A message from ACGWM Chapter Leadership

Reflections on the past year and a look at what's ahead.

Wow, what an incredible year it has been! As my term as President of ACG Western Michigan comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on everything we accomplished together in 2024.

This year, we reached new milestones and made meaningful progress toward our mission. Attendance at our Signature Programs grew significantly, highlighting the value we bring to businesses across the region. Our NextGen community continued to expand, bringing fresh perspectives and energy to ACGWM. I’d be remised not to mention, Nick Prior, who attended the most programs in 2024—enjoy your ACGWM swag, Nick, and thank you for your dedication to our chapter!

With an expanded events calendar, we strengthened connections and provided resources to support the growth of West Michigan’s business community. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our board members, committee chairs, and volunteers. Thank you for your time, energy, and commitment—you helped make this year a success.

As I pass the torch to our incoming President, Eric Kamstra, I’m excited for what lies ahead. Along with leading the chapter, Eric will be spearheading the planning for the 2025 Great Lakes Capital Connection, which we’re thrilled to host in Grand Rapids next September. This event promises to be an outstanding opportunity for our chapter and region.

ACG Western Michigan is in excellent hands with a talented Board of Directors and ACGWM staff who are passionate about driving growth and creating opportunities. I’m confident the best is yet to come.

Thank you for making this year unforgettable—it has been an honor to serve as your President.

As the incoming president of ACG Western Michigan, I am honored to continue the legacy of ACGWM. I’m eager to build upon the upon momentum from 2024 and lead our chapter into an exciting 2025.

Building on the success of our three new initiatives launched in 2024 - Corks & Conversation, Coffee & Conversation, and the Fall Social - we're committed to continuing these programs in 2025. These events have proven to be valuable platforms for our members to connect, share insights, and build lasting relationships within our community.

I'm particularly excited about the 2025 Great Lakes Capital Connection (GLCC), which we will be returning to Grand Rapids in September 2025. GLCC is a partnership between ACGWM and 6 other ACG chapters in the Great Lakes region. This premiere event brings together hundreds of dealmakers every year, providing a unique platform for networking, deal flow, and knowledge sharing.

GLCC presents an unparalleled opportunity for us to showcase West Michigan's vibrant business community along with our region's middle-market sector—while fostering connections throughout the broader Great Lakes region.

I am confident that our innovative programming, coupled with the hosting of the GLCC, will provide exceptional value to our members and elevate ACG Western Michigan's profile. We're committed to ensuring that ACGWM continues to be a vibrant and supportive community that empowers its members to thrive professionally and personally.

Your input, ideas, and engagement will be more crucial than ever as we prepare for this landmark event and continue to grow our chapter. Together, we will make 2025 a transformative year for ACG Western Michigan.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication. I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and look forward to working closely with each of you to ensure the continued success and growth of ACGWM.

I am honored to join the Executive Committee as the incoming Vice President and am eager to contribute to our chapter's continued growth and success. Our commitment to providing excellent programming and content to our members and sponsors remains unwavering, and I look forward to playing an active role in enhancing these offerings.

In the coming year, I will focus on providing support to the Executive Committee and the Board as we navigate the year ahead. A significant part of this will involve working closely with the 2025 Great Lakes Capital Connection (GLCC) Committee. GLCC represents a tremendous opportunity, and I am excited to work alongside our chapter in planning this event.

Together, we will continue to foster valuable connections, facilitate deal flow, and drive middle-market growth in our region. I look forward to engaging with our members, sponsors, and the broader business community as we welcome 2025.

As I enter my second year as treasurer of ACG Western Michigan, I'm pleased to provide updates regarding our membership structure and event pricing for 2025. These changes reflect our commitment to delivering exceptional value to our members, while ensuring the financial sustainability of our chapter.

As part of our strategic plan, and to ensure we can continue to provide the best networking, programming and content available in West Michigan, ACGWM will be increasing membership dues for 2025:

Standard membership dues will increase by $20 to $595.
NextGen membership dues will increase by $30 to $375.

I'm also excited to announce that we will be extending our NextGen discounted rate to two years instead of just one. This change underscores our commitment to our NextGen members and our desire to increase their ability to access and establish their network within ACGWM.

For all of our current members who wish to renew prior to December 31st, 2024, in advance of the scheduled dues increase, please reach out to Denise Drost directly, who can assist you with an early membership renewal.

While our Signature Programming is included for members, non-member attendance for these events will increase from $85 to $90 in 2025.

These adjustments will allow us to continue delivering exceptional value to our members while ensuring that we can continue provide the best networking and programming in West Michigan

I want to thank you for your continued commitment to our chapter. As we move into 2025, I look forward to the continued growth and success of ACG Western Michigan.

What a year it has been! Reflecting on this year as Executive Director, I remain continually grateful for the opportunity to continue building engagement and driving value for our members and sponsors.

I am incredibly excited for the Great Lakes Capital Connection in September of 2025. GLCC presents an extraordinary opportunity for our chapter and the wider business community. I encourage interested firms and members to reach out and explore involvement with GLCC; your participation will be crucial to its success. Keep an eye out for our sponsorship prospectus, which you can expect in early 2025.

I cannot reflect on this year without thanking Heather Edwards for her endless support of our chapter. Heather's passion for ACGWM, specifically ACG Cup, is unmatched and we could not do this without her boundless energy and unwavering commitment.

To that end, I am pleased to share that both the Board and ACG Cup Committee have approved a major update in regard to ACG Cup Programming. Our annual ACG Cup Finance Feud Fundraiser will now take place in conjunction with the ACG Cup Career Conversations Networking Reception. This joint event is scheduled for Friday, February 21st. We believe this combination will create an even more impactful and engaging experience for all participants. More detailed information about this joint event will be available in the coming weeks.

As we move forward, I will continue to work to enhance our chapter's offerings and ensure that ACG Western Michigan remains a vibrant community for middle-market growth and dealmaking. Your continued engagement and feedback are essential as we work together to shape the future of our organization.

I am looking forward to another year of collaboration, growth, and success with ACG Western Michigan.