West Mi MBA Alumni Network

We are excited to have our second member on our Board of Trustees, Mary Coffee, MBA join our team! An accomplished serial entrepreneur, boasts over three decades of expertise in high-tech sectors, including digital security, telecommunications, information technology, healthcare, retail, telematics, and aviation. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Mary received the inaugural Dallas Business Journal’s North Texas Top 25 Women in Technology Award! As a co-founder of VIXXI Solutions, Mary played a pivotal role in securing $27 million in funding for the mission to provide nationwide E911 services to telecom service providers. This encompassed nomadic, mobile, and static applications with IP-based, wireline voice service, voice applications for call center services.  In 2009, VIXXI Solutions was acquired by Dash, which, in turn, was acquired by Bandwidth.com in 2011—a company then ranked as the 4th Fastest Growing Privately Held Company in the U.S. Beyond her #entrepreneurial endeavors, Mary actively engages in volunteer work. She currently serves as a mentor on the SMU Associate Board and contributes to the Prison Entrepreneurship Program. Mary holds an MBA from Texas McCombs School of Business, a BS from the The University of Texas at Dallas, and a Post Graduate Degree Certificate in #AI / #MachineLearning (2024) from the Texas McCombs School of Business from the The University of Texas at Austin

Excited to have Rick Warren join our Board of Trustees! Rick, a devoted follower of Jesus, is a strategic leader and accomplished businessman. Armed with a B.S. in #Finance from Michigan State University, he launched his career at Ernst & Ernst (now Ernst & Young), later founding Warren, Henderson & Co., P.C., a CPA firm specializing in tax and management consulting. Throughout the 1980s, Rick excelled as a real estate developer, spearheading over 40 major projects in the Midwest. In 1994, he assumed leadership of Weldaloy Specialty Forgings, a global provider of metal forgings serving industries such as aerospace and oil and gas. As Chairman & CEO of Warren Strategies, a private equity firm in Michigan, Rick provides strategic, management, and marketing services to middle-market companies in the #GreatLakes Region. Chair of Moody Bible Institute, beyond his business ventures, Rick's true passions lie in people and the gospel. Actively involved in ministries and nonprofits supporting education nationwide, he, along with his wife Sara, nurtures a family that includes two adult daughters and one grandson. Amidst his pursuits, Rick finds joy in reading, family visits, lakeside moments by Lake Michigan, and cheering for Michigan State University - Eli Broad College of Business Spartans.

I extend my sincerest gratitude for your being the very first to believe in West Mi MBA Alumni Network's mission from day one! Thank you. Your unwavering support steers us through the Grandest of Rapids, toward a future defined by excellence, camaraderie, and shared success. At the heart of our vibrant community are accomplished professionals like yourself, who have successfully navigated the challenges of business across diverse environments. Rooted in growing a thriving West Michigan, our dynamic network is committed to fostering continuous learning, professional growth, and collaborative success for all. Our Network is not just a community; it is a Grand Haven for innovation, mentorship, business collaboration, career management, and succession planning. Through a myriad of events, including networking mixers, industry-specific workshops, and thought leadership discussions, we aim to empower our members to excel in their careers and contribute meaningfully to the growing landscape, designing our home to be a place worth hosting and staying in. As we prepare to launch, please ask to be added to the waitlist, to be at the forefront of this exciting journey. The West Mi MBA Alumni Network is your gateway to a thriving community where ideas flourish, opportunities abound, and the legacy of excellence continues to shape the future of West Michigan Business. Thank you for being the pioneer who is helping us grow, Rick Sadler, Rick Warren, Reed Swift, Anedra R. Eatman, MSM, Dinorah Caro Livingston, Lori L. Chevalier, Grace VanDenBrink, Bill McKendry, Julie VanderZwaag, MBA It would be deeply appreciated for any effort you make to continue planting seeds in anticipation for launch. With deep gratitude. Elizabeth Graham, MBA Founder & President West Mi MBA Alumni Network is excited to announce the upcoming launch of this new nonprofit! #GrowingUpWestMichiganTogether

Learn more at WestMichiganBusiness dot org