Chamber Blog

Why would a talented young artist leave San Francisco to move to Grand Rapids? The short answer: ArtPrize. The long answer? Well, we’ll get to that. Jeffrey Augustine Songco was born and raised in New Jersey by his Filipino immigrant parents. Despite his devout Catholic upbringing, he is best known in the West Michigan art scene for […]

What’s the difference between cake and bundt cake? For some, it may just be the gaping hole in the middle. For bakers and foodies, they might know that bundt cake pans are designed to bake all sides evenly. For husband and wife team Scott and Christine Vogel, bundt cakes are the vehicle that made their entrepreneurial […]

On the 18th of October 2017 at 20 Monroe Live, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2017 EPIC Awards – where local organizations and professionals were recognized for their outstanding success stories and contributions to West Michigan’s thriving economy. “We are proud to support businesses and individuals growing, innovating, collaborating, and creating right here in West Michigan,” […]

Scott Crowley and his wife, Jen, launched Highland Group sixteen years ago with two things in mind: A commitment to delivering smart marketing strategies and great design solutions to their clients A desire to create a genuinely rewarding place for their team to work… and have a life. From their hip office space, complete with a scotch bar, […]

Filipino fashion designer RC Caylan first migrated to Grand Rapids for love. Today, he has a new dream: to bring Grand Rapids into the spotlight as a city of fashion. Born in Iligan City and raised in Batangas City, Philippines, RC grew up close to his grandmother, who was a seamstress. Constantly surrounded by sewing […]

In the heart of the booming construction industry is a company that makes more than just buildings. Troy Yarbrough started Preferred Construction Group (PCG) in 2011 with the vision of providing unique construction and remodeling for the medical and education sectors – all while making a positive impact on the community. It was not an easy road for […]

Once upon a time, women weren’t accepted in the workplace, let alone in the boardroom. Today, after years of fiercely fighting for equality, women are challenging, re-inventing, and innovating businesses and their communities – and are a strong force for economic change On September 14, 2017, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce awarded the prestigious ATHENA […]

The society we live, work and do business in is a rich tapestry of diversity – and it’s only growing more diverse by the year. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, our nation will no longer have any single ethnic or racial majorities by the year 2065! Despite this, many companies don’t make it a […]