GRAND RAPIDS, MI — After nearly four decades at the helm of Rockford Construction, Mike VanGessel is stepping down as CEO of the company he co-founded in 1987. Under his leadership, Rockford transformed Grand Rapids with projects like the revitalization of Monroe Center, the JW Marriott, and the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

At 60 years old, VanGessel is handing over leadership to Shane Napper, who has served as the company’s president and COO. Napper will now take on the role of CEO.

“I am honored to have built and led this team for nearly 40 years and grateful to so many who mentored me along the way,” VanGessel said. “The opportunity to support our Rockford team in achieving their goals, building our clients’ dreams, and creating lasting impact in our community has truly been the honor of my life.”

Though VanGessel is leaving Rockford, he’s not retiring. He plans to focus on growing VanGessel Investments, a family-owned firm he started in 2019 with his son Tony. The company, currently centered on real estate, aims to diversify into other areas.

“I reached a spot where, looking at our family and some of the objectives that we wanted to accomplish and the relationships that I think exist with me and certainly things that still connect me — importantly — to community, I felt like it was a really good time to move into this next chapter,” VanGessel explained.

Founded in 1987 by VanGessel and John Wheeler, Rockford Construction has grown into a major player in West Michigan, completing more than 7,000 projects worth nearly $9 billion. Wheeler sold his shares in 2009 and now leads Wheeler Development Group. Rockford, headquartered at 601 First St. NW, employs about 370 people and has additional offices in Detroit and Estero, Florida.

The company’s portfolio includes significant projects such as Michigan State University’s Grand Rapids Innovation Park, Cherry Street Landing, and hundreds of developments for Meijer. Notably, Rockford also helped revitalize Grand Rapids’ West Side, with projects like New Holland Brewing’s Knickerbocker and Meijer’s Bridge Street Market.

VanGessel reflected on the impact of those efforts: “Those projects brought vibrancy to the area and gave city leaders the confidence that the West Side could accommodate the soccer stadium.” Rockford is managing construction of the upcoming Amway Stadium, slated to open in 2027.

Looking ahead, VanGessel will also focus on Invictus, a minority-owned construction firm based in Detroit, led by Matt Evans and Kent Jackson. The company spun out of Rockford’s Detroit office, and VanGessel plans to help expand its operations, potentially opening a Grand Rapids office.

“I’m going to be focused on working with the two of them and building up that team and looking for new opportunities,” he said.

Shane Napper, Rockford’s incoming CEO, praised VanGessel’s legacy. “Mike set a high bar for our team and what we deliver for our clients,” Napper said. “The question he always challenged us to ask was, ‘How can we best serve our clients and community?’ As a result, we have seen tremendous growth and diversification under Mike’s leadership.”

VanGessel remains optimistic about the future. “I still have a lot of work to do on the West Side,” he said. “I’m excited about opportunities that remain.”