Photo courtesy of Cascade Engineering
Cascade Engineering, the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based parent company of Cascade Cart Solutions, has announced the appointment of Eric Van Namen as the company’s eighth president effective April 2.
Van Namen has been with Cascade Engineering since September 2022, serving as chief financial officer (CFO), a position in which he played a pivotal role in developing and executing the company’s financial strategy. As president, Van Namen will lead the Office of the President, which includes the following senior executives: Kenyatta Brame, executive vice president; Linda Brunzell, vice president of commercial sales and marketing; Steve Bushong, vice president of operations; and Scott Downer, vice president of Cascade Cart Solutions. He will also work closely with CEO Christina Keller on the company’s growth and strategic direction.
“Eric is culturally aligned with Cascade Engineering and has already made a significant positive impact during his tenure as CFO,” Keller says. “He is transparent, motivated, a true servant leader and a team player. We could not be more excited to have him as the new president of Cascade Engineering.”
With nearly 30 years of experience in accounting, finance, sales and operations, Van Namen has held executive positions at Lambert & Co., ODL Inc. and Deloitte. He brings a wealth of experience, including leadership in financial analysis, mergers and acquisitions and strategic planning, Cascade says, and has worked with companies ranging from startups to large multinational organizations.
“I am incredibly honored to lead Cascade Engineering into its next chapter," Van Namen says. "This is an opportunity to continue the company’s legacy of the Triple Bottom Line and to work with our talented team to further our mission of growth, sustainability and excellence. Together, we will strive to create a lasting positive impact on our community, the environment and our financial performance.”
Van Namen’s appointment comes after months of collaboration and through external assessments of potential candidates following the retirement of Cascade Engineering President Greg Bylsma, who had helmed the company for three years.
“When Greg joined our team, we knew it was going to be for a short time. Under his leadership, we saw incredible success in our organizational journey towards improved financial visibility, acumen and results, while retaining our vitally important Triple Bottom Line philosophies and culture,” says Christina Keller, Cascade Engineering board chair and CEO. “We are on solid financial footing, reinvesting and growing with exciting opportunities ahead. We are grateful for his contributions and wish him the best in his next chapter.”
Bylsma will join the Cascade Engineering Board of Directors, continuing to provide valuable insight and strategic guidance.
“After much reflection, I have decided it is time to step down and spend more time with my family, including my new grandchild,” Bylsma says. “It has been an incredible honor to serve for the last three years, and I have full confidence in Eric to continue our work as an innovative solution provider to our customers. I look forward to supporting him as he leads Cascade Engineering into the future.”
Van Namen holds a bachelor’s degree from Hope College and a master’s degree from Western Michigan University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants. He also serves on the board of Starlite Shores Family Camp and Overhead Door Company of Grand Rapids and is an active volunteer with Hand to Hand Ministries.
