Southwest Michigan First

The Southwest Michigan First Chamber is excited to announce the newest addition to the Chamber team...introducing the Chamber Connector! This brand-new, biannual publication is available in both print and digital, and each edition will feature a business-related theme. This time, the theme is early career professionals and how our community is working to attract and engage them. You'll more than likely see some familiar faces in this issue! Plus, you'll meet the team that supports the Chamber behind the scenes as you discover all the activities, events, initiatives, and members that our Chamber is engaged with. Click the link below to see the inaugural issue produced in partnership with Townsquare Media. While you’re there, check out our member advertisers and show them a little love when you can. Printed versions of The Chamber Connector are available in our offices while they last.  https://lnkd.in/gTKyTQ9a Oh, and if you're interested in learning more about Chamber membership, email chamber@southwestmichiganfirst.com and let us know how we can support your efforts!

We always knew that "Fun Awaits You in Kalamazoo" and now others will know it too! Check out Discover Kalamazoo's new tourism marketing campaign in partnership with Michigan's Chief Growth Officer, Hilary Doe. This initiative is designed to inspire those in neighboring states to envision Kalamazoo County as a prime location to not just visit, but to live, work, play, and thrive. We are thrilled to be one of 50+ community organizations that Discover Kalamazoo partnered with, including Kalamazoo County Government, City of Kalamazoo, and Western Michigan University, to create a marketing strategy that appeals to both visitors and long-term residents.

We had an incredible day diving into Inclusive Leadership at our July Leadership Greater Kalamazoo (LGK) event! The day kicked off with a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) overview and then we explored generational differences in leadership styles. We also welcomed two special guests: ◾Marcy L. Peake, MA, LPC, NCC,CFLE from The Center for Cultural Agility guided us through Cultural Sharing and Cultural Agility. ◾Miranda Grunwell from the DISABILITY NETWORK SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN delivered a powerful presentation on Ableism. Thank you to all who participated and contributed to these important conversations! Are you interested in learning more about a future LGK cohort? Download the playbook, meet the current class, or fill out a form at https://lnkd.in/giqrE4K6 to let us know you are interested.

The Southwest Michigan First Chamber is all about creating meaningful connections! We are offering two events this week designed to help you learn more about our communities and build your professional network: ◾Rise & Thrive Coffee Connect at Abbey42/Westwind Construction ◾Chamber Connect at LaFontaine Jeep Kalamazoo Register here: https://lnkd.in/gy5jrSbk

What a fantastic time at the MIX Block Party in Comstock Commerce Park last week! Hosted by three incredible organizations, the event kicked off with a special Discover Design session that wowed us with their ongoing commitment to innovation. Next, we toured three companies to showcase the innovative spirit and future-focused investments of each company in our Southwest Michigan design community. 🔴 Impact Label Corp. impressed as a global leader, showcasing its cutting-edge technologies, from domed labels and graphic overlays for consumer products to safety and warning labels for industrial applications. 🔴 Bell's Brewery shared its rich history and exciting future as we toured its plant and saw how its iconic brews are made–always a hit! 🔴 Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet treated us to delicious food prepared by their very own employees on their “Ferrari of Grills." With more than 150 attendees, it was a celebration of our thriving local businesses and creative communities. Thank you to Impact Label Corporation, Bell's Brewery, and Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet for providing wonderful networking opportunities along with a shared passion for design that made this event unforgettable!

We're looking for an experienced marketing and communications senior associate to join our team! If you're passionate about driving engagement and have a love for all things digital marketing, we want to hear from you. Apply now and help us continue to make a positive impact in the Southwest Michigan region! https://lnkd.in/gTrP9TwB

Calling all interns! Make the most of your internship experience by striking up some new connections. What better way to do just that than by attending our final intern mixer of the summer on Wednesday, July 24 at Revel & Roll West? Reserve your spot now for this free event and get ready to roll! This event is made possible by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s You Can In Michigan campaign, The Kalamazoo Promise, and Southwest Michigan First. https://lnkd.in/gjBwxA3D

We have three fabulous interns this summer! If you are over our way, stop by and say, "hi" to (from left to right) Diego, Rodney, and Dylan. Diego is a The Kalamazoo Promise intern who just graduated from Western Michigan University with a BBA in business law. Go Broncos! He always has a smile on his face and is so willing to step in and help out wherever needed. Rodney also just graduated from Western with a major in urban, regional, and environmental planning and a minor in journalism. You'll most likely see him at our events and may even catch him with a camera in his hand! Dylan is heading into his junior year studying business economics and environmental and sustainability studies at Grand Valley State University. He is supporting our economic development team this summer. When we asked him what his party trick was, he said he was "decently good at the Rasputin dance". If you are interning this summer at a company in Southwest Michigan, you won't want to miss our final intern mixer at Revel and Roll West on Wednesday, July 24. Register today! https://lnkd.in/gjBwxA3D

Join us on Tuesday, July 23 to hear from Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy's (SWMLC) President and Executive Director Mike Larson and Land Protection Director Kaleigh Winkler. They will provide an overview of the organization, share ways landowners can protect their land, and the future with their Conservation and Climate Resiliency Plan, Nature’s Network. Register today! https://lnkd.in/g7hnPQad

To continue support for our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, Southwest Michigan First created an employee resource group in August 2023 called Better Together. Dedicated time and space are devoted to this monthly workgroup, which provides our team with a unique opportunity to volunteer together, learn about social issues affecting our region, and foster a more inclusive workplace culture. This month, we were thrilled to welcome Mary Balkema, housing director, and Willa DiTaranto, housing project manager, from Kalamazoo County Government to our offices for a special presentation to our team members about their countywide housing strategy. We learned about the "Homes for All" millage and how they are partnering with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address the significant housing challenges with the ultimate goal of creating more safe and affordable housing for Kalamazoo County residents. Though there is much work to do, many positive strides have been made and even more are underway. Special thanks to both Mary and Willa for sharing their vast knowledge and resources on this important topic. We'd also like to thank Jim Escamilla and Michael Flynn of Abonmarche Byce, Troy Cuvelier of Integrated Smart Technologies, L.L.C., and Jack Endres of @mannhummel for attending this important presentation. If you are interested in learning more, please download a copy of the latest Housing Annual Report from Kalamazoo County Government at this link: https://lnkd.in/gXrS8nNi We are better together. #BetterTogether