CEO and Co-founder of NuWave Technology Partners
Co-founder and Managing Partner of Prescott
Chad Paalman is the CEO and Co-founder of NuWave Technology Partners and Co-founder and Managing Partner of Prescott, a specialized GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) firm helping organizations prepare for CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification), the federal standard for cybersecurity in the Department of Defense supply chain. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Prescott.
With over two decades of experience leading technology companies, Chad is known for blending cybersecurity expertise with a pragmatic, growth-minded approach to business. A licensed private pilot, he often compares business success to flying—balancing airspeed (revenue) with altitude (profit), and always scanning the horizon for what’s coming next!
Chad was invited to join the Board of Directors for Highpoint Community Bank specifically for his cybersecurity and compliance knowledge as well as his years of board leadership experience. Chad also currently serves as Vice Chair of the Technology Council Steering Committee for The Right Place, helping shape the future of West Michigan’s tech ecosystem.
His previous advisory and leadership roles include:
- Cisco Systems, where he served on the Small & Mid-market Advisory Board and was a founding member and past Chair of the MSP Advisory Board
- CompTIA Partner Advisory Council
- The Channel Company, serving on both the Xchange and NexGen Cloud Advisory Boards
- Education and healthcare institutions, including Lansing Community College, Career Quest Learning Centers, and the Sparrow Hospital Foundation
- The Michigan FFA Foundation Board
Chad is also a longtime advocate for small business in Michigan, having served on the Leadership Council and as Past Chair of the Board of Directors for the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM).