The Griffins’ longest-tenured employee, Tim Gortsema has helped lead the franchise’s success since before the first puck dropped.

When Tim Gortsema joined what would become the Grand Rapids Griffins in October 1995, professional hockey in this city existed mostly on paper. No name, no mascot, no Friday-night specials on dogs and suds, no NHL affiliate, and an arena under construction. None of the things fans now take for granted.

There was only possibility, and a call from someone who believed Gortsema could help turn it into something lasting.

"A friend I'd worked with at Deloitte [current DP Fox Holdings president & COO Diane Maher] reached out and said, 'Hey, we're going to bring professional hockey to town. Would you have an interest in coming on board in a financial oversight capacity?'" Gortsema recalled recently, soon after his 30th anniversary with the franchise. "I grew up a sports fan and participant, so the opportunity to do finance in a sporting environment felt like a good fit."

That call launched a career now spanning three decades, one in which Gortsema witnessed not just the birth of a franchise but also championship runs and Grand Rapids' recognition as one of the nation's best minor league markets.

He's seen colleagues come and go yet still leads a faithful core staff whose longevity is exceptional in professional sports. Through it all, he's remained defined by his values and a steady desire to make a difference.

Building from the Ground Up

Gortsema began his career with DP Fox Sports & Entertainment as director of finance and administration, became vice president in 1997, senior VP of business operations in 2007, and president in 2015. Today he oversees all business-related activities for the Griffins, including finance, sales and marketing, public and community relations, arena advertising, three Griff's IceHouse facilities in West Michigan, and the team's 24-year-old NHL affiliation with the Detroit Red Wings.

None of that, however, was on his mind when he arrived at his temporary Monroe Avenue office in the fall of 1995.

"We were in startup mode," he said. "Hiring people, figuring out how to sell tickets and sponsorships, building excitement from scratch. If you're starting a sports franchise from ground zero, it's daunting."

He vividly remembers the payoff a year later: the first home game.

"October 11, 1996, a completely sold-out, packed house," he said, smiling. "You're just a little in awe of everything rolling in."

He also remembers co-owner Dan DeVos' pregame pep talk that week.

"Dan said, 'This is incredible what you've done. When the game starts, soak it in and enjoy it. We work in sports. This has to be fun.' That always stuck with me," Gortsema said.

That philosophy – work hard, but remember why you're here – has guided him ever since.

The "First Team" Mindset

Gortsema calls it the "first team" mindset: the belief that an organization succeeds when people put the whole above their part.

"Your first team has to be the organization as a whole," he said.

He's also known for balancing engagement with trust.

"I'm not a micromanager," he said. "I hire the right people and let them do their jobs. Then I get everybody moving in the same direction and buying into the vision."

His longtime colleagues say he lives what he preaches.

Lisa Vedder, the Griffins' vice president of finance whom Gortsema hired in 1996, said, "Tim has the wonderful ability to let each person or department perform their responsibilities without micromanaging, while assisting and providing guidance along the way. During COVID, when we were all working remotely, he reached out to make sure we were doing OK; not just us, but our families too. He sent kind notes of encouragement. That's who he is."

Matt Batchelder, vice president of ticket sales and digital marketing, recalled another example.

"During a busy game, Tim noticed an intern struggling to distribute season ticket member credentials and quietly jumped in to help alphabetize them. Here was the president of the company, working alongside one of the newest team members. Soon, the rest of the staff followed his lead. Tim leads with humility and a genuine commitment to serving others," said Batchelder.

Presence and Connection

That he was there to notice that situation is no accident. Gortsema is a familiar face at most of the team's 36 regular-season home games each season.

Before each game, he meets with ushers to review the evening's details. When doors open, he stands at the top of the stairs so "fans can find me." He stays there through the first period, then watches the rest of the game from a quiet spot. When the game ends, he's in the lobby at the bottom of the arena's escalator, thanking fans as they leave.

Those interactions energize him.

"Some kids seek me out before the game for a high five because it's their good-luck thing," he said with a chuckle. "I love that."

His game-day routine reflects a larger philosophy of connection and community.

"We're hockey, but we operate as a community asset," he said. "Every decision, every initiative is about making the experience better for our fans and the city. That drives loyalty and, ultimately, success."

On a door inside the Griffins' offices is a quote from Joe DiMaggio that captures his approach: "Somewhere out there, there's a fan that's here for his first time, his last time, or his only time. I owe him my best."

Batchelder said Gortsema lives that mindset. "Tim has a genuine heart for every season ticket member, always going above and beyond to make each one feel welcomed and part of the Griffins family. He even makes it a goal to learn every member's name."

Faith and Focus

Randy Cleves, the Griffins' vice president of communications, has worked with Gortsema for 26 years and says his consistency comes from faithfulness.

"First to God, and then to his employer, his employees, and everyone he encounters," Cleves said. "His faith guides everything he does."

Gortsema agrees.

"Faith is the foundation. If you get that piece right, the other pieces fall into place," he said.

Family is equally central. Over the years, he's given numerous handwritten notes to his children, sharing lessons about integrity and service.

"Family is forever. Friends will come and go, but your family, assuming you do it right, will always be there," he said.

One favorite lesson: keep a positive attitude and give compliments freely.

"Having a compliment and not saying it is like wrapping a present and not giving it," he said. "You can lift someone's day with a simple act."

A lifelong collector of quotes, Gortsema keeps a 160-page document of sayings that inspire and guide him. A particular favorite is from Jim Rohn and captures his approach to work and life: "We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons."

He strives to live with discipline, professionally and personally, and says his regrets are few.

Culture and Recognition

Under his leadership, the Griffins have earned awards in nearly every business category imaginable, from ticket and corporate sales to broadcasting and community relations. The team's reputation is built not on one person, but on the culture he's nurtured.

That culture has been widely recognized. In 2011, Gortsema received the Griffins' inaugural Founders "Overtime" Award for career contributions. Six years later, he earned the American Hockey League's James C. Hendy Memorial Award, given annually to the league's outstanding executive. He has also been named multiple times to Crain's Grand Rapids 200 list of the city's most influential executives.

Cleves said, "Along with our ownership, Tim is a primary reason so many of us have been with this organization so long. He's a man of intellect and good humor who treats people fairly and trusts them to do their jobs."

Beyond the Ice

During his tenure, Gortsema has seen the Griffins capture two Calder Cup championships (2013 and 2017), preceded by the Grand Rapids Rampage’s ArenaBowl XV title in 2001. He also serves as senior VP of business operations for the city’s women’s professional volleyball team, the Grand Rapids Rise, who advanced to their league’s championship match during their inaugural 2024 season.

His involvement with the West Michigan Sports Commission, where he serves on the board of directors, helps bring amateur sporting events to a market that was recognized by Sports Business Journal in 2019 as the best in the country for minor league sports.

After graduating from Jenison High School, Gortsema earned his bachelor's degree from Hope College and his MBA from Western Michigan University. Before joining DP Fox Sports, he worked as a manager in Deloitte & Touche's audit department, experience that continues to shape his attention to detail and understanding of the business side of sports.

He also serves on the board of Lake Michigan Credit Union, reflecting his belief that strong communities, like strong teams, are built through faithful stewardship and partnership.

He and his wife Suzanne have three adult children and three young grandchildren. Family remains his anchor and joy, just as it has throughout his 30 years with the Griffins.

A Legacy of Stewardship

Asked about his legacy, Gortsema doesn't focus on awards or titles.

"As a leader, you try to leave things better than you found them," he said. "If I view this team as a community asset, and if I see myself as its steward, then I also need to ask if I have set this asset up for long-term success that sustains beyond me. That's the question I keep asking myself."

For Gortsema, stewardship and joy go hand in hand. Whether interacting with fans or writing life lessons to his children, he aims to make a difference at every opportunity.

"It's about faith and people," he said. "If you live by that, the rest will follow. You'll build something meaningful, on the ice and in the community. That's what makes it all worth it."

Phil de Haan brings years of experience as a writer and communications professional to the pages of Griffiti, having crafted features and stories for organizations across West Michigan. A hockey fan since his childhood in Exeter, Ontario, and a longtime member of a local 6 a.m. hockey group, he combines a lifelong love of the sport with a storyteller’s instinct for bringing players and teams to life.