ood Ar Building Better Communities by Building Better Businesses Cindy Buist

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1 January 2016 Volume 36, Issue 1 Wyoming-K entw ood Ar ea Chamber of Commer ce oming-kentw entwood Area Commerce Building Better Communities by Building Better Businesses Committee of the 4th Quarter Michael Zomerlei The Santa Parade committee works all year to bring a wonderful celebration of the holidays and joy to the children of Wyoming and Kentwood with the parade on Division Avenue. (More Photos on page 3) Save the Date: 2016 Santa Parade Saturday, December 3rd Cindy Buist Gregg Howard Jerry DeGood Betsy Artz Chris Fuller Volunteer Volunteer of of the the 4thQuarter 4thQuarter Cindy Buist Godwin Public Schools Santa Parade Committee WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Red Cedar Insurance Agency Country Green Condo's Noto's Old World Italian Dining Kent Optimist Club Waldon Woods Ribbon Cutting Jan 11 Jan 14 Jan 15 Jan 20 Jan 22 Feb 8 Feb 11 Feb 19 UPCOMING EVENTS Government WCH - with Elected Officials Division Avenue Business Association Meeting 3rd Fridays! Networking Luncheon Breakfast with Purpose Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner 2016 Government WCH - with Elected Officials Division Avenue Business Association Meeting 3rd Fridays! Networking Luncheon Get full details on events at

2 Page 2 Welcome 2016 Chamber Building Better Businesses by Building Better Leaders 2016 Board of Directors *indicates Executive Committee Member Executive Committee * Bob O Callaghan - President/CEO * Terry Merriman - The Performance Suite, Board Chair * Michelle Born-Fischer - Bratschie, Burmania, Gunn & Born, P.C., Senior Vice Chair * Anna Kruse - Anna Kruse Travel, Vice Chair * Todd Duncan - Consumers Energy, Past Chair * Rick Chrisman - Hungerford, Nichols CPA's & Associates, Finance Chair Community Relations Jerry DeGood - Auto Finance Lillian VanderVeen - Lenger Travel Center Member Relations Danna Mathiesen - Mercantile Bank Keith Morgan - All Clean Again Rich Wadsworth - Edward Jones Amelia Seymour - JPMorgan Chase Bank Kathey Batey - Spirited Presentations LLC Jennifer Eddy - Courtyard by Marriot Grand Rapids Airport Ex-Officio Jack Poll - City of Wyoming, Mayor Stephen Kepley - City of Kentwood, Mayor Curtis Holt - City of Wyoming, Manager My Business Advocate Copyright 2015 Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce 4415 Byron Center Rd. SW, * Wyoming, MI Tel: Fax: Web: Bob O Callaghan, President/CEO (Publisher) bob@southkent.org Chamber Staff: Janine Burns Bookkeeper janine@southkent.org Michelle Haney Administrative Assistant michelle@southkent.org Newsletter Designer: Chris Fuller Fuller Design adtech68@yahoo.com Building Better Communities by Building Better Businesses The Chamber Mission has always focused on promoting the community and helping local businesses to profitably grow sales; we have always relied heavily on our dedicated network of volunteers who work tirelessly to support the Chamber and the local community. Professional Development Providing professional development opportunities through seminars, roundtables, and classes. Networking Provides a variety of networking opportunities through out the year. If you are looking to build new business contacts, we encourage you to attend our monthly networking event. Government Advocacy The Chamber is the voice for your business with Local, State, and the Federal governments. The Government Matters Committee is a collaboration of our members working to identify important issues that affect our member s businesses and community. Community The Chamber s mission is building better communities by building better businesses. Our members are committed to the Wyoming and Kentwood communities. Save The Date Friday, January 22, 2016 Contact Michelle at the Chamber for more details

3 ent.or g ent.org Page 3 YOUR CHAMBER COMMUNITIES Building Better Leaders by Building Better Networks MERCANTILE BANK OF MICHIGAN RECEIVES OUTSTANDING CRA RATING Mercantile Bank of Michigan ( Mercantile Bank ) is pleased to once again be assigned an Outstanding rating in our recently completed Community Reinvestment Act ( CRA ) examination by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The designation marks the third consecutive examination in which Mercantile Bank has received this rating. An Outstanding rating is the highest available ranking and one which only about 5% of all banks throughout the United States achieve. The Community Reinvestment Act, enacted by Congress in 1977, requires financial institutions to undergo a thorough and rigorous examination of all community outreach efforts, including serving the credit needs of all segments of the communities they serve while maintaining safe and sound operations. We are proud of the fact that this is the third consecutive CRA examination we ve received an outstanding rating, reflecting the hard work and dedication of our employees who year after year contribute and invest in the communities where we live and work, said Robert Kaminski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercantile Bank. The CRA evaluation made specific references to Mercantile Bank s strengths in lending, including responsiveness to credit needs, as well as geographic distribution of small business and home mortgage loans throughout low to moderate income areas in the markets served by Mercantile Bank. Mercantile Bank is a whollyowned subsidiary of Mercantile Bank Corporation. Mercantile provides banking services to businesses, individuals and governmental units, and differentiates itself on the basis of service quality and the expertise of its banking staff. Mercantile has assets of approximately $2.9 billion and operates 53 banking offices serving communities in central and western Michigan. Mercantile Bank Corporation s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol MBWM. 2015

4 Page 4 YOUR CHAMBER EVENTS Building Better Networks by Building Better Communities The Chamber s Monthly Meeting with Government Officials Televised on Cable Channel 25 WKTV Bring your Top Issues and Interact with Policy Makers Wyoming City Hall - with Elected Officials January 11, 2016 Time: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Chamber Government Matters Committee - Join Us! City of Kentwood City of Wyoming County of Kent Michigan Senate Michigan House of Representatives U.S. Representives U.S. Senate

5 Bob O'Callaghan - President & The Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce Cordially Invite You to Join Us For Our 35th Annual Meeting & Awards Gala Friday, January 22, :00 pm Strolling Dinner, Live Music & Silent Auction 7:00 pm Program & Awards Silent Auction Winners Distinctive Catering By Brann's, 4945 S. Division, Wyoming *TICKETS are $50.00 Please call OR you may register at Phone reservations require credit card processing BLACK TIE OPTIONAL (*Please note: tickets will increase to $60.00 January 19th*)