Chamber Blog

Grand Rapids has a rich history with the arts alongside strong support from the philanthropic community in West Michigan. Venues such as Van Andel Arena bring in popular musical performances for the masses, while ArtPrize attracts thousands to the city to celebrate various art mediums. One staple of Grand Rapids’ arts culture is the Grand […]

A Hand Up, Not a Handout After three months on the job, the new Executive Director of Exodus Place Tom Hyde says he’s still learning something new every day. That’s because, as Hyde says, there is never a dull moment at the transitional housing facility. With a capacity to house 140 men, leading the day […]

The Emerging Leaders Series, one of four leadership programs at the Grand Rapids Chamber, is designed to help individuals grow their career and become actively engaged in the Grand Rapids community. This five-session program is built to engage participants in a variety of ways, from a bus tour of GR, to in-depth discussions about individual […]

Calling all creatives – from all industries! Are you passionate about creating great? Are you a doer, a maker, a creator, or a designer? If you have creativity and talent, but you’re looking for additional ways to grow professionally, we have an opportunity for you! The Grand Rapids Chamber has long supported the creative community, […]

Running a business requires accountability, transparency, vision, and traction. Successful companies thrive with structure and clearly-defined goals. When every person on the team is on the same page, understands the vision of the organization, and is held accountable by defined deliverables, success comes naturally. While no business is perfect, it’s important that organizations are consistently […]

Leadership Grand Rapids, often called LGR, is the premier leadership program of Grand Rapids. The program boasts alumni who are some of the city’s top change-makers over the last 30 years. A quick Google search for Professional Development programs in Grand Rapids will come up with hundreds of results, but what makes LGR stand out […]

No one likes going to the dentist. Or do they? For clients at Smile Dental Partners, dreading the dentist is a thing of the past, thanks to a unique approach to dental care that includes providing exceptional customer service. Dr. Darren Riopelle, owner of Smile Dental Partners, says that is the most satisfying part of […]

Today’s society is diverse in many ways and is growing ever more diverse by the day. But despite our growing diversity, racism is still pervasive in our culture. Racism is an issue on the minds of many at the moment, but many struggle to discuss it in an open and productive way. The Chamber’s Institute […]