About Us

We may be new to Grand Rapids, but we have mountains of experience when it comes to planning and executing flawless elegant events.  For 17 years we worked in two of only 11 Five Star, Five Diamond resorts in the nation.  Presidents, politicians, and movie stars were almost a daily occurrence. We are detail-oriented, fussy, and insist that everything be perfect.

When you see our ballrooms you'll say "Why hasn't somebody thought of this before!" From the first day we worked on the design of the facility we always questioned the current method of completing any given task. The result is many, many new services you've never experienced before.

We are proud to be a part of the West Michigan Wedding Association and continue to strive to provide the best weddings in West Michigan.

Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen, Grand Volute’s sales and events coordinator, was born and raised in the Lowell Michigan area.  After graduating from the Lowell school system at the age of 18 she embarked on an overseas trip to Europe.  Upon arriving in Cologne, Germany she began a four year apprenticeship with one of Germany’s premier lighting retailers.  After completing a complex training in sales and international business she began working with her husband in the operation of their own business.  Returning home to Michigan, in the late 80’s, she moved with her husband and daughter back to Grand Rapids, where she continues to live today. She is very active as an organist in her local church and as always, remains an avid world traveler.  Mary Ellen believes her European experiences will allow her to give the clients of Grand Volute Ballrooms a modern and unique approach to any event.

Kent McKay

Kent McKay was born and raised in Lowell Michigan where he resided until the age of 21 when he moved to Phoenix, Arizona. He soon after started at the world famous Marriott’s Camelback Inn as a busboy. Camelback Inn was the pride of Marriott Corporation and a personal favorite of the founder, J.W. Marriott Sr. and his wife.  There were many days when Kent would clear the plates of the Chairman of the Board and his wife as they enjoyed lunch around the pool.

Camelback Inn was one of only eleven resorts in the entire nation to earn both the Mobil Five Star and the AAA Five Diamond Awards in the 1980’s.  After spending ten years advancing from busboy to Banquet Manager Kent was offered a position at a rival resort just four miles from Camelback Inn. The Arizona Biltmore, created a new position for him as Assistant Banquet Manager.  The Biltmore was also one of the eleven resorts in the nation to hold both Five Diamond and Five Star awards. Kent enjoyed six and a half wonderful years at the Arizona Biltmore where he built the Banquet Department up from a disgruntled underperforming department to a ravenous team of workers who knew they could achieve any task put before them.

Kent gave up his career at the Arizona Biltmore to move back to Michigan to care for his mother. He then set out to build his dream, the best banquet facility in West Michigan using the skills and tools he had acquired working at two of American’s finest resorts.

 

655 Lincoln Lake Avenue SE Lowell, MI 49331
(616) 987-9000
© 2009 Grand Volute Ballrooms ®