Staff

Ed Garner, President & CEO
Direct Dial: 231-724-3172 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ed Garner is President/CEO of Muskegon Area First, a private, non-profit corporation serving all of Muskegon County. Prior to Muskegon Area First Ed Garner was the Economic Development Vice President of the Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg Chamber of Commerce. Previously he served as Executive Director for the Kent Area MicroBusiness Loan Services, an economic development group providing training and loans to small businesses, Muskegon Economic Growth Alliance, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC), FMB Lumberman’s Bank (now Huntington Bank), and Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Garner is currently the Board President of the Urban League of Greater Muskegon and the Board Treasurer for the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District. He previously served on the boards of the Muskegon Heights Public School District and Neighborhood Investment Corporation. During his career, Ed has been recognized for having the best Satellite SBTDC Center in 1999 and the Jaycees Distinguished Service Award in 1998. Garner has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Western Michigan University and Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from Michigan State University. Garner is a City of Muskegon resident and is married to Tonette Brown Garner, who works for Muskegon Community College, and has a daughter named Shalyn.

Eugenia Brown, Business Development Manager
Direct Dial: 231-724-3179 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Gina joined MAF in June 2004 after working 13 years in the banking industry. Gina last worked for Huntington Bank as a Banking Office Manager where she was responsible for growing and retaining business and consumer portfolio of clients.  Gina currently works as a Business Development Manager where she primarily works with  manufacturers who are seeking incentives and financing from federal, state and local governments, through programs such as Industrial Facilities Tax Abatements, CDBG's, SBA 504, and local County Revolving Loan Funds.  Gina serves on the Board of Directors and as a loan chairperson for Lakeshore 504, a member of the Entrepreneur Advisory Committee of the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce, and serves on the Muskegon County Entrepreneur Coordinating Council.  Gina has a Bachelors of Science in Public Administration and a Masters of Business Administration.

Jonathan Seyferth, Business Development Manager
Direct Dial: 231-724-3181 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jonathan, a Muskegon native, joined Muskegon Area First in October 2011 and currently serves as one of MAF’s Business Development Managers. His primary area of responsibility includes marketing Muskegon County’s Wastewater Management System.

He brings nearly eight years of state and federal legislative experience to MAF, including five years as the Muskegon District Representative for Former Congressman Pete Hoekstra. In that role Jonathan managed casework for more than a half dozen federal agencies and departments,  participated in local coalition building and represented Congressman Hoekstra at meetings and events throughout Michigan’s second congressional district. Often this included meeting with members of the agriculture community on a variety of issues and attending quarterly Farmers Breakfasts in Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Mason counties.

Jonathan spent the last year “out west” in the state of Wyoming working in student services at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne. He’s thrilled to be back home in West Michigan and working for an organization that’s primary goal is expanding economic opportunity for all of Muskegon County.

His community involvement includes having served as a volunteer at Mercy Hospital and past membership in the Muskegon Jaycees. He is a recipient of the Greater Muskegon Jaycees’ Distinguished Service Award, Outstanding Young Man of the year 2007.

Jonathan is a 1997 graduate of Whitehall High School and is twice graduated from Central Michigan University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Master of Science in Administration.

Andrew Haan, Director of Downtown Muskegon NOW!
Direct Dial: 231-724-3180 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Andrew joined Muskegon MAF in July 2010. Andrew serves as Main Street Manager, coordinating with local stakeholders to implement downtown revitalization efforts in Muskegon using an established, four-point strategy based on organization, economic restructuring, design and promotion. These efforts will promote the development of a sustainable, dense, walkable, vibrant downtown wherein successful, retail, cultural, recreational and service sectors thrive. Andrew received a B.A. in Public History from Western Michigan University and an M.S. in Historic Preservation with a specialization in downtown revitalization from Eastern Michigan University. Click to visit the Downtown Muskegon NOW website.

Pamela Poort, Director, Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Direct Dial: 231-722-7700 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Pamela has been the Director of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for 23 years, counseling business owners in marketing their products and services to federal, state, local and international markets.  Ms. Poort has extensive experience in government contracting procedures and policies, government regulations, bid preparation, and pre- and post-award administration.

Pamela attended Grand Valley State University, from which she received a B.B.A. majoring in Marketing with a minor in Management.  She completed the International Marketing Program from the Thunderbird Management Center, American Graduate School of International Management, and has received her Associates and Master’s Certificate from the George Washington School of Business.  Her studies related to government contracting are ongoing through the Defense Acquisition University and Federal Publications.

Pamela is a board member of the PTACs of Michigan, Inc., and is Chair of the By-Laws and Internal Policies Committees.  Poort is also a member of the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC), sitting on the Board of the By-Laws Committee.  She is active with several Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development Organizations. The PTAC provides government contracting assistance to all business types in a 12-county service area that includes: Gratiot, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, and Ottawa.

Shelia Polacco, Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Procurement Counselor
Direct Dial: 231-796-4844 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Shelia Polacco has been with the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for 14 years and has nineteen years of previous government contracting assistance with a large defense contractor.  Shelia provides technical support and counseling to businesses, handling requests with strict confidentiality.  She performs initial counseling sessions and identifies and locates government bid opportunities.  She engages in one-on-one counseling to address client issues such as applications and registrations, marketing strategies, bid preparation assistance, and subcontracting opportunities.

Shelia assists area businesses in contracting with federal, state and local governments.  Shelia has received her Associates Certificate in Government Contracting from the George Washington School of Business and is continuing her education through the Defense Acquisition University.  She is a member of the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) and the PTACs of Michigan, Inc.

Monica Holmes, Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Procurement Counselor
Direct Dial: 231-724-3171 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Monica has been with the Muskegon Area First Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) since October of 2010. Monica provides technical assistance to PTAC clients along with marketing research and registrations assistance. She also markets and manages several MAF PTAC publications, trainings & seminars. Monica received her Associate Degree from Baker College of Muskegon and is continuing her education through the Defense Acquisition University.  She is a member of the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) and the PTACs of Michigan, Inc.

Ami Gongalski, Procurement Center Technical Assistance Center, Procurement Counselor
Direct Dial: 616-717-1565 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ami recently joined the Muskegon Area First Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) in January of 2012.  Ami provides technical assistance and counseling to PTAC clients, along with market research and registration assistance, with concentration mainly in Kent and Ottawa Counties.  Ami brings ten years of sales, marketing and project management experience, including working with small start-up businesses, as well as multi-million dollar projects for large international and state-based companies.  Ami's prior marketing experience entailed the promotion of authors, musicians, sports teams, and new businesses.  Her marketing and promotions experience continues in her current involvement on committees promoting the development of the Greater Muskegon Area.

Ami has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Western Michigan University and is continuing her PTAC education through the Defense Acquisition University and Federal Publications.  She is a member of the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) and the PTACs of Michigan, Inc.