Jody Vanderwel
Chair
Biography
Since 2020, Jody Vanderwel has served as a managing partner at Michigan Capital Network, a firm that provides early-stage investment guidance, entrepreneurial support, and portfolio oversight involving four venture capital funds and five regional angel investing groups. Prior to that, she served as president of Grand Angels, a Grand Rapids-based angel investing organization. Before entering the angel investing industry, Jody had a 16-year career at Herman Miller where she served as both corporate counsel to the firm, and later as vice president of corporate giving. She also previously served as stewardship program manager at Calvin College.
Jody has devoted the last 20 years of her professional life to helping entrepreneurs develop and launch their innovative ideas into the marketplace through advice, networking, and early-stage investing. She is widely regarded as one of the founders of the angel investing movement in Michigan. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Michigan Venture Capital Association in 2018.
Jody currently serves on the boards of the Plymouth Growth Partners Fund III, Invest Michigan, Northern Trust West Michigan, Baker Publishing, and Fuller Theological Seminary. She previously served on the boards of the Michigan Venture Capital Association and the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Education Description
Jody holds a B.A. degree from the University of Colorado and a J.D. degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She and her husband Dave live in Holland, MI.