Past Venderbush Leadership Reception Speakers

1999 - 2000
George K. Heartwell, Jr.
City Comissioner, Grand Rapids, MI

Juan R. Olivarez
President, Grand Rapids Community College

Diana Seger
Executive Director, Grand Rapids Foundation

2000 - 2001
Candace Cowling
Executive Director, Child & Family Resource Center

Dirk Koning
Executive Director, Grand Rapids Community Media Center

Patricia Newby
Superintendent, Grand Rapids Public Schools

2001 - 2002
Edward Cardenas
Reporter, The Detroit News

Penny Klein Swanson
Senior Vice President, Edison Schools

Dorothy A. Johnson
President, Ahlburg Company

2002 - 2003
Chris Barbee, Director of Alumni Relations
Grand Valley State University

Joel J. Orosz
Distinguished Professor of Philanthropic Studies, Grand Valley State University

2003 - 2004
Rev. George K. Heartwell, Grand Rapids, Mayor-elect

Emily Aleman
Executive Director of the Hispanic Center of West Michigan

2004 - 2005
Dr. Nanette Reynolds
Senior Advisor to the GVSU President, Grand Valley State University

Memorial of LeLande D. Bond, Bond Family

2005-2006
Tony Baker
Vice President, Synergis Technologies Group

Deborah Clanton
Magistrate for 62nd District Court (Kentwood)

2006-2007
Kristin Linscott
DeVos Children's Hospital Children's Miracle Network

Jason Paulateer
Vice President, National City Bank of the Midwest
Executive Director, Community Development Association of Michigan

2007-2008
David Harris
Clinical Director of Inpatient and Outpatient Physical Therapy Services at Dwight Orthopedic Rehabilitation Company

2008-2009
April Robles
Director, Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Leadership at Miami of Ohio

Angie Barksdale
Program Supervisor, Ottawa County Michigan Works

2009-2010
Stevan Veldkamp
Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Activities, Indiana University