Durables, and Aviation to enable those clients to create positive disruption and business growth in their relevant ecosystems. Pre-MBA, I learned the the business “ropes” with Johnson & Johnson, where my roles crossed Operations & Supply Chain, Marketing, and Strategy.

As many studies have proven in life in general, community = happiness. Because my professional world is such a big part of my life, I seek out professional communities in all the places and spaces I reside. I have always found tremendous benefit in being connected at a local level to professional happenings. Plus, I desperately needed a quiet (child-free) space with good internet to do my job.

I love exploring ALL things outdoor in the area. From rock hunting at Peterson Park, to long family days at Good Harbor, to sunsets at Farm Club, to work on our shared farm in Leelenau County – I live to spend time outside (when not working inside).