New in 2024, the Economic Inclusion Summit brings regional leaders together to gain tools and momentum to tackle economic inclusion in West Michigan. Minority-owned business owners and community partners are invited to help develop a thriving, diverse ecosystem in our community and tackle the hard questions that come with this topic.

Key topics include:

• The state of economic inclusion in Grand Rapids
• Diversifying procurement practices
• Creating access to capital
• Fostering economic inclusion through community construction projects
• Supporting New American-owned and immigrant-owned businesses
• The Way Forward: Making Grand Rapids the model of economic inclusion

Event Agenda:8:00 a.m. Breakfast & Networking

8:30 a.m. WelcomeJames Byl, 2024 Grand Rapids Chamber Board Chair
Jenny Waugh, Vice President of Economic Growth, Grand Rapids Chamber 8:50 a.m. State of Economic Inclusion in Grand Rapids

Noele Stith, Senior Design Partner, Design Group Intl.
Micalah Suser, Business Analyst, Meijer

9:05 a.m. Panel Discussion: Diversifying Procurement Practices

Shelton Kilby, Senior Director of Facility Operations and Construction, Corewell Health

Robert Lundquist, Manager, Global Supply Management Services, Steelcase

Jessi Goldner, Director of Strategic Engagement & Compliance, Waseyabek Development Company

Moderator: Laura Hopson, President & CEO, EM Services

9:35 a.m. Break

10:10 a.m. Panel Discussion: Addressing the Access to Capital Barrier 

Carlton Shelton, Senior Loan Officer, Opportunity Resource Fund

Marcus Jackson, Community Impact Manager II, Fifth-Third Bank

Joseph Malone, CEO & Founder, Holo Footwear

Moderator: Omar Cuevas, Senior Vice President of Investor & Corporate Relations, Grand Rapids Chamber

10:30 a.m. Fostering Economic Inclusion Through Local Construction Projects

James Peacock III, Economic Opportunity Organizer, DGRI

Brad Mathis, Senior Vice President, Rockford Construction

10:55 a.m. Doing Business as an Immigrant – A Discussion

Linus De Paoli, Owner, 3 Gatos Brewery

Evelyn Esparza- Gonzalez, Executive Director, Hispanic Center of West Michigan

11:10am Strategies for Supporting New American and Immigrant-Owned Businesses

Jay Ahmed, SVP, Market President, Highpoint Community Bank

11:25 a.m. The Way Forward: Making Grand Rapids the Model of Economic Inclusion

Maegan Frierson, Director of System Building, KConnect

11:40 a.m. Closing Remarks

Jenny Waugh, Vice President of Economic Growth, Grand Rapids Chamber