11th Annual EPIC Awards Gala Celebrates its Comeback with Three New DEI Recognitions
There’s no shortage of passionate leaders in the Grand Rapids community, and the pandemic has demonstrated just that. At its 11th Annual EPIC Awards Gala, the Grand Rapids Chamber is eager to celebrate incredible individuals and organizations that withstood the difficulties of the past year with its annual premier business celebration.
On October 25 at the JW Marriott, eleven outstanding Chamber members will be recognized for contributing to the community in an EPIC way. EPIC, short for Entrepreneurial, Progressive, Innovative, and Collaborative, will recognize those who are leading in growth and innovation, strengthening the business community, enabling collaboration and connections, and accomplishing incredible endeavors with a focus on the future.
The gala, which was cancelled in 2020, is expected to be stacked with a VIP list of influential business leaders from the past two years. To celebrate its comeback, the Chamber and its business services team are planning some special elements to make this ceremony bigger and better than ever before.
“Local business leaders and organizations deserve some special recognition after the difficulties of this past year,” said, Mark Allen, Director of Business Services at the Chamber. “This event is more than an awards ceremony. It’s a celebration, a reunion, and a tipping point where our members can look back and say, ‘We made it.’”
For the first time, the 11th EPIC Awards Gala will include live music in the program and an after-party reception will also take place following the event.
Three categories will also be added to the awards portion of the evening, in addition to the typical eight. These three categories will highlight those who have been diversity, equity and inclusion champions in the community: DEI Leader of the Year, DEI Organization of the Year, and LGBTQIA+ Organization of the Year.
Other categories that will be recognized during the evening include: Creative Business of the Year, Emerging Leader, Excellence in Business, Minority-Owned Business of the Year, Non-Profit of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Veteran-Owned Business of the Year, and Woman-Owned Business of the Year.
Recipients will be selected from a pool of nominees and announced the night of the event. Register now to be part of the excitement!
Know of an individual or an organization that deserves some recognition? Nominate them today!
