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SUMMARY:Small Business Week Kickoff
DESCRIPTION:Your Grand Rapids Chamber is excited to host the inaugural National Small Business Week Kickoff to celebrate businesses in the community with inspiration\, opportunity\, and connection.Small businesses make up 96% of all Michigan businesses and are essential to the state’s economic strength. \nThe Kickoff event features Gina Thorsen\, CEO of Jacquart Fabric Products\, which is the home of Stormy Kromer\, the iconic outdoor apparel brand. As part of the third generation of Jacquart family members to oversee the business\, she is the first female CEO in the brand’s 120-year history. Her story will bring inspiration and excitement to National Small Business Week. \nAttendees will also have the chance to win a Stormy Kromer Cap Gifting Box\, complete with everything needed to measure your head and pick out your perfect cap (a $85 value). \nThe Kickoff is just the beginning. In celebration of National Small Business Week\, the Grand Rapids Chamber is partnering with the SBA’s Michigan Small Business Development Center to host a weeklong series of events designed to reach\, support\, and elevate local entrepreneurs. Find a full list of Small Biz Week West Michigan 2026 events at smallbizweekwm.com \n					\n									Registration & Pricing\n					\n					AGENDA \n3:30 P.M. Drinks\, Appetizers\, Networking \n4:30 P.M. Welcome and Opening Remarks \n4:40 P.M. Keynote SpeakerGina Thorsen\, CEO\, Stormy Kromer \n5:00 P.M. Leadership Decisions Through Growth\, Change\, and Setbacks – PanelModerated By: Greg Rios\, Macatawa BankEvan Mathison\, Mathison | Mathison ArchitectsGina Thorsen\, Stormy KromerAnna Baeten\, The Human Solution \n5:20 P.M. Closing Remarks \n6:00 P.M. Adjourn \nMeet our speakers\nGina Thorsen is CEO of Jacquart Fabric Products\, home of Stormy Kromer\, the iconic outdoor apparel brand. As part of the third generation of Jacquart family members to oversee the business\, she is the first female CEO in the brand’s 120-year history. \n		\n				\n					\n				\n				\n							\n				\n			\n				\n				\n																														\n				\n		\n				\n				\n					Gina Thorsen				\n				\n				\n				\n					CEO 				\n				\n				\n				\n					Jacquart Fabric Products\, Stormy Kromer 				\n				\n				\n				\n									\n					\n						\n						\n							\n									ABOUT Gina Thorsen\n					\n					\n				\n								\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n																														\n				\n		\n				\n				\n					Jenny Waugh				\n				\n				\n				\n					Vice President of Economic Growth 				\n				\n				\n				\n					Grand Rapids Chamber 				\n				\n				\n				\n									\n					\n						\n						\n							\n									ABOUT Jenny Waugh\n					\n					\n				\n								\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n		\n						\n				\n					\n				\n				\n		\n2026 Panelists\n		\n				\n					\n				\n				\n							\n				\n			\n				\n				\n																														\n				\n		\n				\n				\n					Anna Baeten				\n				\n				\n				\n					Founder & Principal Consultant 				\n				\n				\n				\n					The Human Solution 				\n				\n				\n				\n									\n					\n						\n						\n							\n									ABOUT Anna Baeten\n					\n					\n				\n								\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n																														\n				\n		\n				\n				\n					Evan Mathison				\n				\n				\n				\n					Founding Principal 				\n				\n				\n				\n					Mathison | Mathison Architects 				\n				\n				\n				\n									\n					\n						\n						\n							\n									ABOUT Evan Mathison\n					\n					\n				\n								\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n																														\n				\n		\n				\n				\n					Greg Rios				\n				\n				\n				\n					Senior Vice President\, Community Banking Team Lead 				\n				\n				\n				\n					Macatawa Bank 				\n				\n				\n				\n									\n					\n						\n						\n							\n									ABOUT Greg Rios\n					\n					\n				\n								\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n		\n						\n				\n					\n				\n				\n		\nEvent Sponsors\nPremier Sponsor \n																\n															 \nKeynote Speaker Sponsor \n																\n															 \nExecutive Sponsors \n																\n															\n																\n															\n																\n															\n																\n															 \nLead Supporters \n																\n															\n																\n															\n																\n															\n																\n															\n																\n															 \nChamber Champions
URL:https://grandrapids.org/event/small-business-week-kickoff-2026/
LOCATION:GLC Live at 20 Monroe\, 11 Ottawa\, Grand Rapids\, 49503\, United States
CATEGORIES:Annual Events & Summits,Economic Growth
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://grandrapids.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/SBWK-Gina-Thorsen-Graphic.jpg
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