Category: Leadership

OPINION Everything is great, but the world sucks! That seems to be the defining quote of 2020. There are some extremely suckerific things going on—I am looking at you COVID-19—but they will not last, just as they did not last in the past. The Black Death was followed by the Renaissance, the greatest time for […]

To help our community members make informed choices in the upcoming election, we asked candidates running for important local, state, and national seats to participate in our Forum to help you get to know them better. Today, meet Joanna Croes. As a trained engineer with a love for helping people, Joanna Croes is seeking election […]

OPINION “…We wept and prayed” is a line from the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” that refers to collective community action and tends to be my first reaction in days of collective loss and trauma. There is a holiness in tears and prayers for insight and guidance. In times like these, where so many are […]

At Southwest Michigan First, we believe our community’s core—the ultimate catalyst for growth— is the ability to identify, engage, and empower the right people. We must take a bold approach to developing the human capital required for a sustainable future. According to John Maxwell, “Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about […]

As featured originally in AND Magazine: AND Magazine is the premier business publication for Flint & Genesee County, published by the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce. Ron Kitchens is the managing partner of Southwest Michigan First; author of four books, including Community Capitalism and Uniquely You; and a trustee of Western Michigan University. His […]

The 269 MAGAZINE team sat down with two local leaders to talk trust, team development, emerging leadership, and more. Cyekeia Lee Director of Community Collaboration AT the Kalamazoo Promise Liz Semaan Executive Director AT Bronson Health Foundation — What does a great leader look like? Lee: A great leader is someone who includes the input […]

Do you have a hunger to grow both professionally and personally? Do you dream of being a catalyst for change in your community? If so, you are the leader Southwest Michigan needs. Turn on the TV, and you’ll see the stock market is hitting record highs. Or think back to previous reports by First & […]

We sat down with two local leaders to get their insights on success, development, motivation, and more. Joseph Thomas III FIELD Services and Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Manager at Kalamazoo County Ninth Circuit Court—Family Division Linda Apsey President and Chief Executive Officer of ITC Holdings Corp. — First Things First First big purchase? Thomas: My […]

For just a moment, think back to July of this year. Oh, the glorious days of midsummer, when the sun was shining, the humidity was just right, and the evening temps were cool enough to sleep with the windows open. It was easy to be lulled into the false sense that midsummer in Southwest Michigan—with […]

Patricia Provot North American Continental Leader at Armstrong International 1978 | Born in Belgium I was the first of four children born to a French-speaking dad and Dutch-speaking mom. My delivery happened while my parents were on vacation for a month in Belgium. My father was a diplomat for the Belgian government, and my parents […]

Prevention Works is arming Southwest Michigan with the tools it needs to build a brighter future. The prevention-focused nonprofit is built upon best practices for community-wide prevention of drug and alcohol use, relationship violence, adolescent health, and more—with a primary focus on youth and families. Prevention Works offers evidence-based programs specially-designed for the community, including […]

With Russ McFee, President of GHS Strings. 1959 | BORN IN BATTLE CREEK: My good friend’s grandfather was the doctor who delivered me at the community hospital. I always say he was the first person to see me alive on this earth. 1960s | BEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY: Back in the late ’60s, my parents took […]