Builders Exchange of Michigan 2007 Eastcastle Dr SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508 616 949 8650 www grbx com
CONTENT & PROJECT SUPERVISION
Katie Hawley Business Manager
Builders Exchange of Michigan
DESIGN
Courtney Howe
The Yellow Umbrella Creative
AD SALES
Cheryl Rose Member Services Manager Builders Exchange of Michigan
The Source Quarterly (TSQ) is published for the benefit of the visiting public and members of the Builders Exchange of Michigan While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within this document, no responsibility will be assumed by Builders Exchange of Michigan, or any of its partners, for errors or omissions No warranties are made regarding the information contained herein Endorsement, views, and opinions in advertisements is not binding All of the information furnished herein is subject to change without notice All rights reserved No portion of this document may be reproduced without prior written consent
8 Meet the Team: BX Employee Highlights
10 Leveling Up Your Estimating BX Member Discount from ASPE
2025 BX BOARD OF DIRECTORS
KEN JANSEN, Board President Lake Michigan Insurance Agency
JODI VAN HAREN, Board Vice President Advantage Mechanical Refrigeration
MARK LAUTENBACH, Board Treasurer VBA CPAs
GLENN RAHN, Director Retail Design Consultants
DAVE MOORE, Director Grand Rapids Gravel
CARRIE WILSON, Director Freedom Construction
ELGIN CLARK, Director AbsolutAire Inc
DON TUCKER, Director Standard Lumber / Standard Kitchen
BRUCE COURTADE, Director Rhoades McKee PC
DAN OOSTERINK, Past President Dave Cole Decorators
CHRISTIAN ANTONINI
Executive Vice President Builders Exchange of Michigan
www
UPCOMING BX EVENTS
Planning an Event?
The NEW! BX ConferenceRoom (locatedat2007Eastcastle Dr.SE,GrandRapids,MI 49508) isavailableto rentforBXMembers!
Learn the latest updates and best practices for filing, managing, and enforcing construction liens to protect your right to payment
Registration coming soon!
January
BX Member Legal Series: Surety Bonds
Get an overview of surety bond requirements, updates, and strategies to ensure compliance and reduce project risk 08
Registration coming soon!
February
mber Legal Series: BD
y, Rhoades McKee will ic so relevant to n law, they haven't decided Keep an eye out in 2026 for on this course
ion + date coming soon!
BX Events Recap
The 2025 BX Golf Outing and Sporting Shootout brought members together for friendly competition, networking, and giving back to support Construction Allies in Action and the West Michigan Construction Institute
ON YOUR RADAR Project Watch with Becky Colón
Becky has been with the Builders Exchange of Michigan as a Construction News Reporter since 2010. She enjoys finding out about projects in the early planning stages and building relationships with project owners, architects, and engineers.
Construction is slated to begin in April on this $2.75 to $3 million development. The three-story former hotel will be completely renovated inside, while keeping the first floor as a bar and restaurant The second and third floors will become 10 to 12 two bed, two bath apartments
Groundbreaking on this massive scale $270 million development is tentatively planned for the summer of 2026 The entire project will not be completed until 2030 or 2031 The major components of this project will include: an outlot restaurant (2025-1F54-A); a hotel (2025-1F54-B); a senior housing community (2025-1F54-C); a townhome community (2025-1F54-D); two apartment buildings (2025-1F54-E); a mixed use building including apartments and a ground floor grocery store (2025-1F54-F); a brewery, restaurant, and entertainment district (2025-1F54-G); and an expansion to an existing manufacturing facility (2025-1F54-H).
MULTIFAMILYHOUSINGDEVELOPMENT/ProjectID2025-1F9B
This $30 million affordable housing project will include 4 three-story buildings with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units providing a total of 92 units. Additionally, the development will have multiple amenities such as a community building, fitness area, playground, picnic shelter, and more. The buildings may have rooftop solar panels and other renewable energy systems, as well as LEED Zero Energy certification standards throughout. Construction is planned to commence in April with completion scheduled for October 2027.
We’re seeing a significant surge in data center development, fueled by the rapid growth in AI demand. Over the past year, there has been a notable increase in the number of data centers we ’ ve been reporting on. There is an immediate need for both these facilities and skilled professionals across various disciplines. Due to the massive scale of these projects, many will take several years to complete. Here are a few that members will want to track:
Six or seven new locations will be coming to West Michigan Each cafe will be 4,000 square feet The first location in Michigan will open by May 2026, and 2 to 3 more locations will open per year after this so that it will take 3-4 years for all locations to be open.
NEWMIXED-USEBUILDING/ProjectID
2025-24AF
Plans for this $20 million building call for a four-story, 51,600 square foot building with 48 residential units. It will also include amenities for the residential units on the upper floors, such as two vestibules, a lobby/corridor, lounge, office, reception/work room, restrooms, mailroom, fitness room, community room, mechanical room, and various storage spaces Groundbreaking is about a year out
LARGESCALEBATTERYSTORAGEFACILITY/ProjectID
2025-21C3
Plans are to start construction during spring 2027 on this four-hour, 100-megawatt facility that will be built on approximately 12 to 14 acres. The facility is expected to go online around 2028 to 2029 after a 9 to 14 month build out
Highlights Employee
RACHAEL
I am a GVSU graduate with my bachelors in Hospitality and Tourism Management with an emphasis in Meeting and Event Planning. I have 7 years of experience working in the hospitality industry with work ranging from internships at a travel agency, a sports and social club, and in the special events department at an outdoor center; to working at a bridal shop, and managing a few hotels in the Grand Rapids area, before joining the Builders Exchange where I am currently the team lead fo active reporting team and the support specialist the Private Planroom
My husband got me into stockcar racing early in relationship, and in 2015 bought his first racecar 7 years you could find me in the pits at Kalamaz Speedway working on cars being the “crew chie and cheering/panicking as I watched my husban around the track Since having our son in 2022 w stepped away from racing, though it’s still in the to eventually get back
BX!
It's been almost four years working at BX, and I have really enjoyed my time here I really enjoy working in the scan room, labeling plans, and organizing spec books
Outside of work, I really enjoy spending time with family, playing golf, watching football, and working out I am a full-time student at GRCC while working here at BX I am studying to become a Computer Support Specialist A quote I live by is "By changing nothing, nothing changes " This quote pushes me every day to be better than I was yesterday and do things that will change my life for the better
CHARLES
with BX since 10/31/23
I came into BX after seven and a half years in the logistics industry The change in pace and atmosphere has been incredibly refreshing, and getting a new look on the construction industry –something I see every day during my commute –has been interesting and has brought new insight into my day-to-day
Outside of work, I regularly enjoy reading, TV, music, and video games!
REBECCA
with BX since 11/27/23
I am a very blessed dog mom. My dog Hank was rescued just over two years ago, and he is the best part of my day every day. Spending time with my family and friends is very important to me. For fun, I enjoy traveling around Michigan to find small towns and all the cool things they offer –especially the smalltown diners with outstanding food My favorite vacation place is Traverse City Other hobbies of mine include lifting weights and playing pinball
I’ve been with the Builders Exchange as the Operations Manager for almost two years, but I’ve been surrounded by construction my whole life My great grandfather was a general contractor, as was my grandfather and my father It’s so nice to be involved in the industry again and getting back to my roots I love being in the know about what’s going on in the construction industry in Michigan We have a fantastic team here at the Builders Exchange and I look forward to many years here watching all of us grow both personally and professionally
SARAH
with BX since 10/16/25
I have been working here at Builders Exchange for almost 2 years in the planning department! I really love working here and using my research skills to find the best leads and coming up with new ways to stay organized and become more efficient I enjoy learning what is going on construction-wise in various parts of the state as well! Additionally, I love our team here, it is such a fun community to be a part of!
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, going to the gym and for long walks, cooking, reading, crocheting, and watching movies! I graduated in 2023 from Western Michigan University with a major in Art History and double minor in Philosophy and Anthropology. I love learning about art and humanities and continue to pursue these interests in my free time! I am also an aunt to 2 nieces who I absolutely adore. One of my favorite sayings is “Two things can be true at once ” . It helps me remember to continue looking for more than one solution to a problem, and it discourages rigid thinking!
Leveling Up Your Estimating Skills: Your Next Career Move Starts Here!
The world of construction estimating is changing, but don't let that fool you—it's still a fantastic career with a bright future Technology is shaking things up, but at the end of the day, we still need sharp people to make sure projects are built right and on budget.
Where the Jobs Are
The good news? People will always need places to live, work, and play, and all of that requires construction. This means there's a constant demand for estimators in everything from home building to massive infrastructure projects like bridges and highways. The pay is solid, too. You can start out making between $60,000 and $80,000, and with some experience, that can quickly jump to well over $100,000. If you're really good and work your way up to a leadership role at a big company, you could be looking at $150,000 or more, plus bonuses.
What It Takes to Get Hired
Today's employers are looking for more than just
number crunchers. Being comfortable with technology, especially things like BIM (Building Information Modeling), is a huge plus. But it's not all about the tech; you also need to be a great communicator and a team player. Estimators have to work with everyone from project managers to subcontractors, so strong people skills are a must.
Ready to Start Your Career?
You don't always need a four-year degree to become a great estimator. While a degree in construction management or engineering can certainly help, a lot of successful estimators get their start working in the field and learning the ropes from the ground up. This hands-on experience can be a major advantage.
If you want to stand out from the crowd, consider getting a professional Certificate in Construction Estimating from an organization like the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE). The key is to never stop learning and always be open to new technology and methods.
BX Member Discount:
As a Builders Exchange of Michigan member, you can get a $50 discount on every online course from the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE). It's a great way to advance your career and save money while you're at it!
Courses Include:
Basic Estimating Math Plan Reading for Estimating Introduction to Construction Estimating I Introduction to Construction Estimating II Construction Materials and Processes I Estimating and Bidding
Complete all six courses to earn the ASPE Certificate in Construction Estimating. To receive the discounted rate of $525 per course, create a GRBX member profile using this unique link. (Click here for step-by-step instructions or contact KHawley@grbx.com for details.) Then register for any of the six courses listed above. Invest in your estimating skills and pave the way for a successful construction career! ▪
Natasha Crumbliss, Education Program Manager at American Society of Professional Estimators
