Co-Founder Grant Arends Retires from day-to-day duties at intellicents to focus on philanthropy

Arends to remain in an advisory role and on the Board of Directors of intellicents while simultaneously accepting a Board Position with Marion Medical Mission – providing clean drinking water to the extreme poor in Sub Saharan Africa.

intellicents announces that, effective May 1st, 2026, Co-Founder Grant Arends is retiring from his day-to-day role with the firm to focus on his philanthropic passions – both at home and abroad. He will continue to serve in an advisory capacity and serve on intellicents’ Board of Directors.

For the last 35 years, Arends has “lived” intellicents mission of overserving the underserved – whether that was in the boardrooms of plan sponsors or in their breakrooms working directly with their employees – helping them to save and invest for their future.

However, Arends believes his greatest accomplishment is helping to lay the foundation for intellicents to be a multi-generational “forever company” that can thrive decades after both he and his brother – Brad Arends fully retire.

“I feel a deep sense of accomplishment in helping intellicents transfer both ownership and control to our next generation of leaders and employees at intellicents,” said Arends. “Over the last 10 years, intellicents has grown seven-fold while simultaneously going from 2 shareholders to now over 40. Now is the perfect time to move on to the next chapter with an even greater emphasis on overserving the underserved through philanthropy.”

“Grant’s leadership has shaped who we are today. His commitment to our mission and our people will continue to influence intellicents for years to come. We’re grateful for his ongoing involvement and proud to support him in this next chapter,” said Matt Twedt, President of intellicents.

If you have followed Grant’s journey, you know that for the last 13 years, he has been volunteering for a faith-based NGO – Marion Medical Mission, traveling to Sub-Saharan Africa, providing clean drinking water to the extreme poor. 

Grant has now accepted a Board position with Marion Medical Mission and looks forward to helping the organization expand throughout Africa.

“I feel called to do this” says Arends. “But I have long recognized that one’s most valuable asset is their TIME. I am so thankful to my intellicents family that they have accepted and embraced my new reduced role at the firm so I can answer this call to directly serve the extreme poor, both here and abroad. They are all our neighbors, and we are called to love those that need our help sacrificially through service. My role at intellicents is changing – but I promise you will see me around.”