Chamber Blog

The “Dog Days” of summer are upon us! (Did you know? The hot, sultry days got their nickname because they coincide with the dawn rising of Sirius, the Dog Star.) If there’s one thing the Chamber team loves, it’s our canine companions. In honor of the Dog Days, we’re highlighting some Chamber members who can […]

Once upon a time, women didn’t have the right to vote or drive… Today, after years of fiercely fighting for women’s rights, individuals are still challenging, inspiring and innovating their communities every day to be a strong force for change. At the 30th Annual ATHENA Awards Celebration, we will gather to celebrate these individuals. The […]

Leadership Grand Rapids (LGR) is designed to be unlike any other leadership program, where instead of analyzing leadership tactics and principles, participants are asked to use a systems thinking approach to tackle real issues facing our community. This approach to the programming is meant to foster community trustees who will leave the class with a […]

In February of 2018, former Grand Valley State University President Thomas Haas announced his coming retirement, and the search for the university’s fifth president began. Months later, it was announced that Dr. Philomena Mantella, former Vice President & CEO of Northeastern University’s Lifelong Learning Network, would take up the mantle as President. As a first-generation […]

Many people will tell you they could be better than [insert politician’s name], but actually running to become a politician isn’t quite as easy. Running for local or state office is a big decision and it can be difficult to know where to begin exploring. Turning your passion for public service into a winning campaign […]

The Chamber’s Government Affairs team is working with members to continue our momentum in West Michigan with effective advocacy on the issues that matter to you most: talent, fiscal policy, regulations, health care, economic development and more. Here are some of the key highlights from the first half of 2019: 71 Government Affairs Member Assists […]

“When you’re able to combine your job with your passion, you’d almost do it for free,” said Joe Matthews, Vice President of Purchasing and Diversity Officer for Gentex Corporation. “Don’t tell my boss that,” he added with a laugh. One look around Joe’s office and you can see he is passionate about his work. With […]

School’s out, warm weather is upon us, and the first official day of summer is just around the corner. That can only mean one thing in Beer City… patio season! With Grand Rapids’ ever-growing food and beverage scene, there’s no shortage of outdoor seating to enjoy Michigan’s summer weather. While there are many great options […]