Grand Rapids Chamber

National Civics Bee
2026-04-15 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Detroit) | Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, 49504, United States
Registration & Pricing

The Grand Rapids Chamber is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to host a civics competition that encourages young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Participating 6th, 7th and 8th graders will flex their civics knowledge for a chance to win recognition and cash prizes. Finalists will be invited to Washington, DC to compete in the inaugural National Civics Bee national championship in Fall 2026.
WHY CIVICS?
The Grand Rapids Chamber is participating in the National Civics Bee because we believe that informed and active citizens make for a strong country, a strong economy, and a strong workforce, and that our continued prosperity depends on the strength of all three. Through the Bee, we are promoting greater civic knowledge in Michigan and celebrating our civic pride.
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Breakfast With Legislators
2026-04-20 07:30 - 09:00 | Grand Rapids Chamber, 250 Monroe Ave, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Registration & Pricing

UPDATE: This event is sold out. Walk-in registration is not available.
Check out other upcoming advocacy & government affairs events here!

Breakfast with Legislators events provide Chamber members and their employees the opportunity to establish relationships with key decision makers and voice opinions on issues moving forward in Lansing. Networking and facilitated question-and-answer sessions offer firsthand information on upcoming legislation and House and Senate committee activities, prompting great dialogue between legislators and Chamber members.
Don’t just listen, participate. Submit your questions for the legislative panel during your registration.
We’re pleased to welcome the following state leaders to our upcoming Breakfast with Legislators. This panel brings a strong mix of perspectives from both the Michigan Senate and House, offering attendees a valuable opportunity to engage directly on key issues impacting our region.

Senator Thomas Albert
Representative John Fitzgerald
Representative Carol Glanville
Senator Mark Huizenga

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First Friday Update
2026-05-01 10:00 - 10:30 | Zoom Webinar
Registration

The updates occur on the first Friday of each month from 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. We will provide a quick overview on current advocacy efforts and top priorities being accomplished to create a thriving and diverse business climate for all.
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2026 Speakers
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Grand Rapids Candidate Forum
2026-05-18 08:00 - 10:00 | Grand Rapids Chamber, 250 Monroe Ave, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Join us for the Grand Rapids City Commission Candidate Forum, an opportunity for the local business community to hear directly from the candidates running to shape the future of our city.
This event provides the chance to engage with candidates, learn where they stand on key issues impacting Grand Rapids, and hear their vision for the city. Hear from:

Lindsey Perez-Plescher (First Ward)
Steve Tibbe (First Ward)
Commissioner Lisa Knight (Second Ward)
Bryan Cody (Second Ward)
Commissioner Kelsey Perdue (Third Ward)

West Michigan CEO Summit
2026-06-02 07:30 - 11:30 | JW Marriott Grand Rapids: International Ballroom, 235 Louis St NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
The West Michigan CEO Summit brings together some of the most influential entrepreneurs and executives leading West Michigan. Meredith Bronk, President and CEO of Progressive Companies, will serve as the 2026 CEO Summit Chair. With a career marked by transformative leadership, Meredith’s guidance will be invaluable as we gather for this premier executive event.
What to expect:

Keynote presentations with tools for business growth
Inspiring leadership lessons
The opportunity to participate in facilitated discussions on key issues
Networking with fellow West Michigan executives

Attending the West Michigan CEO Summit
The West Michigan CEO Summit is one of the best investments you can make in your professional and personal development. Together, we can ensure Grand Rapids is the best place to live and work. Together, we can foster a thriving and prosperous West Michigan for ALL.
Be a part of leading a growing West Michigan at the CEO Summit.

Registration & Pricing

Corporate Table

AGENDA
7:30 A.M. Registration, Buffet Breakfast, & Networking
8:05 A.M. Welcome from the 2026 West Michigan CEO Summit ChairMeredith Bronk, President & CEO, Progressive Companies
8:20 A.M. Leadership LessonJulie Leonard, CEO, LMCU
8:50 A.M. Leadership LessonAshlea Souffrou, Founder & CEO, SxanPro
9:05 A.M. Break & Networking
9:20 A.M. New CEO ChatDarrius Barnes, President, AC Grand RapidsKara Wood, Executive Director, Grand Action 2.0
9:32 A.M. Discussion – The Impact of Local Ownership in West MichiganMeredith Bronk, President & CEO, Progressive CompaniesRick Baker, President & CEO, Grand Rapids ChamberGreg McNeilly, President & CEO, The Windquest GroupRobert Roth, Executive Chairman, RoMan Manufacturing
9:55 A.M. Leadership LessonGabriel Grant, Founder & CEO, Care Granted
10:10 A.M. Break & Networking
10:25 A.M. Leadership LessonDaniel Watts, CEO, US Signal
10:45 A.M. Leadership LessonTricia Keith, President & CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
11:05 A.M. Leadership Lesson: GRA250Brian Hooks, Chairman & CEO, Stand Together
11:20 A.M. Closing RemarksMeredith Bronk, President & CEO, Progressive CompaniesJeff Lumpp, President, Hylant and Grand Rapids Chamber Board Chair
11:30 A.M. Adjourn
CEO Summit Chair

Meredith Bronk

President & CEO

Progressive Companies

ABOUT Meredith Bronk

The Impact of Local Ownership in West Michigan Panel
Moderated by Meredith Bronk, President & CEO, Progressive Companies

Greg McNeilly

CEO & President

The Windquest Group

ABOUT Greg McNeilly

Rick Baker

President & CEO

Grand Rapids Chamber

ABOUT Rick Baker

Robert Roth

Executive Chairman

RoMan Manufacturing

ABOUT Robert Roth

Meet our speakers
Turn their experience into your competitive advantage. Hear Leadership Lessons from these local leaders as they break down career-defining moments into strategies you can apply to your own organization.

Ashlea Souffrou

Founder & CEO

SxanPro

ABOUT Ashlea Souffrou

Brian Hooks

Chairman & CEO

Stand Together

ABOUT Brian Hooks

Daniel Watts

CEO

US Signal

ABOUT Daniel Watts

Darrius Barnes

President

AC Grand Rapids

ABOUT Darrius Barnes

Gabriel Grant

Founder & CEO

Care Granted

ABOUT Gabriel Grant

Julie Leonard

President &CEO

LMCU

ABOUT Julie Leonard

Kara Wood

Executive Director

Grand Action 2.0

ABOUT Kara Wood

Tricia Keith

President & CEO

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

ABOUT Tricia Keith

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First Friday Update
2026-06-05 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-08-07 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-09-04 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-10-02 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-11-06 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-12-04 10:00 - 10:30 | Zoom Webinar
Registration

The updates occur on the first Friday of each month from 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. We will provide a quick overview on current advocacy efforts and top priorities being accomplished to create a thriving and diverse business climate for all.
Event Sponsors
Advocay Underwriter

Policy Supporter

2026 Speakers
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Ending Homelessness: A Celebration of Impact
2026-06-18 16:00 - 18:00 | Grand Rapids Chamber, 250 Monroe Ave, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Registration

The event is an opportunity for private, public and philanthropic partners working to end chronic homelessness to highlight successes and progress towards shared goals.
Who should attend
Whether you are a frontline service provider, business leader or a community investor – we want you to join us for a time to celebrate and recommit to a vibrant and prosperous community for all.
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Chamber Issues Forum: Childcare & Public Spaces for Public Good
2026-06-25 08:00 - 10:00 | The Information Center at The Rapid Central Station, 250 Cesar E. Chavez Ave SW, Grand Rapids, 49503-4005, United States
Registration & Pricing

Making childcare more accessible and affordable remains a top priority for the business community and is an important factor in workforce participation and growth. As employers across West Michigan face talent issues, the rising cost and limited availability of childcare remains a barrier to keeping parents from entering, reentering, or staying in the workforce.
Join the Grand Rapids Chamber for a Chamber Issues Forum exploring how public spaces and public-private partnerships can be leveraged for public good, with a focus on innovative childcare solutions. Michigan’s nationally recognized Tri-Share model has shown what is possible when business, government, and community partners work together to share responsibility and cost—demonstrating the power of collaboration to support working families while strengthening the economy.
This forum will take place at Rapid Central Station, home to a new on-site childcare facility that exemplifies how infrastructure and public space can be reimagined to meet community needs. Attendees will hear from Tracie Coffman of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation on the role of public spaces in advancing early childhood and family well-being, followed by a panel discussion featuring perspectives from architecture, policy, philanthropy, and service providers on designing and sustaining childcare solutions that work for families and employers alike.
Agenda Highlights Include:

Presentation on childcare and public spaces for public good
Panel discussion with moderated Q&A
Networking with business and community leaders
Optional tours of the new child care facility at Rapid Central Station

This event will provide data-backed insights and real-world examples to help business leaders better understand the role they can play—alongside public partners—in advancing childcare solutions that support workforce participation and long-term regional growth.
Be part of the conversation shaping childcare solutions and public spaces that benefit our community.
Meet our speakers

Jeffrey Capizzano

President

Policy Equity Group

ABOUT Jeffrey Capizzano

Scott Lewis

President/CEO

YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids

ABOUT Scott Lewis

Tracie Coffman

Program Officer

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

ABOUT Tracie Coffman

Zach Verhulst

Founder + CEO

Pure Architects

ABOUT Zach Verhulst

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West Michigan Housing Summit
2026-08-06 12:30 - 18:00 | Richard M. DeVos Center, GVSU’s Pew Campus, 401 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, 49504, United States
Registration & Pricing

Join housing leaders, stakeholders, and community members from across the region at the West Michigan Housing Summit for a dynamic, solutions-focused conference centered on innovative strategies for addressing housing challenges.
This summit brings together cross-sector voices committed to moving beyond conversation and toward coordinated action on the region’s most pressing housing challenges.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A dynamic opening session from Sam Cummings and Ryan Kilpatrick, reflecting on where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we’re headed together as a region.
Six targeted breakout sessions addressing critical housing issues, including:

A legislative panel featuring leaders in housing reforms.
Strategies for effective public engagement around housing and growth
Corridor development and place-based investment to drive vibrancy
Pathways and tools for emerging developers
The limitations of subsidy-only approaches to housing affordability
Effective, coordinated responses to homelessness

Closing with Energy
Coby Lefkowitz will tie together insights from the day and challenge attendees to think boldly optimistic about the future of housing through coordinated, cross-sector solutions.
Coby is the author of Building Optimism: What a World that Looks Better, Works Better, and Feels Better Could Look Like where he explores how we can create more beautiful and livable communities.
Donor and sponsor support makes this convening possible and positions partners at the center of regional housing leadership. Sponsors gain visibility with key decision-makers, align their brand with measurable community impact, and help catalyze the ideas and collaborations that move housing solutions forward.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This summit is for leaders and changemakers committed to improving housing outcomes, including:

Housing practitioners and advocates
Government and public sector leaders
Developers and real estate professionals
Emerging developers and entrepreneurs
Nonprofit and community-based leaders
Philanthropic and funding partners
Policy and civic engagement professionals
Anyone invested in housing affordability, availability, and stability

If you’re working to shape the future of housing in West Michigan, this summit is for you.
AGENDA
12:30 p.m. Registration and Networking
1:00 p.m. Opening Remarks and IntroductionJennifer Radaz, Housing NextRyan Kilpatrick, Flywheel Community Development ServicesSam Cummings, CWD Real Estate Investment
1:40 p.m. Transition + Networking Break
1:55 p.m. Breakout Sessions
State Legislative PanelState Representatives Wooden, Grant and AragonaModerated by Joshua Lunger, Grand Rapids Chamber
Public EngagementJason Wheeler, Wheeler DevelopmentRyan Schmidt, Indigo Design + DevelopmentRowan Brady, City of Grand RapidsModerated by Rebekah Kik, City of Kalamazoo
Corridor RedevelopmentCameron VanWyngarden, Plainfield TownshipNicole Hofert, City of WyomingModerated by Ryan Kilpatrick, Flywheel Community Development Services
2:40 p.m. Transition + Networking Break
2:55 p.m. Breakout Sessions
Affordability Won’t Be Solved by Subsidy AloneDave Levitt, Third CoastBev Thiel, Habitat for Humanity of Kent CountyModerated by Ryan Kilpatrick, Flywheel Community Development Services
Effective Response to HomelessnessThelma Ensink, Degagé MinistriesAdrienne Goodstal, North Kent ConnectTenisa Frye, Family Promise of West Michigan
4:00 p.m. KeynoteCoby Lefkowitz, author of “Building Optimism: What a World that Looks Better, Works Better, and Feels Better Could Look Like”
5:00 p.m. Happy Hour
6:00 p.m. Adjourn
Meet our speakers

Coby Lefkowitz

Co-Founder & Principal

Backyard

ABOUT Coby Lefkowitz

Jen Radaz

Sr. Manager

Housing Next

ABOUT Jen Radaz

Ryan Kilpatrick

Founder + CEO

Flywheel Community Development Services

ABOUT Ryan Kilpatrick

Sam Cummings

Managing Partner

CWD Real Estate Investment

ABOUT Sam Cummings

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Housing Champions

Chamber Issues Forum
2026-08-27 08:00 - 10:00 | Grand Rapids Chamber, 250 Monroe Ave, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Registration & Pricing

Chamber Issues Forum events provide an opportunity for members to be part of the conversation around the most pressing topics impacting business in Michigan at the local, state, and federal levels. These events provide members with unbiased, data-backed information and discussion to help make better decisions for organizations.
2026 Speakers
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Breakfast With Legislators
2026-09-21 07:30 - 09:00 | Grand Rapids Chamber, 250 Monroe Ave, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Registration & Pricing

Breakfast with Legislators events provide Chamber members and their employees the opportunity to establish relationships with key decision makers and voice opinions on issues moving forward in Lansing. Networking and facilitated question-and-answer sessions offer firsthand information on upcoming legislation and House and Senate committee activities, prompting great dialogue between legislators and Chamber members.
Don’t just listen, participate. Submit your questions for the legislative panel during your registration.
Event Sponsors
Event Underwriter

Business Partner

Chamber Champion

Chamber Issues Forum
2026-11-20 08:00 - 10:00 | Grand Rapids Chamber, 250 Monroe Ave, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Registration & Pricing

Chamber Issues Forum events provide an opportunity for members to be part of the conversation around the most pressing topics impacting business in Michigan at the local, state, and federal levels. These events provide members with unbiased, data-backed information and discussion to help make better decisions for organizations.
2026 Speakers
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat

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Chamber Champion

Breakfast With Legislators
2026-12-07 07:30 - 09:00 | Grand Rapids Chamber, 250 Monroe Ave, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Registration & Pricing

Breakfast with Legislators events provide Chamber members and their employees the opportunity to establish relationships with key decision makers and voice opinions on issues moving forward in Lansing. Networking and facilitated question-and-answer sessions offer firsthand information on upcoming legislation and House and Senate committee activities, prompting great dialogue between legislators and Chamber members.
Don’t just listen, participate. Submit your questions for the legislative panel during your registration.
Event Sponsors
Premier Sponsor

Event Underwriter

Business Partner

Chamber Champion
