A publication of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. March 2012 | Vol.12 | No. 03
16
A publication of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce March 2012 | Vol. 12 | No. 03 Workplaces Embracing New Trends Could Lead to Better Business Change is defined by Merriam- Webster a number of ways: to make different, to replace with another, to undergo a modi- fication. Life is ever changing and the workplace/workforce is no exception. The way busi- ness is conducted has radically changed from 50 or 60 years ago heavily influenced by em- ployees themselves and really the way business is generally conducted. Gone are the days when employees clocked in at eight o’clock in the morning and the whistle blew at five signaling another day is done. There are a number of employees in today’s world working from home, essentially making the office a meeting place where mobile workers occasionally gather to go over projects and meet with senior leaders. The assumption has been that work is a “full-time job.” However, employees are now wanting to sandwich work around other priorities in their lives. The new men- tality being that life is first, work is second. Employers have seen this especially with more women in the workforce demanding flexible hours. Another key driving force in this change is that there is a new generation of entrepreneurial graduates who don’t want to work for one employer long term. With employees having different schedules and flex working conditions the tradi- tional chain of command is also changing, creating a more level corporate structure. since employees can be out of the office eight hours a day, superiors can no longer manage in the traditional style. Instead of measuring how their employees work and the number of hours put in, employers are now managing the output of work. As long as projects are completed on time and the outcome is what is desired, employers are becoming more lenient about how long it took to complete the project. Grand Rapids based web marketing and development company, Mindscape at Hanon Continued on page 7 ATHENA Scholarship Fundraiser This year marks the 12th year of the ATHENA Scholarship program in Grand Rapids! More than $35,000 in scholar- ships has been awarded to women in the community. The ATHENA Scholarship program is designed to offer support to women over 30 who are working toward their college degree. These scholarships are unique in that they can be used to- ward any expense that aids a woman in achieving her academic goals, whether it’s tuition, books, childcare, or Continued on page 2 Inside This Issue Ribbon Cuttings - 3 Effectively Engage Employees - 6 Upcoming Events - 9 Newsflashes - 10
Transcript
A publication of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce March 2012 | Vol. 12 | No. 03
Workplaces Embracing New Trends
Could Lead to Better Business Change is de� ned by Merriam-Webster a number of ways: to make di� erent, to replace with another, to undergo a modi-� cation. Life is ever changing and the workplace/workforce is no exception. The way busi-ness is conducted has radically changed from 50 or 60 years ago heavily in� uenced by em-ployees themselves and really the way business is generally conducted.
Gone are the days when employees clocked in at eight o’clock in the morning and the whistle blew at � ve signaling another day is done. There are a number of employees in today’s world working from home, essentially making the o� ce a meeting place where mobile workers occasionally gather to go over projects and meet with senior leaders. The assumption has been that work is a “full-time job.” However, employees are now wanting to sandwich work around other priorities in their lives. The new men-tality being that life is � rst, work is second. Employers have seen this especially with more women in the workforce demanding � exible hours. Another key driving force in this change is that there is a new generation of entrepreneurial graduates who don’t want to work for one employer long term.
With employees having di� erent schedules and � ex working conditions the tradi-tional chain of command is also changing, creating a more level corporate structure. since employees can be out of the o� ce eight hours a day, superiors can no longer manage in the traditional style. Instead of measuring how their employees work and the number of hours put in, employers are now managing the output of work. As long as projects are completed on time and the outcome is what is desired, employers are becoming more lenient about how long it took to complete the project.
Grand Rapids based web marketing and development company, Mindscape at Hanon
Continued on page 7
ATHENA Scholarship
Fundraiser
This year marks the 12th year of the ATHENA Scholarship program in Grand Rapids! More than $35,000 in scholar-ships has been awarded to women in the community. The ATHENA Scholarship program is designed to o� er support to women over 30 who are working toward their college degree. These scholarships are unique in that they can be used to-ward any expense that aids a woman in achieving her academic goals, whether it’s tuition, books, childcare, or
2 March 2012 | Issue Sponsor: Comcast grandrapids.org
CHAMBER NOTES
The Regional Air Alli-ance of West Michigan (RAAWM) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring “Best in Class” commer-cial air service and strives to allow for continued economic growth and
ongoing improvement in the quality of life for both residents and West Michigan businesses.
On February 22, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce co-hosted a breakfast brie� ng along with RAAWM to provide an update on the status of commercial air service in West Michigan. To date, this strategic regional e� ort has resulted in improved commercial air service as well as airfare savings of approximately $45 million annually.
Dick DeVos, Chairman of the Alliance, said the decision by South-west Airlines to maintain operations in West Michigan follow-ing the merger integration with AirTran Airways represents their con� dence in being able to service the region pro� tably and continues to reinforce the progress that’s already been made by RAAWM and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in regards to improving commercial air service.
The Regional Air Alliance of West Michigan strongly encourages members of the Chamber to get involved in this strategic ef-fort initiative by RAAWM. If you would, please consider making a contribution in the following ways: 1) A � nancial contribution of $2,000 - $10,000 (payable over 2 years) and/or, 2) Provide data related to your company’s air travel (all information will remain con� dential and will NOT be shared with anyone) in support of RAAWM’s e� ort to better understand and communicate the trav-el patterns of businesses in West Michigan. In regards to either e� ort to support RAAWM, please contact Andy Johnston at
johnstona@grand rapids.org or call 616.771.0335.
To learn more about the Alliance, please visit www.raawm.org.
Stay up to date on the
latest news.
Follow us @GRACC
ATHENA Scholarship, from page 1
transportation. If you know of a candidate who may bene� t from this scholarship, please encourage her to visit her col-lege or university’s � nancial aid o! ce or visit www.gradrap-ids.org/athena-scholarship. Application deadline is May 4, 2012.
If you’re interested in donating to the ATHENA Scholarship, or would like a fun night out to support this great cause, then the ATHENA Stylish Soiree Scholarship Fundraiser is for you! Guests can pick up this season’s fashionable accessories while networking, and enjoy make-up touch ups and stress relieving treatments. Funds raised from this event will go to-wards this year’s scholarships.
West Coast Virtual Visit to Grand RapidsStudents from Mark Twain Middle School in Silverton, Or-egon could probably give some Grand Rapidians a run for their money when it comes to selling our great city.
Kathleen Kelly, a teach-er at Mark Twain, vis-ited the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Com-merce’s website when her daughter decided to attend college here. Using the site, Kelly was able to navigate her daughter through her
new home base. When she later visited her daughter, she was taken with how amazing Grand Rapids truly is. Before leaving, Kelly bought some postcards to take back to her stu-dents for an assignment, which had them pretending they worked for the Chamber. The students were so engrossed in the project that it lead to a hefty unit based on Grand Rapids, and she even had the students inventing catchy slogans to entice people to visit the city.
Kelly contacted the Chamber regarding the outcome of the project and shared several of the posters students created. It was a treat for the Chamber to see the students’ feedback on this great city, and who knows, maybe those students could
become business leaders in Grand Rapids down the road!
Date | Wednesday, April 11Time | 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.Location | i3 Business Solutions, 560 5th St. NW Suite #404Cost | $20 in advance if registered by April 9 or $25 at the doorSponsored by:
Improving Air Service in West Michigan
To register visit www.grandrapids.org/athena-fundraiser or contact Alexis at 616.771.0341.
RIBBON CUTTINGSCongratulations to the following members who celebrated grand openings, anniversaries and new additions! If you have an up-coming groundbreaking, grand opening, product launch event or other reason to celebrate, visit www. grandrapids.org/ribboncut-tings to see how we can help. We even bring the giant scissors!
Udecon celebrated the completion of their offi ce renovation and expansion with an open house and ribbon cutting event.
The renovations are completed at Empire Beauty School. The Chamber joined their team for an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony.
The Rapid celebrated the opening of the Wealthy Street Operations Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Great Lakes Bottling hosted an open house and ribbon cutting celebration at their new state of the art facility.
A ribbon cutting was held by H&S Companies marking the completion of their Grand Rapids location renovations.
Congratulations are extended to Metron Integrated Health Systems on the celebration of their 35th anniversary.
Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids broke ground for their new Cascade Goodwill store on Kraft Ave SE.
Newk’s Express Café celebrated the grand opening of their fi rst Michigan location in Grand Rapids.
DPT has tripled their offi ce space and celebrated their relocation with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The Chamber News Editorial PolicyArticles written by outside authors do not necessarily refl ect the view or position of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. The position of the Chamber will be clearly stated.
The Chamber reserves the right to reject advertising based on content and does not accept advertising that confl icts with a position of the Chamber.
The advertising of products and services in The Chamber News does not necessar-ily represent endorsement by the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.
Masthead photo: Downtown Grand Rapids.
Recycle
Me.
The Chamber News (USPS 357-010) is published monthly by the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, 111 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.p: 616.771.0300 | f: 616.771.0318 | w: www.grandrapids.orgEditor: Latricia Trice | 616.771.0332 | [email protected]: Leslee Fritz | 616.771.0357 | [email protected]
Second Class Periodical Postage Paid at Grand Rapids, MI.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chamber News at the address above
4 March 2012 | Issue Sponsor: Comcast grandrapids.org
MEMBERS IN THE SPOTLIGHTThe Chamber News helps you get to know fellow members by pro! ling two organizations in each issue.
EDGELINE RESOURCES LLC.Edgeline Resources, LLC describes themselves as the “people stu� ” consultants. They help your businesses focus on the peo-ple side of the business or organization, so you can focus on doing what your mission directs.
They o� er a number of services to help make your business team a stronger one, which in-clude: large group team building events, team coaching and devel-opment, personal and executive coaching, ex-
ecutive performance appraisal, individual, management and leadership assessment, leadership development and retreat fa-cilitation. Their approach is experiential and draws upon adult learning practices. Believing that any group is only as e� ective as the relationships of its members, Edgeline interventions em-phasize the interaction between group members while they are completing a task.
Edgeline Resources, LLC is widely recognized as specialists in the experiential approach to training and development. They are also an award winning distributer for Inscape Publishing, authors of the DiSC® family of assessments, and have been in-volved in the facilitation of the Leadership Grand Rapids retreat for the past 20 years.
Owner and CEO, Dave Vermilye, values the many bene� ts of be-ing a Chamber member citing that the CEO Roundtable pro-gram has been extremely bene� cial. He also states that having an organization looking out for their interests at the state level is reassuring.
To learn more about Edgeline Resources, LLC , visit their website at www.edgelineresources.com.
VAN’S PATTERN CORPORATIONVan’s Pattern Corp. started in the basement of founder Ebel Vander Molen’s home in late 1959. Incorporated in 1960, Van’s has been a steady in! uence on the machine tool and automo-tive industries ever since. It is currently located on the North-
east side of Grand Rap-ids and is considered one of the premier pat-tern making facilities in the country.
Van’s Pattern manu-factures polystyrene patterns for the auto-motive and machine
tool industry. Essentially, they supply the tool and die shops with the patterns that they require to produce the stamping dies that stamp out the parts to cars. The company works on cars one to two years before they will actually be ready for sale. Majority of their work is automotive and they have produced patterns for parts on Honda, Chrysler, General Motors, Volk-swagen, BMW and Toyota vehicles. They also produce machine tool patterns that may go into the construction of a wind tur-bine, railroad car or a large valve etc.
With state of the art computer controlled CNC machines and a highly trained CAD department, Van’s has the experience to meet your pattern making needs. Their reputation for honesty and quality is well known in the industry. In the last three years they have increased employment by 40 percent and added sev-eral new CNC’s which has increased their capacity substantially.
“I appreciate the Chamber being a force for the business side of the equation in public policy,” said Dan Vander Molen, Presi-dent of Van’s Pattern Corporation.
Visit Van’s Pattern at www.vanspattern.com for moreinformation.
6 March 2012 | Issue Sponsor: Comcast grandrapids.org
All employers want their employees to be as engaged as possible for various reasons. Research indicates that engaged employees are better performers, better motivated, and as a result help their companies to become more pro� table. There are plenty of examples to support this as well – so why doesn’t this condition permeate the workplace?
Here are � ve strategies to e� ectively engage employees and when they are in place, the workplace will re� ect a more engaged culture.
1. Listen to your employees - often they are in the best position to identify e! ciencies, waste and other issues that create loss of time, product and of course, money.
A classic example is the story of the Spring� eld Remanufacturing Corporation when in the economic downturn during the 80’s, an employee, who swept � oors, ran into the boss one evening and made a suggestion. The idea— to remanufacture engines for cars, during a time when people were � nancially strapped and having di! culty purchasing new cars— literally secured the company’s future. This also spawned the book, “The Great Game of Business” written by Jack Stack— a great read!
2. Assess the needs of employees regularly - this means that you actively approach garnering a culture of engagement by interacting through supervisors, managers, H.R. and others who may help you to best determine what the needs of employees are, along with what they aspire to. Beyond a conversation that focuses on what happened, or didn’t happen last year, this type of conversation sets the tone for new and di� erent expectations.
This approach communicates to the employee two important concepts: 1) that they are valued within the workplace and 2) you expect their performance to be at its best, even as it may require further development. This translates into overall better performance and productivity for the company/organization. Many resources for learning and development are available from a variety of sources, ranging from the library to online learning subscriptions, etc.
3. Value diversity beyond lip service - our dynamic and evolving global economy and generational di� erences demand accommodation of di� erences, but more importantly, that we capitalize on those di� erences! As new generations enter the workforce, they need to � nd (and want to create) a place to stand – and they aren’t willing to wait � ve or � fteen years to do that.
FIVE STRATEGIES TO EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE EMPLOYEES
Gen X’ers and Millenials have lots of ideas, and the future of your business depends upon them. By giving people the opportunity to experience in-depth learning regarding a variety of jobs within the company, and how those jobs interrelate, their assessment may lead to new products/services. Another great read, “The Millennials: Connecting to America’s Largest Generation” by Rainer.
4. Reward e! ort - recognize those employees who are willing to take appropriate risks and then thank them. Buy them a quick cup of co� ee. Take them to lunch! Make eye contact and o� er a sincere “thank you” for their work.
People respond very well to appreciative feedback when delivered in a sincere manner. The reward itself isn’t the focal point – it is the recognition of the person’s e� orts and attempts to create something better for your company/organization.
5. Encourage balance - West Michigan has long been known to be a “family friendly” community, yet that doesn’t always e� ectively translate to today’s lean work cultures. Millenials are not hungry for the same fare served up by many of the baby boomers – family time and activities are a higher priority than long hours at work and longevity with one company/organization. Most would agree that balance is challenging to attain with multiple demands within our work and personal lives.
Providing work/life tools and resources, i.e. access to child and eldercare, along with equitable policies and procedures to strategically convey � exibility, may be the single most important bene� t o� ered by corporations today.
You can’t attract and retain the brightest and the best, nor engage them, if they are constantly worried about the quality of care being provided to their children or their elderly parents. Flexibility through work/life initiatives is just as important to many newcomers in the workplace as take-home pay or type of work. West Michigan is a great place to work and to live, so work/life policies and procedures are an essential part of employee engagement.
By being intentional to engage employees your company or organization will likely reap the bene� ts for both the short and long-term.
Alison Brown, Ph.D., is the CEO of ENCOMPASS EAP & WorkLife Strategies.
Her � rm provides individual and organizational consult to West Michigan
businesses and is certi� ed through WBENC. For more information contact:
www.encompass.us.com (800) 788-8630
By Alison Brown, Ph.D., CEO – ENCOMPASS EAP & WorkLife Strategies
Using the Chamber to Welcome and Develop Your Talent
New Trends Better Business , from page 1
Mckendry, implemented a more � exible schedule bene� ting
their employees, but saw that it in turned increased productiv-
ity. “We found by going to a four day, ten-hour work week, our
employees had more time to focus on projects when they are
in the o� ce and really put quality work into them, but that they
also bene� ted from having one more day to recharge and en-
joy their own time,” says Pete Brand, Co-Founder of Mindscape.
“Employers can’t use the old ram rod way of managing. They
need to take care of the talent they have or they will lose them
to someone else.”
Another major reason for workplace change is due to the con-
tinuous change of global companies. There is increasing com-
petition around the globe, which leads to the need of � nding
talented workers, increase productivity and lower costs. The
change even starts in college. Curriculums are changing and
becoming more competitive, and students are being taught
how to be more entrepreneurial, how to solve complex prob-
lems and the need of being able to adapt in an ever changing
environment.
Nothing is more powerful for business and our community than
people – the perspectives they share, the conversations they
spark, and the action they take. Encouraging the diversity of
our people is the key to creating a community where everyone
is welcome and where businesses thrive through new ideas.
The Chamber is your ally on the road to creating a more diverse
workforce. We work alongside businesses as they welcome,
connect, and engage the talent they need. Our inclusion and
community leadership programs include:
Cultural Experience: This immersive tour is ideal for newcom-
ers and long-time community members alike. Join us in explor-
ing Grand Rapids’ history and best-kept secrets. We’ll learn
from shop owners who are meeting the unique needs of their
ethnic communities, catch co! ee at a bakery that re� ects two
cultures, and much more. This is a fun way to meet new people
and discover the rich stories that are in your own backyard.
Multiracial Association of Professionals: For professionals
wanting the fast track to meaningful connections and � nding
roots in West Michigan, MAP is the place to start. MAP o! ers
welcome services for professionals and interns of color who
are new to the area, social events for professionals of all back-
grounds and more.
Leadership Grand Rapids: For more than 25 years, hundreds
of alumni from Leadership Grand Rapids have been at the
forefront of initiatives that have shaped Grand Rapids into the
unique community it has become. Through this 9-month com-
munity leadership development program, participants grow
personally and professionally while enhancing leadership skills.
They join other current and emerging leaders from diverse dis-
ciplines to become immersed in the challenges and opportuni-
ties facing our community while developing a comprehensive
understanding of our community’s social, cultural, civic, and
economic issues. If you are interested in being part of the 2013
class for the Leadership Grand Rapids program, applications are
being accepted through May 4, 2012.
Emerging Leaders Series: Designed for young professionals
in their 20s who have a passion for growing professionally and
becoming actively engaged in the community, this program of-
fers a unique mix of community connections, leadership skills,
professional development and engagement opportunities.
For a complete list of Chamber inclusion and leadership devel-
opment programs, visit www.grandrapids.org/diversity and
www.cclgr.org.
Do you need assistance in attracting and retaining top talent
for your growing company? Hello West Michigan can help your
organization. This member-based program promotes West
Michigan as a place where business thrives and people want to
live and work. Its website communicates the economic vitality
and quality of life found in West Michigan and presents a posi-
tive message for those without prior knowledge of the region.
Its online portal for employers allows them to share recruit-
ment best practices, job openings, potential candidates and
other resources. Visit www.hellowestmichigan.com for more
information.
Attract and Retain Skilled Workers
Although these changes are being taught at the academic lev-
el, this new world of work, continuing education and lifelong
learning is a skill current employees will need to possess. They
will need to be open to change careers in mid-life. Instead of
the whistle blowing at � ve, employees now answer to vibra-
tions, dings and rings of cell phones and laptops whenever
work or life calls.
8 March 2012 | Issue Sponsor: Comcast grandrapids.org
As Michigan continues to emerge from the economic reces-sion, many of the state’s policy makers and business leaders rank increasing Michigan’s competitive business climate as a top priority. We know if we remain committed to education, reinforce our long term workforce development strategies, and control our tax burden by using scarce resources wisely, Michigan will be well positioned to compete in the global marketplace.
To create opportunities for business success, we need our leg-islators to focus on the bottom line and spend each and every penny of our tax dollars as wisely as possible – on programs with a proven record of success.
At the same time, as Michigan works hard to diversify our economy and strengthen our business climate, we need to invest in the foundation of a 21st century workforce: our chil-dren.
For both of these reasons, I and other business leaders in the state are pleased to see attention given to voluntary, evidence-based home visiting programs, which help at-risk children and families. Nearly 25 percent of children in Michigan don’t grad-uate from high school. Not surprisingly, my colleagues across the state regularly see job applicants and employees who lack fundamental skills, like problem solving and the ability to work in teams. The foundation of these critical skills is built in the earliest years of life, when infants and toddlers are forming relationships with their parents and caregivers.
Unfortunately, statistics paint a grim picture for too many in-fants and toddlers in Michigan. Twenty-three percent of chil-dren in our state live in poverty – up from 14 percent in 2000. Our infant mortality rate, or percentage of babies that do not survive their � rst year of life, is well above the national average. Perhaps most shocking, child abuse and neglect increased 34 percent over the last decade. These results are gut-wrenching. They’re also tremendously expensive – for individuals, fami-lies, businesses, and our state. Yet, just as the root of these challenges lies in the earliest years, so does the solution.
Michigan o� ers several programs for those families most likely to experience these challenges, including voluntary home vis-iting, which matches new parents with trained professionals who provide information and support during pregnancy and through their child’s early years.
These programs bene� t both mother and child. For exam-ple, research on one high-quality home visitation program showed that participating mothers experienced an 82 percent increase in the number of months they were employed by their child’s fourth birthday, while their children were half as likely to be abused or neglected.
And these early gains are proven to last, building our workforce and saving taxpayers money. Participating children were 56 per-cent more likely to graduate from high school – making them better prepared for the jobs of the future. The total bene� ts to society can reach $41,000 per family served – saving nearly six dollars for every dollar invested. That’s a return on investment I can support.
By improving the lives of high-risk families, evidence-based programs can help meet the needs of Michigan’s businesses; we can expect to get a better prepared, more competitive work-force, and the state will spend fewer taxpayer dollars down the road.
Currently, Michigan doesn’t track where and how it spends all of its home visitation dollars so legislators and taxpayers can’t know if we’re getting the expected returns on public invest-ments. Representative Lisa Posthumus Lyon’s intends to change this by introducing legislation that will require the state to in-vest in programs with a base of evidence, rigorously monitor programs for outcomes, as well as, track spending.
Success in business depends on making smart decisions based on data about what works. Decisions about how our tax dol-lars are used should be made in the same way. At a time when budget priorities are being debated and dollars are scarce, this bill will help ensure the state invests in programs that produce real results for at-risk children, their parents, the business com-munity, and our state economy.
If we want to be able to � ll the jobs on which our future prosper-ity depends, I urge business leaders and policy makers to help create the workforce we need today – and tomorrow - by sup-porting e� orts to direct funding to proven home visitation pro-
grams with a track record of success.
A Smart Investment: Early Childhood EducationBy Rick Baker, President & CEO, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
To RegisterUnless otherwise noted, register for events at www.grandrapids.org/events. Or, call the RSVP hot line at 616.771.0303 (please have your credit card information handy when you call). Questions about events? Call 616.771.0300. Special needs: Vegetarian meals are available, please let us know your dietary requirements when registering. Reasonable arrangements for people with disabilities will be made if requested in advance.
Registration and Cancellation Policy: Prepayment of events is required and guarantees a reservation. Cancellations must be received at least two business days prior to an event to be eligible for a full refund. No-shows will be billed.
Upcoming Chamber events - register today!
March
6 - 7 | Facing RacismAn intensive, two-day Institute for Healing Racism program that works to eliminate individual and institutional racism.Time | 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (both days)Location | Catholic Diocese, 360 Division Ave. S. Cost | Members: $200/person from nonpro! t organizations, $300/person from for-pro! t. $50 extra for future members.
7 | New Member ConnectionsBegin your involvement with the Chamber by networking with other new members!Time | 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. Location | Kent Country Club, 1600 College Ave. NECost | Free for new members (in ! rst year of membership), includes light continental breakfast. To RSVP, contact Mark Allen at [email protected] or 616.771.0348 (online registration is not available). Sponsored by:
8 | Business Exchange LuncheonTime | 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.Location | Thousand Oaks Golf Course, 4100 Thousand Oaks Dr.Cost | $18/member-early registration, $23/member after 5 p.m. March 2, $23/future members (may only attend once)Sponsored by:
14 | Grand Cultural TourLearn more about Grand Rapids’ diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.
Time | 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Location | Bus boards at Amway Grand Plaza. 187 Monroe Ave. NWCost | $75/person Sponsored by:
21 | Want a Multi-generation Family Business? Build the Structures to Support itJoin the Family Business Alliance for a panel discus-sion on how to build a successful multi-generational family business. Time | 7:30 –10:30 a.m.Location | University Club (Fifth Third Building) 111 Lyon St NWCost | Free for FBA Members, $65.00 non-members To register, contact Ellie Frey at 616.331.6827 or [email protected].
26 | Public Policy Breafast with LegislatorsMeet your elected o# cials and voice opinions on issues that a% ect your bottom line! Networkingand facilitated question and answer sessions o% er ! rst-hand information on upcoming legislation. Time | 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.Location | Davenport University, 6191 Kraft Ave.Cost | $15/member-early registration, $20/future membersSponsored by:
April
3 | Living on Borrowed Time:Solving America’s Debt CrisisSee page 15 for details.Time | 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Location | Ambassador Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe Ave. NWCost | $50/Member, $75/future member
5 | Hiring Our HeroesFree one-of-a-kind hiring fair for veterans, service-men and women currently serving and eligible spouses. Time | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Location | Grand Valley National Guard Armory, 1400 44th Street NW Cost | Free
11 | Athena Stylish Soiree Scholarship FundraiserSee page 1 for more details.Time | 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.Location | i3 Business Solutions, 560 5th St. NW, Suite #404 Cost | $20 in advance or $25 after 5 p.m. April 9thSponsored by:
12 | Business Exchange LuncheonThe Chamber’s #1 networking event!Time | 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.Location | Thousand Oaks Golf Course, 4100 Thousand Oaks DrCost | $18/member-early registration, $23/ member after 5 p.m. April 6, $23/future members (may only attend once)Sponsored by:
19 | Politics & Pints Network with elected o# cials and learn how you can become more engaged in the political processTime | 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.Location | LaFontsee Galleries, 833 Lake Dr SE Cost | $20
23 | Breakfast with LegislatorsMeet your elected o# cials and voice opinions on issues that a% ect your bottom line!Time | 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.Location | Amway, 7575 Fulton Street East, Ada Cost | $15/member-early registration, $20/future membersSponsored by:
26-27 | Facing Racism Intensive two-day Institute for Healing Racism Program that works to eliminate individual and institutional racism.Time | 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.Location | Fishbeck Thompson Carr & Huber. 1515 Aboretum Dr. SE Cost | Members: $200/person from nonpro! t organizations, $300/person from for- pro! t. $50 extra for future members.
p
10 March 2012 | Issue Sponsor: Comcast grandrapids.org
News� ashesNews� ashes is a feature of the Chamber News that recognizes Chamber members’ new products or services, new or promoted em-ployees and recognition that they have received. E-mail press releases to [email protected]. Dead-line: � rst Friday of each month.
Above & Beyond Catering received the “best caterer” award by The Knot for 2012. They are the only W. MI caterer to win the award three years in a row having been selected in 2010 and 2011.
Uchebike Nwankwo, M.D., has joined Advantage Health where he will practice internal medicine-pediatrics at the 64th St., Byron Center location.
A.J. Veneklasen announced the addition of Dee Dee McCrory to its team.
Alexander Marketing has named Lisa Engleman as its newest account director.
Don W. Goetcheus has joined Ameriprise Financial as a Financial Advisor in the Grand Rapids o! ce.
AngelCare Home Care of GR owner Joyce Lovse has recently been awarded inclusion into The Heritage Registry of Who’s Who of New York 2012.
Ken Vermeulen has joined Barnes & Thornburg’s Grand Rapids o! ce as a member of the real estate and environmental law departments.
Berends Hendricks Stuit has retained its status as part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies around the U.S. participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America “Best Practices” Study Group.
The Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan announced that Eric Mills, Senior Vice President/Business Banking Market Manager at Huntington National Bank, is the 2012 Board Chair.
The Calvin College board of trustees appointed Michael Le Roy to the position of President.
Robert Snider with Canteen Vending Services has been promoted from General Manager to Regional Director.
Drew Miller, CBRE|Grand Rapids Managing Director, has joined the Board of Directors of CorNet’s MI Chapter.
C/D/H announced that it has achieved Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) Silver Competency for Digital Marketing.
Lynn Kerber, Regional President of Chemical Bank, has been named one of the 50 Most In" uential Women in West Michigan for 2012.
Columbia Logistics Network welcomes Nate Stowe as Senior Accountant .
Cornerstone University announces Dr. Martin Hughes has accepted the position of Dean of Undergraduate Education, e# ective July 2012.
Dan Vos Construction hired Dan Staal as a CAD Drafter and promoted Chris Barry and Derek Schwenk to Foremen.
The J. William Fulbright Scholarship board and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural A# airs announced the Fulbright Specialist Grand Candidacy has been awarded to Davenport University’s Professor of Management, Jack D. Cichy.
Discovery Financial announced the recent expansion of its full-service wealth management company in Hastings.
DK Security’s Executive Vice President, Dr. Kathryn Kendall, Ph.D., has become the newest member of the Salvation Army’s Turning Point Advisory Council.
Dykema is pleased to announce the addition of David W. Palsrok as a Government Policy Advisor in their Lansing o! ce.
Echelbarger, Himebaugh, Tamm & Co. announces the $ rm is a registered
member of the AIPA Government Audit Quality Center. Margie S. Gerencer, CPA has been promoted to Client Service Manager with EHTC.
Ferris State University’s presence in Grand Rapids continues to grow with the grand opening for its College of Pharmacy Center for Innovational Learning and Research. The new facility is located at 25 Michigan.
The Executive Committee of Foster Swift Collins & Smith for 2012 is comprised of: Michael Sanders, Paul Millenbach, Michael Homier, Jennifer Kildea Dewane, Matt Hrebecand Brent Titus.
Full Circle Marketing & Design appointed Amy Heiney as Account Executive.
Scott Sei! erlein, owner of GrandRapidsGolfLesson.com, is this year’s recipient of the Bill Strausbaugh Award for Advancement of Teaching, awarded to one Ferris State Professional Golf Management alumni.
Patrick K. Gill was named President and CEO of Grand River Bank.
The Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University has maintained its business and accounting accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International.
H & S Companies is proud to announce the addition of Susan K. Murray to the H&S Team. Murray brings with her over 29 years of experience as a Certi$ ed Public Accountant.
Je! Williams joined Hinman as Marketing and Leasing Associate.
I3 Business Solutions announces its $ rst place win in a Microsoft national contest by selling the greatest number of O! ce 365 SMB seats by program tier. I 3 Business Solutions is led by partners Kathy Labozzetta & Mike Ritsema.
Mary Hollinrake has been appointed to the Michigan Electronic Recording Commission by Gov. Rick Snyder. Hollinrake is the Kent County Clerk and Register of Deeds.Nancy Mullett has joined Kreis,
11March 2012 | Issue Sponsor: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigangrandrapids.org
Enderle, Hudgins & Borsos as an Associate in the Battle Creek O� ce.
Lambert, Edwards & Associates announces the promotion of Kim Tassie and Amanda Passage to the position of Senior Associate. Both Tassie & Passage previously served as Associates with the ! rm.
Law Weathers announced that Chris Matthysse has been elected a Shareholder of the ! rm. Matthysse is a member of ! rm’s estate planning practice group.
Lighthouse Insurance Group promoted Robert Heintz to Vice President of Bene! ts and Mike Boros to Vice President of Business Insurance. Kerri Woolverton, Assistant Vice President of the Lighthouse Title Agency Commercial Unit was awarded the A� liate of the Year Award by the W. MI Lakeshore Assn. of Realtors.
Mary Free Bed Hospital is planning a $48 million expansion that will enchance the continuum of care it provides by upgrading therapy areas, creating all-private patient rooms and consolidating all patients care services under a single roof. The new facility should be completed by late 2013.
Metro Health recently announced it has hired Mary B. O’Brien as certi! ed family nurse practitioner at the GVSU Campus Health Center in Allendale. Holly Ann Vollink joins Metro’s outpatient center in Rockford as Physician Assistant. To better re" ect its mission of providing healthcare to the medically underserved in W. MI, Metro Health Hospital has renamed its Breton Health Center to the Metro Health Community Clinic. Metro Health Hospital has received Primary Stroke Certi! cation from the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program. Metro Health has received another national award for its exceptional heart attack care. Metro Health Hospital announced that Ellen Bristol has been promoted to the position of Director of Internal Communications.
Mika Meyers Beckett & Jones recently elected the following lawyers to its Management Committee for the calendar year 2012: William A. Horn, John T. Sperla and Ronald M. Redick.
Miller Johnson is pleased to announce that Mary V. Bauman was recognized as a 2012 Client Service All-Star by BTI Consulting. Bauman is the only woman in MI named as an All-Star. Miller Johnson is pleased to announce that Melissa Neckers was appointed to the Michigan Court Forms Committee’s new Adoption Work Group for a three-year term. Miller Johnson attorney Craig H. Lubben is recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of 25 “Leaders in the Law” for MI. Miller Johnson is also welcomes Kelley E. Stoppels and Tripp VanderWal as Associates in the Grand Rapids o� ce.
Northwood University is pleased to welcome Bridget Eklund to their Admissions team.
NuWave Technology Partners recently announced that James Ramos will be joining the NuWave team as a Convergence Consultant.
Pine Rest is joining an International clinical research study. This clinical trial explores medication that is already approved in some countries to treat adolescents with schizophrenia, and children and adolescents with bipolar, manic and mixed episode with or without psychotic features.
Priority Health announced that Guy Gauthier has re-joined the health company as Associate Vice President of State Programs.
John Rice has joined the team of real estate professionals at Prudential Preferred, REALTORS.
RC Productions recently announced the following promotions: Amy H. Atkinson, President and Jane Savidge, Vice President.
Regal Investments Advisors would like to welcome Brian Blodgett and Betsy Ferguson to their sta# .
Rhoades McKee announced that Thomas L. Saxe will serve as chair of its Construction Law Practice Group. He has also been named to serve as the chairperson elect of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association. Scott J. Steiner, Environmental and Real Estate Lawyer at Rhoades McKee, joins other community leaders to serve on a Blue
Ribbon Sustainable Streets Task Force.
Daniela Garcia has joined Spectrum Health System as a Specialist in the System Government A# airs department. Leapfrog Group announced that Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital and Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital have earned its 2011 Top Hospital designation.
Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. announced that Kyle Travis has been named Financial Advisor in the ! rm’s Grand Rapids o� ce.
In February Tammy Finn from The Arc Kent County joined 150 leaders of the Arc across the country to attend a White House Community Leaders Brie! ng. This was a remarkable opportunity to meet with the President and policymakers to share insights on how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families are impacted by national policy.
The Right Place Inc. announced it has hired the former city Wyoming Downtown Development Authority Director, Megan Sall, as its newest Business Development Manager.
Varnum attorney Joy Fossel and Human Resource Director Carroll Velie have been selected as two of Grand Rapids Business Journal’s 50 Most In" uential Women in W. MI. Varnum attorney John W. Allen was recently named as a 2012 Leader in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Varnum announced that attorneys Seth Ashby and Gary Mouw have been elected to the partnership. Varnum attorney Linsey Aten was appointed Chair of the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association. Matthew D. Zimmerman has been named Chair of the Regulatory Group at Varnum.
Rodney D. Martin, the Diversity Partner with the law ! rm Warner Norcross & Judd has been appointed to serve on the new Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board for the State Bar of MI. Meggan E. Dyer, an attorney with Warner Norcross & Judd has been selected to participate in the inaugural West MI " ight of a new Inforum Leadership program.
Continued on page 12
12 March 2012 | Issue Sponsor: Comcast grandrapids.org
Jess Povenz has recently joined the West MI Tourist Association as O! ce Manager Rick Hert, CEO of the WMTA and Film Commissioner for the W. MI Film o! ce has been named to the MI Film Advisory Committee by Governor Snyder.
Roxanne A. Buhl, director MBA-GR Western Michigan University earned certi" cation as a Senior Professional in human resources. Western Michigan University’s Dr. Ali M. Metwalli, Professor of Finance, and Dr. Robert Y.W. Tang Professor of Accountancy and Upjohn Chair of Business Administration, had their paper “Mergers and Acquisitions in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh” accepted for publication in the International Journal of Commerce and Management.
New MembersPlease join us in welcoming the following companies to the Chamber. We encourage you to do business with Chamber members!
15 & 16 | The Blast! Build Your Business Conference & Competition for Women - Women entrepreneurs from the Greater Grand Rapids area will gather for this one-of-a-kind professional development event and busi-ness growth competition designed to harness the power of con" dence, con-trol and community for women business owners. The event will be held on March 15, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. and March 16, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Am-way Grand Plaza Hotel. The cost is $25. For more information or to register, visit www.growbusiness.org.
7 | Speak Up & Be E" ective™ - Be an assertive communicator. In this pro-gram, you will learn how to think on your feet, project more con" dence, manage your nerves, and get your points across. Call Varnum Consulting at
616.336.7058 for details.
9 & 21 | Overview for Planning and Starting Your Own Business – This SCORE workshop covers what professional assistance will be needed, identifying your competition, business plans, what legal entity to incorpo-rate as, marketing research, " nancing and more. Classes start at 8:30 a.m. and cost $45 for one or two people. Register at www.scoregr.org.
21 & 22 | Speak Up & Be E" ective™ - Advanced - Communicate with impact. This two-day program teaches you to communicate with impact through oral presentation skills (including body language and tone of voice). You’ll also learn to create focused, concise and activating message that in-# uence others and to project the style and presence of today’s leaders. Call Varnum Consulting at 616.336.7058 for more details or to register.
April
13 & 18 | Overview for Planning and Starting Your Own Business – This SCORE workshop covers what professional assistance will be needed, identifying your competition, business plans, what legal entity to incorpo-rate as, marketing research, " nancing and more. Classes start at 8:30 a.m. and cost $45 for one or two people. Register at www.scoregr.org.
18 & 19 | Speak Up & Be E" ective™ - Advanced - Communicate with impact. This two-day program teaches you to communicate with impact through oral presentation skills (including body language and tone of voice). You’ll also learn to create focused, concise and activating message that in-# uence others and to project the style and presence of today’s leaders. Call
Varnum Consulting at 616.336.7058 for more details or to register.
The “Waste Less” Journey of Trash By Norman Christopher, Executive Director, Sustainable Community
Development Initiative at Grand Valley State University
Did you know that that the Kent County Land! ll receives more
than 1.1MM tons per year of solid waste from a number of sourc-
es including residential, commercial, and industrial municipal
solid waste (MSW); commercial demolition and debris (CDD);
and industrial special waste (ISW) (www.accesskent.org) As
companies and organizations rede! ne their future goals, objec-
tives, and strategies, one important area of focus is the overall
business environmental footprint and more speci! cally waste.
Over the last few years, signi! cant progress has been made in
looking at waste as more than just a land! ll disposal cost of ap-
proximately $35 per ton. Where has the progress been made
and what are the process steps an organization can proactively
take?
• First, businesses can conduct a life cycle assessment of
waste sources across the company’s supply chain includ-
ing ! eld to gate, gate to gate, and gate to ! nal destination
operations.
• A natural next step to take, once the baseline data has been
determined, is to practice the 3 R’s of “reduce, reuse, and
recycle” Reducing waste can be accomplished through
conservation and e" ciency strategies including the use of
Energy Star and GreenGuard certi! ed products.
The waste-less journey of trash continues on with continuous
improvement! To view the full article, visit www.grandrapids.
org/sustainability.
Accident Fund Program Puts Money in Your Pocket!
The Grand Rapids Area
Chamber of Commerce
is proud to announce
that 235 members
have earned more than
$602,000 in dividends through the Acci-dent Fund Insurance Company of America workers compensa-tion group program!
The Chamber’s Accident Fund program is o% ered exclusively
to Chamber members and entitles you to ! ve percent up-front
savings on your premium, dividend eligibility based on group
performance, no minimum premium to qualify and more.
To learn more about this member bene! t, contact Mark
Theresa Ross (right) of Accident Fund recently presented The Chamber with a check for member dividends totaling $602,800.
14 March 2012 | Issue Sponsor: Comcast grandrapids.org
Renewing MembersThank you to the following companies that renewed their memberships in January. We are glad to have you and your employees as members!
50+ Years of MembershipBISSELL Inc.Fifth Third BankGordon Food Service Inc.YMCA of Greater Grand RapidsModel Coverall Service, Inc.Watkins, Ross & Co.American Red Cross of West MichiganDeloitteC. D. Barnes Associates, Inc.Price Heneveld® LLP
30+ Years of MembershipEmployee Assistance CenterEikenhout, Inc.Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.Central Michigan Paper Co.Universal Forest Products, Inc.WOOD TV8/WXSP/WOTVAmerican Cancer Society Northwest Michigan O" ceRestorations, Inc.Life Guidance ServicesPerforated Tubes, Inc.Arts Council of Greater Grand RapidsEPS Security - (Engineered Protection Systems, Inc.)Wolverine Printing Co.Women’s Resource CenterBeuschel Sales, Inc.Central States Property Management, Inc.Holland Home Corporate O" ceKentwood O" ce FurnitureMicron Manufacturing Co.Van’s Delivery Service, Inc.Fuller Supply Company
20+ Years of MembershipThe Arc Kent County, Inc.Progress Chemical, Inc.WadeTrimScarlett, Inc.Buist Sheet Metal Co.Economic Development Foundation - Certi# edFamily Outreach Center, Inc.Grand Rapids Public LibraryHedrick AssociatesWestern Michigan Hearing Service, Inc.Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to ShoreGrand Rapids Civic TheatreApplied ImagingArea Community Service Employment & Training-(ACSET) CouncilDiversi# ed Data Services, Inc.Grand River Gastroenterology, PCNationwide Transportation Services, Inc.Vierson Boiler & Repair Co.Michigan BloodPine Border Farm Inc.Seal-Tec, Inc.Dispute Resolution Center of West MichiganFirst Park Congregational Church, UCCHBird Technologies, Inc.
10+ Years of MembershipAccuServe CorporationFrederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture ParkMetLife Home LoansNokomis FoundationHanon McKendry Inc.Central Michigan University
Heartland Home Health Care & Hospice (4624)Iserv CompanyMel Trotter MinistriesThe Gilmore CollectionFormax Manufacturing Corp.The Center for Physical RehabilitationCB Richard Ellis/Grand RapidsCourtland Software Services, Inc. dba Courtland ConsultingPromotional ImpactEvans Tool & Engineering, Inc.GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.Ionia County Community Mental HealthLambert, Edwards & Associates, Inc.Marge’s Donut Den, Inc.Knapp Hearing AidsA.D. Bos Vending ServicesAzkoul Productions, Inc.Bethany Christian ServicesCountry Fresh, LLCESCO Group, Inc. dba Edge-Sweets CompanyFalcon PrintingFoxbrightMBK Corporate Promotions, LLCAmerica’s Transportation Resources, LLCGranger GroupHumane Society of West MichiganMitco, Inc.West Michigan Cabinet Supply Inc
5+ Years of MembershipBenteler AutomotiveGrand Rapids Central Iron & Steel Corp.InterConnect IncJ. Bacherts, Inc.Michigan Industrial ToolsOpen Systems TechnologiesPatriot RealtyPEC TechnologiesThomas M. Cooley Law SchoolVoisard Asset Management GroupAssociation for the Blind and Visually ImpairedHL tech solutions LLCLake Express, LLC - Milwaukee TerminalPerformance Partners Consulting, LLCSeoul GardenSound Post Recording StudiosThe Chop HouseArbor Circle CorporationDeGraaf Interiors, Inc.Ellis Parking Co., Inc.Hope River VenturesNational Personnel Associates, Inc.Rockford AmbulanceSure# l LLCThe Write WayBuist Electric, Inc.Byron Center ManorCherry Street Health ServicesClear Channel AirportsFoster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C.RPM Inc.Specialized Sta" ng Solutions, LLCThe Mutual Fund Store - Grand RapidsAccurate Audio ConsultantsArchitectural Openings & AccessCarstar of RockfordGrand Rapids Polishing & Bu" ng, Inc.Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing, Inc.Heritage Funeral Service
Kojaian - West Michigan/Grubb-Ellis Management ServicesNoordyk Business Equipment, LLCPhillip Elenbaas Millwork Inc.Walgren Company
2+ Years of MembershipAddorio Technologies LLCArie Nol Auto Center, Inc.Grand Arbor Group, Incgreengiftz.comImperial Design CompaniesMATHORNE LLCMcLoughlin Communications & Public RelationsParagon Model ShopPlymouth Heights Christian Reformed ChurchRocky Mountain Chocolate FactorySouth End Community Outreach Ministry - SECOMUPSAbove & Beyond Banquets, Catering & EventsCascade Fresh Cleaning CompanyCriterion Manufacturing SolutionsFreedomNet SolutionsGR8FR8, Inc.Grand Rapids Lighting Center Inc.Intent Public Relations LLCJohn Ball Zoological GardenPorter Hills Retirement Communities & ServicesPro# cient Machine & ToolSkywalk DeliWinchester on WealthyBlueSky Resource ManagementBoven DeKock ElectricBroadmoor Motor Sales Inc.Crop Marks PrintingFaith Hospice in the CommunityHome Care of Holland HomeHome Instead Senior CareIndian Trails, Inc.Insphere Insurance SolutionsKerkstra ServicesMinds in MotionNuWave Technology PartnersQuality Auto Service CenterR. Smith & Sons TruckingTolman’s Wholesale MeatsWest Michigan Glass Block
One Year of MembershipA&K Finishing, Inc.Discovery Financial, LLC E&M Design SolutionsGreat Lakes Waterproo# ng CoPraecipio IncorporatedRoss Medical Education CenterS. Abraham & Sons, IncStandard Lifters LLC
Anniversary Date UnavailableBlue Cross Blue Shield of MichiganCBS OutdoorGrand Rapids Association of REALTORSHome Builders Association of Greater Grand RapidsMichigan Coating Products, Inc.Michigan Commercial Space AdvisorsOwen-Ames-Kimball Co.PNC BankRaymond James & AssociatesThe Employers’ Association
For too long our federal government has made � scal prom-ises it cannot seem to keep. The American people are on the hook for over $100 trillion dollars in unfunded promises and $15 trillion dollars in current debt. This equates to over $48,000 for every citizen and $135,000 for every taxpayer, and the number is rising. For the sake of future generations, and our country’s competitiveness, it cannot be ignored any longer.
To address this critical issue, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce will host former U.S. Comptroller and current President and CEO of Comeback America, the Honorable David M. Walker, as keynote speaker for “Living on Borrowed Time – Solving America’s Debt Crisis.” The luncheon will take place on April 3, 2012 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.
David Walker served under both the Clinton and Bush ad-ministrations as the head of the Government Accountabil-ity O� ce. With his straight talk approach, Walker will detail
how we accumulated such debt and will provide practical,
common sense answers on how to address it.
Living on Borrowed Time: Solving America’s Debt CrisisPlease join us for this important event and learn more about what
needs to happen to solve this � nancial crisis. For more informa-tion, please visit www.grandrapids.org/spring-advocacy.
As a part of the event, Chamber members are also invited to at-tend the VIP reception beforehand to support Friends of West Michigan Business, the Chamber’s Political Action Committee that is dedicated to supporting pro-business candidates at all levels of government. This event will be limited to the � rst 100 people and a separate ticket is required.
Corporate tables and sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Leslee Fritz at 616.771.0357 for more information on sponsorship levels and bene� ts. To ensure your company name and logo appears on promotional materials for the event, the deadline for select sponsorships are March 25, 2012.
Understand America’s Debt Crisis, Take the Fiscal IQ Quiz!
By understanding America’s debt crisis you can help become a part of a solution. In preparation for our signature event featuring David Walker, we are encouraging our members to take the Fiscal IQ Quiz.
Visit www.� scaliq.net to take this quick and simple quiz.
111 Pearl St. NW | Grand Rapids, MI 49503
PERIODICALPOSTAGE
PAIDGRAND RAPIDS, MI
West Michigan Business Day at the Capitol a Success!Sixty members boarded the bus to Lansing for West Michigan Business Day at the Capitol on February 21.
During West Michigan Busi-ness Day at the capital, our membership showcased their commitments and contribu-tions to Michigan’s economy with lawmakers in Lansing. This year we presented lawmakers with a big thank you for what they have done to improve the business environment in Michigan and a reminder to keep pushing ahead in Michigan’s reinvention!
The message was well received and once in Lansing, participants took part in meetings with legislators, committee hearings, net-working and legislative sessions. The West Michigan Business Expo and Luncheon was once again a huge success as we interacted and networked with over 50 legislators and 150 key sta� .
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce member, John Roggow,
President of Marshall Plastic Film, joined us at the Capitol, “The
opportunity to meet with representatives and discuss issues
critical to business in
Michigan was truly
appreciated. I look
forward to being part
of this trip on an an-
nual basis.”
We would like to
thank sponsors Am-
way, AT&T, Blue Cross
Blue Shield of Michi-
gan, Lacks Enterprises,
Priority Health, Indian Trails, Meijer and Truscott Rossman for
supporting this event.
Many important decisions impacting business still need to be
made in Lansing and that’s why the Chamber is already plan-
ning for another West Michigan Business Day at the Capitol in
2013. Make sure you join us!
For more information on our advocacy e� orts, please contact
