Recap of the West Michigan Chamber of Commerce Policy Conference

On April 16, 2024, the West Michigan Chamber of Commerce hosted its highly anticipated Policy Conference at the Frederick Meijer Gardens. The event brought together business leaders, policymakers, and community members to discuss the region's pressing issues and opportunities. The event focused on fostering the excitement of public-private partnerships, encouraging political discourse, and highlighting the perspectives of small businesses in West Michigan. The day was filled with lots of valuable content.

11:30 a.m. Arrival and Lunch

12:00 p.m. Welcome

Alisha Cleslak, Public Policy Committee Chair of the Chamber and Chief Legal and Risk Officer from Gordon Food Service, kicked off the event with a warm welcome.

There was also the first-ever Civic Bee in Grand Rapids, and the winner was present to receive recognition. His name was JaeEun Yun from Byron Center Christian School. Huge Congrats to JaeEun!

Photo courtesy of Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce

12:15 p.m. Civic Discourse Presentation

Lisa Perhamus of the GVSU Center for Civic Discourse and Stan Greene, Executive Coach & Leadership Development Consultant of Spoken Futures, shared insights about civic discourse. They provided a crash course on how to respectfully ask questions to understand something from someone else's point of view. Their points were very well received. I look forward to using their tips, such as asking "what" and "how" questions instead of "why" questions when trying to understand someone's viewpoint.

12:30 p.m. Election Integrity Panel

John Helmholdt, President of Seyferth PR, led a panel on election integrity with Joel Hondorp, the city clerk of Grand Rapids, and Lisa Posthumus-Lyons, our clerk of Kent County. I really enjoyed this panel, which reminded us to go to the source when we have questions or want to verify something is accurate.

12:50 p.m. Chamber Updates

Andy Johnston, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Strategic Engagement for the Chamber, shared some data points. You can read all about them in this MLive article.

Photo courtesy of Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce

1:00 p.m. Business Panel

There was a business panel that I had the honor to be a part of, and I had the privilege of sharing the stage with Jonny Brann Jr. from Interphase Interiors and Jaycee Schachter, Founder of Metric Structures. Our panel discussion delved into the unique qualities that define our region. We explored how West Michigan is renowned for its strong community ethos and the emphasis on giving back.

Jonny Brann Jr. highlighted that West Michigan's culture of care is a cornerstone of our community. We are judged more by what we give than by what we get.

Jaycee shared how public safety is a main concern for her and the importance of being proactive rather than reactive, as many other cities have done.

I shared that having deep roots in our community is important, and one of the ways Swift Printing does this is by being active in the StockBridge Business Association, where I serve as Treasurer alongside Mitch Cook from Bridge Street Market (SBA President) and board member Ryan Wallkes. Together, we have really put in the effort to focus on the positives in our community and help foster a place to start and build genuine business relationships.

1:45 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Amy Taylor

Amy Taylor, President of the Downtown Columbus Development Corporation, shared inspiring content on the ways she has led Columbus through several private-public ventures to make their downtown the poster child for downtowns. She was super entertaining. She shared that if you don’t create a perception that downtown is safe, people will not come downtown. She also mentioned that surface parking lots make her sad. I hope one day I can present as well as she did!

Photo courtesy of Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce

2:25 p.m. Local Government Panel

There was a panel with Gary Carey, Mayor of Walker; Stephen Kepley, Mayor of Kentwood; and Cameron Van Wyngarden, Township Superintendent of Plainfield Charter Township. I liked how they shared that we want communities that people want to "get to" versus "got to," and when people feel like they belong, good things happen.

Photo courtesy of Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce

3:00 p.m. Mayoral Candidates

One of the notable moments of the conference was hearing from the two mayoral candidates: David LaGrand and Senita Lenear. The interviews (not debates, sadly) were moderated by the amazing and talented Casey Jones of WOOD TV8. Their speeches provided insights into their visions for the future of our city, making it an engaging and enlightening experience for all attendees.

Networking Opportunities

The event also offered valuable networking opportunities. At the end of the day, there was an early happy hour to meet and connect with people in a casual setting.

Impact on the Business Community

The conference was a long but inspiring event, showcasing the dedication of so many individuals who care deeply about our community. The insights and connections made during the conference will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the West Michigan business community.

Memorable Moments

One of the memorable moments for me was on political discourse, emphasizing the importance of having healthy discussions. The thought of finding more of what we have in common versus what divides us encapsulated the spirit of the conference, highlighting the need for unity and collaboration to move our city forward. Check out this event that a few colleagues of mine are putting on for this topic on May 22.

Closing Thoughts

Huge thanks to the Chamber of Commerce for all they do for our community! The event was a lot of fun. I can’t thank you enough for asking me to speak on the panel.

I have really been enjoying public speaking, and the only way to get better is to practice. If your organization is interested in having me speak, I’d love to discuss it with you.