About Bev
Her Passion for the Internet began with Education
Bev's passion with the Internet began in 1994 when she returned to GVSU
to pursue an Information Systems degree. During a class about Internet
searching, she downloaded a photograph of the earth that had been taken
by a satellite just minutes earlier. Two words describe
"the moment:"
awestruck and hooked!
Experience
for Top Of The List came before and after "The Moment"
Before
and after her awestruck moment, Beverly Mapes was unknowingly
preparing herself for owning and managing Top Of The List. Her combined
work experience included over 7
years as a software test engineer, 15 years experience
spanning both traditional and Internet marketing, and 5 years in an
Internet connectivity support and supplemental sales role at
Merit Network in Ann
Arbor. Her background skills touched every aspect of Search
Engine Marketing, from research, to writing copy, to Internet infrastructure
and culture, to marketing products and
services.
Professional Affiliations
Bev's professional affiliations include:
- Current and founding board member of XP West Michigan,
a Grand Rapids-based user group promoting agile software development
methods
- Marketing Chair of the coordinating committee for GLSEC, the Great Lakes
Software Excellence Conference (GLSEC) held annually in Grand Rapids
- Active member of Local
First and the AWE,
Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs.
A Drive to Help Others Succeed
An inborn characteristic that Bev has
held for as long as she can remember is a drive to help others
succeed. Perhaps she missed her mark by
not going into education, but at this point in life,
she feels Top Of The List is fulfilling that drive and creating a
win-win for both her and clients!
