This year is a momentous one for Inforum in West Michigan—it marks the 20th anniversary of when a group of strategically minded women chose to create a membership hub in our region.
We are celebrating this milestone in our social media throughout the year and will do it in person at our annual Capstone Dinner this fall, which will feature a fireside chat with Andi Owen, President and CEO of MillerKnoll.
This happened because in 2005, a group of local women business leaders wanted to find a forum to meet the networking needs of women across multiple industries. The result of a planning meeting led by Jen Tyler and Melissa Collar—now a member of Inforum’s board of directors—was to pursue creation of such a group within Inforum.
After multiple discussions and visits, they decided that Inforum, with its proven track record of helping women connect, lead, and succeed, was the right fit.
The group grew rapidly because we were well connected to the community through our charter members: Micki Benz, Melissa Collar, Jeanne Englehart, Laurie Forte, Patti Griswold, Kathleen Hanenburg, Nancy Hickey, Michelle Hoexum, Kelly Hutchings, Peggy Janei, Birgit Klohs, Cynthia Knoll, Kathleen Maine, Melissa Peterson, Faye Richardson, Mary Ann Sabo, Denise Sherwood, Dr. Jacqueline Taylor, Elizabeth Topliffe, Jennifer Tyler, Pam Tyler, Michelle Van Dyke, and Rita Woodruff. Many of these women are active today—Melissa Collar serves on our board of directors.
Judy Welch, who was hired as executive director for our region, rapidly expanded our reach and reputation.
We know that expansion needs funding, and our launch received important support from Bank of America, Comerica Bank, Huntington Bank, Mercantile Bank, Rehmann, Steelcase, and Warner Norcross + Judd. BoA, Comerica, Mercantile Bank, Steelcase, and Warner Norcross continue to support us today, along with many other companies—large and small.
From the beginning, the founders wanted a distinctive West Michigan experience—lots of interaction. Founding member Patty Griswold, now retired from Comerica Bank, had this to say:
“We decided we didn’t want people to just come, listen to a speaker, eat a chicken dinner, and leave. We crafted the concept of having trained, assigned facilitators at each table [for conversation after hearing from speakers]. Members love the engagement. We knew it was a hit when after the first event, no one was leaving their tables after the allotted post-speaker discussion time!”
Conversations over dinner remain a part of our events today.
There is so much more to tell—but the individual connections made through participation in affinity groups, networking events, and more structured occasions can become deep and enduring.
To quote Patti once more: “I made lifelong friendships from that (initial) group, women who have supported me through both successes and challenges. I developed a strong network of professional women that was beneficial to me both personally and professionally. I felt far more connected within the West Michigan community. And as my role advanced at Comerica and became statewide, I was able to tap into that larger Inforum community and forge those connections across the state. Being part of the founding of Inforum West Michigan is one of my proudest and most meaningful achievements.”
I’ve been a member since 2011, and I can second Patti’s experience. I know the power of Inforum. And I’m not the only one. If you haven’t checked it out already, you can hear testimonials from other West Michigan women in this video about the reasons they belong.
Join the more than 7,500 women and men who are Inforum members in West Michigan, Metro Detroit, and beyond. You’ll be glad that you did.
Becky Wood is vice president of business development and West Michigan market leader for Inforum. She can be reached at [email protected]. Questions about becoming a member? West Michigan Brand Ambassador Darlene O’Neal can be reached at [email protected].
Courtesy of Inforum.
Photo courtesy of Kelly Braman.
