Southwest Michigan First

Southwest Michigan First Chamber's Pins Not Putts Chamber Bowling Classic FUNdraisier at Revel & Roll West was an absolute blast! The TowerPinkster team took home the grand prize of a $2,500 donation to their nonprofit of choice—Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo—to continue their amazing work serving and empowering the youth in our communities. Thank you to our incredible Chamber ambassadors for your help and support during the event and to each and every bowler who was in it to win it! Lots of memories and connections were made as you can see! We want to especially thank all our amazing sponsors as this event simply wouldn't be possible if not for your generous support. T-shirt Sponsors: Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan Strike-a-Thon sponsors: ELITE COMPANIES Overneath Creative Bowling BINGO sponsors: Visiting Angels of Southwest Michigan Kalsee Credit Union Provision Living Senior Communities 11th Frame Happy Hour sponsors: College Hunks Hauling Junk Kalamazoo Slick Raven Marketing Nametag sponsors: People Forward The Barton Group Friends of SMF Chamber: Wightman  Rolling River Apparel and Gifts Nulty Insurance Abonmarche Byce   Western Michigan University-Corporate Relations Special thanks to News Anchor Andy Dominianni at WWMT-TV News Channel 3 for emceeing this event!

Join the Southwest Michigan First Chamber at our monthly Rise & Thrive Coffee Connect event tomorrow morning at the Judge Charles A. Pratt Justice Center! Reserve your spot at the link below. https://lnkd.in/gh39skdm Special thanks to Honor Credit Union for sponsoring this event.

Last week, several of our team members volunteered to help Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity cleanup their grounds. We collected trash, picked up sticks, and weeded the front landscaping beds on a beautiful summer afternoon. Since 1983, they've been bringing people together to build, repair, and restore homes, and so much more. Thank you for all you do to provide help and hope to the communities you serve. Southwest Michigan First and Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity are #BetterTogether.

The first session of our newly relaunched First Up program was a huge success! First Up is our premier leadership development program specifically designed for early career professionals with five years of experience or less. We met with 34 young professionals from diverse industries and talked about: ◾ What attributes great leaders have ◾ Your personal brand (passion + style + impact = brand) ◾ Becoming the leader you want to be ◾ Appointing a personal board of directors Special thanks to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for generously sponsoring this program and investing in the next generation of leaders in our region!

Join us on Tuesday, August 27 to learn how ModeShift Kalamazoo is engaging the local community and advocating for alternative transportation policy and infrastructure. Their goal is to make walking and biking in our neighborhoods a safe and easy transportation choice for everyday activities. Green Drinks Kalamazoo is an informal monthly meetup that discusses anything under the umbrella of sustainability. Come one, come all! https://lnkd.in/eqmVvVdg

Who do you feel has made a significant impact in the greater Kalamazoo region? We want to know! Nominations are NOW OPEN for the 2024 Chamber’s Choice Awards. Help us identify and celebrate the businesses that have made a huge impact in the greater Kalamazoo region over the past year. This is your chance to nominate your favorite in each category! Find out all the details and cast your vote here: https://lnkd.in/gb9mPEUP

A very special thank you to our friends at Vineyard Assisted Living Community for hosting our monthly Chamber Connect last week! We enjoyed beautiful weather, delicious food, and a fantastic turnout at their location in Texas Township. Their mission is to provide an atmosphere for each resident to thrive, flourish, and function at the highest level possible, and they've created a lovely place where those they serve can do all those things. For their charitable partner, Vineyard Assisted Living chose COTA CHILDRENS ORGAN TRANSPLANT ASSOCIATION INC, a nonprofit organization that helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. We also heard a touching story from a family in Gobles who has greatly benefited from COTA's services. Since 1986, COTA raised more than $160 million-all with no cost to the families. Thank you, Vineyard Assisted Living, for hosting this event, bringing attention to an incredible nonprofit organization, and continuing to make a significant impact in our community!

We are thrilled to invite you to an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Stryker Medical, where innovation meets customer-centered design. Join the MIX community on Wednesday, August 21 for a fantastic opportunity to witness innovation in action as you network with the best in the field. Food and beverages will be provided. Reserve your spot today! https://lnkd.in/gHhAUu2x

Are you a small business owner looking for some resources that can really benefit your business? Join Southwest Michigan First for a virtual event this Thursday, August 15. We've partnered with not one, but TWO local experts to help you access the invaluable resources available to you through the Small Business Development Center and equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to safeguard your business from cybersecurity threats. You do not want to miss this one. Reserve your spot today! https://lnkd.in/e8HCxCGN

The Southwest Michigan First Chamber is hosting two events this week: ◾Chamber Member Orientation - meet the Chamber team and learn how you can make the most of your Chamber membership ◾1st Annual Chamber Bowling Classic: Pins Not Putts FUNdraiser - get your bowl on! We have room for one more four-person team! https://lnkd.in/gy5jrSbk