A message from the ACG Western Michigan Executive Committee

Reflections on the past year and exciting updates for the year ahead

my term as president of ACG Western Michigan comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible year we have had together.

In 2023, we achieved remarkable milestones and made significant strides in advancing our mission, starting with our sold-out Signature Program in January! We continued to share exceptional programming on a variety of topics from carve-outs and cyber-security to mentoring and leadership. I’d also like to highlight ACGWM member Ryan Harpst, who attended the greatest number of Signature Programs of any member in 2023. Congratulations, Ryan, we hope you enjoy your ACGWM Yeti!

Through thoughtfully planned events, we fostered meaningful connections and provided valuable resources to support the growth of the middle-market business community in West Michigan.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the board members, committee chairs, and volunteers who have generously given their time and expertise. Your unwavering support and tireless efforts have contributed to our shared success.

As I pass the torch to incoming president Kelly Plawinski, I am confident that ACG Western Michigan will continue to thrive. Your Board of Directors is filled with talentedand dedicated individuals who are passionate about driving growth and creating opportunities. I have no doubt that the future holds wonderful things for our chapter.

I encourage each of you to participate in our Annual Survey open to members and non-members alike. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us understand your needs and preferences, allowing us to tailor our events, programming, and networking opportunities to serve you better.

As the incoming president of ACG Western Michigan, I am thrilled to embark on this journey with all of you.

Looking ahead to 2024, I am excited to announce three all-new initiatives meant to further enhance our member experience: Corks & Conversation, Coffee & Conversation, and a Fall Social, in addition to an exciting re-vamp of our Outstanding Growth Awards.

Corks & Conversation will provide a relaxed and informal setting exclusively for women to connect and engage in meaningful discussions over a glass of wine. It will be a fantastic opportunity to share insights, exchange ideas, and build lasting relationships within our community.
Coffee & Conversation will be a series of morning networking events designed to bring our members together over a cup of coffee. These members-onlyevents will provide a platform for meaningful connections and facilitate knowledge-sharing among our diverse group of professionals.
The Fall Social will be a fun, themed gathering where we can come together to celebrate our achievements and strengthen our bonds as a community. It will be an evening filled with networking, entertainment, new connections,and some friendly competition.
The Outstanding Growth Awards re-vamp will launch early in 2024 with all-new award categories – keep your eyes open for nomination details.

I am confident that this innovative programming will provide valuable experiencesfor our members and non-members alike and I am committed to ensuring that ACG Western Michigan continues to be a vibrant and supportive organization thatempowers its members to thrive professionally and personally.

I look forward to working closely with each of you in the coming year. Your input, ideas, and active participation are crucial to the success of our chapter. Together we will create a year filled with growth, innovation, and connection.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to ACG Western Michigan. I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead, and I know that together we will make 2024 a truly remarkable year.

ACG Western Michigan has a history of delivering exceptional programs andbenefits to our members. To continue to meet our members' standards, the ACG Western Michigan Board of Directors made a few membership and programming changes you can expect to see in 2024. These changes include a modestmembership increase for the standard and first-year NextGen membership rates, effective January 1, 2024:

Standard membership will increase by $35
NextGen first-year membership will increase by $50

While the number of events and programs ACG Western Michigan provides hascontinued to increase, our standard rate hasn’t increased since 2020 and our NextGen rate hasn’t increased since 2018 — despite the continued increase of ACG Global dues.

In addition to the membership increase, we have increased our non-member ticket prices for our Signature and NextGen events.

Non-member ticket for 2024 Signature events - $85
Non-member ticket for 2024 NextGen events– $65

These adjustments not only reflect the rising costs of our events, but more importantlyunderscore the benefits our members receive. Members will continue to receive complimentary access to all Signature & NextGen programming.

We believe these changes will allow us to continue delivering exceptional value to our members while maintaining a balanced budget for our chapter. Any revenue generated from these adjustments will be reinvested back into our programs andinitiatives to further enhance the member experience.

As my term as treasurer comes to an end and I pass the torch on to Chloe Benzer, I want to thank you for your continued commitment to our chapter. I look forward to continued growth and success of ACG Western Michigan as I begin my term as the chapter’s vice president.

You may have noticed a change in the notes from Kelly and Eric, but I am excited to formally announce ACG Young Professionals is now ACG NextGen! Furthermore, the NextGen Committee and our Board of Directors approved an increase in age qualifications – members aged 40 and under are now considered NextGen.

For new chapter members under age 35, we will continue to offer the NextGen First Year of chapter membership at a discounted rate.

I am honored to continue to serve as chair of the NextGen Committee and look forward to serving as treasurer, keeping the chapter finances accurate, transparent, and working to serve chapter initiatives.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about ACG NextGen, please feel free to reach out to us directly. We look forward to connecting with you and sharing the exciting opportunities that ACG NextGen has to offer.

I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received from the ACG Western Michigan chapter and community. If we haven't had the chance to meet yet, I look forward to connecting with you at a future event or over a cup of coffee. Your insights and ideas are essential as we work together to shape the future of our organization.

I am excited about the potential that lies ahead; please know we truly value your inputand hope you will complete our Annual Survey.

I’d like to express my gratitude to those who have provided immeasurable supportthis year:

Thank you to the Board of Directors for the opportunity to serve this chapter and for your trust in me as the new Executive Director.

To the Executive Committee, thank you for your dedication and time this year. Yourcontinued support as I’ve moved into this role is truly appreciated.

Finally, to Heather Edwards, thank you for your ceaseless energy and yourincredible commitment to ACG Western Michigan, specifically in the areas of NextGen and ACG Cup. We could not do this without you!

Once again, thank all of you for the opportunity to serve as your Executive Director. I look forward to our continued collaboration and a fantastic year ahead.