Michael Dunlap

 Mike Dunlap is the owner and principal of Michael A. Dunlap & Associates, LLC, a business consulting services company that focuses upon issues involving the office furniture industry. These include international partnerships & collaboration, strategic market planning, products liability program management, independent rep sales team development, and general business / market trends within the office furniture industry.

The firm conducts the quarterly MADA / OFI Trends Survey, a unique global industry-wide performance measurement tool. Mike writes a monthly column for MiBiz West called “From Where I Sit”, as well as a monthly radio program on PBS station WGVU (88.5 FM / 95.3 FM and 850 AM / 1480 AM) under the same name. His quotes appear frequently as an expert and resource by both the industry and West Michigan business media.

Prior to establishing his own company in early 2003, Mike was Vice President, Chair Components Group of SUSPA, Incorporated. SUSPA is a manufacturer of Lift, Support, Damping, and Adjustment Devices such as Gas Springs used for Height Adjustment of Swivel Office Chairs and Automobile Hatchbacks, and suspension systems for Washing Machines. Mike joined SUSPA in 1978 and held various positions in Production Management, Quality Assurance, Engineering, Sales and Marketing.

Before joining SUSPA, he held positions as a Project Engineer in the Transportation Seating Division of American Seating Company and as a Product Development Engineer with the Saginaw Division (now DELPHI) of General Motors Corporation.

Mike was elected as member of the Board of Directors for BIFMA International in 2001 and served a three-year term as its supplier representative until June 2004. He is a founding member of the Office Furniture Industry Council, which has now evolved into the BIFMA Supply Chain Management Committee. He served as OFIC Chairman in 1998.

He also has served on several committees of BIFMA International, is a member of the Grand Rapids Economic Club, and Society of Automotive Engineers. Mike is deeply involved in a variety of community leadership programs. He is a graduate of Leadership Grand Rapids, Class of 1996 and of Leadership Michigan, Class of 2006. Mike has served in a several capacities in the Leadership West Michigan program, and was its Chair for 2007. He also serves on the Board of Directors for FIRST in Michigan.

He received a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Engineering from Western Michigan University.