As the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber’s footprint has expanded, Chamber leadership made a deliberate decision to expand its Board of Directors to reflect the full range of industries, institutions, and communities the Chamber now serves.
This expansion was intentional, not incidental. Each new seat was added with regional representation in mind—ensuring that healthcare, manufacturing, energy, higher education, K–12, county government, tourism, and affiliated chambers all have a voice in shaping the Chamber’s shared priorities.
Who’s Joining the Board
The new directors bring cross-sector experience from some of the region’s largest employers and most influential institutions:
- Natalie Baggio, Corewell Health
- Jennifer Cowan, Griffin Tool and Die
- Nicholas Culp, Holtec International
- Cheri Heward, Bridgman CGA
- Eric Hoppstock, Berrien RESA
- Chana Kniebes, Coloma-Watervliet Chamber of Commerce
- Dr. Kimberly Pichot, Andrews University
- Mike Sepic, Berrien County
- Nick Shelton, Abonmarche
- Marcy Simpson, Visit Southwest Michigan
- Annie Smith, Indiana Michigan Power
- Bryan Van Itallie, Greater Niles Chamber
- Kyle Zelmer, Buchanan Area Chamber
Their inclusion ensures that conversations about workforce, local government, affiliated chambers, tourism, and private-sector growth happen around the same table—not in parallel.
“The strength of this Chamber has always come from the people willing to sit at the table and do the work together,” said Olivia Starks, Board Chair of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. “As our region grows and our partnerships deepen, our Board has to grow with it. These new directors bring the experience, the relationships, and the regional perspective we need to keep moving Southwest Michigan forward—together.”
A Board That Matches the Moment
The Chamber’s ecosystem approach has always hinged on a simple premise: the region moves faster when it moves together.
A board that reflects every industry, every county, and every size of community is how that premise becomes practice—and its newest directors arrive at exactly the right moment to help guide what comes next.
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