The Charter Group

Companies looking to acquire or merge with new businesses within the Midwest region are often directed to The Charter Group, a merger and acquisition firm with offices in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and northern Indiana. Recently, The Charter Group approached First Companies about a new, flexible, and supportive work environment that could meet its changing needs.

“Our former site was too small, too tired, and too institutional for our evolving and growing business,”said John Kerschen, owner of The Charter Group.“We needed a location that was modern, inventive, and flexible, but still in a vital part of downtown Grand Rapids, where our team is invested.”

The Charter Group leveraged the market knowledge of Ty Hallock and Steve DeLanoy of First Companies, to narrow the options, then lease and renovate a 3,900-square-foot space at 140 Monroe Center. The Charter Group and First Companies’ collaboration transformed a once bleak and uninhabited location into a contemporary, purposeful space. First Companies restored many of the building’s original features, while also adding some more modern elements, including a state-of-the-art conference room that overlooks Rosa Parks Circle in the heart of downtown.

“Every member of the First Companies team seemed to know, and care, about our project,” said Kerschen.“They kept us informed and up-to-date with every major and minor decision and detail, making our firm’s relocation effortless. It was refreshing to work with a company whose end goal was very clearly customer satisfaction.”