Back to Business

Talent is the big problem of 2022. On this episode of the Back to Business Podcast, we focus on how the Grand Rapids Chamber is working to overcome the talent gap.

Our guests this week are Allie Walker, Vice President at Truscott Rossman, and Mel Trombley, Director of Leadership Programs for the Grand Rapids Chamber. Allie is not a newcomer to our leadership programs, being an alumni of Leadership Grand Rapids and Speak with Purpose. Allie has also sent her team from across the state to our Speak with Purpose program.

In the episode, we take a look at how employers are overcoming the talent shortage and how they are using the Chamber's leadership programming to strengthen their team.

Learn more about our resources: https://www.grandrapids.org/talent-development/

The last two years has been a wild ride for everyone in our community. Right at the center of the action has been Kent County Commissioner Mandy Bolter. On this episode, host Connor Smithee sat down with Bolter and the Chamber's Vice President of Government Affairs, Josh Lunger to discuss the wild ride that was the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as what goes into making a great elected official at the local level.

You won't want to miss this episode of Back to Business!

"Sustainability is no longer a nice to have, it's a need to have."

Rockford Construction is committed to sustainability, including in their own building. On this episode of the podcast, Jen Boezwinkle, Rockford’s Executive Vice President of Construction and Keith Winn, President of Catalyst Partners join host Connor Smithee and Katie Doyen, the Chamber's Government Affairs Manager discuss Rockford Constructions commitment to sustainability.

Learn more about the Grand Rapids Chamber's priorities on our website: grandrapids.org.

The Literacy Center of West Michigan has been working with employers across West Michigan in Grand Rapids. One of their successful partnerships has been with Spectrum Health. On today's episode, host Connor Smithee, and guest host Omar Cuevas, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the Grand Rapids Chamber had a chance to sit down with Dr. Wendy Falb, Executive Director of the Literacy Center of West Michigan, and Kevin Vos, Sr. Director, Hospitality Support Services of Spectrum Health. 

We had a chance to discuss the Literacy Center & Spectrum Health's partnership and how they've been able overcome some of the employment problems we've seen during the talent crisis. 

Learn more about the Literacy Center of West Michigan and their programming here: https://literacycenterwm.org/

This week we had a chance to sit down with the MDRD team, who recently came in 2nd for the USA Today's Best New Restaurant in the United States! Host Connor Smithee had a chance to ask their team what this recognition means for them, and what it means to have one of the best restaurants in the country right here in Grand Rapids.

Change is the only thing that's constant in life. The Grand Rapids Chamber's Director of Inclusion, Andre Daley knows that and is working to implement change management strategies into the Chamber's rich DEI programming.

If you haven't had a chance to meet Andre yet, this is a great way to get to know him and his plan for the Chamber's Diversity & Inclusion work.

The Grand Rapids Chamber is excited to announce the recognition of two new Chamber Champions! On this episode, we sat down with Carl VerBeek, who has worked at Varnum LLP since the 1960s. We sat down with Carl to discuss what makes the Chamber so special, and why he's stayed so involved over the years. We also discuss how West Michigan's growth in recent decades, and what our region does well, and what we could do better.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where we interview our other Chamber Champion, Ruth Gaudard.

On this episode of the Back to Business Podcast, we sat down with Ruth Guadard, Area Manager of AT&T. She's also one of this year's Chamber Champions! 

Originally from Grand Rapids, Ruth now lives in Lansing, but stays involved in the West Michigan community through her job with AT&T. We discussed Grand Rapid's growth, and how the Chamber has helped AT&T make a difference in West Michigan. 

Make sure you check out our previous episode with Carl Ver Beek of Varnum LLP. He is our other Chamber Champion!

What happens when an app, a tv show, a cartoon character, and a museum exhibit come together? You get Wimage! Wimage was this year's EPIC Veteran-Owned Business of the Year. We had a chance to sit down with Michael and Pamela from Wimage to discuss how they took an idea to help veterans express themselves and turned it into an educational tool for children. 

Learn more about Wimage: www.wimee.tv

Learn more about the Grand Rapids Chamber: www.grandrapids.org

It's no secret that the housing market is a bit crazy in West Michigan. This week on the Back to Business Podcast, host Connor Smithee had the chance to sit down with Josh Lunger, Senior Director of Government Affairs and Karin Kay of Sable Homes to discuss some of the work that Sable is doing to create affordable mid-level housing. We also discuss some of the barriers that companies like Sable have had to overcome to make these homes, and how the Chamber's Government Affairs team is working to create a solution that benefits home builders and home buyers.