LANSING ? Ray DeWinkle, who was a fixture for nearly two decades at The Right Place economic development program in Grand Rapids, and left to become CEO of GreaterFindlayInc, has returned to Michigan, this time as senior vice president of Global Business Development for the Lansing Economic Area Partnership.
More specifically, DeWinkle leads business development, attraction, retention and expansion for Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties. He took his new job on June 1.
“It was time to come home,” DeWinkle said.
DeWinkle earned a Bachelor?s Degree in Business Administration (with a major in Finance) from Grand Valley State University in West Michigan.
Now he’s doing “fundamental blocking and tackling for economic development” in greater Lansing. “We’re looking at opportunities globally and for our businesses to expand.”
One of his primary tasks is working in the Greater Lansing Next project. Some seven initiatives that take a look-see at what the three-county region will be in 2020. DeWinkle overseas two of these initiatives ? expanding business acceleration and attraction efforts, as well as expanding entrepreneurship and innovation services.
“We’re trying to figure out how to harness innovation in the region and how to support entrepreneurs,” he said.
In Findlay, DeWinkle headed up the Chamber of Commerce, economic development and the visitors’ bureau. He was vice president of business development at The Right Place program in Grand Rapids, Director of the Small Business Development Center and an Economic Development Consultant. He left the Right Place in October 2008 to take the job in that state south of Michigan.
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