About us
Welcome to GRWebDev powered by LaFleur!
We are a group of web developers in the Grand Rapids, MI area. We discuss all aspects of developing for the web, from HTML, CSS, and Javascript to design, user experience, usability, accessibility, and tools.
Whether you write code, write content, design, or manage, when you work on the web there is a lot of common ground. Join us to learn from each other about best web practices, cross-browser compatibility, Javascript frameworks, style hacks, project management, and other web-related topics.
Our meetup is for the community, by the community. If there is a topic you would like to present, we'd love to hear from you!
GRWebDev's title sponsor is LaFleur Marketing. LaFleur is your forward-thinking digital marketing partner, creating innovative, data-driven marketing strategies and assets for law firms, healthcare organizations, and growing businesses. Learn more about their services on the web at lafleur.marketing.
Over the past several years we have heard presentations on anything from testing tools to IoT interfaces to getting along with others. There are plenty of topics still to be explored... and we want to hear from YOU as to what you'd like to learn about.
Perhaps you'd like to underwrite our event? There are numerous perks to doing so. Learn more and register for specific forthcoming date(s).
Upcoming events
30
GRWebDev Powered by LaFleur presents Real World Elixir: A Practical Introduction
Start Garden, 2 Fulton St. West, Grand Rapids, MI, USGRWebDev Powered by LaFleur presents
Real World Elixir: A Practical Introduction
Start Garden (2 Fulton St. W, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503)
Monday, February 23rd 2026, 6pm - 8pmLOCATION
Start Garden is located in Bamboo Grand Rapids at 2 Fulton St. West. Enter the Fulton Street entrance just west of the corner of Fulton and Division and follow the signs to the event space.PARKING
Parking is available in the Gallery Ramp on Commerce just south of Fulton as well as on nearby streets. (Pro tip: Weston, Sheldon, and LaGrave just east of Division are often more easily accessible than busier streets such as Commerce and Division.) Street parking pricing and hours vary depending on location; details can be found on the City of Grand Rapids website.DESCRIPTION
When building a new project, there’s probably a few technologies that come to mind. How often do you ponder using Elixir?This month at GRWebDev, Vianet’s Torey Heinz will navigate us through the wonderful world of Elixir development. Starting off with the obvious question, “why Elixir?”, Torey will share a brief history of the language and discuss primary functions like concurrency and fault tolerance. We’ll then explore some real world code examples such as sending large scale personalized marketing emails, managing TCP connection pools, and building internal admin tools that span multiple sites.
OUR PRESENTER
Torey Heinz is a full-stack developer at Vianet Management and founder of Shopflow, a software company serving small manufacturing businesses. Based in West Michigan, he brings over a decade of experience building web applications—primarily with Ruby on Rails and, more recently, Elixir and Phoenix. After 15+ years with Ruby on Rails, he caught the Elixir bug and hasn't looked back.SPONSORS
This month’s meetup is sponsored by West Michigan Tech Talent. West Michigan Tech Talent connects local employers, educators, community organizations and workforce experts who are invested in creating a strong tech workforce. By sharing best practices, leveraging resources and collaborating on innovative solutions, WMTT is actively addressing the tech talent gap and makes upskilling affordable and accessible. Learn more at westmichigantechtalent.com.GRWebDev’s venue sponsor is Start Garden. Empowering West Michigan's startup ecosystem through financial, intellectual & social capital, Start Garden provides a neighborhood for startups to grow. No matter where you are on your journey - whether you’re an entrepreneur, a startup or simply a dreamer with a great idea - the Start Garden ecosystem provides a strong community of support to help you get your idea off the ground or move your business to the next level. Learn more at startgarden.com.
GRWebDev's title sponsor is LaFleur Marketing. LaFleur is your forward-thinking digital marketing partner, creating innovative, data-driven marketing strategies and assets for law firms, healthcare organizations, and growing businesses. Learn more about their services on the web at lafleur.marketing.
SCHEDULE
- 6:00pm - 6:30pm … Refreshments and Networking
- 6:30pm … Opening Announcements + Presentation
- 7:30pm … Q&A + Closing Announcements
- 8:00pm … Event Ends
11 attendees
Coffee with Creators @ The Factory
The Factory, 77 Monroe Center St NW Suite 600, Grand Rapids, MI, US✨☕️ Kickstart your morning at Coffee with Creators! ☕️✨
Coffee with Creators is the casual, early-morning meetup for anyone interested in technology, design, and business. This is the perfect place for creatives of all backgrounds to connect, including designers, web developers, videographers, and more. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an enthusiastic beginner, a student, or simply someone who wants to hear about the latest digital trends, there's a seat for you at the table.
Stop by The Factory on the third Thursday of the month at 8:00 AM! Grab a cup of freshly-brewed coffee and get to know your community of peers. It's a great opportunity to share experiences, conspire on new projects, or just geek out on the latest industry developments in West Michigan.
1 attendee
Past events
306
