GRAND RAPIDS, MI, – March 6, 2025 – First Tee – West Michigan, a youth development non-profit organization that teaches character development through the game of golf, has promoted Tyler Smies from Executive Director to Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Smies has served 14 years as the Executive Director of First Tee – West Michigan and helped launch the organization in 2011. First Tee served 73 participants in Grand Rapids in its first year and had an annual operating budget of $50,000. Now, First Tee – West Michigan serves 2,400 participants across seven counties, and operates a $1.3 million budget, expanding its service area several times in the past decade.
“The positive impact The First Tee of West Michigan has had on the lives of students and growth of our organization can be traced back to Tyler’s leadership and passion,” said Travis Mikulenas, First Tee – West Michigan board chair. “This promotion reflects his growth and increased responsibility as the head of a leading West Michigan nonprofit serving thousands of students all across West Michigan each year.”
AS CEO, Smies will oversee strategic planning, operational management, fundraising efforts, and strategic partnerships, focusing on driving long-term sustainable relationships with participants, volunteers, donors, and staff.
“I am honored to step into this title and grow the incredible work of First Tee’s team and volunteers,” said Smies. “Together, we will continue to make a lasting impact on the kids and teens we serve in West Michigan.”
During his tenure, Smies has been nominated for various awards with the Young Non-Profits Professional Network (YNPN) and was awarded MiBiz’s “Best Managed Small Nonprofits” in 2017. First Tee – West Michigan is consistently ranked as one of the top-performing First Tee chapters across the globe.
About First Tee West Michigan:
First Tee – West Michigan was established in 2011 to impact young people’s lives by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through golf. First Tee—West Michigan serves 2,400 students annually in Allegan, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Ottawa Counties. For more information about First Tee and its mission to enable kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges, visit firstteewestmichigan.org.
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