Staff - Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber

Your success is our priority.

At the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, we are proud to have a dedicated and talented team that works tirelessly to support our members and promote the growth of businesses in the region. Our staff members are committed to providing exceptional service and expertise, ensuring that our members receive the highest level of support and resources. From business development and marketing to events coordination and member services, we are here to address your needs and help you succeed.

Meet Our Staff

ARTHUR HAVLICEK

President
& CEO

(269) 932-4042 Send Email

Arthur Havlicek is the President & CEO of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber of Commerce, a 501(c)6 member-based business advocacy organization serving Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties. As head of the Chamber, Arthur is responsible for leading the organization’s programming and personnel, advancing the economic interests of its members, and improving the overall regional business climate.

Originally from Chicago, Arthur grew up in Bridgman and graduated from Lake Michigan Catholic High School in St. Joseph. He earned his degree in political science and public administration from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, during which time he also began managing – and winning – political campaigns. After college, Arthur served as staff in the Michigan House of Representatives where he was involved with numerous significant legislative achievements.

With nearly a decade in public service experience by the age of twenty-seven, Arthur decided to return home. He assumed his current position as President & CEO of the Chamber in January of 2020 and has quickly become a recognized leader in both his industry and his community. He earned a 40-under-40 distinction in 2020, an organizational Award of Distinction in 2021, and he was one of just thirty-four industry professionals across the country to be selected for the prestigious Business Leads Fellowship Program through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in 2022.

In addition to his leadership at the Chamber, Arthur currently serves as a board member of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals, the Berrien County Planning Commission, the Berrien County Economic Development Committee, Tri-County Head Start, and the KitchenAid Senior PGA Hospitality Committee. He also serves as the Chief Executive officer of SMRC affiliates the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Foundation, Discover Southwest Michigan, and the Greater Bridgman Area Chamber and Growth Alliance.

His most rewarding experience, however, has been that of husband and father. He lives in St. Joseph Township with his wife, Gabriella, and daughter, Nora, where they enjoy exploring all that Southwest Michigan has to offer.

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SARAH SPOONHOLTZ

Director of Membership
& Events

(269) 932-4040 Send Email

Sarah Spoonholtz is the Director of Membership & Events for the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, a 501(c)6 member-based business advocacy organization serving Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties.

Born and raised on a small farm in Eau Claire Michigan, Sarah joined the Chamber in March of 2018 after 16 years in the Media industry. It was her time in radio that she credits with discovering her passion for nonprofits; her past roles include past Board Chair for 100 Women Strong, a member of the Executive Committee for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Luncheon in St. Joseph, as well as involvement with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Currently, Sarah serves in various leadership roles for: Berrien Springs Pickle Festival, Cass County Rural Child Care Innovation Team, Junior Achievement of Berrien & Cass Counties, KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship Information & Community Showcase, Lake Michigan College Business Advisory Council, Marcellus10, Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals Programming & Outreach Committee, and Michigan Festivals & Events Association.

Sarah completed her BA in Professional Communications at Siena Heights University in December of 2019, and was named one of the MoodyOnTheMarket 40-Under-40 professionals that same year.

When not working, you’ll catch Sarah enjoying baseball, football, or just simply relaxing with family and friends somewhere in Southwest Michigan.

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JASMINE HANSEN

Member Engagement
Manager

(269) 932-4605 Send Email

Jasmine Hansen is the Membership Engagement Manager for the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber of Commerce, a 501(c)6 member-based business advocacy organization serving Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties.

Born in California, Jasmine grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas and is a 2014 graduate of the University of Arkansas earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Minor in Marketing. Jasmine quickly found her professional niche working in the local hospitality industry beginning in 2015, and most recently as an Event Manager coordinating weddings and other large-scale events in the Southwest Michigan area. Jasmine has been in her current role since 2022. She has been instrumental in establishing the Chamber’s NextGen Young Professionals Program and is a passionate advocate for the Southwest Michigan region and all that it has to offer for businesses, families, and visitors alike.

Jasmine resides in Saint Joseph with her husband Corey and their four-year-old Bernadoodle, Kona. She enjoys reading, going to the local beaches, and spending time with friends and family. She and Corey like to explore local restaurants, travel, and attend sporting events at Notre Dame.

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CASSANDRA ADAMS

Finance & Administration Manager

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Cassandra Adams is the Finance & Administration Manager for the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber of Commerce, a 501(c)6 member-based business advocacy organization serving Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties.

Born and raised in North Carolina during her early childhood, Cassandra moved to Michigan and eventually settled into her mother’s family home where she completed her primary studies and graduated from Eau Claire High School. Cassandra went on to earn a BA in Psychology and an MA in recreation and Parks Administration from Central Michigan University, all while simultaneously starting and raising a family and pursuing a career within the non-profit industry.

Cassandra has grown to love everything Southwest Michigan has to offer and is excited to continue to serve the community as the Finance and Administration Manager of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. Her passion for personal development and entrepreneurship gives her the motivation and drive to continue making a difference in the communities that we live, work, and play in.

Cassandra currently resides in Coloma, Michigan with her significant other and their four children, multiple chickens, and an orange tabby cat. When she is not immersed in her work and family responsibilities, she is often found diving into her personal passions of reading, writing, creating, and traveling. She also enjoys visiting our local coffee shops, waterfronts, and nature trails.

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MOLLY MCFADDEN

Resource Development Manager

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Molly McFadden is the Resource Development Manager for the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, a 501(c)6 member-based business advocacy organization serving Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties.

Born and raised in New Carlisle, Indiana, Molly became a Michigander after graduating from Alma College in 2020. She quickly found her niche in the nonprofit sector where she was able to leverage her writing and relationship building skills to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charitable causes across the state. Her work with nonprofit organizations brought her to Southwest Michigan in 2022 and she quickly fell in love with the area.

Molly joined the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber team in July and immediately got to work raising funds to support the Chamber’s work around childcare, talent attraction, and entrepreneurship. In just a few short months she helped the organization nearly double their annual operating budget, and she hopes to help them raise the funds to double their staff within the next year.

In addition to fundraising and grant writing, Molly also helps to support the work of the Chamber’s newest subsidiary, Discover Southwest Michigan, which aims to grow the region’s population through targeted talent attraction initiatives. As a Michigan transplant herself, Molly has a particular affinity for Discover Southwest Michigan as it allows her to connect with other young people interested in making the region their home.

Molly lives in Benton Harbor with her husband Joe, their daughter Edith. Outside of work you can find her and her family exploring the area’s many beaches and restaurants.

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ALAIN PICHOT

Marketing Manager & ActionLine Editor

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Alain Pichot is the Marketing Manager of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber of Commerce, a 501(c)6 member-based business advocacy organization serving Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties. He works to amplify the Chamber’s presence, connect with the community, and spotlight programs that make a difference.

Though he was born in Berrien Springs, Alain’s journey took him across the globe. He spent his early years in Guinea, West Africa, before moving to Colorado, Maryland, and finally Virginia, where he finished high school. His path eventually led him back to Berrien County, where he earned a degree in Graphic Design from Andrews University and dove into marketing for local nonprofits and businesses. After graduation, he took his talents to West Lafayette, Indiana, working at a marketing agency on multi-media campaigns for small businesses and major organizations like Purdue and Franciscan Health. After living in five states and two countries, Alain has come full circle, bringing his expertise back home to Southwest Michigan.

When he’s off the clock, you’ll likely find Alain at the park with his Westie, Margot, swimming in the lake (as long as the water temp is above 72°F) or playing at the local chess club. Fun fact: he’s officially ranked as Michigan’s 570th highest-rated chess player—though we didn’t ask how long that list is.

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Nancy Kiernan

Bridgman CGA
Director

269-285-2152 Send Email

Nancy Kiernan is the Director of the Greater Bridgman Area Chamber and Growth Alliance, a 501(c)3 non-profit, member-driven organization that serves as the economic and community development arm of the City of Bridgman, Lake Charter Township, and the surrounding area. It is an affiliate of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, and maintains an office within Bridgman City Hall, located at 9765 Maple St., in Bridgman Michigan.

Nancy Kiernan is from St. Joseph, Michigan and after attending the University of Chicago for graduate school, married and reared four daughters on Chicago’s southside. Her foundation in small business ownership launched a career in both public service and private sector construction management and client relationship management. She is a generalist with significant experience in the coordination of multi-disciplinary programs/projects and the management of diverse relationships to execute their success. Nancy has been involved in community development since she passed her first petition to create a riverfront park, the Margaret Upton Arboretum, when she was just 12 years old. As the co-owner of an award-winning bookstore and specialty toy store, Nancy was a founding member of the Chicagoland Assoc. of Toy Stores buying group, “The Stations” – an area marketing business cooperative and the Chicago Children’s Book Fair annual event. She has contributed materially to numerous community development organizations; further demonstrating her confirmed passion for community and economic development.

A lifelong learner, she has attained a certification in urban planning (AICP), and an accreditation in sustainable design (LEED AP). Her hands-on attitude led her to develop an expertise in geographic information systems (GIS) for which she was nominated for an e-government award with the Chadwick Institute. Nancy has consulted on electronic project management systems for the construction industry with United Airlines and the Chicago Department of Aviation. She was elected to the prestigious International Alpha Lambda honorary land economics society and has been a guest presenter for the Society for the Marketing of Professional Services on Public Private Partnerships.

Nancy lives in an old log cabin on the St. Joseph River in Berrien Springs, Michigan with her husband Louis and enjoys all southwestern Michigan has to offer, beaching, swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, curling, skiing, pickleball, and of course, visiting wineries, breweries and distilleries.

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