Shorouq Almallah

Director for the Richard M. and Helen DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI)

Shorouq Almallah is an experienced higher education professional and ecosystem builder with over two decades of expertise. Serving as the Director of the Richard M. and Helen DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI) at Grand Valley State University, she boasts over 15 years of experience designing and coordinating entrepreneurial education programs in West Michigan. Her role involves creating a talent pipeline to nurture entrepreneurial skills and mindsets among students through expanded curriculum and co-curricular activities.

Shorouq is well-versed in launching and managing accelerators while leveraging the entrepreneurial ecosystem to provide resources and support for aspiring entrepreneurs. She has spearheaded numerous initiatives, fostering high-impact experiential opportunities to drive entrepreneurship and innovation, thus enhancing regional capability and capacity. 

Dedicated to her community, Shorouq actively participates on several boards and committees, receiving recognition for her work both locally and nationally. She is a lifelong learner who consistently seeks knowledge and new insights. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Linguistics, a Master of Information Science from Indiana University, and a Master of Business Administration from Grand Valley State University.

Michael Hyacinthe

MVE‐Lab Lead Instructor and Ambassador

Michael Hyacinthe, an 8-year United States Navy Veteran and U.S. Navy Seabee combat warfare specialist, boasts a rich military background that spans the globe, including deployments to Iceland, Guam, Europe, and the Middle East. His passion for entrepreneurship is evident through his commitment to social enterprises.

As the co-founder of Has Heart, Michael champions creative outlets for veterans. Additionally, he serves as the CEO and founder of Wimage, a children's media company dedicated to producing educational and entertaining content to facilitate learning.

Michael's role as the Executive Producer of the children's television show, "Wimee's Words," has garnered significant recognition. The show currently airs on PBS stations in Michigan and is soon to launch in New York City and LA PBS stations.

He firmly believes in the transformative power of creativity for veterans' healing and children's education. Michael's entrepreneurial journey has earned him national acclaim, including being named one of INC magazine's top 30 under 30 entrepreneurs and receiving recognition as a Lakeshore Innovator of the Year honoree.

Originally hailing from the Bronx, New York, Michael now calls Grand Rapids home, where he resides with his family. He is also a proud graduate of GVSU.

Tyler Way

Co. Facilitator and Communications Specialist

As a freshman at GVSU in 2005, Tyler started a custom sneaker and apparel brand from his dorm room. After graduating in 2009 with a B.S. in Advertising & Public Relations with a minor in Entrepreneurship, he continued his creative business with clients including LeBron James, Phil Knight, and others. In 2010, Tyler met fellow GVSU grad and U.S. Navy veteran Michael Hyacinthe for coffee and realized the need to connect their two worlds: military veterans and creatives. After more than a decade of pairing veterans with professional designers to share their stories through art and design, Tyler and Michael opened the HAS HEART Coffee Shop in downtown Grand Rapids at Veterans Memorial Park. From 2012-2017, Tyler was a Footwear Designer at Wolverine Worldwide before he and his wife launched a nomadic creative agency from their Airstream trailer, traveling across the country until they relocated to Grand Rapids in 2023.