Category: Leadership

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 […]

When regional organizations provide excellent internship experiences, everyone benefits. Between the region’s nine colleges and universities, nearly 43,000 students step onto campus each academic year in Southwest Michigan. These students gain vital experiences in their years spent at these institutions, but classroom learning isn’t always enough to prepare them to launch straight into a career […]

ADVICE FOR FIRST-TIME LEADERS Mary: You have to be authentic in your leadership. It’s easy to imitate someone else’s leadership style, but if you do that, you’ll always come up short. You’re unique—you’ve been created this way for a reason. You have to find your leadership voice and lead with authenticity. Tim: Take time and […]

Honor Credit Union, Arbor Financial Credit Union, and Huntington National Bank reveal insights on personal leadership and financial management for small businesses at the Chamber’s July Lunch & Learn event. July 24, 2019 | Southwest Michigan small business professionals from across the region joined together at the Chamber’s July Lunch & Learn to spark a […]

Elisabeth Von Eitzen, partner at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, and L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D., president of Kalamazoo Valley Community College, tell us their thoughts on mentorship, values, and more. FIRST CAR Von Eitzen: 1991 Mercury Tracer Washington: An Oldsmobile ‘98 FIRST TIME PUBLIC SPEAKING Von Eitzen: Narrator of a seventh-grade Shel Silverstein play Washington: […]

Overwhelmed at work? Remember the (Unofficial) Stride Law. Much has been written about the changing of the generational guard in the American workforce. A multi-generational workforce certainly presents its challenges, but perhaps no more so than it has in the past. Think of a time when members of the Greatest Generation were lumped into meetings […]

Greg Dobson, Chief Operating Officer and Principal at AVB, tells us about his journey to leadership. 1970 | Born in Quincy, MI  I grew up in a strong family environment. However, my entire family is made up of die-hard Michigan State Spartans. So, when I got a last-moment scholarship to Western Michigan University (WMU) and […]