Dr. Rhae-Ann Booker Memorial Scholarship Fund
Dr. Rhae-Ann Booker (LGR ’21) was known for her tireless dedication to creating equal opportunities for all members of the Grand Rapids community. She was a passionate advocate for continuous learning and believed in the power of self-education in order to transform a community. She knew if we wanted to change the world, we must first start with ourselves. Dr. Booker’s leadership and commitment to empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds has left a lasting impact on the community. Her kindness, wisdom, and unwavering determination to create understanding and belonging for all members of our community made her a beloved figure in Grand Rapids.
This scholarship fund in her honor is a meaningful way to continue her mission and legacy by supporting the educational dreams of future DEI Champions, individuals of faith and African American community members looking to participate in various Create Great Leaders programming.
Contribute to the Dr. Rhae-Ann Booker Memorial Fund here.
Learn more about Dr. Booker.
Kickoff: Emerging Leaders
If you are a professional with a passion for growing your career and becoming actively engaged in the community, Emerging Leaders offers the ideal setting to expand your horizons.
Make Grand Rapids your classroom with five half-day sessions that combine tours, speakers, activities, and interdisciplinary discussions that build community connections, leadership skills, and insight into issues facing Grand Rapids. Plus, you’ll discover new opportunities to engage in the community.
This program is right for you if you are looking for:
- Conversations with key community leaders
- Visits to innovative community programs and initiatives
- Networking with a diverse group of peers
- An orientation to the city and what makes it a unique community
- Personal leadership development
This professional development opportunity is particularly valuable for young and early-career professionals, as well as those with a keen interest in our community and growing professionally.
Chamber leadership programs prioritize creating spaces where diverse perspectives can come together to learn, grow and push our community forward.
Program Dates: October 17, October 31, November 14, November 28, December 12
Kickoff: Speak with Purpose Cohort
Create Great Leaders: Speak with Purpose
Speak with purpose is designed to equip participants with the tools to master public speaking.
Of the estimated 75% of Americans that experience fear and anxiety from speaking in front of others, less than 10% take steps to overcome it.
Over the course of five interactive sessions comprised of one-on-one, small group, impromptu, and sit-down situations, individuals will learn how to organize a presentation and deliver it to audiences large and small.
Learn more: https://www.grandrapids.org/talent-development/speak-with-purpose/
Cohort 2:
September 13, September 27, October 11, October 25, November 8
Sessions are hosted bi-weekly on Wednesdays from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Kickoff: Lead Up Cohort
Create Great Leaders: Lead Up
Lead Up is designed to guide first-time managers through the concepts, principles and best practices necessary for a successful transition.
What You’ll Gain:
- An understanding of how you, your team and your organization influence one another
- The breakdown of important subjects to engage, retain and inspire your team
- Learn how to build a culture of trust and transparency
- Ability to define and assign tasks while enabling others to do the work
- Remove potential roadblocks and build support through the organization
- Clarity on where to spend your time and execute management responsibilities
- Interaction with other first-time leaders in the community
Learn More: https://www.grandrapids.org/talent-development/lead-up/
Cohort 2
All sessions are hosted bi-weekly on Tuesdays from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
September 12, September 26, October 10, October 24, November 7, November 21
Create Great Leaders Annual Party
Calling all past, present and future participants of the Grand Rapids Chamber’s Create Great Leaders programs! We invite you to join us for the Create Great Leaders Annual Party. Reunite with classmates and build new relationships while supporting future program scholarships.
Ticket sales and other fundraising activities will help provide scholarships to deserving participants in Create Great Leaders programs such as Leadership Grand Rapids. Your attendance will help us eliminate barriers in our community and foster future generations of awesome local leaders!
Support future scholarships now by donating here.
Meet the Councils Driving our 2023 Talent Programs
Community and connection are at the heart of our work. Our councils are one of the best ways members can directly help us build a strong community for all.
Our talent development programming is home to three main councils that direct events, logistics and curriculums for the year: the Outpro Council, the ATHENA Council and the Create Great Leaders Council. Meet the members of these 2023 councils below!
2023 OutPro Council
OutPro is a professional group that promotes a welcoming culture in the West Michigan Community for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies. OutPro offers opportunities for education and networking with an emphasis on policy impact, assisting businesses in creating a more inclusive and welcoming work environment for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
OutPro encourages representation from all career levels and professional backgrounds, including corporations, small businesses, and public and non-profit organizations.
“We hope to engage the broader community in this work. As Grand Rapids continues to be a hot spot for growth and development, it is critical to create a workplace where everyone can thrive and live up to their full potential. Wherever you are on your journey to create a more inclusive workplace, we welcome you to join us.” – Courtney Failer, OutPro Council Chair
Courtney Failer (She/Her), Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, Chair
Jeff Sorensen (He/Him), Lake Michigan Credit Union, Vice Chair
Megan Persons (She/Her), Grand Rapids Public Schools, Member at Large
Carlos Kulas-Dominguez, Camp Blodgett, Immediate Past Chair
Eirann Betka-Pope (They/Them), Betka-Pope Productions, LLC
Janelle Burden Hill (She/Her), Arbor Circle
Kayla Benda (She/Her), Oh Hello Branding Group
Wayne Bersano (He/Him) Huntington Bank
Charissa Huang (She/Her), Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, PC
Natalie Drew (She/Her), Aramark | GVSU
2023 ATHENA Council
ATHENA Grand Rapids is an affinity group that connects and equips women in West Michigan to embrace fearless leadership. The ATHENA Council supports women leaders by uplifting women-led businesses, making meaningful connections with women in the community, and selecting scholarship opportunities for women looking to grow professionally.
“It’s an honor and inspiration to be surrounded by so many successful and fiercely passionate women within our community who want to serve, uplift, and inspire other women. Recognizing leadership locally matters and I love being part of that.” – Kim Van Driel, ATHENA Council Chair
Kimberly Van Driel, Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc., Chair
Mei Mah, Grand Valley State University, Vice Chair
Krashawn Martin, City of Wyoming
Patty McCormick, Retired (formerly Ronald McDonald House)
Krista Paulin, Huntington Bank
Isabel Lopez-Slattery, Isabel Media Studios
Jennifer Pascua, Broadway Grand Rapids | Halo Halo Multimedia, LLC
Abbey Sladick, Priority Health
Misti Stanton, Mercantile Bank
Jaime Counterman, Metro Health | University of Michigan Health
Ana Jose, Michigan Women Forward
Erin Fisk, Fisk Solutions
2023 Create Great Leaders Council
The Chamber’s Create Great Leaders programs lead the region in leadership and talent development. Now encompassing over six curriculums with multiple cohorts each year, the Create Great Leaders Council informs the content and ensures diversity of community, sector, belief system and identity in each program.
“The impact of gainful employment on individuals, families, and communities has compounding effects. However, organizations need great leadership to grow and develop these opportunities. Working with the CGL Council has provided me with a personal and meaningful way to invest in talented people and support the ongoing growth of the Grand Rapids business community.” – Art Betancourt, Create Great Leaders Council Chair
Art Betancourt, AEBetancourt, Chair
Alexis Reame, PNC Bank, Vice Chair
Michael Loughman, Holland Home Corporate Office
Jenny Waugh, Fishbeck
Drew Wessell, Fiduciary Financial Advisors
Latoya Booker, Davenport University
Brooke Davis, Kenowa Hills Public Schools
Loic Dimithe, Miller Johnson
Robin Fox, The Red Project
Dilli Gautam, Bethany Christian Services
Stella V. Michael, Corewell Health
Jeff Karger, JLL
Susan Valcq, RDV Corporation
JD Loeks, StudioC
Veronica Quintino-Aranda, Michigan State University
Jason Loepp, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Carlos Sanchez, Davenport University
Kelli Smith, John Ball Zoo
Leadership Tips and Tricks from CGL Alumni
It’s an interesting time to be leading a team. From the challenges of the talent shortage, inflation, and more, company leaders are being challenged in many different and new ways.
At the Chamber, we have tools to walk alongside our community’s leaders and help them grow in their leadership journey. We reached out to our Create Great Leaders Alumni Network to see what advice has helped them successfully lead their team. We’ve captured their answers below!
Neil Carlson, PhD, Founder & Principal Consultant, DataWise Consulting, LLC
If I had $1,000 for every time someone has said, “I’m not a data person,” I’d have a Tesla by now, with enough left over for some of those amazing paratha bread fusion tacos from Roam.
If your brain is healthy and you’re breathing, you can be a “data person.” In fact, you already are one: you just have to put in the work to go from couch potato data person to goes-to-the-gym data person. There’s no “data person” gene or personality type or learning style.
Meanwhile, some—maybe not all—people in your network who have data-intensive jobs may not be pleased to be stereotyped as a “data person,” especially not if that comes with standard-issue “professional” boundary-policing—you know, “stay in your lane”? Some of your most talented associates may crave opportunities to be involved in business leadership, to have ideas recognized and enacted that don’t come from a database or a HelpDesk ticket.
David Epstein’s book Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World documents how the real outliers in contemporary society aren’t usually one-instrument virtuosi. Most influential high performers have actually moved around through multiple roles, disciplines, and contexts, experimenting and broadening their experiences, personally and professionally. Some travel to a plan, others just ricochet like pinballs, but the end result is still world-beating skill.
Consider whether your own leadership style needs a little more “data person” in it, and if it does, put in the time to broaden your range. And please help your team’s datamongers climb out of the orchestra pit and get on stage once in a while, to act or sing or conduct or make scenery or operate lighting or sell tickets. The first rehearsals may be messy, but the big show will be outstanding.
Tom Christy, Associate Wealth Advisor, Sytsma Wealth Strategies
Leadership is helping those who surround you succeed. There is not one way to do it, but its easiest when you stick to what you’re good at.
Omar Cuevas, Vice President of Investor & Corporate Relations, Grand Rapids Chamber
There have been many times when I’ve been in a room, around a table on in a meeting where the thoughts of “do I belong here?, is there someone more qualified to be here than me?” etc. This is sometimes exacerbated when as a Latino or person of color, I am the only one like me in the room. At times, Imposter Syndrome has led to self-doubt and anxiety which has limited my engagement and participation in a meeting. I’ve come to realize that I may not ever get rid of it so instead, I acknowledge the feeling and then combat it with personal affirmations that self-sooth. If you deal with something similar, remember that you are where you are because of your capabilities, your experience, your knowledge, and the value you can add. If you are in uncharted territory, own the space you are in; make an impact. Acknowledge Imposter Syndrome then move on to greatness.
Andre Daley, Director of Inclusion, Grand Rapids Chamber
“When you’re a leader — no matter how long you’ve been in your role or how hard the journey was to get there — you are merely overhead unless you’re bringing out the best in your employees.” How Humble Leadership Really Work – Harvard Business Review
“Being aware of oneself is the basis for future actions. Leaders who know their personal patterns of behavior can more easily adapt to new challenges.” Inclusive Leadership Theoretical Framework
Courtney Failer, Community Relations Manager, Warner Norcross & Judd
“Do it afraid.” When a new opportunity presents itself, and you’re equal parts excited and terrified – do it. It’s in those moments you find your greatest support systems, impress yourself with your own abilities, and acquire new skills.
Natalie Hall, Chief Development and Program Officer, Michigan Women Forward
Leadership Tip that I read daily (on my work wall)! – I am learning everyday to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me. – Tracee Ellis Ross
Ellen Sawyer,
Show your humanity. In everything I have done, the most impactful moments were those that showed vulnerability. When something is hard, say it out loud. When something makes you mad or sad or uncomfortable, ask for a moment to process. Share your moments of pure joy and celebrate your success. And do it out loud, with your people who work alongside you every day. In a world where expectations are high and show a picture of an unflappable, almost robotic, people, embracing what makes you human also makes you relatable and therefore impactful.
Grace VanDenBrink, Assistant to Ken Bogard, EOS Worldwide
Leadership is about asking the right questions and listening without reservation to their responses. Your team has the right answers you need and your job as a leader is to extract those and put them to good use. So, what are you not asking your people about?
Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from more leaders in our community at our upcoming Leadership Lesson Breakfast. Register now!
