Month: September 2021

With 24 years of experience and leadership training through the military, Pastor Mike Brown is no stranger to the importance of leadership development. Although already a highly skilled leader, Pastor Brown said his participation in Leadership Kalamazoo during 2005 was beneficial to his, at that time, newly appointed role as President and CEO of Kalamazoo […]

To help our community members make informed choices in the upcoming November 2, 2021, election, we asked candidates running for local seats to participate in our Candidate Forum to help you get to know them better. Today, meet David Anderson. With a message built around unity, Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson is looking to keep the […]

Sandra Cochrane was a new resident of Kalamazoo when she participated in the 1999 class of Leadership Kalamazoo. Now, as an Assistant Dean at the WMed Innovation Center, Sandra said the program provided her important context and connections with the business community. “The program really gave me an opportunity to understand a lot of different […]

As we near the end of September, the celebration of National Fall Foliage Week couldn’t be more perfectly timed. Starting the last Sunday in September in Southwest Michigan, it’s the favorite time of year for many with perfect crisp temperatures, colorful landscapes, and the smell of cinnamon, apples, and donuts in the air. Gorgeous fall […]

To help our community members make informed choices in the upcoming November 2, 2021, election, we asked candidates running for local seats to participate in our Candidate Forum to help you get to know them better. Today, meet Don Cooney. Fired up by the belief that “everyone does better when everyone does better,” Don Cooney […]

Representatives from the Western Michigan University (WMU) Business Technology and Research (BTR) Park North and newly erected Ascension Borgess Cancer Center came together today to celebrate a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the achievements of the two major community developments. The event’s focus was on the completion of the Ascension Borgess Cancer Center, the first corporate […]

The ability to interact and appreciate different parts of the community is a key focus for Leadership Kalamazoo, and Rob Tate, team leader at Duncan Aviation, said it was also one of his biggest takeaways from the program. “The biggest thing was how the program opened your eyes to so many different things that were […]

To help our community members make informed choices in the upcoming November 2, 2021, election, we asked candidates running for local seats to participate in our Candidate Forum to help you get to know them better. Today, meet Tammy Cooper Politics and passionate thinking go hand in hand. And while it may come as a […]

On any given Sunday in autumn, finding a place for brunch can be scary—long lines and cold breezes can make a wait unbearable. If making your decision where to go has you all scrambled, we’ve gathered a few spots for you to consider in advance, so there’s no need for waffling! Although “pancake” is in […]

Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates fell in 15 of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas in July 2021, according to data released from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. “Michigan’s regional labor markets continued to remain steady over the month,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and […]

Among the 258 urban areas that participated in the second quarter 2021 Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan), NY to more than 20 percent below the national average in Kalamazoo, MI. The Cost of Living Index […]

The Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) reports continued growth in passenger traffic for June and July 2021. In June 2021, passenger traffic at AZO increased 351 percent, and in July, traffic increased 183 percent from what was reported in last year’s comparable months. “The June and July numbers show two things. First, business traffic is […]