GVSU names Boezaart as MAREC executive director

MUSKEGON, Mich. — Grand Valley State University has named T. Arnold (Arn) Boezaart as the second executive director of the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC). He has been serving as the interim executive director of MAREC since April. He officially assumes his position November 23.

Boezaart previously served as the vice president for Grant Programs for the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. In that role, he handled the project that put the wind energy turbine atop the Frauenthal Center in downtown Muskegon.

"Arn has a unique understanding of the needs of the Muskegon leadership and has demonstrated an ability to lead MAREC over the past six months as its interim director," said James Bachmeier, Grand Valley's vice president for finance and administration.

Boezaart said he wants to focus MAREC's attention on job creation in the emerging green economy.

"We are in the midst of the most difficult economic times most of us have ever known," Boezaart said. "With an emphasis on promoting renewable energy and advancing new and emerging technologies, a priority for MAREC will be to work with others to achieve economic development and job creation opportunities in the Muskegon area, Lakeshore and West Michigan region."

Under Boezaart's leadership, MAREC staff has been working actively with local and regional economic development forces to position West Michigan and greater Muskegon to take advantage of economic development and supply chain opportunities linked to the growing on-shore and developing off-shore wind industry.

Boezaart added that planning is also underway to electronically connect MAREC with Grand Valley's Allendale Campus so that data from the instrumentation at MAREC can be made available to researchers. A seminar for companies in West Michigan that are interested in diversifying their product lines to provide components for emerging technologies like wind energy, bio-mass and advanced lighting systems is also in the works.

About the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center
Located at 200 Viridian Drive in the Muskegon SmartZone, MAREC opened in 2003 with a mission to serve as a catalyst for economic development, a business accelerator and center for research, development and the commercialization of alternative and renewable energy technologies. MAREC is not only a business incubator and research and development center for alternative and renewable energy technologies, but also serves as a major demonstration project of those technologies. The MAREC facility is certified LEED Gold. MAREC includes 2,000 square-feet of open business incubator space and 2,000 square-feet of secure laboratory space. For more information contact MAREC at (616) 331-6905.

About Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University, established in 1960, is a four-year public university. It attracts more than 24,400 students with its high quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Grand Valley provides a fully accredited liberal undergraduate and graduate education and has campuses in Allendale, Grand Rapids and Holland, and centers in Muskegon and Traverse City. Grand Valley is a comprehensive university serving students from all 83 Michigan counties and dozens of other states and foreign countries. Grand Valley offers 77 undergraduate and 28 graduate degree programs. The university is dedicated to individual student achievement, going beyond the traditional classroom experience, with research opportunities and business partnerships. Grand Valley employs more than 1,700 people and is committed to providing a fair and equitable environment for the continued success of all.