Four Holland business leaders honored as area's top young talent

Four Holland-area business leaders were selected by the Grand Rapids Business Journal as some of West Michigan’s most influential business people under the age of 40.

Brian Burch, of Burch Partners; Mike Goorhouse, of the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area; Sara Julius, of Edify North, and Shawn Pacanowski, of CapTrust, made the 2014 40 Under Forty list, which highlights some of the top business leaders in Grand Rapids and surrounding areas.

There were a record 171 nominees for the list this year, the journal reported. Each nominee is evaluated on business success, professional recognitions, new endeavors, new industry emergence and breaking stereotypes. The evaluations look at both the business as well as the leadership of the individual.

Here is a look at the four local honorees:

Brian Burch, 36, managing partner, Burch Partners

This is the third consecutive year Burch, who also serves on the Holland City Council, has been named to the list. Those who have previously been named have a tougher task at making it again and must show additional success, acumen and involvement.

Burch, who was named to the list twice before as a public relations director with ArtPrize, made the list this go-round as the managing partner of his new public relations agency, Burch Partners.

Founded just 18 months ago, Burch Partners is a strategic communications agency that specializes in assisting startups, especially those in technology. The agency is currently servicing 10 companies and has just opened a new office in Holland.

“We help companies launch their brands,” Burch said. “It’s working on projects that are impactful on our new economy.”

With more than 170 nominees, Burch said he was proud to be one of the privileged business leaders to make the cut and find himself mentioned among the area’s best.

“It’s a real honor for me,” he said. “I’m trying to keep up with what all these other people are doing.”

Mike Goorhouse, 28, president/CEO, Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area

Goorhouse was named president/CEO of the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area earlier this year after serving as vice president. He has been involved with CFHZ for 13 years, dating back to high school, when he served on the Youth Advisory Committee as a representative from Holland Christian High School.

The CFHZ has over $53 million in assets, manages over 400 charitable funds and distributes $4 million in board- and donor-directed grants each year.

Goorhouse also serves on the Project Clarity Advisory Board, Learning to Give Board and the Association for a More Just Society Board.

He said he was overjoyed to learn he was named to the 40 Under Forty list.

"There are hundreds of young business leaders doing amazing work in our community,” he said. “I am honored to be included amongst these amazing peers."

Sara Julius, 36, managing partner, Edify North

Julius has spent the last five years with Edify North, a company she has been with since its founding in September 2009.

As an employee benefits consulting firm established during the heart of a health care overhaul, Edify North has not only survived but flourished during the tumultuous time in the health insurance field.

As a managing partner, Julius specializes in health risk management. A licensed insurance agent herself, she has been working in the employee benefits industry since 2007.

It is the first time Julius was named to the 40 Under Forty list.

“I’m very honored and humbled,” she said. “Every year the class is exceptional and this year it seems to be even more exceptional.”

Shawn Pacanowski, 39, investment consultant, CapTrust

Pacanowski has spent the past 10 years with CapTrust and serves as an investment consultant for the firm, which provides individual investment services.

As a consultant, Pacanowski consults families and business leaders on investment plans and choices.

As a first time honoree on the 40 Under Forty list, Pacanowski said he owes much of the credit to those around him.

“This individual award is an exciting event in my life,” he said, but added it couldn’t have been done without those who have supported him, including his family and coworkers at CapTrust. “There is no self-made man. I feel very blessed.”

Pacanowski is the chairman of the West Coast Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Holland/Zeeland Community Foundation Investment Committee and the Lakeshore Advantage Advisory Board.

— Follow Curtis Wildfong on Twitter @SentinelCurtis.