ATHENA Awards to be Presented September 14
This year’s ATHENA Award Luncheon will honor 2011 award recipient Kathy Crosby, CEO of Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids, Inc. At the event, we will also name the 2011 ATHENA Young Professional Award recipient as well as present scholarships to six non-traditional students, deserving women who over the age of 30 who have returned to school to complete their degrees.
Sponsorships are still available! A portion of each event sponsorship helps fund the ATHENA Scholarships, so your organization will not only show support for our community’s female business leaders, but helping create future leaders as well! Please contact Leslee Fritz for sponsorship information.
Join us for this inspirational event! Register online or by calling 616.771.0303.
Date | Wednesday, September 14
Time | 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location | Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Ambassador Ballroom
Cost | $50/Members, $75/Future members, $700/Corporate table of 10
Premier Sponsor:
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Why the new Detroit Bridge matters to West Michigan
The following commentary by Chamber President & CEO Rick Baker has appeared in newspapers throughout West Michigan.
Look around. Just about everything in your home or office was once on a truck.
Integrated supply chains make our lives possible. Access to reliable, efficient transportation routes is a critical component to trade and in deciding where businesses set up shop. To ensureWest Michigancompanies can compete, they need the infrastructure to connect them to the marketplace. That is why the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is strongly supporting the New International Trade Crossing, the proposed bridge to link Detroitand Canada.
The chamber’s mission is to develop businesses and communities. The new bridge will support 109,000 jobs inWest Michigan. That’s right. Not Detroit,West Michigan.
Read more...
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Success in Family-Owned Businesses Over Multiple Generations
The Annual Family Business Forum features keynote speaker Charles “Charlie” Kittredge, CEO and 6th generation, Crane & Co., Inc. Charlie will share with us how his company has weathered more than 200 years of changing markets and multiple generations to become one of the world’s great high tech currency making companies.
Following Charlie’s presentation, three family business owners will share their stories of overcoming challenges in a panel presentation, “The Unconventional Road to Success.”
To register, contact Ellie Frey at 616.331.6827.
Date | Friday, Sept. 30
Time | 7:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Location | Frederik MeijerGardens & SculpturePark, 1000 East BeltlineNE
Cost | Free to Family Business Alliance members, $80/non-members. Includes breakfast.
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Spaces available in Institute for Healing Racism Program this fall
The eight-week Institute for Healing Racism has a few spaces still available for those individuals and organizations interested in healing racism, inequality, and building an inclusive community.
Don’t wait to register for this amazing professional development opportunity! Register online or contact Farris Withers at 616.771.0320 by September 9.
Dates | Thursdays, September 15 - November 3
Time | 7:30 – 10 a.m.
Location | Hope Network Learning Center, 775 36th St. S.E.
Cost | $125 for Chamber members from non-profit organizations, $225 for members from for-profits. For future members, $175/non-profit and $275/for-profit.
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New Golf event – The Challenge Cup
Don’t put those clubs away just yet! Play in The Challenge Cup, a team-based golf event on September 21. Played with teams of eight, this match has a similar format to the PGA’s Ryder Cup or LPGA’s Solheim Cup Challenges where results of separate matched result in points for the team. It will be played at Thousand Oaks Golf Club on Wednesday, September 21, with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Cost is $125/golfer.
Put your best team together and see if you have what it takes to capture the Challenge Cup! Details and registration are available at www.grandrapids.org/challenge.
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Don’t miss the monthly events designed to help you network and use your membership to its fullest!
Chamber Member Orientation – perfect for new members or those who want a refresher on how membership can grow your business. Wednesday, Sept. 7. More info…
Business Exchange Luncheon – The Chamber’s #1 networking event! Thursday, Sept. 8. More info…
Business After Hours – relaxed networking in a social atmosphere. Thursday, Sept. 15. More info…
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Development Your Leadership Skills
Inside Grand Rapids – Inside Grand Rapids (IGR) connects the leaders in your organization to the key initiatives shaping Grand Rapids while they gain an understanding of how our community works by enrolling them in this unique community orientation program. Register today for the October 5 - 7 session. More info...
Leadership Advantage – Leadership Advantage (LA) is ideal for seasoned leaders seeking new knowledge in critical thinking that they can apply in three domains - at home, at work and/or in the community. Applications are due by October 21. More info…
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“The Fix on 196” project up for national award: Vote to help win 10K for local charity
The I-196 reconstruction project, a project the Chamber was heavily involved in, is up for a national award. The support of area organizations and the business community was key in executing and delivering “The Fix” as promised.
Please help Grand Rapidswin this award buy voting in the People’s Choice Award category. The winner gets to donate $10,000 to the charity or scholarship of their choosing. Visit www.americastransportationaward.org, you can vote as often as you like.
Here are the links to the two project videos.
Animation: ww.youtube.com/watch?v=v_PstCprpQkProject
Overview and local support: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdQ41ScfuKg
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