Southwest Michigan First’s Post

Southwest Michigan First's annual MIX Design Day was a huge success! This year, the design community explored the ever-evolving craft of design—the space where tradition and innovation meet and where creativity knows no bounds. We took a look at the value of design as a strategic tool that drives innovation, enhances customer experiences, and elevates brand identity. For companies, that means staying competitive and relevant. For individuals, that means pushing boundaries, solving complex problems, and bringing visionary ideas to life. Huge thank you to our sponsors: Abonmarche Byce, Landscape Forms, Newell Brands, Western Michigan University Richmond Institute for Design and Innovation (RIDI), and Stryker as well as our panelists, participants, and the MIX planning team for another incredible event!

Would you like to be part of a future Leadership Greater Kalamazoo (LGK) cohort? Applications are being accepted for our class of 2025 now through Friday, October 25. Leadership Greater Kalamazoo is an intensive program that develops current and emerging community leaders and equips and empowers them for the future. Attendees participate in interactive training sessions, shared experiences, community tours, and networking opportunities to accelerate leadership growth, development, and impact in the greater Kalamazoo area. Throughout ten once-a-month sessions, participants will: ◾Discover their own unique strengths ◾Learn the importance of wellbeing in the workplace ◾Lead high-performance teams ◾Explore inclusion in the workplace ◾Navigate adaptive change, and more For more information or to apply, visit https://lnkd.in/giqrE4K6. Southwest Michigan First is proud to bring you Leadership Greater Kalamazoo in partnership with our presenting sponsor, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

The Southwest Michigan First Chamber was excited to celebrate the grand opening of Enlightened Recovery, a new drug addiction recovery center on Alamo Avenue in Kalamazoo. The 90-bed facility offers a holistic approach to treatment that goes beyond detox, providing evidence-based mental health services and wellness support for mind, spirit, and body. The new facility offers hope and help to those struggling with addictions and in need of a second chance. City of Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief David Boysen, State Representative Julie M. Rogers, and other elected officials and community leaders were also there to celebrate the occasion.

The Southwest Michigan First Chamber is hosting two exciting events this week: ◾Chamber Member Orientation: if you are a new or current Chamber member, but have not attended an orientation yet, you are missing out! Meet your Chamber team AND learn how to maximize your investment during this lunch session. ◾Seeds for Growth | Successfully Navigating Entrepreneurship: This third and final event in the Seeds For Growth Series brings not one, but TWO panels together to share the community resources and inspiring success stories you need to help you successfully navigate entrepreneurship in the greater Kalamazoo region. Special thanks to Millennium Catering and Events for sponsoring Chamber member orientation and to Huntington National Bank for sponsoring our Seeds for Growth Series! Learn more and reserve your spot here: https://lnkd.in/gENQBuWS

We want everyone to know they can Thrive in Southwest Michigan. That's why earlier this year, we launched the Thrive in Southwest Michigan campaign—a new initiative to attract a talented workforce to our region. With a high quality of life and lower cost of living, four seasons to enjoy, and a plethora of arts, culture, and unique entertainment options, Southwest Michigan truly offers something for everyone. From young professionals to families of all sizes and types, and everything in between, Southwest Michigan is THE place to live, work, play, and thrive. This initiative is a joint effort between Southwest Michigan First and our regional partners. Thank you to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Battle Creek Unlimited, BRANCH COUNTY ECONOMIC GROWTH ALLIANCE INC, Cornerstone Alliance, St. Joseph County EDGE, Market One, the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, and many other organizations for your continued support in showing people how they too can Thrive in Southwest Michigan! #thriveswm #firstfriday

Congratulations to the 34 talented early-career professionals who graduated from our newly relaunched FIRST Up leadership program! Over the past eight weeks, participants engaged in four transformative sessions, with the final one focusing on Gallup Strengths, reflection, and goal-setting for the years ahead. During the final event, participants had a chance to connect one last time, sharing their unique CliftonStrengths and discussing what sets them apart in both their personal and professional lives. They dove into their top five strengths, explored the domains they most align with, and reflected on the positive aspects (balconies) and potential vulnerabilities (basements) of their strengths. Are you an early-career professional or know someone who could benefit from this leadership development program? Applications are now open for FIRST Up 2025! Learn more and apply today: https://lnkd.in/gjAAJBzB A very special thank you to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for their generous support!

The Southwest Michigan First Chamber and TowerPinkster were thrilled to present a check for $2,500 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo! The team at Tower Pinkster bowled their hearts out and won the grand prize at the First Annual Chamber Bowling Classic: Pins Not Putts. They chose the Boys and Girls Club as their nonprofit partner because of their mission to enhance the quality of life of young people through education, art, health, and recreation, especially for those who need it most. They've been changing the lives of the youth in our community for more than 70 years. Thank you once again to everyone who participated in our first annual FUNdraiser and our generous sponsors. We can't wait until next year's event!

If you’ve been wanting to connect but can’t make it to after-work events, the Southwest Michigan First Chamber created Rise & Thrive just for you. Our September event took place at the Portage District Library where we heard from Library Director Christy Klien and took a tour of the recently renovated facility. Officials from the City of Portage, Michigan were on hand to share important updates. Special thanks to Honor Credit Union for sponsoring this event!

The Southwest Michigan First Chamber is hosting two exciting events this week: Quarterly Downtown Business Townhall at The Catalyst Center - join us as we share important updates on: ◾holiday preparation and programming ◾safety improvements ◾parking implementation ◾economic vitality studies with Western Michigan University, ◾and more! Small & Mighty Business Series: Setting SMART Goals for 2025 with SCORE Mentors - we'll help you turn your goals into an action plan that will help you make your business goals a reality. Learn more and reserve your spot here: https://lnkd.in/gy5jrSbk

The Southwest Michigan First Chamber helped Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan "Paint the Town Green" at the Chamber Connect last week! Chief Executive Officer Amy Sachs Kuchta and others spoke about the incredible work that BBBS is doing in Southwest Michigan and challenged us to get involved by becoming a Big or making a donation. Mentorship matters, which is why they offer many ways to make a difference in a child's life, whether you have a little or a lot of time to volunteer. Attendees enjoyed delicious food, tours of the newly renovated space, and lots of networking opportunities. Thank you, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan, for the significant difference you are making in the next generation!