50th Anniversary – The Economic Club of Grand Rapids

Legacy Built. Future Bold.

In 1976, George Slykhouse—an attorney with what was then Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey—decided to launch The Economic Club of Grand Rapids. Over the past five decades, the Econ Club has grown from 36 charter members to a formal association of professionals with over 1,600 members strong and counting.

These members span companies, industries, generations and geographies. The one common denominator? An interest in growing economic health in West Michigan. And since 1976, that’s exactly what we’ve done.

Throughout 2026, we are celebrating our 50-year legacy by highlighting the past, celebrating the present, and looking towards a bold future.

Annual Dinner

This year’s Annual Dinner highlights the importance of both legacy and vision, past and future, with a once-in-a-lifetime 50th Anniversary Celebration. More information and registration will be available starting January 22. We look forward to celebrating this special occasion with our members and their guests!

A space to dive deeper.

We are creating a space of you to engage further with the ideas presented by speakers at our events. Our members-only Econ Book Club runs all year long, featuring reading selections penned by Econ Club speakers past and present.

Our book club includes a virtual platform (GoodReads) and in-person gathering. We’ll post questions on the GoodReads platform for you to answer and consider as you read. We’ll also schedule an in-person meeting, hosted by a member of our board of directors, to discuss in person.

Our first selection is “Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier” by Arthur C. Brooks (January 12, 2026 luncheon speaker) and Oprah Winfrey (2024 Annual Dinner keynote speaker). The first in-person meeting of the Econ Book Club will be hosted by Christina Keller, CEO and Chair of Cascade Engineering, on February 9, 2026 following our luncheon. Additional meeting details to follow.

Join the Econ Club Book Club

For 50 years, we’ve been bringing the ideas, sparking the conversations and facilitating the connections that lead to what’s next. Join us as we celebrate half a century of impact and empower you to realize an even brighter future.

Legacy Built. Future Bold.

Annual Dinner

A space to dive deeper.

For 50 years, we’ve been bringing the ideas, sparking the conversations and facilitating the connections that lead to what’s next. Join us as we celebrate half a century of impact and empower you to realize an even brighter future.

CONNECT

INFORM

INSPIRE