Our Story

Three Business Owners. One Shared Purpose.

West Michigan Business Events began with something the three of us had in common: we knew what it was like to build a business from the ground up.

As business owners, Tyler Strohschein, Melissa Brower, and Chad Vanderstelt understood the excitement of getting started—and the challenges that follow. Finding customers. Getting your name out there. Making connections. Wearing every hat, stretching every dollar, and figuring things out as you go.

We also knew there were other people across West Michigan facing those same challenges. People with talent, determination, and a dream who could benefit from guidance, encouragement, and a community willing to help them succeed.

We wanted to create the kinds of opportunities we would have valued when we were starting out.

That shared purpose became West Michigan Business Events.

Our mission is to help small businesses compete and thrive by bringing people together for high-quality events that offer practical education, meaningful connections, and opportunities to get noticed. We want to put business owners in the room with people they can learn from, collaborate with, and turn to as they grow.

Each of us brings our own experience, perspective, and relationships to this effort. What brings us together is the belief that success is something we can help one another achieve. A conversation can lead to a customer. An introduction can become a partnership. One useful idea can change the direction of a business.

Through events like Business Blitz 2027, we are putting that belief into action—creating a place where entrepreneurs can share what they know, learn what they need, and build relationships that last beyond the event.

We remember what it feels like to be the person trying to get a business off the ground. That person is at the heart of why we started—and who we want to help.

We’re Tyler, Melissa, and Chad. We’re business owners, just like you. And we’re building West Michigan Business Events to help more businesses find their footing, find their people, and thrive.