Meet Grace Engels, Planning Commissioner
Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan
I am an Oshtemo resident and an Executive Design Director with a career dedicated to the intersection of consumer products, industrial design, graphic communication, and large-scale operations. As a key member of the Design Leadership team of global organization of 200+ designers at a Fortune 500 company, I specialize in "Design Ops," the complex systems of hiring, technology transformation, and organizational restructuring that allow great design to happen.
A Planning Commission That Acts as a Bridge Between Current & Future Oshtemo Residents
I bring this same "Systems Thinking" to my civic life in Oshtemo, MI. I believe successful community stewardship requires more than just a vision; it requires operational excellence, transparent communication, and a deep understanding of how physical and digital infrastructure affects the experience of the people who live there. I’m here to help our community build a future that is as functional in real life as it is inspiring on paper.
Beyond the corporate boardroom, I am deeply invested in the future of our local community. I believe that a township's Master Plan is its most important future-looking "community interface," and I am committed to applying my experience in systems thinking to help improve and realize Oshtemo’s Plan to 2045. Whether I’m navigating a global office development or a local zoning update, my goal is the same: to create functional, people-centric environments that stand the test of time.
Building a 2045 Vision We Can All See, Understand, and Trust
I am an Oshtemo resident and parent first, and a design leader second. While my professional life involves leading a global organization of 200+ designers through complex technological and structural changes, my commitment to our township is deeply personal. I believe that for a community to thrive, its leadership must move beyond "notifying" the public to truly engaging them. My husband works for Mattawan Schools where our three children also attend.
In my career, I’ve learned that resistance to change often stems from a lack of clarity. As we finalize Oshtemo’s Plan to 2045, I am dedicated to using my background in Graphic and Industrial Design to "demystify" the planning process. My goal is to help the township transform 200-page technical documents and complex zoning ordinances into transparent, visual narratives that every resident can access.
