Downtown Market Welcomes New Board Members

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Downtown Market

The Grand Rapids Downtown Market, the region’s preeminent destination for innovative food experiences, today announced the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors. 

The new board members started their terms in January, working to advance the Market’s mission and vision, including connecting with the community and helping to cultivate and grow small businesses. Additions to the board include: Start Garden Co-Director Mike Morin, Fibrenew entrepreneur LaChaun A. Steverson, Paycor Regional Sales Director Hailey Van Andel. 

“Grand Rapids has no shortage of smart and passionate community leaders and we’re fortunate to welcome three outstanding individuals to our Board of Directors this year,” said Mimi Fritz, president and CEO of the Downtown Market. “These passionate and dedicated community leaders will help us advance our mission to offer dynamic food-centered experiences, education, and entrepreneurship opportunities dedicated to a healthier community and economy.” 

Downtown Market Board of Directors Additions: 

Mike Morin: Morin has spent the last decade working to make Grand Rapids a great place for anyone to launch a new business, working to form a cohesive blend of public/private platforms to reinvigorate a historic culture of entrepreneurship. A seasoned business strategist, Mike serves as Co-Director of Start Garden, a public/private facilitator of start-up initiatives in Grand Rapids. Simultaneously, Mike serves as Director of SeamlessIoT, a global, multi-industry proof-of-concept lab to accelerate start-up commercialization. 

LaChaun A. Steverson: Moving to West Michigan in 2007, Steverson spent ten years with Meijer where she moved up within the ranks to Senior Product Development Manager. She then took an opportunity to work at Wolverine Worldwide with the

Merrell brand. After working with big brands like Meijer and Wolverine Worldwide, Steverson decided to try her hand at entrepreneurship. In 2019, she bought into a service franchise, Fibrenew. Fibrenew Grand Rapids is a mobile service company that repairs and restores most types of leather, vinyl, and plastic items. Their products are eco-friendly and the restoration process keeps items with their owners and out of landfills. Steverson currently serves on the board of GROW and is on the Governance Committee for the Humane Society of West Michigan.

Hailey Van Andel: In her role as Regional Sales Director at Paycor, Van Andel oversees a team of sales executives across Michigan and Indiana to grow the Paycor brand. She is also responsible for the success of more than 2,000 clients in enhancing their footprint and developing relationships with key influencers in the HCM industry. In her free time, she likes to volunteer at the Michigan Humane Society and as a JBoard Ambassador for the Van Andel Institute.