Just because it is summer does not mean networking stops. Trust us…there is WAY too much great stuff happening to be ignored; May’s edition of #YourBizYourTown is proof of this.
Dr. Seuss is in the house.
SLD Read, a West Michigan literacy organization celebrating 40 years is holding a special event on Wednesday, June 18th. Bringing Literacy to Life is a Dr. Seuss Lorax themed event that will be full of Truffula trees, Bar-ba-loots, silent auction items, delicious food and more.
SLD Read, has brought the timeless talents of reading, writing and spelling to all individuals with Dyslexia and other unique learning styles for four decades—tall or short, purple or blue, hairy or hairless, one fish or two. With the chutzpah and zing-bang of 100 Bar-ba-loots, over 10,000 children and adults have triumphed over the Literacy Once-ler to realize their full potential. With your support, Bringing Literacy to Life Grand Rapids will provide the funding (and Truffula fluff) needed to assist even more individuals in their pursuit of literacy in our community. Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/1dsUj7R
The Art of Jazz
On Tuesday, June 24th, the United Methodist Community House will host a fundraiser called Art of Jazz . The Art of Jazz event will feature award winning vocalist, Edye Evans Hyde, Isaac Norris, Hannaniah Whitley and more. Come hear the smooth sounds of today’s best live jazz performances accompanied by one-of-a -kind custom art pieces available for purchase through silent auction. Delectable hors d’oeuvre and beverages included. Tickets only $30 per person or $50 per couple. Individual tickets may be purchased online through Eventbrite. For couple or group sales, please call (616) 452-3226 or email gp******@********gr.org.
An Evening of Soul
On Thursday, June 12th the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) will host the 2nd bi-annual Evening of Soul for a night of recognition and celebration as we honor those in the community who have made an impact in the health equity of American Americans within west Michigan. The black-tie event will be held in the JW Marriott International Ballroom and features a “soul inspired” dinner with a healthy twist by a celebrity chef. The night will conclude with soulful music, dancing and fellowship.
The first of its kind in West Michigan and a national model for research, education, and advocacy, GRAAHI has led significant changes in the approach to health care in our community.
There are plenty of opportunities in June to get out there and mingle, network and have a great time.
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If you ever need proof that personal brand matters...Kim got to see the @nasaartemis II launch in person as a direct result of her Big Deal Energy™.
You need to work hard, show up authentically, and provide value. That was her message to a room full of students and young professionals at @western_michigan_pmi`s theProject Collegiate Competition.
The Big Deal Energy™ Workshop is on June 23. Register at the link in bio.
Employers think Gen Z is lazy, entitled, and will quit the second things get hard. That perception is keeping you out of the room before you ever get a chance to prove otherwise.
The good news is, you can flip the script, but it will take some serious work and a personal brand, or as Kim Bode refers to it: Big Deal Energy™.
Kim is speaking at theProject™ Collegiate Event, hosted by the Project Management Institute Western Michigan Chapter on April 14. She`ll cover how to build a personal brand that actually sounds like you (not ChatGPT) and how you can show your value through social, content and networking.
Link in bio to learn more.
We are so focused on unraveling the cause that we lost sight of the people in the center of it. Kim`s recent piece in the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan`s FOCUS Magazine on the Hard Cost of Soft Skills struck a nerve.
Everyone has an opinion on who`s to blame for where the skills gap is, but nobody is actually fixing it. It`s why we`re having this conversation.
Join us on April 28, link in bio.
Last week, we got to see history. The kind you remember where you were when it happened.
Kim was there on April 1 for the @nasa Artemis II launch - the first crewed flight around the moon in more than 50 years.
We don`t take moments or opportunities like this for granted.
No one talks about how lonely it is to own a business. The tough decisions land on you, the business doesn`t pause when you need a break, and nobody - not your employees or your spouse - really gets it.
If you know a business owner, tell them they`re doing a good job. It matters more than you know.
The growth stage is the hardest part of building a business.
Kim was recently quoted in @corpmagazine on what she sees running the Women`s Entrepreneurial Fellowship: women who have built something, survived the hardest part, and are still doing everything themselves. The natural tendency to be humble and attached to their work creates unique business challenges for women; they put up walls because they can`t be vulnerable.
Meanwhile, when a woman CEO needs growth capital, she compiles three years of tax returns before a bank will schedule a meeting, while her male competitor closes the same deal over drinks.
When women have access to the right resources, they grow and invest back. Full article at the link in bio.
Join Us for Uncomfortable Conversations: The Skills Crisis
April 28, 2026
We’re putting employers and Gen Z in the same room, across a table from each other. They’ll discuss what’s working, what’s missing, and what they wish the other side understood.
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