table of
contents

Welcome Letter 6

Meet the Chamber 8

Recognizing Top Members 10

Events 12

Education 16

Social and Civil Connections 22

Job and Career Connections 28

Learn About Our Initiatives 34

Support Chamber Businesses 42

The Chamber Connector

July 2024

The Chamber Southwest Michigan First

180 East Water Street Suite 2690

Kalamazoo, MI 49007

269.553.9588 | www.southwestmichiganfirst.com

meet the chamber

Abbie Rumery
Abbie leads partnership services as vice president of investor relations at Southwest Michigan First. She supports the Chamber by collaborating daily with companies and community organizations that are fully committed to growing our region’s economy. Her passion for engaging people–Chamber members, Council of 100 investors, board members or other interested partners–and connecting them with all the benefits and services that Southwest Michigan First has to offer is evident in everything Abbie does. When she isn’t working, you can find her spending time with family outside, experiencing all the seasons in Michigan–especially the sun and water in the summer and snow in the winter–or watching her favorite movie over and over: What About Bob? Abbie is always so full of joy, and she happens to have THE best laugh ever!

Kevin Crittenden
In his role as associate director of the Chamber, Kevin partners with local businesses and Chamber members to provide them with the resources, information and connections they need to accelerate growth and reach their full potential. Through education and networking, he adds value to the business community by growing the Chamber’s membership base while fostering relationships with existing members. As a Western Michigan University alum, he especially enjoys making a difference in Kalamazoo and the surrounding region while appreciating all the amenities this area has to offer. In his spare time, you can find him eating sushi, working on his golf game, taking walks while his daughter rides her bike or attempting home projects. Oh, and he is unbeatable at Family Feud.

Kimberly Chmielewski
Kim (KimChm if you want to be friends!) serves as the marketing and communications associate at Southwest Michigan First. She supports the marketing and communication needs of several divisions, but especially enjoys promoting all the amazing work the Chamber is doing to grow and strengthen the business community in Kalamazoo County. She produces FIRST & 42, our region’s weekly digital newsletter, and promotes Chamber programs and events. If you attend a Chamber event or ribbon cutting ceremony, she’s usually the one with a camera in her hand. A proud Western alum, Kim is especially grateful to use her skills and talents to promote the region in which she grew up. In her free time, you can find her eating tacos, spending time with friends and family, referencing Seinfeld episodes or shopping for shoes.

Clarence Lloyd
As vice president of Southwest Michigan First and Chamber director, Clarence’s passion for connecting with others and improving the business environment for everyone throughout the greater Kalamazoo region shines through in everything he does. His background in business management coupled with his influential leadership style is the perfect combination to empower both solopreneurs and small to midsize local business owners, while promoting economic prosperity for all throughout Kalamazoo County. Curating content that’s both practical and relevant and facilitating connections in the business community helps expedite growth and support our Chamber members, helping them succeed—which lays the groundwork for all of us to succeed. If he could have only one superpower, he would be able to craft the perfect metaphor. When he’s not at work, you can find him enjoying a cocktail, relaxing in comfy clothes listening to The Eagles or heading to Detroit to cheer on his beloved Detroit Lions.

events

Small & Mighty
Business Series
The Small & Mighty Business series is a power-packed lunch and learn session tailored exclusively for small businesses with up to 30 employees. In partnership with SCORE Kalamazoo and others, you’ll hear from local experts and business mentors on a rotating set of relevant topics, perfect for small operations with big questions.

Chamber Connect
Perhaps the most valuable tool you have as a business leader is your network. The Southwest Michigan First Chamber is your partner in building that network. Join us each month at a different partner location to enjoy the best in productive networking with new faces, new places and big ideas.

Rise & Thrive Coffee Connect
Rise &Thrive Coffee Connect offers a convenient morning networking opportunity for those with busy evening schedules. Held monthly, this event provides insight into unique projects enhancing Kalamazoo County’s community, perfect for individuals passionate about staying informed and connected.

Moxie Mastermind Women’s Business Luncheon
Moxie Mastermind is a membership-based organization tailored for professional businesswomen in Southwest Michigan, aiming to connect, encourage and advance women in business within the community. Meetings are held monthly (except July) on the second Tuesday, offering opportunities for networking, learning and lunch. Join us as we partner to connect with the area’s top businesswomen and enhance your professional growth.

Member Orientation
Member Orientation provides guidance for new and returning members to maximize their investment, offering insights on leveraging benefits, introducing key partners and addressing questions. All members are encouraged to attend at least once. Registration is required as lunch is provided.

Black & Brown Connect Mixer
The Black & Brown Connect Mixer is part professional, part social and all about creating a collaborative network for connecting, sharing and making an impact together. For professionals of color, the atmosphere is truly unlike any other—always warm, engaging and refreshing. No matter what field you’re in, you can count on engaging and relevant discussion—leadership and other personal development opportunities—and insights from community leaders and mentors that will leave you feeling energized for the work ahead.

Business Breakfast Roundtables
The Chamber Business Breakfast Roundtable series is designed to help you tackle complex challenges while providing insights and best practices so you can do business better. Hear from a slate of locally-sourced subject matter experts and join in a roundtable discussion with other business leaders. Hot breakfast included.

Community TownHalls
Community Townhalls take place all across our footprint to engage with the local community, share updates and provide support based on each community’s specific challenges and goals. Here we gather input, discuss insights and work with local businesses and municipalities to address community concerns.

BOSS Workgroups
The Business Owners Sharing Solutions (BOSS) workgroup caters to busy, success-driven business owners and executives who are looking to engage in productive discussions, share solutions and explore opportunities in a small group setting. Open exclusively to Chamber member business owners and executive leaders, this forum allows you to build your business and relationships with other owners in an expert-facilitated setting.

Special Events
2024

July
July 18-28 – Downtown Kalamazoo Summer Restaurant Week

August
August 15 – 1st Annual Southwest Michigan First Chamber Bowling Classic

September
September 25-26 – The Co. Lab Small Business Conference in collaboration with Sleeping Giant Capital

October
October 8 – Connect for a Cause volunteer opportunity with Care Collective

October 20 – National Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day

November
November 15 – Southwest Michigan First Placemaking Summit

December
December 4 – Chamber Committee End-of-Year Celebration

education

Kalamazoo Valley Community College
prepares students for success

The college’s president offers valuable advice on maximizing your educational experience.

In 1966, citizens overwhelmingly voted to create Kalamazoo Valley Community College and in the nearly six decades since, the two-year college sets thousands of students on a path for bright futures and careers in the region. Students across four Kalamazoo area campuses can earn associate degrees in 60 fields of study and 50 certificate programs ranging from business and health care to technical and industrial occupations. Plus, tuition assistance programs help thousands earn degrees and certificates for free through the state’s Michigan Reconnect program..

“Kalamazoo Valley Community College offers a well-rounded curriculum that aims to prepare students not just for further academics, but for life after college as well,” said

L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D., president, Kalamazoo Valley Community College. “In addition to providing a strong foundation in general education areas like writing, math, sciences and humanities, Kalamazoo Valley’s programs emphasize developing practical career skills through hands-on learning opportunities.”

Internships, clinicals, labs and other applied experiences offer students the chance to get real-world experiences before graduation.

“Kalamazoo Valley also focuses on building essential transferable skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and teamwork that are vital for success in any career path. Overall, the well-designed curricula at the college strive to create a comprehensive educational experience that equips students with both subject mastery and professional capabilities for the workforce,” he said.

Student clubs expand the educational experience beyond the classroom walls. Kalamazoo Valley offers five sports teams, including men’s and women’s basketball, men’s baseball, and women’s softball and volleyball.

More than 20 special interest and academics-based clubs and organizations currently serve the college with a diverse array of options. Examples include Brewing Club, Dance Club, Global Student Union, LGBTQ+ Club, Sciences Club, Student Veterans of America and Valley Writers Association, which unite students with common interests.

“We encourage students to consider starting one if the community they seek isn’t on campus,” Washington advised. “We want every student to find their community on our campus.”

Advisors and counselors work closely with students to help them navigate the process and maximize their potential through coursework and other avenues.

“They assist students in mapping out their academic journey, guide students through the career exploration process, help with next steps in transfer or stepping into their career field,” he said. “All while taking into account the college-life balance the student desires to be successful.”

In addition, the counselors on the Kalamazoo Valley team are licensed to provide crisis and short-term mental health support to students. Washington encourages all students to take full advantage of the advising and counseling team’s support because they will be more likely to successfully complete credentials in the time frame they desire, allowing them to transfer or enter the workplace successfully.

Internships deliver another powerful way to gain on-the-job training and learn the ins and outs of a career field, greatly enhancing what’s already been taught in regular coursework.

“Internships provide meaningful work experiences for students in their field of study while having the opportunity to network and learn from local professionals,” he said. “There is also the possibility of being hired after the internship or gaining a letter of recommendation from their internship supervisor that will benefit them in the future.”

In addition, Kalamazoo Valley has approximately 500 apprentices engaged in Registered Apprenticeship programs, which serve adults, youth, women, veterans, and under-represented and underserved populations. The Community and Continuing Education Department also offers career academies, workforce training, life enrichment and community outreach through its non-credit programs. The college’s workforce development programs, specifically, are tailored to meet the evolving needs of local businesses and industries, ensuring a steady pipeline of qualified employees and leaders for the region.

“Kalamazoo Valley Community College plays a vital role in the Southwest Michigan community. As an affordable and accessible option for higher education, Kalamazoo Valley provides residents of the region with opportunities to gain valuable skills, training and credentials that can lead to rewarding careers,” Washington said. “The college is an important partner in ensuring future growth, vitality and opportunities in Southwest Michigan.”

Member Testimonial

It’s been a privilege partnering with the Chamber over the years. Their commitment to fostering relationships and advocating for businesses has been instrumental in the growth of our small business community and its engagement. As we aim to be the Host of Kalamazoo, we are excited to deepen our involvement with the Chamber’s event programming. We highly recommend other organizations engage with the Chamber for its unwavering dedication to community building and proactive community engagement!

Tim Rayman
Chief Executive Officer
Greenleaf Hospitality Group

social & civil
connections

local businesswoman helps kickstart a young professionals group in kalamazoo

Olivia Neitzke of Sleeping Giant Capital aims to increase networking opportunities and talent retention.

During her first year at Sleeping Giant Capital, Olivia Neitzke attended a pivotal meeting with the company’s co-founder, Doug Lepisto, and the Monroe-Brown Foundation. Two questions arose during that conversation.

Where are all the young people going? How do we retain local talent?

“These questions ignited the idea of Young Professionals Kalamazoo (YPKzoo). I envisioned how much Kalamazoo could benefit from a young professionals network. With Doug Lepisto’s support and the collaboration of students in the Leadership and Business Strategy Program at Western Michigan University, we devised a research plan to validate this concept,” she said.

As a business development associate at Sleeping Giant Capital, her role involves early sourcing of West Michigan businesses in need of succession planning, all with a shared mission of preserving legacy within their community. Additionally, she facilitates engagement in Acquire, an executive coaching program aimed at training West Michigan natives to acquire and grow small businesses, shaping them into future community leaders.

So, helping launch a young professionals group is a natural extension of what she’s doing in her career.

The first YPKzoo event was held this past February to gauge interest in the group’s concept.

“To our delight, over 100 young professionals attended, eager to share ideas and experiences, highlighting the potential for Kalamazoo to become a hub for early-career professionals to connect and grow into future leaders. The overwhelming success of our initial events is thrilling,” she said.

“As the student research project at WMU concludes, we look forward to presenting new insights to the greater Kalamazoo community, illustrating how young professionals and local businesses can engage with YPKzoo.”

Neitzke works with the Monroe-Brown Foundation. The organization is dedicated to bettering lives and strengthening the community by providing opportunities for education and skills development.

The foundation strives to seed the minds and hearts of young scholars and future professionals, so together students, employers and other key stakeholders can help Kalamazoo continue to thrive. They believe in creating equal access to achieve this collective goal.

The organization’s vision statement reads: “Opportunities for education and skills development are available to all people so they can improve their lives and enrich their communities.”

The Monroe-Brown Foundation places high importance on facilitating scholarships, a pivotal component of helping students succeed—and in turn, also elevating the businesses and community at large. In addition to helping students attend higher education institutions, the organization encourages them to stick around in Kalamazoo to build lives and careers locally.

The missions and professional structures of Monroe-Brown Foundation and her employer, Sleeping Giant Capital, inform much of the direction of the burgeoning young professionals group.

Even though the YPKzoo group is still in its earliest stages, Neitzke sees great potential.

“Working closely with Doug Lepisto, co-founder and partner at Sleeping Giant Capital, has shown me the profound impact mission-driven work can have on the Kalamazoo Community. As young professionals, it’s crucial for us to recognize that we can rely on each other to establish a support network for growth, career-driven goals and a shared passion for community involvement. I am deeply committed to seeing Kalamazoo cultivate exceptional emerging leaders and retain talent in the years ahead.”

A series of limited registration events will be hosted in the coming months.

You can join the YPKzoo mailing list here to receive more information.

Member Testimonial

Both Discover Kalamazoo and the Chamber represent all of Kalamazoo County, and both organizations work to help local businesses thrive with the end goal of making this a great place to live, work and play. But not everyone understands that ultimately Discover Kalamazoo exists for the benefit of county businesses and residents. The Chamber enables Discover Kalamazoo to help the businesses in Kalamazoo County understand our role in community economic development.

Jane Ghosh
President and CEO
Discover Kalamazoo

jobs & career
connections

Sticking close to home for college pays off for recent graduate Alexis Petty

Now an unexpected career opportunity keeps her rooted in the community.

As a lifelong resident of the Kalamazoo area, 23-year-old Alexis Petty says she can’t imagine a better place to call home. While some friends chose to move away for college, she elected to attend Kalamazoo College.

“I knew I’d be fully supported by the people around me – family, friends, professors, coaches and the community itself. Kalamazoo is a well-connected college and university city with multiple places to earn higher education degrees,” she said.

“Being a college student in Kalamazoo helped me realize the power of impact and people, and a lot of that had to do with place. Kalamazoo is small enough to get your foot in the door and make a positive community impact and large enough to feel like your impact matters and is widely felt.”

She reflects back on a seminar course titled “Cultivating Community,” taught by Professor Amelia Katanski. The course delved deep into widespread food justice issues. As part of the program, students partnered with People’s Food Co-op to brainstorm ways to make the Kalamazoo Farmers Market more accessible and welcoming to people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

“Since then, the farmer’s market has made positive improvements to its covered walkways, parking, restrooms, transportation via the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail and much more,” Petty said. “All of which have benefited the community in getting nutritious foods.”

Shortly before graduation in June 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business, Petty took another course that opened up a career opportunity she didn’t expect.

“I took a course led by Kalamazoo College’s Professor Amy MacMillan and Western Michigan University’s (WMU) Leadership and Business Strategy (LBS) Professors Doug Lepisto and Derrick McIver, and it totally jump-started my career,” she said.

The class was a collaboration between Kalamazoo College and WMU and they looped in a local business partner, AVB.

Portage, Michigan-based AVB is a respected regional construction and development firm that works on both residential and commercial projects, as well as real estate development.

“Not only did the speed, intensity and focus on teamwork in the course help me, but the connections did too,” she said. “Shortly after the course was done, I started my interview process with AVB.”

She accepted a position as a commercial project engineer, a role that allows her to collaborate with superintendents and project managers.

“I facilitate a lot of the coordination between the architect, the owner, the subcontractors and my team. No day is the same in construction,” she said.

Her day-to-day duties include managing submittals and RFIs, tracking issues on site, communicating among the subs, architect and owner, and issuing change orders, too.

“All while being on a construction site in a job trailer where there is never a dull moment! And I love it! Our motto is to ‘Build Something Better’ and we truly live by that,” Petty said, adding that she’s excited to have recently earned a new role as the co-superintendent on a pickleball courts project.

Having embarked on a successful career so soon after graduation, Petty is grateful for her experience at Kalamazoo College and has some advice for incoming and current students.

“Find a group or club that challenges you, supports you and makes you feel encouraged. It’s so important to take learnings outside of the classroom and engage in peer-to-peer activity with intellectual content,” she said, adding that these groups help students find people with like-minded interests, explore new ideas and start to cultivate networks.

“Your college days do not last forever, so make the most of campus programs,” Petty said. “They are beyond impactful.”

Member Testimonial

As a nonprofit, engaging with the unique perspectives of Chamber members has proven invaluable to share, learn and connect. The Chamber team is approachable and inclusive, actively supporting the diverse needs of the membership. I’m excited for their future initiatives and encourage others to join and experience the same enriching collaboration.

Yvonne Fleener
President and CEO
Disability Network Southwest Michigan

learn about
our initiatives

Room 35 empowers the entrepreneurial spirit within the construction industry

Donovan McVey and Joshua Gray aim to create a more diverse and inclusive economy.

In the highly competitive construction industry, having any kind of advantage when growing a new business can be the difference between success and failure. That’s why Donovan McVey (CEO, right) and Joshua Gray (COO, left)created Room 35. Through three main pillars—Network, Education and Consulting—they work to assist existing small and medium-sized construction companies owned by experienced and licensed professionals through a variety of strategies.

“For young entrepreneurs, we are a catalyst to business opportunities. While our main clients are 35+, if you are interested in the industry or entrepreneurship, we are a great place to start as we are extremely well networked across West Michigan,” McVey said. “We are always open to a conversation and will do our best to guide folks in the right direction.”

“We are young entrepreneurs ourselves and try our best to set an example, showing that there are real business opportunities here.”

Accelerator programming, one-on-one relationships, education technology, strategic planning, network development and education top the list of best practices McVey and Gray share, leading by example and experience.

“We provide momentum and hope to the young entrepreneur,” Gray said.

The Blueprint program is accessible to any construction company making a minimum of $100,000 in revenue and is available exclusively to BIPOC, women- or Veteran-owned companies. Applications are open year-round, and Room 35 currently runs three six-month programs per year.

“We’ve been fortunate to work with great partners along the way. This program has created around $6 million in
economic development within
Kalamazoo over the past two years. With over $10 million projected for 2024 alone,” McVey said.

Because Room 35 has access to philanthropic capital, it offers tremendous value at a greatly discounted price. In turn, it charges clients on a sliding scale based on each individual business’ circumstances.

“This allows small companies that need, but otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford our services, access to what the larger companies have. We hope this evens the field a bit and creates a more accessible, inclusive industry,” McVey said.

Once a client signs on, they work through three key program aspects.

It starts with Integration, where McVey and Gray take a deep dive with their clients, build trust and start forming the basis of strategic planning. Then during the Acceleration phase, they activate the plan they’ve put into place. Finally, at the Graduation stage, systems are all in place for long-term business success well after the program has concluded.

In addition to the one-on-one meetings, construction entrepreneurs meet with community leaders and business professionals, connect with a network of hiring construction managers and general contractors, gain access to a full network of subcontractors for hire, and receive an invitation to Room 35’s building platform, BuildIt releasing later this year.

Best of all, Room 35 can help people who want to start a construction business, too.

“If you do not have an existing business and have experience in the construction

industry, we can help point you in the right direction,” Gray said.

By seeing the success stories Room 35 has achieved for it’s program graduates, “visibility is created to what’s possible in the industry.

“One of our clients went from $250,000 in revenue and back taxes owed to the IRS to making over $1.5 million and having the clarity to know they’re taken care of financially,” McVey says, adding that it all took place within two years.

They helped another client build strategic partnerships resulting in their first commercial general contracting project. Now they’re taking on single projects valued at over $1 million each.

“We’ve also had a client go from business inception to $600,000 in revenue in their first year,” McVey said.

Another business owner went from struggling to eat every day to having a crew of workers, a new work truck and a large line of credit.

“It has been an amazing experience to work with companies and see them grow. It has been my lifelong dream to do this work and see the accomplishments that our clients are able to do with the right support,” Gray said.

For more information on the Blueprint Program or Room 35, visit
www.roomthirtyfive.com.

Member Testimonial

A few years ago, I committed to engaging more intentionally in the community as a small business owner. Chamber membership was my first step. I am now connected to so many leaders who are genuinely invested in supporting each other and ensuring we all thrive.
It feels good.

Dr. Leatrice R. Brooks
LP, Speaker
Executive Coach, Psychologist