Hello West Michigan

Mark your calendars for our upcoming Employer Internship Training Session on Wednesday, February 5. At this session, learn about how to start or improve an internship program at your company. A special guest from Global Detroit will speak about how to access the international student talent pool right here in West Michigan. Hosted by Calvin Career Center. Register: https://lnkd.in/gNEuXgkP

Congratulations to our Executive Director, Rachel Gray, who was named Partner of the Year by MichAuto! We partnered with MichAuto on their High Tech Talent Initiative, transforming our systems and piloting events to make it easier for companies to connect with highly-skilled talent. Many thanks to Terranox, our technology partner on this project. Stay tuned for the next exciting project with MICHAuto!

We loved joining with City Institute and Michigan Growth Office to host the You Can in Grand Rapids Rally! Young talent connected with employers, heard from young professionals who chose to live in the region, and learned what daily life could look like in Grand Rapids during a bus tour with our Executive Director, Rachel Gray.

Do you know the history of this art piece? Locally known as "the Calder", it's official name is La Grand Vitesse. Situated in downtown Grand Rapids, it was designed by Alexander Calder and installed in 1969. La Grande Vitesse means "the swift movement" in French, referencing the river that runs through the heart of downtown. It is now a city icon. Where else do you see images of "the Calder" represented around town?

When you hire a new employee, you onboard them into the company, but who's onboarding them into the community? In our Rapid Roots program, cohort members get an inside look at community assets that are often promoted in the attraction phase. Community onboarding is critically important for employee retention, especially when your new employee is also new to the community. For Rapid Roots 2024, 14 strangers came together, and after 6 weeks, finished the program as friends. Our 3rd annual cohort had 14 executives who relocated from places like NYC, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Virginia, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio, Alaska, and Malaysia. We explored different communities in West Michigan and learned about the history, the arts, the economy, outdoor recreation, dining & nightlife, and learned the science of friend-finding. Do you have a new executive who relocated to West Michigan? We are accepting applications for 2025. Nominate them and send them the application below. https://lnkd.in/gaeSDRBT

Registration is open for our 2025 Annual Meeting on February 13! We are excited to share an update on all we’ve accomplished in the last year and our exciting plans for the new year. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gHK_Kh_h

Our member company, Acrisure, is hiring for four new positions. Talent Acquisition Enablement Manager: https://ow.ly/8Uyu50Uon39 Recruitment Marketing Specialist: https://ow.ly/ew8g50Uon38 Talent Acquisition Sourcing & Labor Market Specialist: https://ow.ly/HyzI50Uon36 Talent Acquisition Process & Technology Specialist: https://ow.ly/KOKq50Uon37

Herbruck's Poultry Ranch is a family-first egg production company. In 2023, Herbruck's was recognized as the West Michigan Works! employer of the year. Learn more about a career at Herbruck's: https://ow.ly/qc2U50UoiZT See open roles at Herbruck's: https://ow.ly/bUW850UoiZU

❄️Winter is here! If you're new to West Michigan, this may be your first time braving the snow. Sound like you? Check out this blog post to learn West Michigan winter tips: https://ow.ly/3v6W50UlQlG

Are you looking for a place to worship during the holiday season? Check out our website for a list of multiple faith communities: https://lnkd.in/g7MBdGqz