Chamber’s Choice Small Business Conference and Celebration

Chamber’s Choice Small Business Conference and Celebration

New This Year! Be part of something truly special—the first-ever Chamber’s Choice Small Business Conference and Celebration, hosted by the Southwest Michigan First Chamber in partnership with Varnum LLP. This signature event brings together small business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to hear from national and state business leaders and celebrate the impact of small businesses in the greater Kalamazoo region. Join us on Thursday, September 18, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Dalton Recital Hall on the campus of Western Michigan University.

Agenda

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Doors Open, Registration Begins, Meet & Greet

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Opening Welcome

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM: Keynote Presentation #1 – Lyn Falk – Future-Proof Your Customer Experience: How to Thrive in the New Selling Landscape

2:45 PM – 3:30 PM: Keynote Presentation #2 – Mimi Brown – Driving Customer Experience through the Employee Experience

3:30 PM – 4:15 PM: Refresh and Recharge Break

4:15 PM – 5:00 PM: Chamber’s Choice Awards

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Awards Celebration Happy Hour

Featured Speakers

Lyn Falk – Founder and President, Retailworks Inc. and LMF Studios

Author, award-winning designer, international speaker, and Founder/President of Retailworks, Inc., and LMF Studios, Lyn Falk specializes in creating inspiring and emotionally engaging selling environments that move minds and merchandise. She has taught at the University of Wisconsin and continues to lecture on how a well-designed environment can positively affect the bottom line. Falk has spoken to thousands of professionals over the past 35 years, and her work has been acknowledged over 165 times in over 85 different publications. Listen to Lyn and you’ll never look at a selling environment the same way again.

Session: Future-Proof Your Customer Experience: How to Thrive in the New Selling Landscape

• Unlock practical tools to adapt your customer experience in a fast-changing marketplace and stay ahead of shifting buyer expectations.
• Learn strategies that drive sales today while positioning your business for long-term growth in a competitive landscape.
• Gain fresh insights on how technology, personalization, and service trends are reshaping the way customers choose who to do business with.
• Walk away with actionable takeaways you can immediately apply to strengthen relationships, boost retention, and grow revenue.
• Invest in your team’s development at a fraction of the cost of big conferences

Mimi Brown – Speaker and Author, AMP Up Success

Mimi is an award-winning speaker and author with over a decade of corporate training experience. Her energetic, sassy flair ignites audiences and inspires leaders to step into their full potential. She blends compelling storytelling with practical leadership insights that help individuals and organizations amplify their impact. Mimi is the author of AMP Up Your Success: 52 Tips Every Leader Should Know, a guide packed with actionable strategies for growth and influence. She has been featured on major network television, including NBC, ABC, and CBS. Known for her humor, warmth, and dynamic presence, Mimi leaves every crowd both laughing and motivated to take bold action. Her sessions are the kind you don’t just attend—you experience, and you’ll leave ready to raise your game.

Session: The People Advantage: How Employee Experience Shapes Customer Loyalty

• Discover the direct link between happy, engaged employees and loyal, repeat customers.
• Learn practical ways to elevate employee experience that do not require big budgets but make a big impact.
• Understand how culture and leadership influence customer satisfaction and business growth.
• Take home proven strategies to boost team morale, reduce turnover, and improve customer interactions.

Then, join the excitement as the winners of the 2025 Chamber’s Choice Awards, presented by LMCU, are announced live!

Who will win the honors in each of the nine categories?

• Entrepreneur of the Year, in partnership with Can-Do Kalamazoo
• Nonprofit of the Year, in partnership with Visiting Angels of Southwest Michigan
• Alumnus/a of the Year, in partnership with WMU Alumni Association
• Woman-Owned Business of the Year, in partnership with YWCA Kalamazoo
• BIPOC-Owned Business of the Year, in partnership with City of Kalamazoo Community Planning and Economic Development
• LGBTQIA+-Owned Business of the Year (sponsorship available)
• Veteran-Owned Business of the Year, in partnership with Kellogg Community Credit Union
• Chamber Member Business of the Year, Small Business Category (<50 employees) in partnership with Azimuth Centers for Excellence
• Chamber Member Business of the Year, Mid/Large Category (>50 employees), in partnership with People Forward

The community has spoken! After nominations and voting from across greater Kalamazoo, three worthy finalists in every category have become one big winner and they are ready to take the stage. Join us September 18 to find out who takes home the honors.

Still Opportunities to Sponsor:

Sponsors of the 2025 Chamber’s Choice Small Business Conference and Celebration will show their support of the small business community and gain valuable exposure with key potential partners.

Interested in sponsoring? Email eschultz@southwestmichiganfirst.com or chamber@southwestmichiganfirst.com.

View the Sponsorship Packet here.

Sponsors enjoy VIP access, seating, and prominent recognition at the event and beyond.

All sponsorships need to be closed by August 30.

Email eschultz@southwestmichiganfirst.com to learn more.

Seating will be limited. Take advantage of member and early bird pricing through August 18.

We will see you there.