Jeff Lambert is president and managing partner of the public relations and investor relations firm Lambert, Edwards & Associates. He co-founded the company in his basement in 1998 and has built it into the leading public relations firm in the area and the largest investor relations firm in the state of Michigan. The firm currently serves 80 clients in 19 states and has experienced sustained double-digit annual growth.

Named managing partner in 2002, Jeff is responsible for day-to-day operations and the long-term vision of the firm, in addition to heading the strategic account teams on several of LE&A’s largest publicly traded and privately held clients. He also led the acquisition team on LE&A’s May 2005 purchase of one of its peers: regional PR firm Straightline Public Relations.

Prior to starting LE&A, he served in senior communications roles in both agency and corporate settings. He has significant transaction-related experience and has managed communications on national product launches, media campaigns and brand launches, as well as on a variety of crisis assignments. On the investor relations side, Jeff regularly manages road shows and one-on-one analyst presentations in all the major U.S. financial centers and counsels senior management on corporate finance, governance and investor targeting strategies.

He has authored numerous articles and white papers on topics ranging from crisis communications and corporate governance to investor relations strategy, transaction communications and personal finance. His work has been published in the Chicago Tribune, Buyside, Automotive News, RV Business, Grand Rapids Business Journal and many others. He is also an adjunct faculty member of the Michigan State Bar Business Law Institute.

Jeff serves on the board of a Dallas-based contract furniture company and a Jackson, Miss. – based Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) management company and volunteers his time – and the resources of his firm – with a number of non-profit and faith-based organizations. He is on the board of Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes, Chairman of the JA Stock Market Challenge, on the Campaign Cabinet for the Heart of West Michigan United Way, on the finance committee at Tabernacle Community Church and a member of the Michigan State University Varsity “S” Club for current and former athletes.

Jeff has been honored with numerous recognitions, including the Grand Rapids Business Journal’s and West Michigan Business Review’s “40 under 40”, named a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and earned a host of PR and investor relations awards on behalf of the firm, including the prestigious Silver Anvil.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising and communications from Michigan State University. Jeff and his wife Katy have three children: Hannah, Jared and Jacob.

Don Hunt leads LE&A health care and emerging technology practice, and has more than 20 years of experience in all facets of public and media relations. Hunt spent a significant portion of his career consulting with a wide range of health care organizations, and has extensive knowledge of the many clinical, financial and community issues driving the industry.

Hunt has delivered meaningful, national-level results for a wide array of clients, ranging from large-scale insurance carriers to technology M&A firms and nationally recognized health systems. He has also been a technology columnist for the Chicago Tribune for the past 10 years and is a sought-out media resource on a wide range of health care and IT topics.

Hunt joined LE&A in 2000 after five years as Director of Communications for DP Fox Ventures, LLC, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based business management and investment firm led by Dan DeVos, with interests in commercial and residential real estate, transportation and sports and entertainment.

While at DP Fox, Hunt provided oversight for all marketing and public relations functions for a wide range of affiliate business operations. He also helped lead the development of a stand-alone marketing company which provides regional and national media buying, graphic design and strategic planning services. Prior to DP Fox, Hunt worked in the agency world as a consultant to companies including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Whirlpool Corporation and the former Upjohn Company (now Pfizer). A reporter by training, he has written for the New York Times and a variety of other publications.

Hunt has served on the boards of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, glimaWest, and the Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation, and is currently a member of the West Michigan Make-a-Wish committee. He has also served as co-chair of the West Michigan Technology Council for the Right Place economic development program and is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Powers joined LE&A in 1999 as the firm’s first account person. Today, Powers serves as group head of the firm’s consumer PR practice group, providing strategic counsel and overall account management for all of the firm’s retail and consumer product clients. Her expertise includes regional and national media relations, new product launches, new market entries, community relations programs, brand development, corporate communications and crisis/issues management.

Clients under Powers’ direction have included major brands like Krispy Kreme and Pier 1 Imports, as well as national retailer Family Christian Stores, charter school operator National Heritage Academies and the world’s leading Christian publisher Zondervan.

Prior to joining LE&A, Powers worked in a variety of marketing and public relations positions including WOOD Radio Limited Partnership, the NBC affiliate and largest local station WOOD TV8, and Zondervan, the world’s largest Bible publisher. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Calvin College and did her graduate studies in PR at San Jose State University.

Powers has won a number of awards for her work including Best of Show in the West Michigan PRSA competition, regional PRSA awards, two national Bulldog Reporter PR awards and the 2006 Silver Anvil award for her work on behalf of Zondervan for the launch of the TNIV bible. The Silver Anvil is the most prestigious national award in the public relations industry.

With more than 15 years of corporate and agency communications experience gained in major business markets nationwide – including New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Miami –Sipols oversees the firm’s Business & Financial Communications practice, and provides strategic counsel and account leadership across LE&A’s roster of clients. In addition, he serves as a senior member of the firm’s business growth and internal development teams.

Sipols’ expertise includes corporate repositioning, high-level media and investor relations, global announcements and product launches, advocacy relations, public affairs, executive and employee communications, corporate transactions (M&A), major public events and crisis management.

Prior to joining LE&A, Sipols was senior vice president and global team leader in the Chicago-based Health practice at Edelman, the world’s largest independent PR firm, where he oversaw the firm’s marketing communications work supporting Pfizer’s cancer and infectious disease portfolios. Previously Sipols directed external and internal communications for PersonalPath Systems. (PPSI), a developer of consumer data protection systems for major U.S. health insurers. In addition, he oversaw communications for Franklin Health, a PPSI subsidiary dedicated to providing patient care services for the most seriously ill employees in Fortune 500 group populations. While at PPSI, Sipols played a key role in launching www.personalpath.com, a top-ranked consumer health site created by Franklin Health’s medical professionals and protected by PPSI’s technology systems.

Earlier Sipols led the West Coast unit of a major life sciences public and investor relations consultancy. In this capacity, he also served as account leader of the firm’s largest client, Applera Corporation, and managed PR strategy for one of the most controversial stories in modern science- Applera’s ambitious race to decode the human genome.

Sipols’ prior communications experience has included promoting U.S. direct investment in the Netherlands and land reform in Russia; creating U.S. visibility for Spain’s largest bank; supporting the institutional repositioning of a major Goodwill Industries affiliate; publicizing the historic arrival of the world’s tall ships to New York Harbor; and re-launching the iconic “I♥NY” tourism brand. Sipols’ community involvement includes Rotary Club of Grand Rapids, Economic Club of Grand Rapids and The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. Sipols earned a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University and bachelor’s degrees in violin performance and European history from Northwestern University; He is currently pursuing graduate studies at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Sipols and his wife Jessica reside in East Grand Rapids with their two children.

Steve Groenink serves as managing director of operations for LE&A, focusing on operations management, growth initiatives, client service and staff development. With an impressive 25-year background in the banking and financial services arena, Groenink has held various senior management-level positions since 1987.

Prior to joining the firm, Groenink served as senior vice president and manager for LaSalle Bank’s Wealth Management Group. During his five-year tenure with LaSalle, his group experienced significant growth in assets under management, deposits and consumer, mortgage and commercial loans.

During his career, Groenink has managed offices large and small. Prior to joining LaSalle, he held senior management positions with Huntington Bank and Greenleaf Trust. Groenink spent the majority of his banking career with First of America Bank (now National City) in a variety of roles and markets, including Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand Rapids and Tampa, Fla.

Groenink earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is a graduate of the American Bankers Association’s National Graduate Trust School, as well as the Lakeshore Academy of Leadership

Actively involved in a number of professional and community organizations, Groenink is a member of the West Michigan Estate Planning Council and the Grand Rapids and Holland Chambers of Commerce.

Jeremy Bakken provides a solid background in public relations and broadcast communications. Over the course of his career, Bakken has worked with a wide variety of clients from a multitude of industries. He offers clients a wealth of experience in strategic communications planning, media relations, special event planning and coordination, and community relations.

Prior to joining LE&A in 2005, Bakken spent five years as an account manager for Straightline Public Relations, a full service marketing firm, and two years as an account representative for The Midwest Family Broadcast Group. Bakken earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations from Grand Valley State University. He is a former West Michigan Public Relations Society of America (WMPRSA) board officer and currently volunteers as a member of the board for Celebration on the Grand as the Public Relations Chairman.

With more than 16 years of professional experience in the public relations and communications industry, Clark has provided strategic communications counsel and issues/crisis management to myriad clients throughout Michigan. Her experience includes working with non-profit organizations as well as clients based in the manufacturing, food service, health care, retail and education industries.

Prior to joining LE&A, she served as vice president of marketing and communications at Miller Johnson, a leading Michigan law firm. She also served as vice president of media and public relations at a large public relations agency for more than a decade.

Clark earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Michigan State University, and her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America in 1999. She serves as President-Elect of the West Michigan chapter of the PRSA and on the board of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Outstate Michigan and is the co-chair of the Association for Corporate Growth’s marketing committee.

Joe DiBenedetto has more than a decade of experience representing a diverse client-base in a variety of industries.

Prior to joining LE&A, DiBenedetto, a native of Long Island, NY, served as account manager for D. Pagan Communications, a leading public relations agency on Long Island specializing in the professional recording and broadcasting industry. In this position, he directed public relations efforts for the firm’s many international clients. During his tenure at D. Pagan, DiBenedetto initiated creative programs to generate additional media visibility and customer mindshare for the firm’s clients. Additionally, he developed new business opportunities for the agency, bringing on several new accounts while broadening the company’s area of focus to include software developers and educational institutions.

Before D. Pagan, DiBenedetto worked at Zimmerman/Edelson, a Long Island-based public relations agency providing services to public school districts and municipalities. His results-oriented and creative approach soon elevated him to account manager with the agency, responsible for leading a team of four account executives on several of the firm’s large accounts. While at Zimmerman/Edelson, DiBenedetto also worked on print and broadcast advertising campaign efforts for one of the nation’s leading electric service providers.

DiBenedetto holds a B.A. in journalism from Hofstra University.

Mr. Ryan is a Director in the firm’s investor relations practice where he advises clients in the technology, healthcare, consumer, manufacturing and financial services markets.

Previously, Ryan was an equity research analyst at Pacific Growth Equities LLC in San Francisco where he specialized in small and mid-cap technology companies, with a focus on semiconductors and communications infrastructure. In his tenure at Pacific Growth, Ryan’s coverage universe spanned across over twenty semiconductor design and fabrication houses, including names such as Cypress Semiconductor, Skyworks Solutions, RF Micro Devices, Integrated Circuit Systems and Silicon Laboratories. Prior to joining Pacific Growth, Ryan spent several years in Equity Research at Banc of America Securities LLC as a member of the enterprise hardware and electrical manufacturing services research teams. While at BAS, Ryan focused on large-cap technology companies such as IBM, Dell Computer, Flextronics International and Jabil Circuit.

Ryan began his career at Thomson Financial, where he worked as an analyst in the Equity Capital Markets (ECM) Consulting Group. While at Thomson, Ryan created predictive analytical forecasts to aid major investment banks such as Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, among others, in successfully executing IPO’s, secondary offerings, M&A transactions, spin-offs, and other divestitures. Ryan’s primary analysis focused on correlations between turnover in institutional shareholder bases and in-house fundamental analysis.

Ryan holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley and is currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He has earned his Series 7, 63, 86, 87 licenses from the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). Ryan is a member of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) and has served as an Adjunct Professor of Investor Relations at Grand Rapids-based Grand Valley State University. He is also a member of the program committee for the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) in West Michigan and has been selected as an expert judge for the Interactive Investor Relations Awards.

Brian Burch has more than seven years of public relations experience comprising a variety of categories including consumer goods and services, arts and entertainment, travel, B2B technology and business services. Burch brings experience in media relations, communications strategy, marketing research and graphic design to LE&A’s consumer marketing practice. He has developed relationships with contacts and coordinated features for clients at publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Associated Press and Reuters.

Most recently, Burch led the media campaign that opened the all-new, $75 million, Grand Rapids Art Museum, and helped execute the 2007 Silver Anvil-winning public relations campaign for Zondervan’s Inspired By… The Bible Experience.

Prior to joining LE&A, he managed public relations at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Mich., and also worked in the Chicago offices of Ruder Finn Public Relations and Fleishman-Hillard International Communications. Burch earned a bachelor of business administration in advertising and promotion from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Matt Jackson brings more than eight years of marketing communications experience to LE&A, with a successful track record in the fields of advertising, promotions, media buying, brand positioning and media relations.

Prior to joining the firm in 2005, Jackson served as a marketing manager for The Lacks Cancer Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he was responsible for the development and implementation the marketing plan for the new $42,000,000 facility. Previously, Jackson served as Senior Account Executive at a full-service advertising agency where he provided strategic counsel to a range of clients that included retail, consumer and business-to-business sectors.

Jackson provides pro-bono media relations and marketing counsel for the MSU Alumni Club of West Michigan and number of non-profit entities. He is a proud graduate of Michigan State University.

Pat Kane brings a range of experience including non-profit, agency and the public sector to his role at LE&A. He most recently served as communications and finance director to Michigan State Senator Michelle McManus, representing the second largest senate district in Michigan. Previously, Kane worked as a project/business manager for another West Michigan-based public relations/political consulting firm, where his responsibilities included client program implementation, public education campaigns and fundraising.

As a graduate student pursuing an international relations degree Kane completed an internship with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s International Trade division in Washington, D.C. Kane also served as an intern for the vice-president of government Affairs at the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce after his graduation from Purdue University. Pat Kane and his wife Kelly have one child, Alexander.

Karen Keller joined Lambert, Edwards & Associates in May 2007 after working 15 years in the banking industry. Prior to joining LE&A, Keller worked for National City Bank as a vice president in business banking, where she was responsible for middle-market business banking customers with up to $3 million in credit needs. Previously, she spent 12 years as a portfolio manager in the wealth management and institutional investment groups managing investment portfolios for clients with more than $1 million in assets.

Keller has experience in the individual equity and fixed income markets, as well as industry analysis. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ferris State University and has been formally trained in commercial credit. In addition to her involvement with various community organizations, Keller is a board member for the Grand Rapids ATHENA Awards.

Ryan McGrath has been a member of the LE&A team since 2000; his areas of specialization include public relations and investor relations for the automotive, manufacturing and technology markets. McGrath’s expertise includes media and investor relations, corporate communications, annual report writing, branding and marketing communications, website management, executive and employee communications, corporate transactions (M&A), product launches and crisis management.

McGrath’s IR experience is focused on small- and mid-cap companies, and includes analyst relations, arranging investor road shows, and managing quarterly earnings conference calls. McGrath has written several freelance articles on investing for publications including the Chicago Tribune, and maintains a professional interest in the evolving world of social media technologies, including podcasting and RSS.

Kelly Smallegan-Maas has a broad range of experience working with the health care and technology industries, and has a track record of exceptional results for her clients on the local, regional and national levels. Smallegan-Maas works primarily in LE&A’s health care & emerging technology group, specializing in strategic counsel and media relations. She has won her clients coverage in a variety of local, regional, health care, technology and financial trade magazines, as well as in major national and international outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, CNN.com, MarketWatch, Associated Press, AFP and others.

Prior to joining LE&A, Smallegan-Maas managed leading clients as a senior account strategist for another regional PR firm. Smallegan-Maas serves on the boards of the Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan and the West Michigan Public Relations Society of America (WMPRSA). She is a graduate of Hope College in Holland, Mich.

Kristen Heffern joined the team as an associate in August of 2006, supporting a number of key LE&A client assignments. Heffern previously served as marketing director for Boardwalk Management Company in Kingsport, TN where she oversaw strategic planning, research, advertising, public relations, sales promotions, special events, and customer service.

Prior to that, she managed media relations efforts for the Women’s Studies Program at East Tennessee State University where she was responsible for advertising and organizing departmental activities. Heffern holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Public Relations. She is a member of PRSA.

Rebecca Howe joined LE&A in August 2006 as an associate in the Health Care and Technology Focus, supporting a number of LE&A key clients. Prior to joining as an associate, Howe completed her internship in LE&A’s summer internship program; with her experience ranging from grassroots community based marketing to media relations for both local and national brands.

Howe holds a bachelor’s of applied arts in public relations and marketing from Central Michigan University.

Emily Kuczynski joined LE&A as an associate in January 2008. She supports a number of key clients within the firm’s consumer practice group. Previously, Kuczynski completed a post-graduate internship for LE&A from May through December of 2007. During this time she was involved in grassroots marketing, event coordination and media relations. She also completed a public relations and development internship for the Michigan Historical Center Foundation during her studies at Central Michigan University.

Kuczynski holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations and museum studies from Central Michigan University.

Libby Nienhuis is a member of LE&A’s business and financial communications practice group, where her responsibilities include project management and support for a number of the firm’s clients. Previously, Nienhuis served in a project and client management role at a public sector consulting firm in Chicago, where she helped large school districts with special education management programs and specialized Medicaid data analysis. Nienhuis’ expertise includes strong emphasis in data management and analysis.

Nienhuis graduated from Hope College in Holland, Mich, with a degree in business management and French. She also completed studies internationally at the Burgundy School of Businesses in Dijon, France.

Passage brings four years of legal experience to LE&A’s Business and Financial Communications group. Previously she worked for Morgan Associates PLC, a commercial litigation law firm located in Birmingham, Mich. Prior to joining LE&A, Passage was involved with initiating a strategic communications program for the athletic department at Rochester College. Additionally, she interned within the Community Affairs Department of the City of Troy where she promoted community events and activities as well as helped plan and execute the city’s annual Troy Daze Festival.

Passage holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and public relations with a minor in business from Rochester College in Rochester Hills, Mich.