Eric DeLong has been with the City of Grand Rapids since May of 1995, first
as Assistant City Manager for Public Works and then Deputy City Manager
since November of 1999. Mr. DeLong coordinates policy and direction for the
approximately 420 employees, over $110 million Design and Development
and Enterprise Systems Service Group and directs state and federal legislative
activities for the City along with leadership roles in the City's Lean Thinking
and Sustainability initiatives. Mr. DeLong is a member of the International
City/County Management Association (ICMA) and has served in local
government for over 30 years. Prior to 1995, Mr. DeLong served as Village Manager of the
Village of Spring Lake for 13 years where he was involved in an effort to consolidate the Village
of Spring Lake and the City of Ferrysburg.
Jana Wallace is the Debt and Authority officer for the City of Grand
Rapids. She is the City of Grand Rapids’ tax increment financing expert
with 13 years of experience managing the City’s multiple layer
development finances in which role she also serves as chief financial
officer for the City’s eleven economic development and two building
authorities. As the City’s debt manager, Jana has facilitated the issuance of
47 bond issues totaling $716 million since 2001. Jana is a graduate of
Lake Superior State University where she earned a BS in Business Administration emphasizing
accounting and finance. In 1994, Jana completed the Michigan Local Government Managers
Association’s Executive Leadership Development program. In 2009, she was recognized as a
Top Woman in Finance by Business Review West Michigan magazine. In 2011, Jana was
elected to the Michigan Women in Finance Board of Directors. When away from the office,
Jana volunteers for a variety of organizations including Steelcase’s Meyer May House, the Frank
Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust’s Wright Plus, Grand Rapids Sister Cities International, and
Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts.
Rick Chapla is Vice President, Business Development for The Right Place,
Inc.. A Michigan native, he joined the Right Place team in June 1996, bringing
with him more than 20 years of community development and land use
planning experience. His formal education includes a bachelor's degree in
urban studies from Aquinas College and a master's in urban planning from the
University of Michigan. Rick is a past president of the Michigan Society of
Planning Officials, a statewide land use planning organization. He is a former
director of planning and economic development for the city of Muskegon.