The Right Place, Inc.

With our annual Economic Outlook right around the corner, we are excited to hear from this year's experts: Randy Thelen, President & CEO, The Right Place, Inc. Michael Horrigan, President, W.E. Upjohn Institute Jeffrey Korzenik, Chief Economist, Fifth Third Bank Susan N. Houseman, Senior Economist, W.E. Upjohn Institute Gain valuable insights on what lies ahead for the region, state, and nation from these top industry leaders. Register here: https://bit.ly/3YStMeN

Placemaking means many things to different people – but we can all agree that positive, proactive, and strategic placemaking is essential for our communities to prosper. Our second annual Place Matters Summit brought together over 130 community leaders from the West Michigan region and beyond to explore strategies for fostering vibrant communities and neighborhoods. Our keynote speaker, Allyson Brunette, emphasized the urgent need to address the challenges presented by digital-induced isolation, poor urban design, and weakened human connections. To rebuild our social fabric and strengthen civic engagement, we must shift our focus to revitalizing public spaces and nurturing meaningful offline connections. Gregg Hampshire, Megan Lavell, and Haley Dilibero Stichman each delivered TED talk-style presentations, sharing creative strategies to engage community members and catalyze public spaces into dynamic, lively community hubs. Finishing the event with a bang was a panel discussion about growth, development, and community character featuring Dan Leonard, Emily Petz, Ryan M. Schmidt, and Andy Wenzel. Thank you to our speakers, attendees, and sponsors, LMCU, Fishbeck, Sable Homes & Realty, ITC Holdings Corp., SME, Chicago Title, and Wolverine Building Group for making this event successful. Stay tuned for information about Place Matters Summit 2025!

KNITit, a woman-owned 3D knitting company in the region, recently modernized its operations with advanced technology and workforce upskilling with support from our MMTC-West team. Liz Hilton, Owner of KNITit, says, "MMTC is amazing. Through the Industry 4.0 process, I met Steven Lopez, who was extremely knowledgeable, communicated everything clearly, and was a pleasure to work with. I also met Terry Hossink, who told me he could help me become ISO certified! I will be taking him up on that. Everyone I met through MMTC was knowledgeable, professional, and on it! I have never seen a program run so smoothly. I am very impressed." Our MMTC-West team offers an array of personalized consulting services to manufacturers in West Michigan. Learn how they can help you at https://lnkd.in/esVBi9vJ.

The Right Place has released its 2024 Talent Report, providing an in-depth look at workforce trends shaping our region’s future. Discover insights on evolving talent to consider as we enter 2025. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3O6Wy56

Are you a dynamic leader with a passion for storytelling, strategic thinking, and making an impact? The Right Place is looking for a new Marketing Director to lead our efforts in showcasing the strengths and opportunities of Greater Grand Rapids. At The Right Place, our team is guided by four core values: 1. Caring Teammates who support each other and our community. 2. Courageous Leaders who embrace challenges and innovation. 3. Can-Do Attitudes that make things happen. 4. Collaborative Doers who thrive on partnership and shared success. We're proud to be recognized as one of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, and we're looking for a driven leader to join us in shaping the future of our region. Ready to make an impact? Learn more at rightplace.org/careers and apply by sending your resume and cover letter to [email protected].

Mentavi Health is growing its business right here in Grand Rapids. Read their recent profile on Purpose Jobs to learn how they’re reducing the barriers to mental health treatment: https://bit.ly/3Cl1ZuC

Reminiscing on all the innovation, insights, and connections made at Tech Week GR 2024! Thank you to everyone who participated, shared their expertise, and helped us shape the future of tech. Check out this video recapping some of our favorite moments. Save the date for next year's Tech Week Grand Rapids, happening September 15-20!

We partnered with Vibrant Futures to develop the West Regional Child Care Action Plan to address the critical need for accessible, affordable childcare - a key factor in economic development. The expansion of childcare options will remove barriers for working parents, boost workforce participation, and ultimately contribute to economic growth. Check out the report here: https://bit.ly/3Tej5Ao

Join us for our annual Economic Outlook event on December 5th! This event will provide insights into the future of the Greater Grand Rapids region, the State of Michigan, and the nation, empowering attendees to prepare themselves and their businesses for a successful future. Early bird registration ends on November 8th! For more information and to register, click here: https://bit.ly/3YStMeN

Last week we had our last Investor Exchange event of the year that focused on talent and retention, highlighting the release of our 2024 Talent Report. Our SVP of Talent & Diversity, TaRita J., walked us through our region’s current talent landscape and shared future workforce expectations based on emerging trends. Shout out to Kent ISD and the Kent Career Tech Center for hosting us and to AEBetancourt for sponsoring the event. And a special thank you to our panelists who shared their companies’ best practices: Nelson Sanchez, RoMan Manufacturing Misti Stanton, Mercantile Bank Tony Bashir Sarsam, SpartanNash Ron Gorman, Kent ISD Our Investor Exchanges are exclusive events for investors of The Right Place. If you'd like to learn how to get more involved with our organization, we'd love to connect! Reach out to our Investor Relations Specialist, Emily Mace, at [email protected].