TechnologyNEXT Event - Tech Week Grand Rapids Michigan

TechnologyNEXT Event In Collaboration with The Technology Council of West Michigan (Right Place)
 

In today’s fast-moving digital world, innovation is more than a strategy—it’s a mindset. But what happens when we pair cutting-edge technology with deep human intentionality?

Join us for a compelling morning conversation that goes beyond the buzzwords and into the heart of what it means to lead transformative change. Our keynote speaker, Sharon Gillenwater, founder of Scaling to Soul, will set the stage with insights on how leaders can harness both innovation and inner clarity to drive impact.

Following the keynote, a powerhouse panel featuring leaders from healthcare, retail, and entrepreneurship—including Kristen Williams of Meijer, Cynthia Wagehofer, of Cherry Health, and Sharon Gillenwater—will explore how their organizations are navigating the future of tech with purpose. Moderated by Steph Eckley of Trinity Health, this session will blend practical insights with personal leadership journeys, offering inspiration for anyone seeking to lead with both vision and values.

Whether you're building the next big thing or guiding a team through change, this event will spark ideas and connect you with others who believe in innovation with soul.le options

Sharon K. Gillenwater

Sharon built and sold Boardroom Insiders for $25M after bootstrapping it for 14 years. She's now an author, speaker, and advisor to founders, known for her transparent, no-BS approach to entrepreneurship. Her newsletter "Scaling With Soul" and TikTok content reach thousands of entrepreneurs weekly with practical advice on building valuable companies without losing your humanity along the way.

Kristen Williams is the Group Vice President and Chief Technology officer at Meijer, a privately-owned and family-operated Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates  300 supercenters, Market Format, Meijer Grocery and Express locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.

With more than 20 years of experience, Kristen is responsible for overseeing the technology development and strategy for the Midwest retailer.  Kristen and the entire technology team at Meijer are committed to keeping the customer and team member at the center of everything they do to live out the company’s purpose: To enrich lives in the communities we serve. Kristen joined Meijer in 2019 as the Vice President of Customer and Digital Technology. Prior to Meijer, she held technology leadership and strategy roles with at Walmart.  Kristen is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a BS in Computer Systems Engineering and holds an MS in Leadership and Ethics from John Brown University. She serves on the Board of Directors at Ronald McDonald House of West Michigan and The Pi Academy, an organization focused empowering underrepresented youth to pursue careers in technology.

Moderator

Steph Eckly

As the Enterprise IT Strategy and Planning Director at Trinity Health, Steph oversees the IT Business, Project, and M&A Management Offices, ensuring alignment with the organization's strategic goals. With a deep understanding of both clinical and IT operations, she excels at building high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, and implementing technology solutions that improve patient care and business outcomes.

Prior to her current role, Steph served as CIO for Trinity Health Michigan, where she successfully led the organization through significant IT transformations. Her experience as a clinical manager provides a unique perspective that enables her to bridge the gap between clinical needs and technology solutions.

Steph lives in East Grand Rapids with her husband John, son Willson and dog Obi-Wan while their oldest son, Abram, resides in East Lansing attending Michigan State University. GO GREEN!

TechnologyNEXT connects like-minded leaders across the career spectrum to help enable success through relationship building and shared experiences. And in doing so, we elevate women to deliver business outcomes through technology.

This group is led by committee members who plan out all activities under the West Michigan TechnologyNEXT group.

Parking:

The best place for guests to park is in P3N or P35. They will enter the building at CHP Building A.

Committee Members:
Steph Eckley eckleysl@trinity-health.org
Tania  Bethea Tania.Bethea@corewellhealth.org
Quinn Marco quinn.marco@cdw.com
Charity Bennett cbenne22@hfhs.org
Stacey Clark Stacey_Clark@vfc.com
Shannon Zonca shannon_zonca@millerknoll.com
Sarah Hendrixson Sarah.Hendrixson@Amway.com

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