New Director Appointed to Lead BlueWater Angels Investment Group

Midland, Mich. (Jan. 13, 2025) – BlueWater Angels, a network of individuals and organizations from the Great Lakes Bay and mid-Michigan region focused on investing private capital in promising start-up companies, has selected Erin Strang to succeed long-time director, Leland Richards.

Strang is an accomplished business development professional who joined the Central Michigan University Research Corporation (CMURC) in 2009 as Grant Development Director. Just one year later she was named President and CEO of the organization. CMURC is a professional coworking space with accelerator programs focused on product and strategic development for entrepreneurs to positively impact the economy in the Great Lakes Bay Region. It does this by leveraging the resources of Central Michigan University, the Mount Pleasant SmartZone, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s 21st Century Jobs Trust Fund.

As director of the BlueWater Angels, Strang will lead member engagement and attraction, while also coordinating activities associated with the review and selection of prospective investor opportunities. She will do this while continuing in her role with CMURC.

The BlueWater Angels is one of five regional angel investing groups under the direction of Michigan Capital Network (MCN). MCN leadership has worked with Strang and previous BlueWater Angels director, Leland Richards, on several initiatives over many years.

“Erin is a great choice to take on this new role with BlueWater Angels,” said Paul D’Amato, CEO and Managing Director of MCN. “As a result of her work with CMURC, Erin is really connected to the early-stage investment sector in the Great Lakes Bay Region. She will bring great insight to the position.”

Leland Richards was selected by MCN in 2021 to serve as director of the BlueWater Angels. While he’s stepping down from this position, he will remain as an active investor and member of the organization.

“Lee’s connections in the region have made him a very impactful leader of BWA since taking on the director position,” said D’Amato. “We are grateful for his time, service, and wisdom in creating early-stage investment opportunities for the region.”

MCN’s five regional angel investment groups total more than 200 individual investor-members. Between the angel groups and several venture capital funds, MCN has invested in more than 100 companies, creating more than 2,000 high-paying tech industry jobs in Michigan.

Click here to learn more about BlueWater Angels.