Executive Team

Rich Cook, Venture Center Director. Rich Cook oversees the West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative's Venture Center and works directly with Initiative clients to provide connections to Virtual Company allies and other Venture Center tenants.

Cook joined the Initiative in 2007, after retiring from X-Rite as CEO in 2003. Having served as an "intrapreneur" since 1976, he came out of retirement to help regional entrepreneurs succeed. His industrial career includes three Michigan-based, global, technologically driven companies. He has supplied diverse markets including instrumentation, software, office furniture, transportation, aerospace, displays, computer peripherals, business machinery and solid waste disposal.

Cook's progressive experience with innovation includes 23 years in top management, 11 years of "intrepreneurial" start ups, and seven years of applied research in optics. He has international experience with joint ventures and acquisitions, and U.S. experience in seed venture capital.

Additionally, Cook taught at Hope College and Grand Valley State University. He served on the board of trustees at Aquinas College and was a volunteer business counselor for four years for the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center.

Contact Rich:
E-mail: cookri@gvsu.edu
Phone: 616 331 5857
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