Kelly Wandel first fell in love with West Michigan as a college student at
Grand Valley State University. Captivated by the beaches, trails, and vibrant community life, she chose not to return to her hometown of Saginaw for summer breaks and never left this region.
Now, more than two decades later, she is raising her own family here and working to help others find the same sense of belonging and opportunity that drew her in.
“I loved it here right away,” says Wandel. “I knew early on this was where I wanted to build my life.”
That deep personal connection to place is at the heart of her new role as director of talent initiatives at
Lakeshore Advantage. The appointment is a significant step in the regional economic development group’s five-year plan,
Powering Our Future, which prioritizes talent development and retention as essential to business growth across Ottawa and Allegan counties
Comes from higher education
Wandel brings 19 years of experience in workforce development and higher education leadership. Most recently, she was the strategic partnership manager at Davenport University, where she helped build programs that responded to employer needs through collaboration with health care systems, community colleges, and businesses.
At Davenport, she also coached women’s basketball and served in various student support roles.
“That experience helped shape how I approach leadership,” says Wandel, who played basketball at Grand Valley State University from 2000 to 2004. “Whether it was in the classroom, on the court, or in the workplace, it was about helping people reach their potential and find their next step.”
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Shandra MartinezKelly Wandel at Lakeshore Advantage
At Lakeshore Advantage, Wandel’s role will center on strategies to attract and keep young workers in high-demand sectors such as skilled trades, industrial technology, engineering, and information technology. The work begins with understanding why young professionals are choosing to stay in or leave the Lakeshore region.
“We know we have an aging workforce,” Wandel says. “That is already a challenge. So we are focused on emerging workers, those just starting to build careers and families. If they put down roots, they are more likely to stay. We want to make that easier.”
Wandel is launching an advisory board made up of young professionals and early career workers to help interpret data from the organization’s 2024 Emerging Workforce Survey. The goal is to translate the numbers into action by hearing directly from those affected.
“What are their barriers?” Wandel says. “Is it housing, is it child care, is it a lack of advancement opportunities? We heard all of those things in the survey. But we also hear from employers who say, ‘We have those opportunities.’ So the question becomes: how do we connect the dots?
“It is not going to be one person who solves this,” she says. “It will be a collaborative effort with educators, employers, community partners, all of us working together.”
Creating connection
In addition to her work at Lakeshore Advantage, she was just named the coach of the girls varsity basketball team at West Ottawa High School. She has two teen daughters and her husband, Bob Wandel, is the Education Network Director at the Outdoor Discovery Center. Together, they have helped lead summer learning programs that get kids outside and engaged in hands-on learning.
“Honestly, it all connects,” she says. “Whether it is coaching or working with young kids or leading talent strategy, it is about helping people feel connected to this place. That is what keeps people here.”
Her own story mirrors that vision.
“I came here for college, met my husband, and I never looked back,” she says. “Even during the summers, I stayed in West Michigan. It just felt right.”
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Shandra MartinezKelly Wandel talks to Grace Maiullo at Lakeshore Advantage.
Wandel says West Michigan’s access to nature, recreational opportunities, and community spirit make it an ideal place to live and work. Beyond the scenery, she believes the region’s strength lies in its potential to grow supportive career pathways, especially for young people.
“We need to show them there is a future here, not just a first job,” Wandel says. “They need to see a life path, a career path.”
‘Essential’ effort
That long-term view is a key part of the Powering Our Future strategy. Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage, says Wandel’s addition to the organization’s team is a timely and strategic investment in the region’s workforce.
“Kelly’s depth of experience and passion for developing talent ecosystems will be a tremendous asset to our organization and region,” Owens says. “As we implement the plan, her leadership will help drive initiatives that support our current and future workforce.”
That workforce need is well documented. For the past eight years, talent availability has consistently ranked as the top barrier to business growth in Lakeshore Advantage’s annual surveys of more than 120 regional executives.
“Kelly’s work is not just timely, it is essential,” says Grace Maiullo, director of communications at Lakeshore Advantage. “Her role will connect data with action, and people with opportunity.”
Wandel agrees. “If we can understand what young workers need, if we can listen and respond, we will build a stronger, more resilient economy and a community people are proud to call home,” she says.
For her, the work is both professional and personal.
“I want my kids to grow up in a place where they see opportunities,” she says. “And I want other families to feel that same sense of possibility.”