GRAND RAPIDS ? It?s official. Open Systems Technologies (OST) Chief Operating Officer Meredith Bronk has been promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer on April 1. The announcement was made Monday by founding CEO Dan Behm, who is retiring.
Bronk assumes the top job at the $100 million plus revenue company one years after getting promoted to COO and President in April 2014. She had been groomed for the CEO post since 2009 when she was named COO. Bronk has been with the company since 1998.
Behm?s last day as CEO will be March 31, 2015 although he will remain a shareholder and continue to serve on OST?s board of directors.
?We take succession planning very seriously and have been preparing for this transition for nearly eight years,? said Dan Behm in April 2014 referring to Bronk?s promotion to President. ?I am extremely pleased to have Meredith lead OST. Over the course of Meredith?s time at OST, she has held positions with increasing responsibilities. Her diverse experience has created a unique combination of financial and interpersonal skills. Meredith?s servant attitude and commitment to the success of others is an excellent representation of OST?s dedication to its employees and customers.?
In retirement, Behm intends to stay active in the business community by mentoring professionals, both through his role as a mentor with Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring and through private connections. Most of all, he is looking forward to partnering with his son, Kyle, on their new real estate and investment business. Retirement will also allow Behm to spend more time with his wife, visiting children and grandchildren, traveling, writing and attending his beloved Michigan State University sporting events.
Behm had been President and CEO of OST since he and Jim VanderMey (Chief Innovation Officer) started the company in January 1997. OST began as a $5 million hardware sales company that depended heavily on one partner. Along with their team, Behm, Bronk and VanderMey diversified OST, transforming it into a $150 million leader in the industry. Today OST is an information technology company, with an award winning culture, driven by professional services.
In January of this year, OST opened a Chicago office, the firm?s 6th overall location. Aside from its Grand Rapids headquarters, OST operates in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan, Minneapolis, Minnesota and London, England.
