February 2010 Volume 30, Issue 2

My Business Advocate
Building Better Communities by Building Better Businesses
Business 'n Books Days Selection for 2010 Addresses Childhood Obesity
Why this topic, why now? you view his illustrations you will be American children's diet has
By Kathey Batey amazed that he is a senior in high
become a top concern for our
school. It was a privilege to work
with this talented student this year, nation.
For the topic of the children’s book
this year, I looked for a subject that and much credit to his art teacher, “C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
was relevant to the children of our Liz Duffield for her direction and National Poll on Children’s Health
community. encouragement. Remember his name, lists parents’ top 10 health
you will see him again. concerns for 2009; show that more
There are several vital issues that adults worry about children’s
involve our children during these This topic, at this time is more obesity as the top health concern.
trying times, but one stands out important than we realize. I cannot wait Blacks and Hispanics rank obesity
above the rest. Childhood Obesity. to see I Can Eat Fuzzy Caterpillars, but as top child health concern for first
The statistics are staggering. I don’t! read in over 70 second grade time.
classrooms throughout our community
Add to that children’s lack of physical during Business & Books Days Public concern about childhood
exercise and we have a medical March 22-26th. We will discuss the obesity continues to outrank all
disaster waiting to happen. We can be importance of reading from business other health problems as the No. 1
ignorant no longer. What difference men and women, but we will also be concern for children in the United
can you have with one book and giving a vital message to our youth States.
one topic? If you make if fun, a bit about valuing their bodies.
ridiculous, with a practical thought to Forty-two percent of U.S. adults
imprint in the children to start them How wonderful to have a chamber of rate childhood obesity as a big
thinking for themselves about what commerce that is so well rounded to problem. In 2008, 35 percent of
they are eating. If I can impress the have a community relations component adults rated childhood obesity as
thought of being careful about what to affect our community through the the top overall health concern for
we put in our mouths, to truly stop children. I am so proud to be a part children. In 2007, it was ranked
and think about it, it can and will of Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber No. 3”.
make a difference. Would you put a of Commerce and all of the amazing
fuzzy caterpillar into your mouth? things we do. You need this component US Surgeon General's warning
Then why would we put the damaging for your business, for the practical on Childhood obesity
things into our bodies that we do? side of business, but also a place you
can contribute into your community. Today, 12.5 million children are
The brilliance of Danny Jimenez Contact sue@southkent.org to be a part overweight in the United States—
truly brings this book to life. When of this worthwhile program. more than 17 percent. Overweight
children are at greater risk for
many serious health problems.
Coming Events The US Surgeon General promotes
the importance of healthy eating
and physical activity at a young
Chamber After Hours - Hyatt Hotel, Wyoming 2/11 age to help prevent overweight and
Speednetworking - Metro South Multi Chamber - Cutlerville 2/12 obesity in this country.
3rd Fridays Networking Luncheon 2/19
Chamber After Hours - Location TBD 3/11 To ensure a healthy future for
Business 'n Books Days (Volunteer to Read) 3/22-26 America's children, we must—
Kentwood Career Expo and Sport of Words Speech Contest 4/14 • Help Kids Stay Active
• Encourage Healthy Eating Habits
• Promote Healthy Choices
Calendars on Pages 6 & 7
Obesity causes diseases such as
Log on to www.southkent.org for details.
diabetes, heart disease and some
forms of cancer.
 YOUR CHAMBER MANAGEMENT
2010 Board of Directors
*indicates Executive Committee Member
*John Crawford - President & CEO
*Norine Mulvihill - American Diabetes Association,
Board Chair
*Todd Duncan - Consumers Energy, Past Chair
*Kathey Batey - Priority Health/Spirited
Presentations, Senior Vice Chair
*Matt Uhl - National City Bank
*Danna Mathiesen - Mercantile Bank
*David Szidik - Proforma Infinite Marketing
TBD - Legal Counsel
TBD - Chair, Fin. & Budget
Community Relations Division (Blue)
*Kathey Batey - Sr. Vice Chair
Tommy Brann - Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille
Richard Chrisman - Hungerford, Aldrin, Nichols &
Carter
John Schwartz - AT&T
Brent Vander Kolk - Vander Kolk & Vander Kolk,.
PLC
Lillian VanderVeen - Lenger Travel Services
Member Relations Division (Red)
*Matt Uhl - Vice Chair
Betsy Artz - Loeks Theaters (Celebration Cinema)
Skip Knapp - EdwardJones Investments
Tom Kruisenga - The Kruisenga Agency
Membership Development Division (Gold)
*Danna Mathiesen - Vice Chair
Bob O'Callaghan - Citadel Broadcasting
Joel Iakiri - Business Interconnect Group, LLC
Financial Development Division (Green)
*David Szidik - Vice Chair
Brent Holland - Chameleon Ltd
Carol Crawford - The Alternative Board
Dan Van Dyke - PDS Group LTD
Denise Hughes - D2 Marketing
Rob Wells - Vantage Pointe Financial
Ex-Officio
Jack Poll - City of Wyoming, Mayor
Richard Root - City of Kentwood, Mayor
Curtis Holt - City of Wyoming, Manager
Bill Doren - Chamber Foundation Chair
My Business Advocate,
Copyright 2010
Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce
590 - 32nd Street SE
Wyoming, MI 49548-2345
Tel: 616-531-5990
Fax: 616-531-0252
Newsletter/Advert Information: sue@southkent.org
Building Better Communities by
Building Better Businesses
Opinion by John
February 2010
By John J. Crawford, Jr.
President & CEO
Awards Highlight Annual Meeting
The Chamber's 29th Annual Meeting was a great way to put the
spotlight on some deserving Members for their successes and their
contributions to the Community and Chamber.
Businesses of the Year
The Chamber honored three businesses as examples of good
business practices with its annual Businesses of the Year Awards.
Signworks of Michigan was named the best Manufacturer of the
Year. Ann and Todd Frass operate their sign business from their
location in Kentwood near the G R Ford Airport and are a husband-
wife team committed to excellence in customer service.
Grand Buick earned the outstanding Retail Business of the
Year. The Koning family owns and operates the auto dealership
as part of the Grand Auto Family. They were nominated by one
of their customers and Chamber Board member for extraordinary
customer service and for tremendous employee teamwork during an
unusually harsh climate for new car sales.
Winning recognition as the Service Business of the Year was
Celebration Cinema. Steve VanWagoner and Betsy Artz were on
hand to accept the award, with VanWagoner doing a near-perfect
Bill Clinton impression. Part of Loeks Theaters, the company was
honored for its level of community support and its assistance to the
Chamber this past year.
Volunteer of the Year honors went to Amanda Lewis from
gNetworks, who has been very busy on four of the Chambers
committees and projects. She is Chairing the Chamber
Ambassadors and the Business Growth Committees this coming
year.
The Committee of the Year last year was the 3rd Fridays!
Exchange Luncheon Planning Committee. Under the leadership
of Lisa O'Callaghan from Citadel Broadcasting and then Linda
Singer from the MI Lake to Lake Bed & Breakfast Assn, the
committee continued to post impressive performances with great
networking events every month.
Thanks to All
It's difficult to adequately acknowledge everyone that should be
Thanked at an evening function of a Volunteer-based organization
like the Chamber. Every one of you - from Board Members to
the newest member of any committee - played a critical role in the
Chamber's performance. Thanks so much for all that you do!
A couple individuals deserving special praise are Steve Marshall
from MAS Advisory Service for his role as the leader of our Finance
Committee the past two years. Steve was diligent in helping
engineer the budget in some of our most challenging times.
Another member deserving huge kudos is Rick Sturim from
Steve's Antique Auto Repair. Rick's been committed to the 28th
Street Metro Cruise® since its inception and provided his valuable
leadership as Chair of the Committee last year. The Cruise is
the largest effort by the Chamber and arguably has the most
significant impact in our community of any Chamber project.
Thanks to all of you! I am very proud to be associated with you!
And that's my Opinion by John.
 Free Seminars For Business Owners “Taking Your Business to the Next Level”
Chamber Member Businesses are
providing a series of seminars for
business owners and decision
makers that will help take your
business to the next level.
February 3, 2010
How to Run Your Business So
You Can Leave It in Style! and
Baby Boomers to XYZ Generation
Presented by Mark Andresky,
CExP, ABI, CBI is the founder of
Performance Business Advisors.
• A step-by-step plan to reaping
top dollar when you sell or transfer
your business.
• Business owners will learn how
to create and preserve value within
their businesses using tools they
already have.
Maximize profit and minimize
tax liability.
Presented Sean Banks & Nick Oostveen
from Aerotek Commercial Staffing.
• See how and why the right
employees can make your business
and the wrong ones can break your
business.
Newly Formed Communication Committee
Calls For Volunteers
The 2010 Communications
Committee is looking for members
with passion and energy to help the
WKACC:
1) Replace the current Chamber
Web Site design and functionality
to improve the curb appeal,
communication and value to
members;
2) Develop and implement a
WKACC brand standard and
approval process to ensure quality
and consistent usage of the Chamber
identity (logo and slogan) by all
Divisions and Committees; and
Non Business Owners $50.00 and
CEO's, Presidents and Business
Owners can attend this entire
FREE series. Register TODAY at
www.tabmichigan.com or Call
616-975-0125. Seminars are held
March 3, 2010 at The Campbell Group Building,
Health Care Update – Making 5664 Prairie Creek Dr. near M-6 and
Sense of the Data/Technology M-37.
for the Small: Cloud Computing
Presented by Joseph Ekstrom VP,
Employee Benefits Practice Leader
at The Campbell Group
• Make sense of employee benefit
practices with plan design, funding
analysis, legal compliance issues,
and employee communications.
Understand a range of employee
benefit issues.
Presented by Rob Harbin, Vice
President/Senior Technology
Strategist, Micro Visions, Inc.
• Cloud Computing Overview.
Introduction of modern cloud
applications for business. Barriers
to leveraging emerging cloud
technology. Benefits of cloud
computing/objections.
3) Improve the quality and
profitability of the WKACC
Community Profile and Metro
Guide.
The Committee meets from 9 am
to 10 am on the 3rd Tuesday
of the month at the Chamber
offices.
If you are interested in
helping us achieve our goals,
contact Sue Bynum at the
Chamber or Blair Entenmann,
MarketingHelp!, the Committee
Meeting Notice Chair, at 866-1198 or blair@
Communications Committee mktghelp.com.
3rd Tuesday
February 16, 2010
9 am to 10 am
At the Chamber Office

WKACC
Education
Committee
Extra
Credit
Children's Book Sale
(Great Easter Basket Item)
The Education Committee has a
limited supply of children's books
from past Business 'n Books Days
Events available for purchase.
Give the Children in your life the gift
of reading and support the WKACC
Education Committee by purchasing
a quality hardcover children's book.
There are 7 different titles available
at $15 per book. Special: Purchase
a 4 pack of titles for only $50.00!
These are quality children's stories
selected specifically for our second
grade audiences. Only one copy of
some titles is available and when
supplies are gone, they're gone.
Plan ahead for birthdays, Easter and Read to me pirates, read to me knights,
special occasions by purchasing a
4 pack of titles and save $10.00 off Read to me spaceships and cowboys and then
the per book price. Contact sue@
southkent.org for details.
Volunteer Readers Needed in March
It's time once again for Business 'n
Books Days! This is the community
event that sends our eager volunteer
business leaders into second grade
classrooms to read to students.
"We are bracing for a huge influx
of teacher requests over the next
several weeks" Education Committee
Member Connie Ziebarth told us.
Connie will be communicating
with teachers in all of the public,
private and parochial schools in the
Wyoming and Kentwood areas in
the next few weeks and forwarding
requests for readers to our office.
If you would be interested in
volunteering 30 minutes from your
busy schedule to read to a class
of second grade students, please
contact sue@southkent.org. She'll
need to know which day(s) and what
time(s) you would be available.
Once the requests start coming
in for readers, we will match
each volunteer with a classroom.
Volunteers will be allowed to confirm
availability on a specific date and
time before the appointment will be
verified with the teacher.
Simply send an email to Sue
Bynum indicating your interst in
volunteering to read. (Be sure to
include the day(s) and time(s) you
are most available.)
Read To Me
Read to me riddles, read to me rhymes
Read to me stories of magical times
Read to me tales about castles and kings
Read to me stories of fabulous things.
Read to me dragons and dragon back flights
When you are finished, please read them again.
A poem by Jane Yolen
Volunteers will be given a packet
of handouts for the teacher to
distribute to the class. Students
will take the handout with
the names of all of the event
sponsors on it, to their parents.
The handout sends a message
home stressing the importance
of reading to a child's entire life.
Parents are encouraged to read
to and with their children.
In addition, you will present
the book once it's been read, to
the teacher for her classroom
library. They get to keep the
book!
This is the 12th consecutive year
for this very popular community
project. Many of the classrooms
we read to have all 11 of the
previous book selections in their
classroom library and many
teachers have made it a regular
part of their March curriculum.
Past volunteers have called to
thank us for giving them the
opportunity to read and found
interacting with the kids a lot
of fun and very rewarding. They
read year after year.
Congratulations again to Danny
Jimenez, senior at Rogers High
School on all of the wonderful
illustrations he contributed to
this beautiful childrens story.
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Our book selection for 2010
Business 'n Books Days
 CHAMBER PARTNERS
These WKACC Members are offering
discounts to Members on products
and services that you need to run
your business. Using a Chamber
Partner will help you increase your
bottom line while you support
members and the Chamber at the
same time.
Chamber Partners have agreed to
provide non-dues revenue to the
Chamber for every member that
uses their services in addition
to special rates to the member-
customer.
Choice Business Services
As a Chamber Partner, Choice Business Services offers
any member of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber
of Commerce a significant discount on all office support
services.
CBS provides professional business support through Business Address,
Conferencing Services, Clerical/Administrative Support services.
Telephone Answering, Temporary and Permanent Office Leasing and
much more…..You give us the task we figure out the best way to
complete it! Contact Debra Bates at deb@choicebiz.com or call 616-975-
0100 for discount details.
TAB has been a ChamberPartner
since 2008 and recently renewed
their partnership for another year.
The Alternative Board helps you
grow your business, make more
TAB offers business owners peer money and work fewer hours.
advice, at a discounted rate, to
empower you and your Contact Carol Crawford at 616-
organization to achieve your 301-8081 or email her at carol@
tabmichigan.com.
business vision.
Take the Benefits Challenge!
1) It would be beneficial to have an Employee Benefits plan that
‘ b e n e f i t e d ’ all employees - including our lower-paid hourly and
part-time staff at NO-COST to me, the employer.
TTrruuee // FFaallssee
2) I’d like our group health insurance rates to decrease by 40%
immediately and remain stable into the future.
TTrruuee // FFaallssee
Let us show you something new.
JJaassoonn A
A.. R
Ruusssseellll
Broker Director
(616) 490-0911 - direct
WKACC Chamber Partner
Jason@eagleadministrators.com
You're getting real value when
you use a Chamber Partner. Only
products and services that will help
you grow your business for less
money are endorsed by the Chamber
Partner Committee.
If you would like information on
becoming a Chamber Partner
contact sue@southkent.org or carol@
tabmichigan.com for a copy of the
Affinity Program and answers to
any questions you may have about
applying for a Chamber Partner
Endorsement.
If you would like to be part of the
Chamber Partners Committee and
help us recruit businesses that offer
business building discounts to our
members.
If you know someone that would
make a good Chamber Partner,
contact sue@southkent.org and
someone will contact the potential
businesses.
Chamber Partners meet on the 3rd
Friday of each month immediately
following the 3rd Fridays! Networking
Luncheon. We meet at the location
where 3rd Fridays! is held and the
meetings last an hour or less.
Working with a
Chamber
Partner
is
Good Business
Michael DeVries from
Principal Financial Group
is offering Members of the
Wyoming-Kentwood Area
Chamber of Commerce significant cost
savings on Disability Insurance and only
for our Chamber Member Employers
and their employees. Contact Michael
at 616-942-1251 ext 3020 for price and
coverage details.
 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

February 2010
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 Noon 2 4p 3 8:15 a 4 8a 5 6
Gov Matters at Ambassadors Chamber P.A.C.
the Chamber Foundation
2:30 p
Golf Outing
Committee

7 8 8a 9 10 11 5-7 p 12 7:30 a 13 11:15 a

Gov Matters at Chamber After Metro South & 1:15 p
Wyoming Hours Chamber Family Movie
City Hall Hyatt Hotel Network Matinee - Percy
4p Wyoming Jackson & the
Speed
Education Comm Lightening Thief
@Celebration Networking! Celebration
South South

14 15 16 9 am 17 10 a, 18 9a
11:30 a-1 p
193rd 20
Communications Finance Fridays!
Business
Committee 11:30 a, @ Applause!
Growth
@ the Chamber Executive 1p
11:30 a
Committee Chamber
Community
Partners
Roundtable @
MARCH
Brann's
NEWSLETTER
DEADLINE

21 22 23 24 25 7:30 a 26 27
CEO Exchange
10 a
3rd Fri!
Comm
11:30 a
Board Mtg @
Brann's

28
Chamber Office Hours
Monday -Thursday
8am - 5pm
Closed Friday
 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

March 2010
Sun
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 Noon 2 4p 3 8:15 a 4 8a 5 6
Gov Matters at Chamber P.A.C.
Ambassadors
the Chamber Foundation
4p
Education
Comm @
Celebration
South

7 8 8a 9 10 11 5-7 p 12 13
Gov Matters at Chamber After
Wyoming Hours
City Hall

14 15 16 9 am 17 10 a, 18 9a 1911:30 a-1 p 20
Communications Finance Business 3rd Fridays!
Committee 11:30 a, Growth @ Applause
@ the Chamber Executive 11:30 a 1p
Committee Community Chamber
Roundtable @ Partners
Brann's APRIL
NEWSLETTER
DEADLINE

21 22 23 24 25 7:30 a 26 27
CEO Exchange
10 a
3rd Fri! Comm
11:30 a
Board Mtg @
Brann's

Business 'n Books Days - Volunteer to Read to a Second Grade Class

28
Chamber Office Hours
Monday -Thursday
8am - 5pm
Closed Friday
 Metro South Chamber Speed Networking
Five area Chambers link for maximum networking opportunities.
For Members Only!

• Hudsonville,
• Grandville-Jenison,
• Wyoming-Kentwood,
• Byron Center,
• Cutlerville-Gaines

Join us on Friday, February 12 at Want to protect against getting whacked with an unexpected
Crossroads Banquet Center, 6569 I.R.S debt, hit with a lawsuit from a disgruntled employee or
Clay Avenue SW, as the Cutlerville- client, and ensure that your family and your business are taken
Gaines Chamber of Commerce hosts care of if something should happen to you?
Speed Networking beginning at 7:30
am. “I’ll Give You A $1,250 Legal,
Speed Networking is a tool for groups
or people wishing to meet, exchange
Insurance, Financial And Tax
ideas and expand their networking
circles. Participants in the program
Business Review - For FREE”
engage in some 20 five-minute,
face-to-face, conversations with
like-minded individuals in "musical
Michael Lichterman
chairs" fashion. Creative Business LawyerTM
Bring plenty of business cards and LICHTERMAN LAW, PLC
be prepared to give a 1 minute Grand Rapids, MI
commercial on your product or
service. When registering, please
complete address, phone and e-mail.
Here is what you’ll discover...
We will need for those for future
communication. We meet bi-monthly. x Whether your business is structured for maximum tax savings and
personal liability protection. (If not, you could be spending extra
Agenda $$ every year & leaving yourself at unnecessary risk.)
7:30 am - 8:00 am -
x The business and personal insurance you MUST have in place for
Informal Networking
your security and peace of mind. (Most business owners are putting
8:00 am - 9:00 am - their business and family at risk by not having the right insurance and
Speed Networking many are paying for insurance they don’t need. What about you?)

Upcoming Dates
(The 2nd Friday of even-numbered
months except in April when we will
meet on the 3rd Friday.)
2010 Schedule
February 12 - Cutlerville-Gaines &
Byron Center Chambers
April 16 - Hudsonville (3rd Friday)
June 11 - Wyoming-Kentwood
August 13 - Grandville- Jenison
October 15 - Cutlerville-Gaines &
Byron Center Chambers
December 10 - Hudsonville
x Whether your legal agreements are going to hold up when you
need them. (Without the right agreements in place, disagreements,
lawsuits and loss of revenue are not a matter of “if” but “when.”)
x Whether your financial systems are in place and protecting you
from a major loss. (If they’re not you have a ticking time bomb
ready to go off inside your business.)
You will leave our meeting with a customized 14 page document that
will give you more clarity about your business than you have ever
had before. You will know where the holes are in you legal insurance,
financial and tax foundation and how to fill them. You will leave with a
deeper sense of peace of mind—guaranteed.
I have blocked off time this month for 10 of these business reviews. To
secure your appointment, call 616-827-7596 and tell Paula “I would like
to schedule the FREE L.I.F.T Business Review I read about in My Business
Advocate. Call now to avoid missing this opportunity.
 Jump Start for Stalled
Business Lenders
A program included in the
February 2008 stimulus package
to help banks increase lending
to small businesses and spur
job growth is being pressured
by President Obama to begin
soon. In the program, the Small
Business Administration (SBA)
will guarantee up to $3 billion in
504 loans sold into the secondary
market.
These loans give small businesses
financing that is more favorable
than traditional business loans
when investing in fixed assets
like property or machinery. The
program will protect investors
who bought the loans from primary
lenders if borrowers fail to pay.
The SBA expects the program to
start soon; however, they don't
currently have a set date.
BusinessWeek.com - Jan. 8, 2010
Manual Typewriters
for Nicaragua
We recently received a request
from Sharon Brinks from Brinks
& Associates, PC. Sharon returned
from Nicaragua in September where
she has worked for over 10 years as
a North American Coordinator to a
partnership with attorneys providing
legal assistance to the poor.
Over a dozen "Houses of Justice"
operate on a budget of less than
$100 per month. The services they
provide are crucial and very much
needed. Sharon shared some of the
stories and she'll be glad to share
them with you.
Many of the areas these attorneys
work in areas without electricity and
are in need of manual typewriters.
If you have one you'd like to donate,
contact Sharon Brinks at 616-656-
1090 or email her at brinks.law.
firm@prodigy.net. Find her on the
web at www.brinkslawfirm.com
Chamber After Hours
Ambassador
The First Chamber Spotlight
After Hours in 2010
will be held on Casey
Thursday, February Jankoska
11th from 5pm-
7pm at the Hyatt Client Relationship Manager at
Place in Wyoming. Express Employment
This event is always FREE to Professionals, Casey has been
attend! It's your chance to network involved with the Wyoming-
with other members and not-yet Kentwood Area Chamber of
members. Catch up with friends Commerce for 6 years, serving
after the holidays and make new as both chair and co-chair of
friends and business contacts. various committees, including
most recently, chair for the 2009
You may choose to promote your
Chamber Ambassadors.
business with a showcase table for
only $35. Contact julie@southkent. Express Employment
org. Professionals is the bridge between
people looking for good jobs
Chamber Connections and companies looking for good
Join us to learn how your people. This business has been in
membership with the Chamber the Kentwood/Wyoming area for
benefits your business, and how the past 14 years. Express is a
franchise, where clients get to enjoy
to maximize the return on your
investment in the Chamber. working with the local owner and
operator, but also have access to
February 11, 2010 4:30pm at The the resources and experts at the
Hyatt Place - RSVP by February 8. international franchisor. If you are
a company looking for top talent,
February 19, 2010 11:00am at
please give Casey a call at 616-281-
Applause* - RSVP by 2/15/2010
0611.
*Lunch at the 3rd Friday's!
Networking Luncheon immediately
following is included. Please contact
julie@southkent.org or call 616-
531-5990 to register.
By Lisa Calhoun, Chamber Ambassador
Director of Sales
Hilton Grand Rapids Airport
616-957-0100 x 7533
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For You,
and
Amanda Lewis, Chamber Ambassador
Your Employees and
Co-Owner, Their Families!
eTools/Framework Sites
616-451-2335 Contact janine@southkent.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. org for plan pricing and work
and residential eligibility
requirements.
 Join us on the 3rd Fridays! Luncheon for lunch by any representative
know it is the best of your company. Miss up to 3
3rd Friday each
monthly networking lunches in 12 months and still
month January bargain around. And they save!
through March at know that networking is
more effective when it is Add a Showcase Table
consistently done. anytime. It's simple to add
a showcase table to your
In the spirit of helping lunch admission pass. Just
our businesses grow their call or email the Chamber
bottom line, the Chamber and let them know you'd like
is offering a 3rd Fridays! to pay $35 to showcase your
The 3rd Fridays! Networking Annual Pass for only business with your paid lunch.
Luncheon is on the move again. $126.00. That's a 25% savings
Join us on Friday, January 15, off the monthly early registration
for our first networking event at charge for lunch and it guarantees
Applause Banquet Center located your automatic reservations at the
at 2728 Birchcrest Dr SE, behind next 12 consecutive 3rd Fridays!
Frequent
Pietro's on 28th Street, just west Luncheons. Networking
of Breton. Cost is still only $15
for early member registration. Be Contact us if you can't attend. No is
sure to register before noon on need to call ahead or forgetting to
register on time to beat the early Good
Tuesday, January 12 and save.
registration deadline. We'll only Business!
Annual Pass Saves Networking need to know if you can't make it.
Dollars. Members taking Can't always make the luncheon?
advantage of the monthly The pass is issued in YOUR
networking opportunities at our COMPANY NAME and may be used

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 
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   

    
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  
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    
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 
 
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   
    
   
  

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 Member Spotlight Renewing Members
Board Executives meet monthly and select the
outstanding volunteer and Committee for their • Bubble Magic Laundry • Michigan Lake to Lake Bed &
effort and results on behalf of WKACC. • Byron Bank Breakfast Assoc.
• D2 Marketing • Mini Storage Depot
January Volunteer • NAI West Michigan
• Disabled American Veterans
of the Month • Pheasant Ridge Apartments
• Draftsmen, Inc
• Duthler Truck Center, Inc • Precision Property Management
Judi Holland from Chameleon Ltd • Servpro
• Fruit Basket Flowerland
has been selected as our January • Silver Bullet Firearms &
• Holy Name of Jesus
Volunteer of the Month. Judi worked Training Center
Elementary School
on the Annual Meeting and Silent • Sunhill America, LLC
• ITP (The Rapid)
Auction Committee again this year. • Total Quality, Inc
• Mary Kay Cosmetics –
She has worked on this event for • Vander Kolk & Vander Kolk,
Whitesell
several year now. In addition, she PLC
• Michigan Building &
volunteers as a Chamber Ambassador • William F. Idema
Mechanical
and works on our Chamber After • YMCA of Grand Rapids
Hours Projects with that group.
Judi is married to Brent Holland, one
of the members of our 2010 Board of
Welcome New Members
Directors. Chameleon Ltd has been Clear Channel Radio, Tim Harold Mast Consulting, LLC,
a member of the Chamber since 2000 Feagan - (616) 459-1919 Harold Mast - (616) 262-7268
and both Judi and Brent are very
active volunteers in many different Cindy Summers, Cindy Local First, Elissa Hillary - (616)
capacities. Summers - (616) 884-0888 808-3788
Congratulations to Judi on this very
Fifth Third Bank - Business
well deserved award, and thank you to
Banking Group, Michael Hay
the entire Annual Meeting Committee
- (616) 653-5089
for a wonderful event in January.

January Committee
of the Month WKACC Board Chair Appointed to KCHD
Your Chamber Ambassadors Health Advisory Committee
received the nod from the Executive
Committee as Committee of the 2010 Board Chair, Norine Mulvihill with the American
Month in January. Diabetes Association, has recently been appointed to a seat
with the Kent County Health Department's Health Advisory
Working with Amanda Lewis from Committee. Congratulations Norine.
gNetworks/Framework Sites, in
the Lead role, this committee has
begun working on an Orientation
Program for new members which is
expected to debut on February 19
and is restructuring their Member
Call procedures to make them more
efficient and effective.
Chamber Ambassadors are our
Chamber Members direct link
to information about Chamber
programs and events. Your Ambassador
can help you tie into the business
community and direct you to events
and programs that can help you
grow your business. Make sure
you get to know your Chamber
Ambassador.
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   
   
   
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 See You At The Movies!
Join us on February 13 for one of two showtimes!

Help support WKACC Education Committee Programs and spend

some time with the family. Only $10.50 per ticket includes
games, prizes, popcorn, pop and ticket to the show! No need to
register ahead. We'll see you at the movies!