GRWebDev: Grand Rapids Web Development Group

PARKING
Paid parking is available at the parking ramp on the corner of Pearl and Ionia. Street parking pricing and hours vary depending on location; details can be found on the City of Grand Rapids website.

DESCRIPTION
For many, 2024 was a bit of a whirlwind as we witnessed significant shifts in everything from our toolsets and libraries to the very infrastructure we use to build digital products. We can all agree that we live in unprecedented times… but what does this all mean for those who use our products and those who build them?

Join us Monday November 25th at 6pm for a lively discussion as we tackle everything from the job market to the impact of AI on our industry. What’s hot? What’s not? What questions and concerns are on your mind? Let’s unpack 2024 and prepare for the future at our annual year end review.

OUR PANEL
Andrew Salata has inhabited the technical talent acquisition consulting space for the past 11+ years working directly with both clients and candidates. Today, he is a National Account Manager at Otterbase, a staffing consulting firm with offices across the Midwest including Chicago, Minneapolis, Columbus, Detroit, and Grand Rapids. Outside of the office, Andrew is a proud father, outdoor enthusiast, and connoisseur of local coffee shops and bookstores.

Stacey Harper is a Senior Developer at LaFleur Marketing with over a decade of experience delivering customized web solutions for a wide range of industries. Skilled across multiple platforms and programming languages, she leverages her design background to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders, fostering smoother project workflows and stronger team dynamics while also supporting project technical integrity and client understanding.

As the Senior Vice President of Talent and Diversity at The Right Place, Tarita Johnson helps drive regional economic growth through a commitment to excellence, equity, and innovation. Prior to joining The Right Place in October 2021, TaRita served as Director of the Career Center at Calvin University, Talent Acquisition Manager for corporate recruiting at Meijer, and Vice President of College and University Relations at KeyBank. With a focus on cultural intelligence and systematic change, TaRita’s work at The Right Place sets the standard for talent management and organizational diversity while creating inclusive cultures and retaining top talent.

Justin Gauthier is a Lead Developer at Brightly, an experience design and digital transformation company focused on turning complex business challenges into elegant, simple software. As Lead Developer, he guides development teams through difficult build challenges and assists with complex tasks. Justin's educational background is in graphic design, which he studied at the College of Business at Ferris State. He lives in Traverse City, where he enjoys backpack camping, hiking, gaming, working on personal coding projects, and being close to his family.

SPONSORS
This month’s meetup is sponsored by West Michigan Tech Talent. West Michigan Tech Talent connects local employers, educators, community organizations, and workforce experts who are invested in creating a strong tech workforce. By sharing best practices, leveraging resources, and collaborating on innovative solutions, WMTT is actively addressing the tech talent gap and makes upskilling affordable and accessible. Learn more at westmichigantechtalent.com.

GRWebDev is also sponsored by Start Garden. Empowering West Michigan's startup ecosystem through financial, intellectual & social capital, Start Garden provides a neighborhood for startups to grow. No matter where you are on your journey - whether you’re an entrepreneur, a startup, or simply a dreamer with a great idea - the Start Garden ecosystem provides a strong community of support to help you get your idea off the ground or move your business to the next level. Learn more at startgarden.com.

GRWebDev's title sponsor is LaFleur Marketing. LaFleur is your forward-thinking digital marketing partner, creating innovative, data-driven marketing strategies and assets for law firms, healthcare organizations, and growing businesses. Learn more about their services on the web at lafleur.marketing.

SCHEDULE

• 6:00pm - 6:30pm … Refreshments and Networking
• 6:30pm … Opening Announcements + Panel Discussion
• 7:30pm … Q&A + Closing Announcements
• 8:00pm … Event Ends