Page 13 - LRCC February 2025 Focus

These Lansing Regional Chamber of
The original strategic plan work in 2018 and the 2024 Commerce members came together in March
refresh were conducted by Merri Jo Bales of StratAlign 2024 for a three-hour community café session
20/20 and Bernadette Johnson of Inspired Action to brainstorm and collaborate on how best to
Motivates LLC. The pair submitted a final report on their refresh the LRCC strategic plan:
research to the Chamber in May 2024.
Allison Horn MSUFCU Kwafo Adarkwa
Amanda Matelonek LRCC ITC Holdings
Laurie Baumer
Amy Scoby
“It helps us frame what our The Christman Company Captial Region Community
Foundation
organization is and what Anne Brown Lisa Webb Sharpe Peckham
Office of U.S. Senator Slotkin
Lisa Ellen Smith
our role in the community is. Ashlee Willis InVerve Marketing
Michigan Premier Events
Becky Kanaby Lisa Fisher
Tim Daman, LRCC president and CEO Townsquare Media Lisa Fisher Associates
Ben Dowd CEDAM Lisa O'Connor Publicom
Ben Rathbun Lolo Robinson CATA
Rathbun Insurance Luke Terry Rehmann
Ben Bakken
The 2018 strategic plan was visually depicted as a Tri-Star Trust Bank Mandy Schmitz LRCC
Marcus Martin
triangle with regional leadership at the top, and policy Bill Kimble C2AE Lake Trust Credit Union
influence, business value, and excellent operations Bob Showers CAPCOG Mark Burzych
– encompassing people, fiscal sustainability, and Breina Pugh BWL Fahey Schultz
technology – at the foundation. Bridget Drzal LRCC Burzych & Rhodes
Matt Resch
Casey Jacobsen Resch Strategies
Progress in those areas over the years compelled LaFontaine
Melissa Nay
the Chamber to consider how the strategic plan Cathy Zell Choose Lansing
could be reimagined to better focus on that business Lansing Community College Michael Mumaugh
value piece. Cathleen Edergly
Downtown Lansing Inc. Michelle Massey TechSmith
Michelle Carlson
Throughout 2024, the strategy facilitators Bales Chad Munce WLNS TV 6 Michelle Reynaert
and Johnson engaged with Chamber leadership, Chris Nugent Comerica Farm Bureau Insurance
membership, and other stakeholders through member Daniel Rials Stunio Monica Schafer
surveys, meetings with Chamber chairs from over the David Finkbeiner Ingham County
Rathbun Insurance
Commissioner
years, interviews with Chamber staff and community Debbie Petersmark Renee Cole
leaders, and a community café brainstorming session. WILX TV-10 Robyn Howell LAFCU
Jacki Krumnow Samantha Benson
“Strategic planning is essential for shaping the future Now Marketing Old Town Commercial
of any organization,” said Lisa O’Connor, 2025 LRCC Janet Lillie Association
Michigan State University
past chair and president of advertising and public Jason Mellema Samantha Le
relations firm Publicom Inc. Ingham Intermidate Martin Commercial
Properties
School District Sara Dolan MSUFCU
O’Connor said she was impressed Jayme Taylor Sarah Bakken LRCC
with the dedication of the 74 Martin Commercial Simar Pawar
Properties
business leaders who participated Jessica Fleet Steve Japinga LRCC
in the three-hour community Maner Costerisan Steve Schmitt LAFCU
café session in March 2024. Jim Ferrell Steve Opper WIELAND
The session yielded many Joe Dimambro Susan Porrett
helpful recommendations for Playmakers Fitness Davenport University
strengthening the Chamber’s Foundation Susan Shilton
Jonathan Lum
effectiveness. Exit Realtors Junior Achievement of
Mid-Michigan
O'Connor Julie Thomasma Ted O'Dell
“While this session was just one Justin Sheehan Tim Daman LRCC
part of a broader information- Lansing Promise Tom Arthur
gathering process, the level of participation from our Kari Rennie Sycamore Creek Church
members speaks volumes about their commitment to Burcham Hills Tom Ruis PNC Bank
the Chamber’s future,” she said. Katherine Japinga Troy Comiskey GM
Capital Region
International Airport Vernon Woodley BWL
The latest research suggests members define the Kelsey Teribery LRCC Vic Verchereau
Chamber’s “business value” in various ways, from Ken Martin Quality Dairy LRCC Board Chair, 2010
its involvement in public policy advocacy to its Kevin Shaw WIELAND
networking and educational offerings.

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