Features
Bing Goei to be honored with Diversity Visionary Award
Business and community leader Bing Goei, CEO of Eastern Floral and The Goei Center, has been named the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Diversity Visionary Award recipient!
A successful member of the Grand Rapids business community for nearly 40 years, Mr. Goei is a community leader with a passion and vision for an inclusive community. He is a tireless champion for economic opportunity and inclusion of all people. In 2009, he founded the International Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence at The Goei Center, a business incubator that provides collaborative space and other resources for minority- and woman-owned businesses.
Mr. Goei’s leadership has also had significant impact on community organizations and initiatives, including the Multiracial Association of Professionals, Coalition for Racial and Ethnic Diversity, and the City of Grand Rapids’ Community Relations Commission.
The Diversity Visionary Award is given to a person or organization that demonstrates excellence and commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion, innovative leadership in improving cultural competency and the ability to elevate and encourage ongoing efforts that contribute to a pluralistic and welcoming community.
Mr. Goei will accept the award at the Diversity Visionary Award Celebration on March 29. The dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel’s Ambassador Ballroom.
The event will also feature a keynote from Georgianna Melendez, co-director of the Commonwealth Compact, a Massachusetts initiative established to make that state a world leader in diversity and inclusion. Ms. Melendez will speak about the development of the statewide initiative, why more than 200 organizations—including some of the state’s largest businesses—have signed on to be a part of the collaboration and the benchmarking tool they use.
All Chamber members are invited to attend the Diversity Visionary Award Celebration! The Chamber member price is $60 per person, future-member price is $75, and corporate tables of 10 are available for $750. Call 616.771.0303 or visit www.grandrapids.org/visionaryaward.com to register.
Show your support of diversity initiatives in the community by sponsoring this event. Contact Leslee Fritz at 616.771.0357 or fritzl@grandrapids.org for information.
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Luncheon with Governor Snyder – April 11
Governor Rick Snyder will address the business community at a Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Monday, April 11, 2011.
Chamber and community members are invited to attend this special event, which will take place from 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the Ambassador Ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids. A VIP PAC Reception will precede the event from 11 - 11:45 a.m.
“This will be a great opportunity for our members to learn more about the Governor’s proposals to help revive our state’s economy,” says Jeanne Englehart, President & CEO of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are honored to host Governor Snyder for what will surely be a timely discussion given his work to reform government, address our structural budget deficits and improve the business climate.”
Corporate tables, sponsorship and tickets to the luncheon are available. For more information, or to register, visit www.grandrapids.org/govluncheon.
Date | Monday, April 11, 2011
Time | 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location | Ambassador Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Tickets | Luncheon: $50. VIP PAC Reception: $100 (Personal Funds only, does NOT include admission to luncheon.)
Register to attend by calling the RSVP Hotline at 616.771.0303 or visiting www.grandrapids.org/govluncheon.
Questions? Contact Chris Glass at 616.711.0311.
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Chamber partnership with Hop In Deals offers members EXCLUSIVE daily deal advertising!
Our new partnership with Grand Rapids-based Hop In Deals brings members EXCLUSIVE discounts and advantages other businesses do not receive through www.HopInDeals.com, with ads being absolutely free.
Here’s how it works:
• You create a customized deal
• Hop In Deals publicizes your deal through their e-mail and social media channels. Because you are a Chamber member, we promote it too.
• Customers buy your deal, driving business to your door.
• The number of purchasers is capped so you don’t have more people redeeming the deal than you can handle.
• You receive 60% of the coupon sales.
For example, Merchant A, a Chamber member, contacts Hop In Deals and wants to offer a coupon: $25 for $50 worth of merchandise. When it is offered, 100 people buy the coupon, netting $2,500. Merchant A will receive $1,500 of the coupon sales from Hop In Deals.
This is a great way the Chamber is working to drive motivated customers right to your door. To learn more, e-mail GRChamber@hopindeals.com or call 877-HOP-2030.
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Upcoming Events & Programs
Employers: Need help retaining your diverse workforce?
The Multiracial Association of Professionals (MAP) is connecting newly relocated professionals of color to the Grand Rapids community by providing a “New Employee Connection Luncheon”.
Over a casual lunch on March 9 at Bistro Bella Vita, your employees will meet and build personal relationships with MAP members of color as they highlight and identify goods and services that cater to racial and ethnic communities.
Date | Wednesday, March 9
Time | Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Location | Bistro Bella Vita, 44 Grandville Ave. SW
For cost information and to register, please contact Farris Withers at 616.771.0320.
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Information session March 10 about Summer Minority Intern Reception
MAP will host an information session March 9 to discuss plans for the annual Summer Minority Intern Reception. If you are responsible for intern recruitment and management or inclusion activities at your company, you should attend.
Date | Thursday, March 10
Time | 8 -9 a.m.
Location | Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, 111 Pearl St. NW
Cost | None
Please register to attend by contacting Farris Withers at 616.771.0320.
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Teach a class at Chamber Summer School!
Are you an expert in your field? Would you like the opportunity to share your expertise with fellow Chamber members? If so, the Chamber would like to hear from you!
Visit www.grandrapids.org/summer-school to download the Request for Proposals form. Contact Bridget Meyers at 616.771.0342 for more information. Deadline for proposals is March 18.
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Family Business Alliance presents “Family Business, Family Philanthropy: Stories of Giving Together” on March 23
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Want to brush up on your networking skills?
Attend “Net-WORK-ing: Making it Work for You” on March 30 – Free for Chamber members and just $15 for future members. Click for details and registration.
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Apply for an ATHENA Scholarship
2011 Marks the 11th Year of the ATHENA Scholarship program in Grand Rapids, and in that time, more than $35,000 in scholarships has been awarded. The ATHENA Scholarship program supports women over 30 who are working toward their college degree. These scholarships are unique in that they can be used for whatever helps a women achieve her academic goals, whether that’s tuition and books or child care and transportation expenses.
If you know an area women over 30 who may benefit from this scholarship, encourage her to visit her college or university’s financial aid office or www.grandrapids.org/athena-award-program for application and more information. Deadline to apply is May 6, 2011.
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