Randy Thelen is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Right Place, leading the economic development strategy for the Greater Grand Rapids Region. To achieve the region’s vision of being one of the leading growth economies in the nation, Thelen collaborates with business and community leaders to focus efforts on strengthening three strategic pillars: People, Place, and Prosperity.
Thelen joined The Right Place team in 2021 after serving as Senior Vice President of economic development at the Downtown Denver Partnership. Prior to his role at the Downtown Denver Partnership, he led the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership, a two-state, eight-county regional economic development effort.
Since taking the helm at The Right Place in 2021, the organization has supported the creation and retention of nearly 6,000 jobs and $1.5B in new capital investment for the region. Under Thelen’s leadership, The Right Place has grown to support a 7-county collaborative in the Greater Grand Rapids Region.