 Doug Lang - Founding Partner The Grand Rapids Technology Partnership was founded by Pilot, Brewer, Software Student and Entrepreneur - Douglas Lang in February 2010. "Grand Rapids is a place where you feel you can accomplish almost anything - if you put a little effort into it. I travel extensively for my current job and the vibe, excitement for the future, and the sensation of being able to start something new here in Grand Rapids is appetizing" Background:
I have a deep seated entrepreneurial spirit and have a desire to use that drive to start my own software and technology development firm here in Grand Rapids. While I am still getting back up to speed with software and the languages I will need to learn for my goals - I was looking for a place that contained a/the vision for technological development in the area. I found none. There are numerous individual people and groups pursuing their own technological course. I found no one place that encompasses and encourages the coming together of all the platforms, languages, and technologies to leverage them for the benefit of our area - Grand Rapids. That is why I've started the Grand Rapids Technology Partnership or GRTP. My goal is to try and unite an much of the technology community as possible under a single vision of turning Grand Rapids into a computing, media, wireless and Internet centric technologies mecca for our region. Will Hartwell - Partner  Will is a Grand Rapids attorney, tech/software enthusiast, and film geek, among other things. "I came to Grand Rapids to go to law school. I stayed in Grand Rapids because of the city and its people. With all the city has to offer - a diverse selection of food and entertainment options; a wonderful, walkable downtown; accessibility to West Michigan's abundant natural resources; and down-to-earth, genuinely friendly people - I can think of no better place to live." Background:
Among Will's passions are a desire to promote technology and a wish to contribute to the community - two of the factors that led to his career in Intellectual Property Law (patents, trademarks, and copyrights). It is these two passions that also led to Will's involvement in the Grand Rapids Technology Partnership and its all-ecompassing mission of fostering Grand Rapids into a technology hub city. By uniting local technology organizations and cultivating a tech-savvy culture here in Grand Rapids, Will believes that Grand Rapids can become a technology hotbed that attracts bright minds from around the globe. Will and his wife, Becky, are residents of the East Hills neighborhood in Grand Rapids. In his free time, Will enjoys watching movies (especially at the Wealthy Theatre, which is a mere two blocks from his house), following Cleveland sports (although Grand Rapids is his adopted home, he stubbornly continues to cheer on his Indians, Browns, and Cavs - despite the pain they cause him on a regular basis), and exploring new ways to technify his life - be it through developing custom Android applications or updating his living room with a home theater PC. We Can Use Your Help! We are looking for interested volunteers that can unite with us under this vision and help to craft the strategy to bring this vision to life. If you are a technology:
We can use your help! Please click on "Contact Us" to get involved in the technological future of our area. |
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