Author: KMF Infotech

I am a hands-on learner.  I learn through seeing and doing. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is to see first-hand community best practices and innovation inside our area employers. Our team works diligently to understand thousands of programs, tools, and resources to share with our primary employers. We are constantly learning and growing throughout the process.

Recently, I had the privilege of getting a sneak peek at two extraordinary nonprofits: the Outdoor Discovery Center (ODC) Network and Renew Therapeutic Riding Center.  Both are poised to make a lasting positive impact on our community.

Reimagine Education is a new program developed by the ODC Network in collaboration with local schools and employers. It expands ODC’s successful nature-based preschool model to K-12 students. During my visit, I witnessed a group of wide-eyed pre-kindergarteners netting and tagging birds, contributing to national migratory pattern tracking. This age-appropriate lesson had children using tools, taking measurements, and identifying different types of birds. I was amazed by the level of engagement and eagerness to learn displayed by these 5-year-olds. Their teachers shared the same excitement in implementing these lessons and watching their students grow and develop.

This program was initially funded by a group of committed philanthropists and business leaders. The response from school districts throughout the region exceeded ODC’s expectations for this pilot program. Teachers are provided with lesson plans, tools, and everything they need for instant hands-on sessions in any outdoor setting. This partnership will lead to tremendous strides forward in our students’ development for years to come.

During a Lakeshore Non-Profit Alliance gathering, I had the opportunity to visit Renew Therapeutic Riding Center, a nationally accredited equine therapy center that uses horses to help children and adults with speech impairments, disabilities, and post-traumatic stress disorder to develop and grow.  Renew welcomes more than 150 students and adults on its campus every day. The director shared a remarkable story of a four-year-old who came to Renew for speech therapy and was told by his doctor that he would need therapy for many years. Within one year of horse riding, which stimulates neurological and sensory functions, the child no longer required therapy.  His parents were ecstatic, but their son will miss his horse buddies.

Renew and the ODC Network are just two of the many treasures that make our region so extraordinary. The children and adults positively impacted by these exceptional nonprofits will have a better chance of gainful employment and improved quality of life. These support programs and so many others will help ensure that current and future generations want to live and work in our vibrant community.

Jennifer Owens is the president of Lakeshore Advantage, the leading economic development organization for West Michigan’s Ottawa and Allegan counties.

I have always been an avid reader. My mom, a high school English teacher, always had her nose in a book, and I followed suit. When I was younger, I enjoyed murder mysteries and romance novels. As I grew up and entered the world of business, my reading shifted from pleasure to professional growth. My favorites are organizational leadership and psychology for business. My mother, who has always been a role model for me, got her second master’s degree in counseling at the age of 50, which further inspired my interest in these topics.

I was often my mother’s guinea pig as she tried out personality assessments and parenting techniques. Shockingly, my Myers Briggs assessment (ENTJ) has not changed since I was 14 years old.

Later, my kids received many lessons in play therapy from my mom. I learned that her techniques, like active listening and conflict resolution, could easily transition to the world of business. My favorite authors are those that mix organizational psychology and change management advice, like Brené Brown and Adam Grant.

As I got older, I wanted to understand what made pretty good leaders into great ones. The more I got to know these great leaders, the more they shared with me about their journey to success. I found that their path was often a bumpy one, with lots of failures and setbacks along the way.

Here’s my challenge to those great leaders who have shared your failures and setbacks with me: share your true journey when asked, not just the fairy tale ending. Share your gritty journey with not only those you know and trust, but young people who aspire to follow in your footsteps.  Your authenticity might help prepare them for the big bumps that can and will come on their road from good to great.

Jennifer Owens is the president of Lakeshore Advantage, the leading economic development organization for West Michigan’s Ottawa and Allegan counties.

Economic development is the lifeblood of thriving communities. It is the work that drives community and business growth, creating jobs and enhancing the quality of life for residents. From May 6-10 more than 1,000 economic development professionals throughout the U.S. will celebrate Economic Development Week.

It isn’t easy to define the work of an economic developer. At its core, economic development is about identifying and nurturing the primary employers that form the backbone of a region’s economy. These are the companies that export goods and services out of their region, and they come in all stages and sizes, from start-ups to mature-stage employers. In the two counties Lakeshore Advantage serves, Ottawa and Allegan, there are more than 600 employers that fit that definition.

We work to keep our base strong so other businesses can benefit from the purchasing power of our primary employers, and all continue to thrive. How we do that is both an art and a science.

The art is connecting the dots that others cannot see. Through hundreds of one-on-one visits and outreach each year, we see patterns of challenges, opportunities and potential connection points. We bring resources provided by our state, federal and nonprofit partners right to our employers’ doorsteps. Essentially, we serve as an easy button for our primary employers.

Our team also works to grow the next generation of primary employers by supporting start-ups with big ideas that could become future major employers. Each start-up’s needs are different, and we serve as their no-cost business coach to help them scale quickly or fail fast. Currently, Lakeshore Advantage is supporting approximately 30 early-stage employers that could be our next Gentex, MillerKnoll or Haworth — all started by entrepreneurs with a grand vision.

The science is that we work behind the scenes to avert barriers to growth and make a compelling value proposition to growing companies outside of the region that fit within our current business landscape. Each challenge is different and complex. Each project we support has unique needs. We work as confidential consultants providing vast amounts of community-related data, site information and regulatory requirements seamlessly.

Our work is a true team sport. We collaborate daily with our state partners at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, federal and state elected officials, local units of government, educational institutions and an array of other nonprofits that stand ready to be part of our team when one of our employers has a need. Learning is a daily occurrence — we must be able to provide a CliffsNotes version of hundreds of programs, services and tools that could benefit our employers. Together, we create investment momentum, generate trust and mitigate risk.

As we celebrate Economic Development Week, let us recognize the vital art and science of the role economic developers play in strengthening our communities. Through innovative approaches and a collaborative spirit, proactive economic development builds a brighter future for us all.

Jennifer Owens is the president of Lakeshore Advantage, the leading economic development organization for West Michigan’s Ottawa and Allegan counties.