This exclusive, year-long program offers a dynamic blend of experiences, education, and opportunities that are intended to foster a new generation of real estate industry leaders that are diverse in age, career experience, companies/brokerages, service specialties, geographic location, and gender. The class size is determined by the Candidate Review & Development Committee and is typically limited to 20 members per year.
Holly Belt
Lacey Bereza
Kyle Burns
Jordan Griffin
Lisa Groesser
Courtney Harding
David Jackson
Alicia Johnson
Judy LaSage
Paul Marantette
Tim Meduna
Melissa Perrine
Scott Rider
Melissa Selvig-Mantilla
Susan Shively
Mike Smallegan
Brandon Snellink
Leslie Stolz
Sara Suidinski
Michael V’Dovick
GRARLA Class of 2023 & Alumni Luncheon
Social/Networking Luncheon w/GRARLA Alumni and the Board of Directors. Following the luncheon, the Class of 2024 will participate in a getting-to-know you exercise. Held at Watermark Country Club.
Goal Setting Workshop
Instructed by Kevin Polakovich. Held at GRAR.
Team Building Workshop
Interactive Shark Tank-themed event where the participants will work in teams to solve an industry issue and then make their pitches to the sharks. Our judges/sharks will be the GRAR Officers (Paul Bunce, Scott West, Carrie Vos, and Lindy Tanis). Held at GRAR.
Legal & Legislative Advocacy Trip to Lansing
Bus trip to the Michigan REALTORS’ building in Lansing for a 2 hour legal update and a brief legislative update.
Leadership Workshop
Leadership Workshop with Valerie Garcia. Held at GRAR.
Observance of Board of Directors Meeting
Breakfast and observe the GRAR Board of Directors Business Meeting. Held at GRAR.
Happy Hour & Public Speaking Workshop
Happy Hour at Noco, 12:30 Workshop at GRAR
Con Ed Day at the MR Annual Convention
Bus trip to Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort for the day to attend the Michigan REALTORS® Convention & Expo.
Annual Broker’s Meeting & Economic Update
GRARLA will observe the Annual Broker’s Meeting at the Pinnacle Center, have lunch, and then receive an economic update from Dr. Beaulieu.
Panel Discussion & Luncheon
Panelists include: Lindsey Dykstra, Laura Featherston, Lisa Thomas, Paul Spica, Steve Stuckey, Mike VanderWoude. Held at Dave & Buster’s in Kentwood.
Installation & Awards Celebration
Attend GRAR’s Annual Installation & Awards Celebration to be recognized as a GRARLA graduate.
100% attendance is encouraged in order to successfully graduate the GRARLA program and to be recognized at the Annual Installation & Awards Celebration. However, we understand that participants might have a pre-planned trip or an unexpected event arise. Therefore, one absence may be approved administratively with no requirement for a make-up session. Any additional absences will require approval by the Candidate Review & Development Committee and a make-up session might be required.
If you are undecided if GRARLA is for you, please feel welcome to reach out to any one of our alumni members to ask about their experiences and the bonds that they have formed with classmates. Below is a roster (by year) of our graduates:
Class of 2023: Jamecia Adams, Manuel Avila, Dawn Bebout, Geoff Brown, Katrina Cole, Sally Daling, Duke Gray, Julie Grevengoed, Dan Harland, Ryan Hesche, Brian Hevelhurst, Courtney Kellogg, Shawn Kiphart, Kevin Kroondyk, Emily Maglothin-Clear, Amanda Rogers, Jared Schuitema, Jessica Smith, Amanda Stickney, and Julie Woltil.
Class of 2022: Ingrid Anastasiu, Jim Connell, Vickie Delands-Kochans, Tedros Fremichael, Jan Hawthorne, Alison Kinsman, Sarah Medina, Pamela Merriman, Lisa Newell, Julie O’Neill, Tanya Powell-May, Rick Rico, Brook Sharp, Paul Ten Eyck, Lisa Thomas, Adam Tolley, Tim Van Stensel, Deena Vroegindewey, and Madeline Witt.
Class of 2020 & 2021: Brittany Arraut, Shawn Beatty, Pete Bruinsma, John Dinehart, Erin Fester, Brooke Finlan, Charles Fisher, DeShawn Gholston, Curtis Gross, Maria Kauffman, Elizabeth Klopp, Kevin McCarty, Ryan Prichard, Gregg Teegardin, Megan Tefft, Kevin TerBeek, Lance Tiffany, Jordan Torrez, Alexandra Tremain, Brett Vredevoogd, Michael-Jay Williams, and Angela Worth.
Class of 2019: Jeannie Berger, Brandi Block, Jeff Czubak, Adam Fuller, Brandon Garnaat, Santiago Gomez, Kamie Jakeway, Laura Kelso, David Klein, Chasity Kopernik, Mitchell Luban, Kirsten Nairy, Charlie Peterson, Nicole Rinks, Shellie Silva, Cherie Smith, Tom Smolinski, Sarah Takens, Halley Vredenburg, and Scott West.
Class of 2018: Brenda Bolin, Lacey Connor, Ashley Dane, Sherlynn James, Antonio Holbrook, Rachel Major, Darryl Matthews, Kyle Naumann, Steve Robrahn, Kristin Ruther, Joshua Schaub, David Scheid, Rustin Scott, Brooke Krebill, Paul Spica, Steve Stuckey, Seth Vanderwey, Amy Jo Weller, Corrin Wiersema, and Andrea Zoet.
Class of 2017: Nick Adado, Maria Blackmer, Paul Bunce, Micah Childress, Adam Connor, Amanda DeLong, Laura Featherston, Will Friend, Becca Greenhoe, Teresa Hoffman, Chad Jurgens, Wendy Katerberg, Jessica Lemmon, Dan Moralez, Andrew Norden, Jordan Painter, Scott Sharda, Dan Steffee, Hank Steffes, Lindy Tanis, and Kyle Visser.
Class of 2016: Brett Beimers, Robert Brown, Alix Criswell, Mollie Dauser, Darren DeFever, Lindsey Dykstra, Michelle Gaudreau, Kendra Havemeier, Jason Jenkins, Jacob Lietaert, Cory Maguire, Melissa Mitchell, Scott Myhre, Joshua Nawrot, Patricia Round, Leslie Ruppel, Heather Rus, Brooke Sines, and Melissa Thompson.
Class of 2015: Connie Bennett, Brian Clinger, Michael Courtright, Charlene Hammontree, David Jackson, Tina Johnson, Dave Kiel, Diana Meyer, Bryant Mitchell, Zach Newhof, Amalia Nunez-Marin, Beau Otis, Jodi Rogers, Mallory Strotheide, Mike VanderWoude, Rachael Veldkamp, Sheri Volkhardt, Carrie Vos, and Laurie Zokoe.
Class of 2014: Jim Blehm, Yvette Blehm, Rory Byrne, Patrick Fase, Larissa Frody, Ron Hudson, Jim King, Beth Mans, Wyatt Martin, Cindy Nelson, Jayne Overbeck, Hanna Partlo, Tracie Rich, Susan Stoddard, Craig Stolsonburg, Lisa VanderLoo, Greg Williamson, and Wayne Wu.
Class of 2013: Melanie Abraham, Bev Boerman, Mark Brace, Robin Decker, Brian DeSmit, Diane Ebbers, Michelle Gordon, George Guyott, Jeanine Herlacher, Susan Kazma, Scot Kellogg, Melissa McDermott, Ingrid Nelson, Adam Paarlberg, Susan Pastoor, Linda Pell, Amy Reedy, Jessica Tucker, and Michelle VerMeulen.
GRAR Staff Contact: Pam VanLuven
