Our Partners

Randy Olinger, Chief Operating Officer Randy Olinger has recently joined the ranks as a Whittaker Associate having spent the prior 25 years serving both technical and managerial roles in several successful high-technology, small-business ventures in the Lansing and Grand Rapids, Michigan areas. An academic background in biochemistry, combined with product development experience in scientific instrumentation, analytical/diagnostic systems, medical devices, automotive test equipment, micro- and nanotechnologies, Randy adds some unique elements to the current capabilities of the Whittaker staff. In a rapidly changing economy that is increasingly focused on technology and knowledge-based businesses, his experience will help WA develop innovative tools for targeting and collecting key intelligence within these important industry segments for the purpose of generating new insights related to predicting corporate behavior.

Randy hopes to merge his efforts with existing staff working the business while also supporting Dean in the task of working on the business to continually improve the WA product and to bring valuable new services to our clients.

A product of Manchester College and Michigan State University, Randy also holds a commercial pilot’s license and is an avid sailor. His wife, Kathy, is a healthcare professional in the Holland, MI area; his son and daughter are currently pursuing post-graduate studies, having undergraduate degrees in biotechnology and biochemistry, respectively. Golf, guitar, and grandkids help to fill any gaps in his schedule!

Todd Smithee, Conrin, Inc., President (Strategic Partner) Todd Smithee is the president and founder of Conrin, Inc., located in Cascade, MI. His company was founded to deliver successful strategies and services that address people, process, and technology issues that surround lead and opportunity management. Conrin delivers these services by providing professional services that focus on these areas, including:

  • Lead management strategy consulting
  • Sales and marketing process analysis and maximization
  • CRM consulting and implementation
  • Premium B2B telemarketing services

Conrin is one of the few partners that integrates CRM consulting with outsourced, high-quality, B2B telemarketing services. The result is a partner capable of delivering both the technology and human resource requirements required to deliver qualified leads in real-time to sales and distribution networks.

Conrin’s clients represent a wide range of industries including: technology, manufacturing, construction, economic development organizations, and general service industries. Clients range in size from professional service organizations to Fortune 500 corporations.

Prior to founding Conrin, Todd Smithee held executive level positions at several venture-funded technology companies, including InteliTouch.com, XO Communications, and US Xchange. Todd holds an MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a degree in marketing from Michigan State University. Todd lives in Lowell, MI, with his wife Julie and two elementary-age children.

Conrin, Inc.
www.conrin.com

Mark James, CEcD, ED Solutions, Inc. (Strategic Partner) Mark J. James is the Principal and founder of ED Solutions, Inc, a firm dedicated to helping economic development organizations with the effective use of technology. ED Solutions, Inc. offers web site reviews, Web site redesign advisory services, training services, consulting and value added products to the economic development profession. Mark is a reseller of a variety of technology tools for the profession, data sets, contact management solutions and ED web tools. Mark is also a founder of Development Results, LLC, a leading firm in the provision of economic development web site metrics.

Mark’s has a client list of over 50 organizations and companies. As a leading trainer to the profession, last year alone, Mark instructed over 3000 ED practitioners on the use of technology. He has also served as an advisor on the development or redesign of some of the most effective economic development web sites in the profession including those for the British Midlands, Nashville, TVA, Philadelphia, the States of, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts and Washington, Team New England and dozens of local and regional economic development web sites. Please visit our portfolio at www.solutionsed.com/portfolio.

Prior to starting ED Solutions, Inc. in Mark was director of economic development for American Electric Power (AEP), managing a staff of 48 and an $18 million budget. AEP is one of the largest investor-owned electric utility companies in the United States, serving portions of 11 states, from Michigan to Texas.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Edinboro State University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science degree from Oregon State University in Corvallis. He also is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Graduate School of Business Executive Program.

Mark is an avid runner and multi-sport enthusiast and the proud parent of two great kids, aged 19 and 23.

ED Solutions, Inc.
www.solutionsed.com