About Us
History
Grand Traverse Industries, Inc. (GTI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in May 1974, for the purpose of developing and providing comprehensive services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities residing in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties. Since that time, GTI has grown to provide vocational training, employment, and habilitation services to persons with any disability in the seven counties of Northwest Lower Michigan.
Additionally, GTI created a plastic bag manufacturing business early on with the goal to train and employ IDD clients, and bring in revenue to support our mission. GTI incorporated LIS’N (Local Interpreter Services Network) into our organization to provide interpreter services for our hearing impaired/deaf clients throughout 30 northern Michigan counties.
For almost 50 years now, GTI has grown from serving 10 persons with developmental disabilities living in Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties to serving over 500 persons (clients) annually with a wide range of disabilities, needs, and services.
We provide job training and employment services, as well as day programming for our clients. GTI has several community partners locally where our clients are employed and earn a paycheck (work enclaves), which gives our clients the opportunity to lead a more independent life. Our clients perform packaging, shipping, labeling, custodial, food prep and food service, packaging and assembly, and liner bag manufacturing. Our work enclaves provide dependable and steady staffing for our area businesses who are so thankful for the amazing work our crews accomplish.
Learn More About our Services
GRAND TRAVERSE INDUSTRIES BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2023-2024
Ron Lemcool Chair
Laurie Schnell Vice Chair
Jess L. Ashmore Secretary
Brandon Darin Director
Jennifer Ewing Director
Raymond Kuhn Director
Robert W. Parker Director
Angela Skeans Director
Colleen Gerace Director
StaceyAnn Smith, Treasurer
Richard VanBeek, Director
Management Team
231-922-4886 Ext.: 1024
cevans@grandtraverseindustries.com
Cindy Evans, Executive Director
Scheduling line: 231-932-2418
Cell/Text: 231-342-0098
Video Phone: 231-252-0512
lisn@grandtraverseindustries.com
Tom Hoxsie | LIS’N Director
Local Interpreter Services Network
Dayna Ryan, Director of Operations
231-922-4886 Ext.: 1011
dryan@grandtraverseindustries.com
Micah Haven, Program Director
231-922-4886 Ext.: 1128
mhaven@grandtraverseindustries.com
Mike Moore, Director of Industrial Operations
231-922-4886 Ext.: 0126
mmoore@grandtraverseindustries.com
231-922-4886 Ext.: 1018
jshrum@grandtraverseindustries.com
