Ryan Kilpatrick
Founder + CEO
Ryan Kilpatrick is a housing and economic development leader with more than 20 years of experience helping communities solve complex growth, housing, and public finance challenges.
As the founding Executive Director of Housing Next, he helped to define access to housing as a core economic development issue for West Michigan through data-oriented dialogue and partnership with employers, local municipalities, chambers of commerce, and developers.
At Flywheel Community Development Services, Ryan works with local governments, foundations, developers, and civic partners to move from housing goals to implementation. He helps communities align policy, zoning, public finance, and development strategy to support economically vibrant and sustainable communities.
He has a Masters in Design from Kendall College of Art & Design and a B.A. in Community Development from GVSU.
Sam Kallen
Researcher + Consultant
Sam applies his background in organizational behavior management, process improvement, facilitation, and research analysis to engage with complex systems that span and support an entire community.
As a Data Scientist, Sam develops GIS maps and data tools that help communities take high-impact steps towards housing reform. As a Consultant, Sam helps move complicated, cross-organization projects across the finish line. As a volunteer with multiple community groups, Sam helps organize bottom-up, small-scale, local activities that help people improve their own neighborhoods while building community.
Sam lives in Portland, OR with his husband and two cats.
Arielle Leipham Ellis
Director of Operations
Arielle helps turn complex community development work into organized action. At Flywheel, she supports project management, proposal development, communications, and business development across housing, zoning, and placemaking projects.
She is known for bringing clarity to messy problems, translating ideas into compelling language, and keeping people, details, and deadlines moving. Her work helps partners move from conversation to next steps, and from next steps to implementation.
Outside of work, Arielle stays active in her neighborhood and enjoys times with her family, traveling, gardening, and reading.
Adam Weiler
Design + Community Engagement
Adam Weiler is a designer and facilitator based in Grand Rapids, MI. He is a senior executive education coach at Stanford’s dschool and passionate about supporting communities pursuing more equitable, vibrant, and sustainable futures. He is the founder of multiple social impact initiatives and was most recently the Global Manager of Social Innovation for Steelcase.