Events

During Birgit Klohs’ tenure as President & CEO, The Right Place – our regional economic development organization – has helped create or retain 47,000 local jobs and spurred over $5 billion in new investment. In her three decades collaborating with local, State and national organizations, she has become widely viewed as one of the most influential and successful business development strategists in Michigan.

As she closes out 33 years at The Right Place, Klohs looks at Grand Rapids’ legacy and what it says about our community’s future.

She’ll contrast the portrait of 1980s Kent County with the vibrant region we see today and discuss who and what were the catalysts for change. Importantly, she’ll explore what distinguishes this region, how those points of distinction will help us emerge strong from the pandemic and – as our population, businesses, industry sectors and talent grow increasingly diverse – how we can improve upon our legacy to create an even more vibrant and welcoming community for all.