About

The GR Business Breakfast promises to be a strong presence in the Grand Rapids area for relevant leadership and community information.

Birthed out of a desire to bring back a professional early morning format for Business Owners and Leaders, Gary Ball and Michelle Steffes began the early stages of forming GR Business Breakfast in July 2013. Today, the board has evolved and grown to include, Jenn Maksimowski, Gwyn Harnish, Rose Coonan, Michael Mandeville, Dr. Laurie Brush and Leslie Fiorenzo and Yelena Wells.

The Purpose and Vision of this group is to offer a structured platform where business leaders can thrive in an environment of their own peers. As a team, we are striving to operate a highly organized and effective business group including but not limited to the following amenities:

Monthly Business Breakfast
Outstanding & Approved Speakers/Topics
A Time of Networking
Facilitated Group Involvement
Screened Sponsorships/Door Prizes
Premium Member Benefits
Exclusive Events for Members

Meeting are held at SarahCare
2211 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids MI, 49525

AGENDA: 7:30am Networking Breakfast & Registration – 8:00am – 9:00am Event

If you are interested in offering Sponsorship or Door Prizes, please contact Michelle Steffes at michelle@ipvconsulting.com

WGVU Radio Interview on 1/10/14 (11 min.) – PLAY INTERVIEW

Upcoming Events

april

9apr7:30 AM- 9:00 AMPeter A. Letzmann, "Performance Evaluations that WORK!"

may

14may7:30 AM- 9:00 AMPaul Artale, The Spork Factor: "Using Workplace Flexibility to Create a High Impact Work Culture"

Event Details

The Spork Factor: Using Workplace Flexibility to Create a High Impact Work Culture

Workplace dynamics and demographics are changing faster than ever. Integration of work and life is not only increasing, but is becoming a common characteristic of today’s employee. As business leaders we need to find the right balance between adapting to these changes and maintaining high-performance workplace cultures. This presentation will discuss how to create teams that thrive and adapt in today’s culture. Participants will:

Understand current workforce and demographic trends
Define what is meant by high-performance workplace culture
Recognize the positive impact flexibility has on employee performance
Identify key characteristics of high performance cultures
Define what a results-oriented work environment
Recognize the positive impact flexibility has on employee retention
Leave with one key strategy vital to building a high-performance culture

BRIEF BIO:

Paul Artale is a motivational speaker, author, and trainer who works with companies who want to supercharge employee performance by understanding employee needs and leveraging their strengths. Paul is a PhD Candidate whose research focuses on the positive impact workplace flexibility has on employee engagement, retention, and performance. Paul is the author of “The 2-Year Old’s Guide to Work-Life Balance” and will release his second book “Maximum Ability: How to recruit, retain, and engage employees with (Dis)Abilities.” In October of 2019. Paul’s signature keynote “Hit Hard: 3 Must-Have Mindsets to (Re)Design Your Life” tells the story of how despite being born with physical challenges, Paul was able to achieve his dream of playing college football. Hit Hard shares the mindsets needed to break through barriers. For more information visit www.paulartale.com

Buy a Ticket

Time

(Tuesday) 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Location

SarahCare

2211 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids MI, 49525

june

11jun7:30 AM- 9:00 AMDave Barrett on Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism – an employer’s perspective

Event Details

Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism: An Employer’s Perspective

How do you get people to understand the importance and value of diversity and inclusion?

How do you move people from judging to valuing all human beings regardless of cultural or individual differences?

How does an organization make an impact on racism?

These questions will be answered from the perspective of a manufacturing company – Cascade Engineering. We will explore the what, the why, and the how.

About David

Dave Barrett – has been with Cascade Engineering for over 40 years and is the Director of Talent Development with companywide responsibility for leadership development, employee development, and cultural development. Dave has held various positions in maintenance, operations management, human resources and organizational development. His ultimate role in the company is as a “Keeper of the Culture” working to create an organization where people love to work and helping Cascade Engineering become an employer of choice. Dave began his diversity work at Cascade in 1994 when Fred Keller (founder) pulled Dave and another manager into his office and said: “My company is not doing enough around the issue of diversity so we’re going to start a diversity program.” In 2012 the company took another step by putting a stake in the ground and declaring Cascade Engineering would be an anti-racism organization.

Dave has an Associate’s degree in Plastics Technology from Ferris State University and an MBA from Davenport University. He is a Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources (SCPSM) from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). He has a certificate in Organizational Development from the National Training Laboratory.