From students to a tech icon: How Tech Week spotlights innovation 

Danche Gjorgjievski came to West Michigan from Macedonia as a high school exchange student in the early 1990s. Back then, she didn’t dream she would one day help lead the region’s growth into a national technology hub.

Today, she’s the Chief Technology Officer at ADAC Automotive, headquartered in Grand Rapids. Gjorgjievski has built her career amid the region’s transformation, watching Grand Rapids shift from a manufacturing city to a growing center for tech innovation.

The co-chair of Tech Week Grand Rapids 2025, she is helping guide the next phase, one that brings together engineering, creativity, and community.

This year’s Tech Week, held Sept. 15-20, featured more than 120 sessions and set a record for attendance. Gjorgjievski’s favorite moment was meeting one of her early inspirations, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. The tech legend opened the event with a conversation alongside Randy Thelen, CEO of The Right Place, the region’s economic development group.

“He’s an engineer’s engineer,” Gjorgjievski says. “I love how humble and curious he is. Engineers never stop engineering. It’s all driven by curiosity. Seeing how passionate he still is, is incredibly inspiring.”

Watching region’s evolution

Gjorgjievski’s story mirrors the growth of the city she calls home. After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Grand Valley State University, she spent three decades in engineering and leadership roles in automotive, aerospace, and defense. During that time, she watched West Michigan’s tech identity emerge.

“I’ve seen Grand Rapids grow from a small manufacturing town into a vibrant tech community,” she says. “The opportunities here are incredible, and we all want to make sure Grand Rapids is on the tech map nationally.”

She says the region’s success is driven by a trifecta of collaboration, inclusion, and talent development.

“Curiosity is important, but diversity is critical,” she says. “You need women in engineering, diversity in IT and finance, and people of color in leadership. Those different viewpoints make innovation stronger.”

Wozniak’s passion for learning

At Tech Week’s kickoff on Sept. 15, GLC Live at 20 Monroe in downtown Grand Rapids was packed with 1,300 people to hear Wozniak. He shared stories about Apple’s early days, his love of tinkering, and his personal philosophy about innovation.

“We had a goal when we started Apple to make the world more equal for blind and sighted people,” Wozniak says. “And look how we’ve succeeded by doing it with technology.”

He also spoke about how his fascination with electronics began with ham radios and rotary phones.

“We’re born curious,” he says. “Make a little robot that moves. If you’re proud of what you built, you’re going to build something bigger.”

That playful love of learning, he adds, should guide how communities like Grand Rapids think about education.

“Engineering and programming, hardware and software classes are so important,” Wozniak says. “Make your class so fun that kids don’t want to leave. If they’re enjoying learning, you can’t stop them from learning.”

Wozniak’s passion for education runs deep. He once took time away from Apple to teach elementary and middle school students. His hands-on teaching reflected the same curiosity and creativity he spoke about on stage.

Thelen says Wozniak’s message captures what Tech Week is all about.

“That’s what Tech Week is all about: connecting people, sharing stories, and celebrating what’s possible when creativity and curiosity come together,” Thelen says.

Attracting the next generation

One of this year’s most popular events, the West Michigan Student Tech Showcase, brought more than 2,000 middle school students to explore exhibits and meet technology professionals. Gjorgjievski helped organize the showcase, which she says plants the seeds for the region’s future workforce.

“I believe in inspiring curiosity in the younger generation as early as possible,” she says. “This event nurtures that curiosity by showing how we ideate, design, test, and build, and letting students see robots, design tools, and real-world innovation up close.”

At ADAC Automotive’s open house, students saw how ideas become products. They talked with engineers and designers, played with digital keys by using NFC cards, and watched 3D printers in action, which helped to get a quick prototype of each product idea.

“Guests were surprised by how many disciplines go into designing a single product,” Gjorgjievski says. “Examples being engineers, industrial designers, finance, and marketing. That collaboration makes great products and great communities.”

Those experiences, she adds, help young people see themselves as part of West Michigan’s growing tech economy.

Jennifer Wangler, vice president of technology at The Right Place, says that the mindset that technology must serve people drives how local companies and educators think about innovation.

“If you’re working in AI, it’s important for the human to be central,” Wangler says. “AI is just the tool. It’s the human who communicates, solves problems, and works with the end customer.”

Wozniak echoed that idea during his keynote.

“Happiness equals smiles minus frowns,” he says with a laugh. “Don’t argue with people. Don’t let problems take away your joy. Happiness equals food, fun, and friends, maybe there’s a fourth one.”

His cheerful outlook is also a formula for creativity. When people feel happy and supported, they’re more likely to experiment, learn, and innovate, the same spirit that helped Apple’s earliest products come to life.

Wozniak also reminded the audience that success isn’t just about wealth. Early in Apple’s history, he gave away much of his stock so that early employees could share in the company’s success. The choice meant he became a multimillionaire instead of a billionaire, but he has said being fair to others was more important than becoming richer.

Pulling varied perspectives together

Tech Week’s success, organizers say, comes from bringing together industries that often work separately: manufacturing, health care, education, design, and software. Gjorgjievski says that mix of ideas sets West Michigan apart.

“We’re all working to ensure we’re solving the right problems — and that doesn’t happen in isolation,” she says. “It’s driven by collaboration across industries and product lines, something that happens regularly in Grand Rapids and beyond, thanks to the outstanding team at The Right Place.”

That collaborative spirit also defines ADAC’s workplace culture. Gjorgjievski encourages her teams to work across departments, a model she believes reflects the broader regional community. It’s an approach that builds better products and a stronger city.

This year’s Tech Week featured companies of all sizes sharing ideas on automation, sustainability, and digital transformation. Many events were free, making it easier for students, job seekers, and entrepreneurs to connect with industry leaders.

“We want to make sure everyone has a place in this ecosystem,” Wangler says. “From startups to enterprise, from college students to CEOs, collaboration is our greatest strength.”

Grand Rapids’ tech momentum has been years in the making. In 2021, The Right Place launched its 10-year technology strategy to support long-term growth and development. The organization’s Tech Council, of which Gjorgjievski is a member, meets regularly to track progress and explore new opportunities.

“Tech Week is one week, but the conversations and collaborations continue,” Wangler says. “We’re building a year-round community that connects companies, educators, and innovators.”

That progress is showing results. In the past three years, the region has welcomed new startups, university partnerships, and national recognition as a growing Midwest tech hub. In July, Grand Rapids was named the #1 city to grow your career on LinkedIn’s inaugural Cities on the Rise list.

Gjorgjievski takes pride in these milestones. Like Wozniak, she still believes curiosity is the foundation of every breakthrough.

“I’ve had opportunities to move away, but I’ve always chosen to stay,” she says. “Grand Rapids has been an amazing place to raise a family, grow a career, and help shape what comes next.”

As the applause faded on another successful Tech Week, Gjorgjievski is thinking about the next generation of leaders who will carry the region forward.

“That’s the beauty of Tech Week,” she says. “We’re all passionate about technology, but at the heart of it, we’re really talking about people – how we can learn together, grow together, and build something better.”