37th Annual Dinner – Save the Date
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 | 5:00 PM | DeVos Place
The Economic Club of Grand Rapids is thrilled to announce the date of our 37th Annual Dinner! This anticipated event is the highlight of our season bringing together our diverse community for a night of connection, information, and inspiration.
On this special occasion, we will honor the 2026 winners of our Business Person of the Year and Slykhouse Community Leadership Awards.
This exclusive event is open to members and their guests. We can’t wait to celebrate this special evening with you!
Past Annual Dinner Speakers
2025 – Walther Isaacson and Michael Lewis, Best-selling Authors
2024 – Oprah Winfrey, Chairman & CEO of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Global Media Leader, Producer, Philanthropist, Actress, Author
2023 – Tom Brady, Seven-Time World Champion Quarterback
2022 – Venus Williams, Legendary Tennis Champion
2019 – Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador to United Nations, 2017-19
2018 – Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense, 2006-2011
2017 – David Cameron, Prime Minister, UK, 2010-16
2016 – Ben Bernanke, Chairman, U.S. Federal Reserve, 2006-14
2015 – Derek Jeter, Legendary NY Yankee & Journalist, George Will
2014 – Richard Branson, Founder & Chairman, Virgin Group
2013 – Hillary Rodham Clinton, 67th Secretary of State
2012 – Tony Blair, Prime Minister, UK, 1997-07
2011 – Madeleine Albright, 64th Secretary of State & Gen. Colin L. Powell, 65th Secretary of State
2010 – George W. Bush, 43rd President, United States
2009 – Condoleezza Rice, 66th Secretary of State
2008 – Tom Brokaw, Retired NBC News Anchor
2007 – William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President, United States
2006 – Bono, Co-Founder of DATA and Lead singer of U2
2005 – General Colin L. Powell, 65th Secretary of State
2004 – Madeleine Albright, 64th Secretary of State
2003 – Her Majesty Queen Noor, Queen of Jordan
2002 – Benazir Bhutto, Prime Minister of Pakistan, 1988-96
2001 – Antonin Scalia, U.S. Supreme Court Justice, 1986-16
2000 – F.W. DeKlerk, President of South Africa, 1989-94
1999 – John Major, Prime Minister, UK, 1990-97
1998 – Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, 1981-85
1997 – Shimon Peres, Prime Minister of Israel, 2007-14
1996 – Stephen R. Covey, Author, and Lecturer
1995 – Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House, 1995-99
1994 – Gen. Colin L. Powell, Chair, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1989-93
1993 – James A. Baker III, 61st Secretary of State
1992 – Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, 4-Star General, U.S. Army
1991 – Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister, UK, 1979-1990
1990 – George F. Will, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Columnist
1989 – Paul Erdman, Novelist, Economist
1988 – Mark Shields, Political Analyst
